Often with medical mistakes, the last people parents think to blame are the doctors. They want to believe that because they are health professionals, they have done the best for their child and that it is perhaps nature’s way what has happened. This might be because they are being made to think that way. Not necessarily out of comfort but to avoid a possible medical negligence claim. Compensation, after all, can be an expensive bill to settle. It is, however, a lifeline to parents needing to support their child who now needs as much care and love that it can be provided with. Love is free but care is expensive.

So, we shall consider in this article the reasons why it might be time to call upon the services of a lawyer specializing in cerebral palsy.

Financial Support

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Financially, it is going to be hard bringing up a child with cerebral palsy. Whether or not it resulted from a birthing injury is irrelevant from a financial point of view, the child still needs to be cared for. Where a birthing injury can be proven, there is a chance of achieving financial stability. There is at least a case that can be fought with regards to compensation.  A specialist cerebral palsy lawyer will know just how to fight it so that your affected child can receive the best care out there to ensure they have as fulfilling a life as is possible, now this has happened. 

Improving the odds on Winning a Case

The odds on a birthing injury resulting in cerebral palsy are thankfully not that high, although high enough, but you can increase the odds when it comes to claiming compensation by hiring the right lawyer. Not one that just knows the ins and outs of the medical profession and how it works, but one that specifically knows what the condition of cerebral palsy means for a child and their family. How costly care can be to look after a child with the condition.

Securing Compensation for a Long Term Condition

Cerebral palsy caused by an injury during birth is lifechanging for the individual involved. The injury caused to the brain is permanent, so there is no chance that those affected will be able to hold down a normal job and earn a decent income for themselves. So, this makes it a condition that requires lifetime financial support, and therefore cases need to end with the families affected receiving the best outcomes financially. Once a settlement has been decided upon, then that is for the rest of a person’s life. That money needs to last for their care for however long a period that might mean. It is a difficult thing to calculate but courts have to decide. A lawyer will push for the maximum compensation possible. A cerebral palsy lawyer will push harder because they know just what impact it is having on a family and what the financial consequences for the future are likely to be.

Peace of Mind

It will provide peace of mind for the future that you fought for your child and secured them the best compensation claim possible. To have provided enough money to look after them for the foreseeable future and beyond will be comforting. Otherwise, you will always have wondered what financial help might have come your way. It is not necessarily about money but also justice for a loved one. Recognition that there was a mistake made when those involved were intent on trying to cover it up or at least were not ready to admit it when so obviously a mistake was to blame.

Helping Others

By putting in for financial compensation, and having a lawyer help you do it, you are also helping others. It might be that the birthing injury to your child was as a result of the hospital being short-staffed, because of tired staff working too many hours in one go, or because the equipment needed updating. Equally, it could have been because correct procedures were not being followed. In this instance, more training may be required for staff. You will have highlighted this with your claim that will be costly to those concerned. It may prevent someone else’s child from being injured in the same way, and avoid their family having to go through what your family has. As with the above heading, it will be “peace of mind” knowing that you have helped someone else. It is rather like allowing for an organ donation to happen despite being in the process of grieving. It is comforting to feel that we are helping others with our actions. Sometimes, we just have to fight for what we believe in, too.

In conclusion, there are many reasons to hire a cerebral palsy lawyer, ranging from the experience and chance of success that they can offer, the financial support that will follow, and the peace of mind that can be had from knowing that we have helped other children and their families by ensuring hospital procedures are constantly being improved.

Note: This is a collaborative post

Can you imagine how it is not getting any sleep? It is a terrible thought, right? You probably know how rough it is by getting through the day on less than 7 hours of sleep a night- which is too little, as it is best to have at least 8 hours of sleep a night in order to be functioning and to maintain good health.

It is crucial to have enough sleep because it affects your overall health, quality of life, as well as fertility. Because a good night’s sleep helps restore and refresh your brain, organ systems, and helps regulate hormones- that includes hormones that are fertility related.

The same part of the brain that regulates sleep-wake hormones such as cortisol and melatonin also is responsible for regulating productive hormones such as the luteinizing hormone (LH). That is the hormone that triggers ovulation when it rises, and it is also responsible for keeping your menstrual cycle regular.

How it affects fertility

Therefore, if women are not sleeping enough or having a proper quality of sleep (constantly waking up in the night and feeling poorly rested during the day), the lack of sleep could very well affect the release of LH, which can prevent ovulation from happening, and be the cause of irregular cycles.

