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What is Thrush and What Can You Do About It?

Thrush, or oropharyngeal candidiasis, is a common infection in babies. It is a fungal infection caused by Candida that affects the mouth and throat. Candida is found on the skin and in the body and usually does not cause any infections.  But sometimes a baby can end up with thrush because they do not have a strong immune system yet.

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Do We Need To Burp Babies?

Both my mom and mother-in-law believe and promote the practice of burping babies. After our son George was born they both ensured he was always burped well after every feed. I, on the other hand, probably burp George only 50 percent of the time. The 50 percent burping rate is due to a combination of

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I’m Pregnant and Constipated, What Can I do About it?

Constipation in Pregnancy Constipation is yet another uncomfortable symptom that is very common in pregnancy. We can blame our hormones for this one too.  Progesterone circulates at an all time high during pregnancy and plays a major role in bloating and constipation.   How do hormones cause constipation? Progesterone slows down the motility of the intestines.  This means

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Breast Changes Postpartum

There is a common misconception that women who breastfeed their babies will have adverse changes to the appearance of their breasts once they wean breastfeeding.  It can actually be a common reason why women choose not to breastfeed their infants.   Surprisingly, it isn’t the act of breastfeeding at all that changes the appearance of your breasts.  It is actually the changes in

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Child’s First Dental Visit

Yesterday, Madi and George went for their first dental visit. The Canadian Dental Association recommends infants be assessed by a dentist within 6 months of the eruption of their first tooth or by 1 year of age. George was right on schedule for his first dental appointment, but Madi was behind schedule.  It is recommended that

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Breastfeeding and Mastitis

Mastitis is a painful complication of breastfeeding.  It is defined as inflammation of the mammary gland, which causes the breast to become painful, swollen, and red.   It is most common in the first three months of breastfeeding, but it can occur at any time.   What Causes Mastitis? Mastitis is usually caused by poor milk drainage, like

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Weaning Breastfeeding

There comes a time when a mother and child’s breastfeeding relationship will come to an end.  This is a very personal decision that a mother must make for her and her child.   This decision can come with a lot of mixed emotions – but rest assured, this is completely normal!   When to Wean There is no right

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Food Allergies in Children

Food allergy affects approximately 2% to 10% of the population. Studies suggest that early introduction of common allergenic solids such as eggs and peanuts, especially in high risk infants, may have a role in preventing food allergy. For infants at high risk for food allergy, it is recommended that common allergenic foods should be introduced around

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Childhood Obesity

There is a growing epidemic of childhood obesity.  The reasons for this is multifactorial, one of those factors being highly processed and high sugar foods and beverages.   An unexpected family dynamic between my parents, and Graeme and I is how we choose to feed our children.  My mom in particular feels that if my daughter (her granddaughter)

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Can Cabbage Leaves Help Breast Engorgement in Breastfeeding Moms?

I struggled with low breast milk supply, but some breastfeeding moms struggle with milk oversupply and breast engorgement. Breast engorgement is the over-filling of the breasts with milk. Engorgement causes hard, painful, and tight breasts.  This can result in difficulty breastfeeding.   Difficulty with breastfeeding can then worsen engorgement if the breasts are not drained of milk.    It is extremely

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