There is perhaps nothing quite as life-changing as becoming a mum.

From the excitement of nesting and preparing a nursery to the oxytocin rush of that newborn baby smell, the maiden to mother journey is a beautiful one.

It’s a time of growth, evolution, changing perceptions, and often a spiritual and consciousness awakening.

How do I know if I have a food allergy? 

Australia has been labelled the food allergy capital of the world.

Recent statistics have revealed up to 10 per cent of Australian infants have a proven egg allergy and up to four million Australians have some form of food allergy or intolerance.

The jury is out on why food allergies are increasing, but theories range from delayed introduction of allergenic foods and Vitamin D deficiency to the overexposure of certain medications and diets high in processed foods. 

The robustness of the immune system and gut health may also have an influential role on the development of food allergies. 

But how do you know if you have a food allergy? And what’s the difference between a true allergy and an intolerance? And what foods could you be allergic to?

Let’s get right to it because time is a) important and b) in high demand. Realistically being a mum is different for everyone. I got given lots of advice (some unsolicited) and what I took from it and made my own is the following:

1. Remember to breathe. Take one day at a time. Feel what you are feeling and process it, get it out by writing, or talking about it; and breathe Mumma! 

Nine of us  like see our children sick, but unfortunately illnesses such as ear and throat infections are common in young children. To make things much worse, recurrent ear or throat infections often result in insertion of grommets, or removal of the tonsils and/or adenoids. We do not want our children to need surgery, so the question is,can we prevent the need for these procedures?