INFANT has launched a new study to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the accessibility of support services for carers of children with special needs, and the effect, if any, on carer well-being.

Carers Access to REspite services and support during COVID-19 (CARE Study) is about giving a voice to children with special needs and their carers during COVID-19 pandemic.

Participation is open to people that are 18 years of age or over and who are carers or guardians to a child or children with special needs in the Republic of Ireland and it involves answering a 15-minute survey, at a time that suits you.

Children with physical and intellectual disabilities make up 6.7% of the Irish population and require extra supportive care and services daily, for them to participate in all aspects of life. The imposed COVID-19 restrictions will have reduced or removed their support network, which will directly impact the physical and mental development of these children. The current situation will also inevitably impact the well-being of carers and affect the quality of life for both entities.

Since the global outbreak of COVID-19, we are being inundated with claims that certain foods, nutrients and nutritional supplements can prevent or even cure COVID-19.

However, the truth about diet and COVID-19 is this: No single food, nutrient or supplement can “boost” our immune function to prevent us from catching COVID-19. Good hygiene practices and physical distancing remain the best ways of limiting our risk of infection.

A healthy diet has a role in maintaining a healthy immune system and helping the body fight infection. There are a number of healthy food and lifestyle choices that you can make during this time to ensure that your body has all the nutrients it needs to keep you healthy, to help your baby grow and develop and to support your immune function.

1. Get your supply of essential nutrients

Aim for a diet that includes a range of healthy, nutrient-rich foods that will deliver important vitamins and minerals for pregnancy such as folic acid, iron, calcium, vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids.

• Take a folic acid supplement (400μg per day) every day for the first 12 weeks of your pregnancy and include foods that are a rich source of folic acid in your diet, such as green leafy vegetables, fortified breakfast cereals and milk.
• Eat foods that are rich in iron at least twice a day. Good sources of haem iron (easily absorbed by the body) include red meats like beef, lamb and pork and non-haem iron (less- well absorbed) is found in eggs, green leafy vegetables, pulses and fortified breakfast cereals. Try to eat foods rich in vitamin C (oranges, kiwis, strawberries and red peppers) at the same time as your non-haem iron sources.
• Try to eat 3 servings of milk, cheese or yoghurt a day. These foods are rich in calcium which is important for healthy bones. Low-fat dairy products contain the same amounts of calcium as full-fat versions.
• Aim to eat 1-2 portions of oily fish like salmon, mackerel, herring and sardines every week. These are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids (important for baby’s brain development) and vitamin D (important for you and your baby’s bone health).

2. Gain a healthy level of weight and keep active

It is normal to gain weight during your pregnancy, and it is important to keep weight gain to a safe and healthy level for you and your baby. You may hear advice about “eating for two” while you are pregnant, but you should not eat twice as much during pregnancy. Staying physically active during your pregnancy, even if you did not exercise regularly before becoming pregnant, is also important. Talk to your healthcare professional leading the care of your pregnancy for advice on a healthy level of weight gain for you and for appropriate exercise regimens during pregnancy.

3. Be aware of portion sizes

Overly large portions of high energy foods contribute to weight gain. It can be difficult to get portion sizes right, and being at home for extended periods, especially without company or with limited activities, can certainly lead to us overeating.

4. Snacking

Snacking during your pregnancy is perfectly fine, and it is a really good way of getting the extra nutrients and calories that your body needs later in your pregnancy. Some snacks may even help you to deal with some of the common symptoms of pregnancy such as nausea, fatigue and gastric upset. Try to avoid fatty and sugary snacks. Instead opt for snacks that will deliver important nutrients like folic acid, vitamin C, iron, calcium and vitamin D.

5. Limit your sugar and salt intake

Fresh produce such as vegetables, fruit, eggs and fresh, unprocessed fish, chicken and meat have no added salt or sugar. Unprocessed staples such as potatoes, rice, noodles, pasta have no added salt or sugar. Build your main meal around these foods. For other meals, prioritise foods with reduced or no added salt or sugar.

Limit your intake of sugary foods like sweets, chocolate, biscuits, cakes, soft drinks and fruit juices with added sugar.

Avoid salty snacks such as crisps. Avoid adding extra salt to your meals at the table. Consider using fresh or dried herbs and spices for added flavour instead.

