Health Professionals

When you fall pregnant, a new organ grows along with your baby, which supplies your little one with all the important nutrients via the umbilical cord. This is called the "placenta". The placenta can nestle in various locations in the uterine wall, for example in the anterior or posterior wall, the left or right-side wall and in the upper part of the uterus (in the fundus). The placenta is not fully formed until the end of the first trimester and then continues to grow until the end of pregnancy. In the first half of pregnancy, the placenta grows faster than the baby, and in the last trimester the reverse. When the placenta attaches low in the uterus, you’ll hear people referring to it as a low-lying placenta. They’re usually spotted on your routine 20-week ultrasound. As the uterus grows upwards, the placenta is likely to move away from the cervix. Your midwife will check for this during an extra scan at 32 weeks. If that scan finds your placenta is still low lying, you’ll have another

Your pelvic floor is a group of muscles that you might not think about very often, but if they aren’t strong and flexible, they can sorely impact your quality of life. This area of the body fulfils many important functions, as it is directly connected to our abdominal, back and respiratory muscles. The pelvic floor enables us to walk upright, closes our pelvis downwards, supports our internal organs and ensures that the bladder and bowel sphincters function. It also contributes to pleasurable sex. Today we talk about the role of the pelvic floor during pregnancy, during birth and afterwards. In this blog you will learn about the positive benefits that targeted pelvic floor training can have for you during pregnancy and afterwards. What role does the pelvic floor play during pregnancy? Your pelvic floor changes during pregnancy. On the one hand it needs stability to hold the uterus with the baby and on the other hand it needs a certain elasticity to give way to the increasing weight of the

Healthy baby skin - how to protect your child's sensitive skin. Soft, elastic, and resistant: the skin is our largest organ and fulfils numerous vital functions. The skin of babies and toddlers is much more sensitive and permeable than adult skin and therefore needs special care. In the following blog, you will learn how baby and children's skin differs from adults and how you can take good care of it. What is the difference between baby skin and adult skin? Your baby's skin is much thinner than your own. In addition, the uppermost cell layer and the horny layer have a looser structure and are therefore less resistant to pathogens and pollutants. That is why baby's skin reacts more sensitively to environmental influences. From birth and in the early stages of life, the pH value of the baby's skin is neutral. The natural acid mantle, which is an additional protective function, forms after a few weeks and regenerates much more slowly in older children than in you. Since the top layer of baby's

Hip dysplasia baby: detect early, treat correctly. "The main thing is for the baby to be healthy" is so often said when parents to be are asked the preferred gender for the expected baby. However, not everything always goes smoothly with the physical development of your baby in the womb. It is not at all uncommon - in about 2-4% percent of newborns - for congenital or acquired hip dysplasia to develop.  If this occurs, baby then suffers from a malformation/maturation disorder of the acetabulum (socket). Our expert Stephanie Schmitz, functional senior physician for paediatric orthopaedics at the Asklepios Klinik Bad Abbach, the teaching hospital of the University of Regensburg, explains how early screening and modern therapies can help with this diagnosis and avoid late consequences. How does hip dysplasia develop? In Central Europe, acquired hip dysplasia occurs at a rate of 2%- 4%, with girls being affected up to five times more frequently. The risk of developing hip dysplasia increases

Did you know that the development of a child's teeth begins in early pregnancy? However, it takes until infancy for the first teeth to become visible. But what about brushing your baby's teeth? Baby teeth need different care than those of children or adults. Since the foundation for a healthy dental life is laid in infancy and toddlerhood, our midwife and babywearing consultant Katrin Ritter answers the most frequently asked questions about baby's teeth, teething and dental care. When does a baby grow their first tooth? On average, the first milk teeth appear between the sixth and eighth month of life. However, for some babies, the first tooth appears at the age of three or four months, for others there is still no tooth in sight on their first birthday. Every child is different - so don't stress about this. Which teeth come first? As a rule, teeth erupt according to the following pattern, but the timing can be individual: - 4 to 8 months: central incisors at the bottom, then at the top.

If not, meet baby Matilda (aka Tilly) and her incredible Mum, Amy. ‘’Matilda was breech for most of my third trimester, which is what lead to problem. When she was born they discovered that her hips 'clicked' when manipulated. An ultrasound at 6 weeks of age confirmed that both hips were affected, and she was diagnosed with bi-lateral hip dysplasia. Tilly was placed in to a Pavlik Harness when she was 8 weeks which she has to wear for 3 months. The harness holds her hips into the correct position while they develop. She has to wear it 24/7, and we have to ensure that her legs stay in an M Shape (knees up with the legs apart which helps the hips to stay aligned with the joint) as much as possible.’’ Mum Amy, found the Steps Charity incredible helpful and has a lot of information on Matilda’s condition and was a great help to her when she was first diagnosed. Amy has been reviewing the new Ergobaby Swaddle and Sleep Set with Tilly and you can read more of her story below: “My now