Blog List

New figures from the Office for National Statistics have revealed that one in ten mothers over the age of 40 gives birth to a premature baby. The data also showed the number of live births to mothers in this age range has more than quadrupled since the 1980s – shooting from 6,519 births in 1982 to 29,994 in 2012. Britain now sees more than 60,000 premature births every year; an increase that has...

A new poll has revealed that new mothers are developing depression as they feel under pressure to get everything right. Results show that new mothers are more likely to worry about money and childcare with some feeling they can’t cope at all. Up to one in seven women experience a mental health problem during or after pregnancy but, worryingly, a lot of new mums don’t feel like they can talk to...

A number of Irish primary schools have been reaping the rewards of meditation time for students. Children are using it in the school yard during moments of conflict and other pupils say it has helped them ward off nervousness during exams. Teachers have noted the improvement in children’s concentration and say it has worked as an anger-management strategy. One principal even said meditation...

New research has found one in ten mothers suffer from depression during pregnancy. It was previously thought that pregnancy hormones helped protect against this, but hormonal changes during pregnancy can actually contribute to the development of depression. There are now calls for more to be done to identify and treat the illness in pregnant women, following evidence that shows mental and...

There were mixed reactions to the appearance of a topless woman on ITV last week as part of a breast check demonstration. Early morning breakfast show Lorraine featured a topless model who was guided through a self-check examination by Dr Hilary Jones. The model demonstrated the correct hand movements and pressure applications necessary to detect potentially cancerous lumps in the breasts and...

New research has found eating a big breakfast could help women struggling to get pregnant. The study found that eating the biggest meal of the day in the morning rather than the evening helps to regulate insulin, testosterone and other hormones that can negatively affect a woman’s fertility. Women in the study were divided into two groups; one group eating a big breakfast and the other eating a...

A new large-scale British study has concluded that pregnant women are safe to eat fish during pregnancy. The study, which examined blood samples from more than 4,000 pregnant women, concluded that limiting seafood intake is unlikely to reduce their mercury levels substantially. The researchers said they hope that ‘many more women will now consider eating fish during pregnancy’. Mercury, which...

Caffeine could be preventing your child’s brain from developing properly. Swiss scientists say caffeine present in fizzy drinks and coffee are preventing adolescents from falling into a deep sleep – an incredibly important time for brain development. With teens’ caffeine consumption rising 70% in just 30 years, there are worries about the effects of caffeinated drinks on teens, with problems...

A British MP for Dagenham & Rainham has suggested that parents should lose their child benefit if they refuse to give their child the MMR vaccine. The measure, which is already in place in Australia, was suggested by Labour MP Jon Cruddas in response to figures that show uptake of the vaccine has dropped to dangerously low levels in some areas. Earlier this year, more than 1,000 people caught...

A pregnant woman has received heavy criticism after she posted pictures of herself lifting weights just two weeks before her due date. US bodybuilder Lea-Ann Ellison was determined to stay in shape during her pregnancy and continued her exercise regime. The 35-year-old said: ‘After the birth of my second child, I knew I needed to step it up big time. ‘I loved being a Mom but I wanted to be a...