It is also important to note that in men, lack of sleep can also affect the maturation of sperm so it certainly has negative effects on both men and women.

Not only does lack of sleep cause hormonal imbalance, but it can affect your fertility in other ways such as diabetes, cardiovascular conditions as well as obesity.

When you are sleeping poorly, you are going to be prone to craving simple carbs and trans fats. You will be more likely to grab a candy bar or a bag of chips instead of a healthy snack like fruit or veggies in a dip. You will be craving sugar a lot more and it has to do with high cortisol levels.

While lack of sleep can prevent ovulation from happening, you are prone to falling into poor lifestyles, which also means you will be less likely have the energy to exercise. The lack of sleep is keeping your fertility and overall health quite poor as a result.

Not to mention, you will be more than irritable, drowsy and have problems with concentration and memory if your sleep quality is poor. You may be prone to illnesses such as catching viruses easily.

Causes of sleep disorders

There are many things that can cause problems with sleep. If you are not under a considerable amount of stress (which is notorious for causing poor sleep), then you will want to make an appointment with your doctor to make sure there is no underlying cause. In fact, your doctor may want you to have a sleep study done to rule out any underlying issues such as sleep apnoea, insomnia or restless legs syndrome. I know some people seek assistance with supplements to either improve their mindset or their sleep quality of sleep, one such example is blue dream sativa. However it is so important to always seek appropriate advise before using any supplements to ensure they are compatible with any other mediations or supplements you may be on.

How to help your fertility

If you are not having any health issues that are getting in the way of your sleep, then you need to start getting back into a good sleep habit where you can get at least 7 hours a sleep each night because daylight and sleep are integral to our biological clocks.

However, if you genuinely feel well rested on less than 7 hours of sleep, it is possible that you don’t require 7 hours to function. Sleep requirements can vary from person to person, and from season to season.

Most people know that as a woman gets older, her fertility declines, until she reaches menopause and will no longer be able to conceive.  However, age isn’t the only thing responsible for infertility; there are lots of things that could contribute to a person’s inability to have a baby by natural means. What’s more, in many infertility cases it’s not actually anything to do with the woman. Regardless, it’s important that you understand your own fertility as much as possible, and the various factors that could impact it. A fertility clinic in London have put together this infographic to help get you started. 

You will also want to get outdoors for a 10-minute walk each day. If you are in a colder climate or if you have been having a lot of rain, you will want to use a lightbox which is a portable unit that allows you to get light when you are stuck indoors. They are often used for the treatment of seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

It is also recommended not to work odd hours if you can help it. If you are working late night, or have graveyard shift hours, that can get in the way of your sleep, and cause irregular cycles and reproductive disturbances. If a pregnancy did happen while working odd hours or if you were sleeping poorly, the pregnancy could be at risk as lack of sleep is not good for the unborn baby.

If you are trying to conceive, doing shift work is not recommended for women, and even for men! Your chances of chances of getting pregnant can be affected.

Also, go to bed at the same time every day, even on weekends because a consistent sleep-wake schedule will help you maintain a healthy sleep cycle.

As it is known that stress is a killer for proper sleep, so, therefore, be sure to pay your bills earlier in the day, don’t read disturbing books, or don’t watch disturbing movies, and stay away from websites that could upset you. That will only cause your mind to race which will cause you to fall asleep much later than you had intended when you end up having to wake up just a few hours later!

It is also a good idea to keep lighting dim late at night so it helps you get tired, as bright lights in the evening can actually shift your body clock.

Also, be sure not to drink any coffee later than 2 pm and limit your caffeine intake especially while trying to get pregnant. However, too much caffeine can keep you wired in the evening. The same goes for chocolate. Don’t eat too much of it especially if it is late in the evening.

Given that you are trying to conceive, you will want to avoid alcohol as alcohol also disturbs your sleep. For me personally,  ovulation kits are your friend,  being informed is crucial and knowing when you ovulate can help with getting the timing right as well as being familiar with the cycles your body is going through.  Thus allowing you to plan more precisely.

Last but not least, as tempting as it may be to take something to help you sleep, stay away from melatonin supplements if you are trying to conceive because there is a risk of suppressing your fertility even further!

So do what you can to make sure you are getting a good night sleep, and as long as you feel rested and you are functioning well even on less than 7 hours of sleep (as sleep can vary which was mentioned earlier), and you are taking care of yourself- you can start trying to conceive.

Note: This is a collaborative post. Please note if you have any concerns always consult a medical professional.

Christmas is supposed to be a time when we finally get a break from work and get the chance to see family and friends that maybe we haven’t seen all year. However, for many it will be the most stressful time of year, with lots of rushing around whilst trying to find the perfect presents for their loved ones. So is it even possible to have a relaxed Christmas, allowing us to recharge before a new year starts?

To help you make the most of your Christmas downtime, here are seven ways you can take care of your wellbeing this festive season and get a much-needed break before 2018 rolls around.

Schedule in your relaxation time

Our Christmas schedules can be extremely hectic, with rushing around shops to find presents, to running back and forth from family homes on endless visits. It can be easy to get carried away and before you know it, your Christmas holiday is over!

If you are one of those who feel like the festive season passes you by, this year, make sure you schedule in your relaxation time. Simply writing in an hour or two every other day to rest and do something you love, can make a huge difference to how you feel.

Gift yourself some ‘you’ time

No matter how busy you are, make sure you gift yourself some alone time this Christmas. Whether it’s a nice spa day or just a solo walk around the local park. Get some time to yourself, away from the craziness that is Christmas.

Make sure you are looking after health

Health and diet in particular, can take a turn for the worst over the Christmas period. We’ll have chocolate for breakfast and stuff ourselves with buffet foods and soon our energy levels will take a hit. Not to mention the late nights and Christmas party drinks draining us of much needed sleep.

Make sure you keep your health in mind when choosing what to eat, and if you need a nap during the day to make up some essential sleep, then feel free! Taking multivitamins and supplements, such as those from Vitabiotics, can help you to get all the vitamins and minerals you need to keep your body balanced this season.

Have a duvet day

It’s something that many of us are deprived of day-to-day, so take this opportunity to have a full duvet day. Put on your favourite Christmas films and snuggle down with loved ones. Enjoy the peace and calm that comes with allowing yourself to do absolutely nothing!

Give your home a clear out

On Christmas morning, you’ll have a pile of new objects to fit into your home, whether it’s toys, clothes or a new Xbox. Use this time to adopt the mindset of ‘out with the old, in with the new’ and declutter your home of unused or unwanted items.   Not only will you feel refreshed, but you’ll also be able to make room for all of your new gifts!

Get out of the house with family or friends

My Christmas Day walking route – so peaceful

It may be cold outside but that’s no excuse to not get out and about throughout December!  A brisk stroll through the park on Christmas Day can be the perfect thing to break up the day and get you prepared for the Christmas feast.   The great outdoors can work wonders for your mental health, with the fresh air filling your lungs, waking you up and clearing your head.

Reconnect with old friends

Christmas is often the time when old friends return home to see family, so make sure to get in touch with those that you may have lost touch with over the year. With so much information available in the public domain it may even make your Christmas to find and reconnect with a long lost friend or even relative, this is made a lot easier with many tools available online now you could search for how to trace a person using Bond Rees as an example.  Making the most of the Christmas period all comes down to making sure you take a breather and schedule your time effectively. Be smarter with your free time, ensure you take good care of yourself and you’ll notice a huge difference in both your mindset and your motivation when it’s time to get back into the office in the new year.

Note: This is a collaborative post

As some of you may be aware and I have spoken a little about it over the last number of years on the blog and that is my pregnancy related blood pressure issues. I spent significant lengths of time on both pregnancies on bed rest, hospital visits and medication. While my blood pressure eventually returned to normal levels. I am well aware am I higher risk for problems into the future.  I saw a brilliant initiative being run by LloydsPharamacy where they are run quarterly free blood pressure checks in any of their 94 stores nationwide. The importance of this short test cannot be under estimated. Early detection is key.

As part of the initiative, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to speak to Maria Hennessy MPSI, Clinical Governance Pharmacist at LloydsPharmacy.  I put a number of  key questions to Maria who kindly too the time to share her insights and helpful advice.

Tell us a little about what constitutes high blood pressure? Reading etc.

High Blood pressure is often referred to as hypertension when the correct medical term is used. A lot of you will wonder what exactly high blood pressure is. Blood pressure, in general, is the pressure or force the blood exerts against the walls of the arteries. It is usually represented as a systolic and diastolic figure. For example, a normal BP in an adult may be around 120/80mmHg (often described as 120 over 80).  Hypertension i.e. High Blood pressure is a condition where BP is higher than recommended. Hypertension is defined as a sustained systolic pressure greater than or equal to 140mmHg and/or a sustained diastolic pressure of greater than or equal to (≥) 90mmHg. It is these readings that health care professionals use to diagnose whether or not a patient has high blood pressure. It is also important to note that these figures need to be sustained readings for the patient to be diagnosed as being hypertensive. Therefore repeated measurements must be carried out by your pharmacist and GP before a correct diagnosis can be made

Are there any signs/symptoms we need to be aware of? Such as headaches etc.

Unfortunately there are no specific signs or symptoms that help patients flag that they may have high blood pressure. Therefore getting your blood pressure checked is key to ensuring you are looking after your heart health. An important statistic to note is that approximately 50 percent of the population over the age of 50 are thought to have high blood pressure. As you increase in age you are at a higher risk of developing high blood pressure. The general rule of thumb is once you reach 30, you should get your blood pressure checked every 5 years, at least! Undetected high blood pressure can lead to coronary heart disease and stroke. Therefore why would you put off doing a very simple, painless test that could detect further heart implications down the line?

I think the initiative by LloydsPharmacy is fantastic as I have heard high BP being known as the silent killer. If somebody does get a high reading what do you recommend the next steps are for them?

The next steps to take depend on the patient’s high BP reading.  If the reading is classed as slightly high, it is strongly recommended to return to the pharmacy or GP within 2 weeks for a second reading. Lifestyle factors will also be discussed.  If the reading is relatively high, then the pharmacist refers the patient to the GP within 48 hours of testing. If a patient presents with extremely high blood pressure, then this is an instant GP referral and may require emergency services if the patient is feeling unwell.  Therefore the action to take depends on the individual readings and stresses the importance again of getting your blood pressure checked. Your pharmacist and GP will best advise based on the readings.

I had serious BP problems on both of my kids resulting in lengthy hospital stays. Thankfully it went back to normal a couple of months after each was born. However I am aware this places me in a high risk category for future BP issues, what advice would you give to keep heart healthy for people like me?

This is a very good question as many people of your age, especially busy Mums may not prioritise their heart health. It is essential to keep active and it is recommended 150 minutes exercise a week is essential to keep active and heart healthy. This also ties in with ensuring we are maintaining a healthy BMI which reduces our risk of high blood pressure. The very obvious factors are quitting smoking and reducing our alcohol intake. A diet rich in Omega fats is essential for our heart health and also benefit’s our children’s health so try and include eggs, oily fish, flax seeds, chia seeds and almonds into the diet. As we become more coffee obsessed as a nation our intake of caffeine has greatly increased. Caffeine is a stimulant and if consumed excessively can increase our blood pressure. Try and switch to decaffeinated options where possible.  Stress goes hand in hand with a busy lifestyle. Managing stress is essential to reducing the risk of high blood pressure. Yoga, mindfulness and even short and simple breathing sequences greatly aide in stress reduction. It is all about balance but by incorporating a few changes in your daily routine, you are ensuring you are on the right track to maintaining heart health.

If you wanted The Mamma Fairy readers to take away 3 key points from this interview in terms of helping their overall heart health what would they be?

1. I have touched on this throughout but getting your blood pressure checked is essential. Remember there are no symptoms to high blood pressure so detection is vital.
2. Your local LloydsPharmacy offers this service and usually requires no appointment or service charge. This check is very accessible and takes 20 minutes, approximately, for a consultation to be carried out. We in LloydsPharmacy have fully trained colleagues who provide this service on a daily basis across our 90 plus pharmacies.
3. Diet and Lifestyle are the core to maintaining a good blood pressure reading. However for some patients, genetics play a hand in having high blood pressure. Hence it is important to be aware of your family history and the need to get your blood pressure checked as soon as possible.

Keep on eye on social media and online on LlyodsPharmacy website for details of their next blood pressure testing day.  Thanks to Maria for taking the time to speak to me and share her expert insights.

Most importantly this is not a sponsored post in any way it is just something I feel very strongly about as after all the old adage remains true – “your health is your wealth” and looking after it should be top of your agenda.