Compiled by Dr Muiris Houston and Sylvia Thompson
Breastfeeding Expert: The American childbirth educator and breastfeeding expert, Molly Pessl, will address the annual conference of the La Leche League in the Arklow Bay Hotel, Arklow, Co Wicklow this weekend. Other speakers include John Lonergan, governor of Mountjoy Prison (whose theme is Honesty in Parenting) and Jo Murphy Lawless, sociologist at Trinity College, Dublin (Birth - What Women Want). The La Leche League offers mother-to-mother breastfeeding support through meetings and 24-hour helplines. Conference booking on 0404 41773. It costs 42.
Migraine Briefing: The Migraine Association of Ireland is holding its annual seminar in the Royal Dublin Hotel, O'Connell Street, Dublin on Sunday from 2.30 p.m. to 5 p.m. The keynote speaker is Beaumont Hospital neurologist, Dr Orla Hardiman. An acupuncturist will also discuss pain relief through acupuncture and a migraine sufferer will present her perspective of migraine. Advance booking on 1850 200 378. Admission 7.
Herbal Power: Herbs are an abundant source of anti-oxidants as well as a taste enhancer of food, claim researchers with the Department of Agriculture in the United States. On a per gram, fresh weight comparison, herbs such as oregano ranked 42 times higher than apples, 30 times higher than potatoes and 12 times higher than oranges in their antioxidant activity. "Some herbs should be considered as regular vegetables. People should use more herbs for flavouring instead of salt and artificial chemicals," the researchers say. Fresh herbs also contain higher antioxidant levels than their processed counterparts. Anti-oxidants are believed to protect against cancer by cleaning up free oxygen molecules in the body.
Baby Day: More than 40 mothers and their babies are gathering for a Baby Health Day, to be held on Saturday at the Old Nurses Home in Cork University Hospital. Topics include a healthy lifestyle for babies and how to deal with crises should they happen. The day is designed to help give mothers the confidence to be the best parents they can be. Lorraine McHugh, an infants massage Instructor and organiser of the event, believes confidence ranges from being able to love and care for the baby through touch and "listening" to the baby's needs, through to how to deal with complex situations such as resuscitation. One of the main focuses of the day will be on sign language and massage for babies.