Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). A term that became a frequent feature in my vocabulary, having been my companion for the first 20 weeks of my pregnancy. Characterised by severe and persistent nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, HG is most certainly not the same thing as regular morning sickness. It affects 1% of the pregnant population, and it’s a very debilitating condition that could risk the wellbeing of both mum/parent and baby. Due to the frequent vomiting, those experiencing HG often end up being severely dehydrated, with vitamin and mineral deficiency, and will experience a loss of at least 5% of their original body weight. Because of this, it is not uncommon…

If you are or have ever been pregnant, chances are someone has suggested you eat dates, as these are believed to benefit birth. This could just be an old wives’ tale, except that there are at least four studies supporting the benefits of eating dates in late pregnancy (more on this later). Dates have been around as part of human agriculture and diet for a very long time. Fossils have been found that suggest dates have been around for 50 million years! They are believed to be the oldest agriculturally grown fruit, and it’s considered they’ve been part of Middle Eastern diet for at least 6,000 years. We’re not sure…

Here we are again. Twinkling lights everywhere we look. The smell of woodsmoke fills our noses and hearts. And our kitchens start to smell of sugar, spice, and comfort. The festive season is upon us and you might be thinking of gift giving. If you have a friend or a family member who is expecting a baby, you might even be thinking on what to give them. Maybe you’re thinking of baby clothes, blankets, toys, etc. Whilst these are all useful things that I’m sure will be greatly appreciated, I thought I’d write a wee list of suggestions of other gifts for your pregnant loved ones, that are not only…

We are living in interesting times. COVID-19 (aka coronavirus) has quickly changed the landscape and, with the media producing new information about it every minute, it can be hard to filter through all of it to find clarity. With such a wave of information and concern permeating through our homes via the news, it can also be an anxious and unsettling time, something that any pregnant woman would like to avoid. To try to filter and combine in one place the information available specifically for pregnant folk, I thought I’d write this blog post, in the hope that it will help any mamas (and indeed any parents)-to-be out there. It’s…

As I start preparing a mother blessing for a lovely mum-to-be, my mind started drifting and I found myself thinking about how little known this ceremony still is and how lovely it would be if every mother could experience it. As such, I thought I’d write a little bit about this wholesome way of celebrating and supporting pregnant women and their transition to motherhood, clarifying what it is, why have one, and what it involves. What is a mother blessing then? A mother blessing is a ceremony akin to a rite of passage, in that it creates a space in time to celebrate the woman who is carrying her child…