Informed Choice News

Children's charity Action Medical Research is asking mums across the UK to join its Mums on the Run initiative which encourages mothers to join together and get fit at the same time as helping to raise vital funds to help sick babies and children.

The national charity STEPS is hoping their Baby Hip Health Week 13th - 19th March 2011 will help raise awareness amongst parents and health professionals of the vital need to check babies' hips during the first few weeks of life to prevent unnecessary pain and disability in later years.

Would you, or any of your pregnant friends, like to have your belly painted for charity?

‘Not treated equally', ‘Victim of prejudice', ‘Discriminated against'

The BBC are desperately looking for expectant mums, who are expecting triplets or more within the next few weeks (or in February), or possibly looking for parents of triplets/quads over the age of 5.

• Women are positive about services with 92 percent rating their care as good or better • Survey shows concerns over labour, birth and postnatal care: too many women still felt that they were left alone at a time when it worried them and are leaving hospital without the information and support they need

The Government will unveil proposals this week to encourage employers to better support breastfeeding mothers.

The Health in Pregnancy Grant (HiPG), the one-off payment of £190 for expectant mothers, will come to an end early next year, as the Government seeks to reduce the public debt.

A SURVEY carried out by Bowel & Cancer Research reveals that mothers are suffering in silence after childbirth because of faecal incontinence.Many have problems which affect their quality of life. But few seek medical help, according to the survey.More than 80 per cent of those surveyed could not hold wind, 40 per cent suffered urge incontinence and 52 per cent suffered constipation. Only 10 per cent of those surveyed went to their GP. Almost half said they felt ashamed. Others felt depressed, lonely and isolated. 

Commenting on the cumulative impact of the recent National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance on diet, physical activity and weight management before, during and after pregnancy and research relating to risk during pregnancy, Cathy Warwick, general secretary of the Royal College of Midwives, said: