There is no reason why you shouldn’t travel during pregnancy, but during the later stages you should check your doctor if you are going abroad. Airlines may not be willing to take you once you are past 28 weeks because of the risk of a premature labour occurring. If you want to fly you will need to […]
As you find getting around more difficult and everything generally more of an effort, you may because irritable over the smallest thing, you will be impatient for your baby to arrive, and concern about the impending birth and worries about how you will cope with being a parent can make you short-tempered, especially with your partner. Tell […]
It is important to be able to relax, both mentally and physically, during pregnancy because this will help you to rest. Knowing how to make your body relax during labour will allow you to work with the contractions rather than against them. Physical Relaxation Start by getting comfortable and make sure that every part of […]
From start (when to conceive) to finish (how to deliver), pregnancy these days is full of personal choices. When it comes to birthing that baby, the array of options is dizzying, even in a hospital setting. Leave the hospital and there’s yet more to select from. Though your delivery preferences shouldn’t be your only criteria in picking a practitioner, […]
Now that you are at the end of the first trimester and your pregnancy is a visible state, you should start to familiarize yourself with some of the professionals with whom you will regularly be interacting. During pregnancy, and after the birth, a number of different people will be involved in your care. How many you see will […]
Your blood will have be tested at your booking -in appointment to determine your blood group and to establish its rhesus (Rh) status. The rhesus status of your blood depends on whether or not it possesses the rhesus factor. If the factor is present, your blood is Rh-positive, and if it’s absent, your blood is […]
As your body prepares itself for birth, you may experience some physical effects. These are perfectly normal, can usually be dealt with easily, and should not leave any long lasting effects, but knowing the reason for complaint can often help in dealing with it. 1.Backache. This can occur at any time, but usually happens when you try to compensate […]
The following terms and abbreviations may appear on your maternity record. AFP : Alpha-fetoprotein. BP : Blood Pressure. Cephalic : Fetal head is nearest the cervix. Cx : Cervix. EDD : Estimated date of delivery. FHH : Fetal heart heard. FMF : Fetal movement felt. Height Fundus : The distance from the pelvis to the […]
Hormones play an important part during pregnancy and labour. The prime source of the hormones related to pregnancy are the ovaries during the early stages, and than the placenta once it is established at around 12 weeks. These hormones dictate how fast the fetus grows and are responsible for the changes in your breasts and […]
Although the majority pregnancies go without a hitch, sometimes serious problems do occur and special care is needed. Complications can usually be resolved with monitoring, but the occasionally the pregnancy comes to an end. Although the following conditions are not likely to affect you, you should be aware of their symptoms: 1. Pre-eclampsia. This is a high […]
Pregnancy lasts approximately 40 weeks and is calculated from the first day of your last period, although conception will probably not have taken place until around two weeks after this. Pregnancy is divided into three parts known as trimesters. The first covers weeks 1-13, The second trimesters weeks 14-26, and The third trimesters week 27 until birth.