6. Get enough fibre

Dietary fibre contributes to a healthy gut and digestive system, it keeps hunger between meals at bay and has proven benefits for heart health. Wholegrain cereals, such as wheat, brown rice, corn, oats, rye and barley, and vegetables, pulses and fruit are fibre providers. Juicing vegetables robs them of their fibre, so eat them whole.

7. Stay hydrated

Not only is water the healthiest and cheapest drink, it is also crucial for optimal health (6-8 glasses per day). Drinking water instead of sugar-sweetened beverages is a simple way to limit your intake of sugar and excess calories.

Get your information from a reputable source!

Just as we are being advised to rely on official sources for updates on how to reduce COVID-19 transmission, we should also look to trusted sources for healthy eating advice during pregnancy. The Health Service Executive (HSE) have evidence-based guidelines for eating well during pregnancy.

Our Clinical Psychologists, Leanna Fogarty and Dr Margaret O’ Rourke have identified a number of tools and resources to help you deal with any additional stresses in your lives. We will share some bitesize tips with you every week through the INFANT website and our social media channels.

There are no quick fixes but there are things that we can do to remain focused, calm, and positive.

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Psychological research has discovered that happiness can be built and enhanced with five core ingredients. The word PERMA is the easiest way to remember the five important building blocks of mental health and wellbeing – all things that are very helpful right now!

1. Positive Emotions

It can be hard work to be positive sometimes but the more you try the more it will become a habit. Positive emotions really help your mental health and will build and support confidence and self-belief, creativity, flexibility, optimism, perseverance, physical and mental health productivity, and energy.

2. Engagement

Being fully focused and engaged on the task at hand is very good for wellbeing. Try to be fully present in the now and the tasks and activities you are engaged in  – it doesn’t matter how simple or difficult the task may be.

3. Relationships

Positive relationships help us build resilience, reduce stress, and improve wellbeing. Regardless of what happens at work, at home, or in your life, try to ensure you work at keeping relationships positive and supportive.

4. Meaning

Belonging to and serving something bigger than ourselves is an excellent way to build wellbeing and purpose. What could be more important than the job you do as a parent? Every parent struggles from time to time so cut yourself some slack, be kind and compassionate towards yourself, and always ask for help if you need it!

5. Accomplishment

Your family, friends, and community salute you and want to congratulate you on the way you are adapting to and handling this very difficult situation. Remember we talked about the KISS technique a few weeks ago? Keep your day simple and structured!

New research led by Dr. Andrea Hemmingway, PI Prof Mairead Kiely, and the INFANT maternal and child nutrition team has been published in the British Journal of Nutrition.

The study has reported that breastfeeding rates have increased slightly over the past 10 years and mothers are breastfeeding for longer.

Breastfeeding is recommended, where possible, because it has many health benefits for mum and baby. It can promote the development of a baby’s immune system and protect against infection. For mums, breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer and may help with a gradual return to pre-pregnancy weight.

Using data from the COMBINE study – of which over 450 families from Cork and the surrounding area participated between 2015-2017 – the team analysed current infant feeding practices and explored changes in breastfeeding rates over the past 8-10 years.

The COMBINE study found that 75% of mums were breastfeeding to some extent by the time they went home from the hospital and 44% breastfed solely without formula top-ups. In comparison, INFANT’s BASELINE study – led by PI Prof Deirdre Murray between 2008 and 2011 – had a breastfeeding rate of 69% at the time mums went home and 40% breastfed solely.

Both studies had several follow-up visits with families during the first year. At two months of age, 36% of COMBINE babies were solely breastfeeding, compared with 27% in BASELINE. At six months, the rate of breastfeeding had doubled from 12% in BASELINE to 24% in COMBINE.

Current guidelines from the WHO and the HSE are to breastfeed solely for about six months and to continue breastfeeding while introducing solid foods from 4-6 months. Although our rates of continued breastfeeding are very low in Ireland, the improvement over time in these two studies is encouraging.

Interacting closely with families throughout the first six months of life, the COMBINE study team identified a link between combination feeding and stopping breastfeeding earlier. Combination feeding – using a combination of breastfeeding and infant formula – was common at hospital discharge and over the early infant period. The main reasons for combination feeding at one-month included: maternal perception of infant hunger, healthcare professional advice, and breastfeeding difficulties.

