Giving birth can and should be a beautiful experience. But the pain and discomfort may sometimes give some women anxiety. 

Many women opt to receive epidurals from having more comfortable labor, and many more choose “natural” or unmedicated births. 

An epidural decreases pain in a specific area, and this case, the lower part of the body. It’s delivered through a tube via the spine. 

The greatest benefit of an epidural is the potential for a painless delivery. While you may still feel contractions and pressure, the pain is decreased significantly. During a vaginal delivery, you’re still aware of the birth and can move around.

Natural birth is usually used to describe a vaginal delivery performed without medication. Here, you feel everything, from contractions until the baby is expelled from the body. 

It is important to know in both cases, there could be some general complications such as  poor progress of labour leading to a cesarian section, genital lacerations, bleeding and others.

Some specific side effects of epidural include low blood pressure causing the baby's heart rate to slow down, post epidural headache, back pain or back ache and in rare cases, bleeding could occur at the site where the tube is delivered.

The major difference between these options is the pain. So, please go ahead and choose whichever option you find most convenient.

It's never easy being a mom trying to juggle a full-time job with family life. As any parent knows, combining work and family life can be challenging. 

To balance work and family, many people must make accommodations to their work schedules or career ambitions.  Women were more likely than men to fall into this category.

Balancing family and work life is all about consistency. Building strong communication with your family members is imperative in bringing a work-life balance. Having strong familial bonds promotes trust, understanding, and support. Having workplace flexibility can make your life a lot easier. 

A lot of useful tips have been shared in this podcast, and you should share it with every parent you know!

A cesarean section, also called a C-section, is a surgical procedure performed when a vaginal delivery is not possible or safe or when the health of the mother or the baby is at risk. 

A C-section might be planned ahead of time if you develop pregnancy complications or you've had a previous C-section and aren't considering a vaginal birth after a cesarean.

A C-section might be recommended if; the baby is coming out sideways, the baby is too big, the baby is in fetal distress, and the mom is very sick and needs to get delivered immediately.

Listen to this podcast to learn more about the importance, indications, and complications of having a caesarian section. 

Anemia can occur during pregnancy. Because there are not enough healthy red blood cells in your blood to supply oxygen to your tissues and your unborn child, you have anemia.

Your body makes extra blood during pregnancy to help your unborn child thrive. Your body might be unable to produce the necessary number of red blood cells to create this additional blood if you're not getting enough iron or other essential nutrients.

When you are pregnant, slight anemia is usual. However, you can have more severe anemia due to insufficient iron or vitamin levels or other causes.

Being anemic might make you feel exhausted and weakened. If severe and untreated, it can raise the risk of significant issues, including premature delivery.

Listen to this podcast to learn how to prevent or deal with anaemia during pregnancy

Diaper rash is simply rashes around the genital area that comes in another color. It is a very common issue found in babies. This rash can be caused by so many factors.

Listen to this podcast  to learn more about the causes, prevention, care and when to get concerned about diaper rash.

Common cold is an infection caused by a series of viruses. It is not a new thing, as everyone must have experienced it at least once in their lives. It is easily contacted by having direct contact with nasal droplets of someone that has a cold, be it touching or inhaling these droplets. However, there are different ways of discovering when your baby has a cold (the symptoms easily give it away). 

Listen to this podcast to know the symptoms of common cold in babies, how babies get common cold, the different home remedies to manage the cold, when exactly to escalate the cold and when to take your baby to the hospital.

Teething is when your baby’s teeth start to come through their gum line. Another word for it is odontiasis.

Most babies begin to teeth between 4 and 7 months old, but some start much later. There’s no need to worry if your baby’s teeth come in on another timetable -- it can be different for every baby.

Signs and symptoms of teething aren't the same for every baby but they may include restlessness, fussiness and crying, lots of drool, bringing their hands to their mouth and so on. 

Teething can be painful, but it doesn’t usually make babies sick. Call your doctor if your baby has diarrhea, vomiting, rashes on the body, a higher fever, or cough and congestion. These aren’t normal signs of teething.

You also should call the pediatrician if your baby’s gums are bleeding or you see any pus or swelling of their face.

It is important to ensure good oral hygiene, even before your baby starts teething.

Every minute that they're awake, babies take in the sights, sounds, smells, and feel of the world around them.

Babies can focus on shapes that are close by, but see distant objects as blurry because they are nearsighted. As babies grow, eyesight improve. Human faces are one of their favorite things to look at, especially their own or a parent's face.

Your baby's color vision is also developing, so brightly colored wall hangings or toys will help develop your little one's ability to distinguish color.

Your baby has also been hearing sounds since way back in the womb. Mother's heartbeat, the gurgles of her digestive system, and even the sounds of her voice and the voices of other family members are part of a baby's world before birth.

Once your baby is born, the sounds of the outside world come in loud and clear. Your baby may startle at any unexpected noise.

Your newborn should have a hearing screening before being released from the hospital. If not, or if your baby was born at home or a birthing center, it's important to have a hearing screening as soon as possible. Most children who are born with a hearing loss can be diagnosed through a hearing screening.

This podcast is a lifesaver for every mother and the skills in this podcast could help you save the life of your baby. Babies can choke on anything because they are so little and their digestive organs are not yet fully developed. It is very important for every mother to know what to do when their babies choke because they are the first point of call when their babies are in danger. As little as choking sounds, it might be very dangerous if nothing is done on time because the baby’s airway would be blocked and this could lead to a stoppage of breathing. Learn what to do when your baby chokes by listening to this podcast.

Motherhood is a very interesting phase of life accompanied by so many mysteries. As a mother, you are expected to know what to do at all times. We all know babies do not come with a manual and more often than not, mothers have to rely on instincts or good advice. One of the very puzzling moments of motherhood is when baby comes down with a fever. 

Baby Fever can be a sign of so many things, how do you decipher the cause and what steps do you take next?