This is a topic close to my heart. During my previous two pregnancies I suffered severe pelvic instability of the pelvic girdle (pelvic bones and ligaments) in my third trimester. The result – I was rendered severely, though temporarily disabled, depending on crutches to mobilize short distances. Trips to the shops required the use of…
Many women travel during pregnancy, I certainly did. I traveled for work, weddings, vacations and my own, ill fated babymoon. It is a mistake though to believe travel while pregnant is the same as prior to being pregnant. A number of infections may be encountered during travel that put the health of a pregnant woman,…
As a medical doctor I advocate that all families have a regular GP. Not all doctors are the same though and the following are some questions that families should ask to assist them to choose a good family GP: (1) How long does the doctor spend with patients? Appointments less than 15 minutes are not…
Asthma is a part of our family life, whether we are at home or traveling. My eldest son, who is four years old has required treatment in hospital for his asthma on numerous occasions. It is important that parents who, like us have a child with asthma take steps to protect the health of their…
Since the recent outbreak of a new strain of avian influenza (bird flu) among humans in China was announced many people are concerned about the risk posed to themselves and their families. As a public health physician and recent traveller to China I thought it important to provide informed advice about the outbreak to other…
As a doctor my heart sinks every time a parent asks for help managing a child that is a fussy eater. I know what advice they require: -Serve meals “family” style with at least one option on the table you know the child will eat. -Use a sticker chart to reward the child for…
It is always rough for mothers when they become unwell as rest and recovery time is hard to come by. When travelling and away from usual support networks the consequence for mothers of becoming unwell, even with minor complaints is more dire. Consequently I suggest to mums that they take some extra medication with them…
Our family enjoys the beautiful beaches of North Queensland however we know that the waters of northern Australia are home to dangerous jellyfish. Contact with some of these jellyfish will cause devastating pain, may cause severe illness and have the potential to be deadly. I am often surprised at the risks tourists take as…
I started writing about travel with children as a consequence of a journey I took when my first son was still a young baby. The profound, profound sleep deprivation I suffered as a result of my son’s jet lag led me to my lowest moments as a mother. Rather than giving up on travel the…
The Northern Hemisphere ski season is here and with it an increasing number of families are traveling to high altitude. Many parents are unaware that families visiting mainstream ski destinations such as the Canadian Rockies are at risk of altitude sickness. At high altitude the pressure of oxygen in the atmosphere is significantly less than…