These findings highlight the need for early breastfeeding supports for mums, babies, and families, particularly in the first weeks and months after birth. The results also indicate that mums who are able to establish successful breastfeeding initially are now continuing to breastfeed for longer.

Read the full publication here. The research was supported by a grant from Science Foundation Ireland.

Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys, TD, today announced that twelve teams have been shortlisted to progress onto the next phase of the SFI Future Innovator Prize.

Funded by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation through Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), this competition is part of an overall government plan to cultivate challenge-based funding in Ireland. The two Challenges, the Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Societal Good Challenge and the Zero Emissions Challenge are run in partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

AI4LIFE – led by Prof Geraldine Boylan, Prof Liam Marnane and Societal Champion Dr Mairead O’Riordan – will focus on the challenge of reducing neonatal morbidity and mortality. 

The team plan to develop a new, easy to interpret, fetal monitoring system that will use AI assisted interpretation to monitor the vital signs of mother and baby during labour to quickly identify any issues. 

The AI4LIFE project has the potential to impact current clinical practice and improve the lives of families and their babies nationally and internationally.

Minister Heather Humphreys, TD said: “I am delighted to announce that twelve teams will go forward to the next phase of the Future Innovator Prize competition. These teams are addressing key societal challenges Zero Emissions and Artificial Intelligence for Societal Good. I commend the researchers on their inspiring solution-focused ideas. Now more than ever, we need to ensure that ongoing significant national and global issues including climate change, disease diagnosis and treatment continue to be addressed. Programmes such as the Future Innovator Prize empower our innovators to deliver creative solutions to important issues where we as a society will benefit.”

Minister for International Development, Ciarán Cannon, TD added: “This important partnership between Irish Aid and Science Foundation Ireland enables innovative research into solutions for key global challenges, such as mitigating climate change.  I am delighted that Irish Aid is co-funding four of the research projects that have reached Seed phase.”

Twenty-four teams have participated to date, six teams have been shortlisted from each Challenge and at the end of the 12-month programme two overall winners will be announced.  The AI for Societal Good Challenge and Zero Emissions Challenge each have prizes of €2 million.

Minister for Training, Skills, Innovation, Research and Development, John Halligan continued:  “It is a privilege to support the development of these great ideas, which are being co-created by interdisciplinary teams from leading institutes and organisations across the country spanning Galway, Cork, Limerick and Dublin. Best of luck to all the teams for the next phase of the competition.”

Dr Ruth Freeman, Director Science for Society, Science Foundation Ireland added her congratulations: “Well done to the twelve teams on their success, hard work and dedication. It is an achievement to progress this far in the Future Innovator Prize competition. The excellent standard of the projects illustrates the importance of continuing to embed competitive and challenge-based funding within the Irish ecosystem. Many of the projects here directly address UN sustainable development goals and can potentially help Ireland achieve these aims. I look forward to following the teams as they journey through this next phase of the programme.”

The twelve successful teams represent a diverse range of backgrounds and closely engage with societal and industry stakeholders to co-create their solutions. In the AI for Societal Good Challenge these solutions address societal concerns of both national and global significance that align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, from detection of greenwashing, to tracking climate change adaptation, and lung cancer treatment to detection of preeclampsia or endometriosis and fetal monitoring.

This week is World Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week. The aim is to raise awareness of maternal mental health issues and to promote the help and support that is available for those who require it.

Pregnancy and the period after birth can be particularly challenging and now, more than ever, it is normal to feel extra stressed, anxious, overwhelmed, or upset.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recognised worldwide that 15.6% of pregnant women and 19.8% of women who have just given birth experience challenges in relation to mental health.

It is important to be prepared and equipped to try and face these added stresses and what better way to do so than with the aid of a ‘TOOLBOX’.

Our INFANT clinical psychologists Leanna Fogarty and Dr. Margaret O’Rourke have put together a quick summary of the essential tools that you need in your toolbox!

Tools for you Toolbox

Tool 2: UNHOOKING: The main aim is to try and unhook yourself from unhelpful and intrusive thoughts. NOTICE that a difficult thought or feeling has hooked you. Realise that you are distracted by a difficult thought or feeling, and notice it with curiosity. NAME the difficult thought or feeling, then, REFOCUS on what you are doing.

