Pregnant

Travelling

Whether your pregnancy was meticulously planned, medically coaxed, or happened by surprise, one thing is certain -- your life will never be the same. CATHERINE JONES  The world today is a very small place. Be it for business or pleasure, travel plays a significant role in our lives. As with most other aspects of your life, the rules change slightly when you are pregnant – but don’t panic if you need to travel during this time. The days of pregnant women being confined to their homes are long gone, but before you pack your bags, make sure you know all the facts

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Stem Cells

As your pregnancy nears the end, there are so many things to think about. What will you name your child? Are you going to have a caesarean? Will you breastfeed? But what many women don’t think about is their unborn baby’s medical future. Will that baby be healthy? Will she suffer from some or other disease? Can it be prevented? Scientists believe that stem cell storage may be the answer. Despite the leaps and bounds in medicine, storing your baby’s stem cells immediately after birth is still a fairly contentious and personal issue. Many doctors believe that banking your baby’s stem cells,

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Sex during Pregnancy

For many women, sex goes from relatively frequent to practically non-existent when they fall pregnant. The mere thought of having sex revolts them and their partners, who’ve long forgotten what sex was, will longingly dream about the nights of passion that were frequent, pre-pregnancy. Then there are those women who become increasingly sexual as their hormones surge and their pregnancies progress. Many would say that it’s the best love-making that they’ve ever experienced. What is important, no matter what your libido, is that you are honest with yourself and your partner about your feelings and your needs. Is sex safe during pregnancy? If you

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Safe Driving

In modern society, the mother-to-be simply can’t stay at home and wait around for nine months. It is important for our pregnant road users to know that unless they suffer from a special condition, they can live normal lives without too many changes. As long as it is comfortable they can get in a car right up until the end of pregnancy. It would however be wise for pregnant women to avoid driving in conditions that might increase stress, such as driving in bad weather conditions, rain, wind or icy weather. Driving at night can also be stressful as your sight

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Pre-natal Tests

Routine Appointments For a first pregnancy, routine checks happen every four weeks following the booking-in appointment. Around week 28 the check increase to every two weeks, and from week 36 they are weekly. At every appointment your midwife/ doctor will check: Weight – you may not be weighed at each appointment but you should let your midwife know of any rapid increase in weight, which can be a sign of diabetes or water retention (the latter can be a symptom of pre-eclampsia, a potentially serious condition of pregnancy). Abdomen – feeling (palpating) your abdomen can determine the size and position of

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Pregnancy and Travel

As your baby’s birthday approaches and you prepare for sleepless nights, you and your partner may decide that you’d like to go away somewhere remote and romantic, just the two of you, for old time's sake. But can you and should you travel when you’re pregnant? In most cases, traveling during pregnancy shouldn’t be a problem. The key here, as the girl guides say, is to be prepared. Speak to your doctor before you prepare your trip. While some studies have shown no real increase in miscarriages linked to flying, it’s best not to travel in the first trimester of your pregnancy. Your doctor is

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