Let's start with the obvious - eating a healthy and balanced diet during pregnancy is crucial for both you and your baby (like, DUH!).

Not only does eating the right foods provide the necessary nutrients for your baby's growth, but it also helps you maintain a healthy weight and promotes your overall well-being. Nutritionist Fleur Bugeja summarises what you need to know (and PRACTICE!) when it comes to your diet during pregnancy.

Why is nutrition during pregnancy important?

 A healthy diet is an important part of a healthy lifestyle at any time but is especially vital if you're pregnant or planning a pregnancy. Eating healthily during p...

Summer is a much-awaited time for family fun, a more relaxed pace of life and SO MANY outdoor activities, but it can also bring a higher risk of accidents and emergencies.

As parents and caregivers, being aware of what you can do to prevent certain situations is key, but it pays to know what to do in potentially life-threatening scenarios. We have compiled a list of the top five dangers that are most commonly associated with the warmer weather. 

Drowning

Drowning is a serious risk associated with being around pools and the sea (but also relatively shallow water, so filled bath-tubs or kids pools). It can happen quickly and quietly, and ...

How can you make sure your family is protected from the harmful effects of the sun?

Sunlight produces warmth, visible light, and ultraviolet light (UVL), which can penetrate our skin. But too much UVL exposure can be dangerous for our skin and increase the risk of skin cancer and premature aging. In this blog post, we'll provide you with tips on how to keep your babies, kids, and older family members safe in the sun.

Let's start with a little bit of theory...

Sunlight generates warmth (infra-red) that we can feel, visible light (that our eyes can see in daylight) and ultraviolet light (UVL) which we cannot see or feel but which can pene...

Looking for some tips to make sure you POWER UP for the demands of the postpartum period?

Good nutrition is important for everyone, but it’s especially important for new mamas who are recovering from the strain pregnancy and childbirth put on their body, and possibly also breastfeeding! Nutritionist Fleur Bugeja gives us her recommendations below...

Don’t diet!

It’s important to stay away from fad diets and calorie counting, and focus more on getting enough of the good stuff and limiting the junk. You need to get plenty of calories, but most of those calories should come from whole foods. This means focusing on nutrient-rich foods, such...

Often referred to as flat head syndrome, PLAGIOCEPHALY is one condition parents of infants should watch out for. 

Plagio-what?

 Flat head syndrome develops when a baby's head develops a flat area. A baby may experience this if they remain in one position for an extended period of time, such as resting on their back or riding in a car seat. Craniosynostosis and positional molding are two more disorders that can result in plagiocephaly.

Even though plagiocephaly is a common condition that many infants have, it is crucial to treat it at an early stage to avoid more severe issues. For instance, if plagiocephaly is not treated promptly, some ch...

Meet Matthew. As a first-time soon-to-be dad he feels a little bit like a spare wheel since his partner found out she's pregnant.

He wants to be involved but is not quite sure how to go about it. He's concerned about what his new responsibilities as a father will involve, worried about how life will change, about whether he can live up to his own expectations of what a present dad should be and do.

Fear not, Matthew! There's lots of helpful advice available for new dads like you. While it's true that you'll become an expert through practice, a heads-up never hurt anyone, so here's a handy list of life-saving tips for first-time dads!

Ti...

Being pregnant is such an exciting time, but let's face it - it can also be pretty TOUGH on your body!

From back pain to swollen feet, pregnancy can take its toll in more ways than one. But what if we told you that there's a way to relieve most of your aches and pains, a solution that's been around for centuries and has been helping pregnant women get all the right 'ooohs and aaaahs' for just as long?

Here's the lowdown on why every pregnant mama should consider getting a prenatal massage and why it's totally worth the investment (and your precious time!).

1. Say Goodbye to Aches and Pains

   Pregnancy can be a real pain in the neck, qui

   ...

Is THIS the secret weapon for a smoother childbirth?

If you haven't heard of perineal massage before, don't worry, you're not alone. But according to our midwife team and women's health physiotherapist, this little-known technique can make a BIG DIFFERENCE when it comes to delivering your little bundle of joy.

What is the perineum and why is it important to massage it?

The perineum is the area of skin and muscle between the vaginal opening and the anus. During childbirth, this area can be at risk of tearing or needing an episiotomy (a surgical cut made during delivery to widen the vaginal opening).

Now, onto perineal massage. The idea ...

As if expectant mamas don't have enough to worry about, add a type of diabetes that can make an appearance during pregnancy!

During a webinar on gestational diabetes led by Ilona Pulis, a registered dietitian, various topics were discussed to help individuals better understand and manage this condition. Ilona highlighted that gestational diabetes is becoming increasingly common among pregnant women, with statistics showing a significant rise in the number of cases in the last decade and a a higher-than-average incidence in Malta and Gozo.

The webinar covered several important topics related to gestational diabetes, including the screening a...

Your adult-friendly home has many POTENTIAL HAZARDS for a baby or child.

Children don’t understand danger, and as they grow and become more mobile (and curious!) you need to be on the lookout to make sure they don't get hurt. A team of experts joined forces at the Mothercare store in Birkirkara to discuss the ways in which we can keep babies and kids SAFE in your home environment. Watch this video to understand how to baby-proof your home and prevent common accidents.