Many women have absolutely no idea that they are going into labour until they feel the contraction harden significantly or their waters break often in the most inappropriate places like Blue water shopping center but the body has subtle ways of telling us that labour is coming.Some of the signs and symptoms of going into labour may include:Period-like cramps Backache Diarrhoea A small bloodstained discharge as your cervix thins and the mucus plug drops out A gush or trickle of water as the me... Read Full Story

4 ripe pears 200g Greek-style yoghurt 1 dessertspoon sugar 50g butter or margarinePreheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 4. Peel pears, cut in half and remove cores. Put the pears hollow side up in a baking dish, sprinkle over sugar and dot with butter or margarine. Put a spoonful of yoghurt on top of each pear half. Bake for 10 minutes. Serve. Broccoli bake (serves four) Read Full Story

Stage OneThe first stage of labour is concerned with the thinning of the cervix and its dilation to around 10cm. It is split into three phases they include:The latent phase - generally, this stage is the longest and the least painful part of labour. Many woman don't realise it is even happening. The cervix can thin out over weeks, days or hours and be accompanied by mild contractions. The contractions may be regularly or irregularly spaced, or else you might not even notice them at all. T... Read Full Story

3 tbs vegetable oil 1 tbs chopped garlic 4 boneless chicken breasts 2 tbs mild curry powder (less if you wish the curry to be milder 2 bay leaves ( remember to remove after cooking) 1 tbs ground cumin 1 tbs ground coriander 1 chopped onion 2 peeled, chopped carrots 1 tomato, chopped ( or tin) 2 tbs tomato puree 2 tbs lemon juice 1 pint chicken stock rice ( a cup per person) Heat oil in a heavy saucepan. Add garlic and chicken; saute over medium heat, till the chicken skin is browned. Add cur... Read Full Story

Honey, this is due to a bacteria that can be present in honey that can cause Infant Botulism. After a baby is a year old, the intestine matures and the bacteria is unable to grow. Salt, you should never add salt to baby’s meals, it puts a strain on their kidneys and causes dehydration. Sugar, there is really little need to add sugar unless you are using a fruit that is very sour. Adding sugar can increases the risk of tooth decay when your baby’s teeth start to come through. Unpa... Read Full Story

Braxton-Hicks contractions are sometimes mistaken for labour and are sometimes referred to false labour. These ‘false’ contractions usually start halfway through the pregnancy and continue for the duration.Later in the pregnancy you may find these contractions visibly harden and lift your pregnant belly. It is always best to check out any pain with a medical professional, a surprising amount of women think they are in labour and it is Braxton Hicks but the same is true the other way around ma... Read Full Story

This outline gives you a very basic idea of the types of things to give at the various ages, always remember every child is different, if you have any concerns speak to a medical professional.0 - 5/6 months - Breast Milk or formula, the department of health suggests that babies should be fed milk exclusively till 6 months, but every child is different 5 - 6 months - baby rice, semi-liquid purees of things like apple, pear, carrot, potato etc. 6 - 7 months - chicken, dried fruit, apricot, mel... Read Full Story

This is the part of pregnancy that most woman dread and can't wait for in equal measures. It is a mixture of fear and anticipation, there are so many unknowns, whether its your first or your fifth ever birth is different.It is perfectly natural to be scared, all mothers are a little, no matter how many children they have had or what they lead you to believe. The good thing is that most mother say that after the child is born all the memories of the labour quickly fade and many can remembe... Read Full Story

It can be difficult to know when to start feeding your baby solid food but in most cases your child will tell you that they need more to eat, the signs of this are thatyour child is still hungry after a full milk feed, often crying after a feedthey start to demand feeds more oftenthey start to wake up during the night for a feed when they would usually have slept straight through.If you are in any way unsure about whether to introduce solids or not get advice from a medical professional. Read Full Story

100g dried brown lentils275ml water for cooking lentils3 medium carrots, diced1 stick celery, finely chopped220g potatoes, diced150g peas, tinned or fresh2 tsp yeast extract1 tbs tomato puree450g shortcrust pastry (home-made or frozen)Milk to glaze Wash the lentils and then boil them in water with the celery for approx 40 mins until tender, drain well. Steam or boil peas, carrots and potatoes until tender 15 to 20 mins dependant on the size of the chuncks. Place all ingredients except pastry... Read Full Story