What is it and what does it mean if you have it? If you are pregnant in Belgium, at some point between week 24 and 28 of your pregnancy, you will be invited to come to the lab first thing in the morning. The nurse will draw some blood to measure your fasting blood...
Gabriela remembers her life with a newborn…. ‘Welcome to the chaos’, I said to my husband, as he returned home from work. Our living room was (and is) a mess. What was once a stylish, beautifully decorated room with shades of white, beige and some accents of yellow,...
When many years ago my one-year-old son was diagnosed with severe food allergies, I was shocked, and I wanted to cry. I felt that I would not be able to cook him a single meal! He could not have milk, eggs, potatoes, bananas, apples and many other things. I spent...
What is postpartum depression? Postpartum depression is a widespread mental health problem with a prevalence of 10 to 15%. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) classifies postpartum depression as a major depressive episode that starts...
The BCT is run entirely by volunteers and the day-to-day running costs are funded solely by membership fees and the income from our Nearly New Sales (so not at all during COVID). To meet the ever-rising costs, we have tried to find simple ways to bring in extra income...
Whether it’s the summer holidays or time for the back-to-school routines: As we are filling our children’s calendars with activities all week long, we may be forgetting that having time to do “nothing” matters. When was it that you planned nothing for the weekend, and...
By Nina Kralj, MSc (University of Edinburgh), www.apparently-parenting.com As a mom, wife, counsellor, and head of a nonprofit in Slovenia working with abused children and their families, I’ve spent over 6,000 hours talking with kids and their parents answering their...
BCT members can rent TENS machines and Valley Cushions for pain relief during and after labour. Rosalind Lester, hire coordinator, gives the lowdown on how these aids can help relieve pain simply and naturally during and after birth. TENS machine in labour TENS...
YES! You deserve to be honoured! Whether it’s with your portrait (at least, you think it’s you…) drawn by your child, a poem scribbled lovingly on a home-made card, tea or coffee in bed or an extra big hug, it’s your day to be pampered! Mother’s Day became official...
What do Einstein, Da Vinci, Picasso, Stephen Hawking, George Washington, Cher, Tom Cruise, Steven Spielberg, Whoopi Goldberg, Caitlyn Jenner and Orlando Bloom have in common? Dyslexia - the most common learning disability which could affect up to 20% of the...
After our member Abbi Vynck shared the journey of her family after the premature birth of their daughter Chloe (A different Start), we approached her for a list of support services that helped them get through the challenging time they were faced with. She told us:...
Let's talk about the hard parts Abbi Vyncke’s daughter Chloe was born prematurely, a story she shared with us in the BCT's Small Talk magazine (A different Start on the BCT blog). Last year, Abbi shared a more detailed account of the story on a page for parents of...
