Pregnancy and baby: your questions and our answers

My child hits / bites at daycare?

This is a common behavior in young children, and I can reassure you it has no aggressive intent! They are not doing it to cause harm: it is most likely an impulsive act, which may be linked to a feeling of frustration (if another child took their toy, for example), or to a somewhat clumsy attempt at making contact. They may even be expressing a great deal of affection by biting! Calmly explain that this behavior is not acceptable, and guide them in comforting the child they bit or hit.

My child has a cold again — what should I do?

There are countless strains of the common cold virus, so yes, you are likely to encounter it very often! The most important thing is to rinse your child's nose with saline solution several times a day, and especially before meals and bedtime: this will help them eat and sleep more easily. If the cold is preventing them from eating, don't hesitate to offer more frequent but smaller meals. Also make sure they stay well hydrated and that the room is properly humidified and ventilated to help moisten their secretions. One last thing: be sure to monitor their temperature and general condition, particularly to check whether they are not having difficulty breathing.

Léa Kourganoff, lead midwife on the May team, answers the 3 most frequently asked questions from pregnant women on the app.

Pregnancy and baby: answers to the most common questions

Pain during pregnancy, baby ailments… Parenthood brings a wealth of questions. To answer the most important ones, we met with the team at May. This app supports parents from pregnancy through the child's first three years, a bit like having an army of professionals — midwife, pediatrician, specialist… — in your pocket, always available and full of good advice. For Charlie Crane, the app shares answers to the most frequently asked questions from their community.

Emmanuelle Rigeade, lead pediatric nurse on the May team, answers the 3 most frequently asked questions by parents on the app.

Why does my baby cry as soon as I put them down?

Your baby has just spent nine months in their mother's womb, curled up on themselves, rocked and massaged by the movements of the amniotic fluid… They still need reassuring reference points around them (the sound of your voice, the rhythm of your heartbeat, the warmth of your chest…) and to feel "held" and close to you. It's therefore completely normal for them to cry when you put them down during the first few weeks. Don't hesitate to keep them close to you (babywearing is a great solution to still have your hands free), or to place a hand on them when they are lying down.

I no longer feel the symptoms of early pregnancy — should I be worried?

The absence of pregnancy symptoms or their disappearance during the first trimester should not worry you:) It probably means your hormone secretion has decreased a little, and is finally giving you some relief!

What should alert you: if you feel cramps in the lower abdomen, accompanied by bleeding. Otherwise, there's a good chance your pregnancy is progressing smoothly:) Enjoy this sense of calm!

If you are still worried, nothing will reassure you better than a consultation with your healthcare provider to make sure everything is fine.

I sometimes feel contractions that are not painful. Is that normal?

Does your uterus become very hard for about a minute and then relax? It could be a Braxton-Hicks contraction (named after the doctor who first described them!). During pregnancy, it's common to experience them from time to time: the upper threshold is usually set at 10–15 per day. If they become more frequent, or are accompanied by a pain similar to "menstrual cramps," it will be important to consult your healthcare provider to assess the situation.

I sometimes feel pulling sensations on the sides of my lower abdomen — is that normal?

This strongly resembles round ligament pain! It's common to experience this, so don't worry. As the fetus grows, the uterus pushes and pulls on its ligaments and those of the neighboring organs, like large elastic bands!

As long as it remains discomfort or mild pain, there is nothing to worry about — on the contrary: it means your little one is growing! You can try to relieve it with heat (hot water bottle, bath, shower) and rest.

Of course, if you are concerned about intense, persistent, or worsening pain, it may be a good idea to consult your healthcare provider to make sure everything is fine!:)

Still have questions? Head over to May!

Thank you to Cécilia and the May team for their time.