Mosquitoes are nuisances. In Alberta, mosquitoes are everywhere and in some cases can ruin a perfect day outside if they are particularly high in population. In order to fully enjoy the spring and summer weather while we have it, we may want to prevent itchy mosquito bites by using insect repellent (bug spray). But not all insect
Sunburn is an inflammatory reaction of the skin to the harmful UV rays of the sun. Sunburns can range from mild redness to blistering. Here are some do’s and don’ts for managing sunburns Do’s DO drink lots of fluids to stay hydrated. Burns draw fluid to the skins surface and away from the rest of
Before I became a mother, I did not realize how attached an infant can be to their soother. Madi loved her soother, and we lovingly nicknamed it “soo-soo.” Madi would reach for her “soo-soo,” call out for it, and we always make sure we had it in her diaper bag. Then one day, at around
Cold sores are highly contagious. But what are you to do when you have a cold sore and also a newborn baby to care for? What is a Cold Sore? Cold sores are usually caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). They look like small blisters around the lips, mouth, chin, cheeks, or even nose. Within
One of the most common food types that people will tell you that you cannot eat while pregnant is sushi, or raw fish. There are many health benefits to having fish as part of your regular diet. So why is it that sushi shouldn’t be consumed while pregnant? Does this apply to other types of fish as well?
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, hand sanitizer has become a staple household item. However, many parents are wondering, is hand sanitizer safe for use in children? The short answer is yes, though it can be unsafe in certain circumstances. Hand Hygiene The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends hand washing with warm
Breastfeeding was not intuitive for me. I struggled with low milk supply early on and had difficulty getting Madi to latch correctly. Fortunately, with the help of a lactation consultant, after two weeks breastfeeding improved. There are two main reasons why mothers and their infants may have breastfeeding difficulties. The first reason is inadequate milk production from the mother. The
The safest place for your baby to sleep is on their back. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends “back to sleep for every sleep” for all infants up to 1 year of age to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). There has been a rising incidence of flat head syndrome since the AAP began
Pink eye (or conjunctivitis) is a common cause of a red eye. Conjunctivitis means there is inflammation – swelling and redness – of the thin layer of tissue that covers the eye and the inside of the eyelid. There are different kinds of conjunctivitis, and not all of them are caused by a bacterial infection. All of
Despite caring for infants for years as a family physician, when I had my daughter Madi, I had no idea how to change her diaper. The first time I put on her diaper, I put it on backwards and I really didn’t know what to look for when it came to features. Fortunately, with the