Tool 3: ACTING ON YOUR VALUES: Choose the values that are most important to you.  You and only you can decide which values are most important to you! Then pick one small way that you can act according to these values? What will you do? What will you say? Even tiny actions matter!

Tool 4: BEING KIND : Everyone is in this together, you most importantly, realise this and respond with kindness. Unhook from unkind thoughts by noticing and naming these. Being kind to yourself will help to give you energy, motivation and positivity to help others.

Tool 5: MAKING ROOM: The aim here is to push out all those negative thoughts and feelings. This is very difficult to master, but with time and practice and the right tools you can accomplish this. Instead of fighting with the thought or feeling, allow it to move through you, acknowledge it and move on.

Useful Resources

• CUMH: Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service
• HSE: 10 Things to know about Perinatal Mental Health
• HSE: What are Perinatal Mental Health Services?
• HSE: Mental Health in Pregnancy
• WHO: Doing What Matters in Times of Stress: An Illustrated Guide

The team at INFANT would like to assure all of our community that we understand how challenging a situation we now find ourselves in.

Our Clinical Psychologists, Leanna and Margaret have identified a number of tools and resources to help you deal with any additional stresses in your lives. We will share some bitesize tips with you every week through the INFANT website and our social media channels.

There are no quick fixes but there are things that we can do to remain focused, calm, and positive and to and keep moving forward.

Please let us know if you find these resources useful!

Keep it Simple and Structured (KISS)

Maintaining a daily routine can help you preserve a sense of order and purpose in your life despite the unfamiliarity of isolation and quarantine. Try to include regular daily activities, such as work, exercise or learning, even if they must be done remotely. Integrate other healthy pastimes as needed. Spend time on things that make you happy!

Over the next few days try using the KISS approach.

1. KEEP: Make sure each day has a beginning, middle, and end. Children cope better with stress when it is introduced in predictable ways, such as daily routines and normal activities: getting up in the morning, getting dressed, breakfast, school work, fun-time, bedtime routines, eating healthy, drinking healthy, getting enough sleep and doing things that you enjoy.
2. IT: Be clear about your priorities for each day. What is important to you, what needs to be done? For most of us controlling our behaviour is easier than controlling our thoughts and feelings. So our number one aim is to take control of our behaviour, plan, structure and accomplish.
3. SIMPLE: List the tasks you need to complete and celebrate the little wins for the day. Keep it simple and focus on what is important for you and your baby.
4. STRUCTURED: Now is a time when it is particularly important to have structure to ensure a productive day. Structure your day, have a plan, try and stick to routines especially when children are involved.

Useful Apps

• Mind Shift is a mental health app designed specifically for teens and young adults with anxiety. Rather than trying to avoid anxious feelings, Mind Shift stresses the importance of changing how you think about anxiety. It can encourage you to take charge of your life, ride out intense emotions, and face challenging situations.
• Self Help for Anxiety Management might be perfect for you if you’re interested in self-help, but meditation isn’t your thing. Users are prompted to build their own 24-hour anxiety toolkit that allows you to track anxious thoughts and behaviour over time, and learn 25 different self-help techniques.
• Happify Need a happy fix? With its psychologist-approved mood-training program, the Happify app is your fast-track to a good mood. Try various engaging games, activity suggestions, gratitude prompts and more to train your brain as if it were a muscle, to overcome negative thoughts.
• Headspace makes meditation simple. Learn the skills of mindfulness and meditation by using this app for just a few minutes per day. You gain access to hundreds of meditations on everything from stress and anxiety to sleep and focus. The app also has a handy “get some headspace” reminder to encourage you to keep practicing each day.
• Calm provides people experiencing stress and anxiety with guided meditations, sleep stories, breathing programs, and relaxing music. This app is truly universal; whether you’ve never tried meditation before or regularly practice, you’ll find the perfect program for you.
• Smiling Mind is a way to practice daily meditation and mindfulness exercises from any device. Smiling Mind is a unique tool developed by psychologists and educators to help bring balance to your life. This is really helpful during times of stress and is a fun and unique way to help you put a smile on your mind.