The Babybook by Families First

Welcome Congratulations on your pregnancy Being pregnant is an amazing time and you deserve to feel special and supported through pregnancy, birth and beyond. That’s why we created The Baby Book and The Baby Bag, which is also available at your local surgery.

Disclaimer The information in this guide is not a substitute for examination, diagnosis or treatment by a doctor, midwife, health visitor or any other health professional. BFM Ltd. will not be liable for any loss or damage arising out of or in connection with the use of the information in this publication. Every effort has been made to make this book reflect the most up to date clinical advice available at the time of publication.

You’re sure to have lots of questions about being pregnant, and this book takes you through pregnancy week by week so you discover everything you need to know at each stage, right through to birth. Keep your book handy throughout your pregnancy for the latest research from health professionals, top tips from other mums-to-be and advice & inspiration to help you look and feel good. Don’t forget to get your Baby Bag - ask at your local surgery or log onto www.familiesfirst.ie With Best Wishes, Babyface Marketing

While Pregnant pgs 3 - 20 First Trimester pgs 21 - 29 Second Trimester pgs 30 - 45 Third Trimester pgs 46 - 63 Giving Birth pgs 64 - 82 After Pregnancy pgs 83 - 89 Baby Care pgs 90 - 96 Dictionary pg 97

While Pregnant

3

Ante Natal Care If you think you are pregnant, the first step is to visit your GP. You may already have completed a pregnancy test. He/she will do some preliminary tests, such as taking your blood, and will use the date of your last monthly period to estimate the date the baby is due (the estimated delivery date or EDD). He/ she will then discuss your plans for antenatal care.

Antenatal care is the help you receive from health professionals during the course of your pregnancy.

It is important you take good care of your own health and that the health

of your unborn baby is monitored throughout the pregnancy and antenatal appointments play an important part in that.

Your GP will provide you with a ‘letter of referral’ to the maternity hospital if that is where you opt to have your baby. You can then contact the hospital for your first appointment.

If you wish to have your baby at home read the information box on home birth.

Choice of Care You may opt for services under the Maternity & Infant Care Scheme, which

is a system of combined care, split between your general practitioner and a maternity unit / hospital obstetrician. Alternatively, you may choose to visit the hospital’s antenatal clinic, either as a public, semiprivate or private patient.

Public care All expectant mothers who are ordinarily resident in Ireland are entitled to free maternity care, covering antenatal visits, labour and delivery and postnatal.

When you ring the hospital to make your first appointment, you will be asked if you intend to visit as a pub-

While Pregnant

9

lic, semi-private or private patient.

If you are a public patient, you will attend the hospital’s antenatal clinic (or hospital clinics based in the community). You may see the same doctor on each visit, or you may not.

Alternatively, if your pregnancy is uncomplicated, you may elect to visit the midwives’ clinic if the hospital has one. This is staffed by experienced midwives and again, can ensure you continuity of care.

When you come into the hospital for labour and delivery, you will be delivered by staff midwives and may not see a doctor unless you experience complications.

You may not have met the midwives or doctors who attend your labour and delivery.

After the birth of your baby, you will be moved to the public ward for your stay, generally of about three days. A small number of hospitals now offer early discharge schemes, allowing you to go home early from hospital with follow-

up care.

For more information on Ante Natal Care, please contact your local hospital.

Semi-Private and Private Care If you are attending as a semi-private patient, you may see a consultant privately, or attend the semiprivate clinic. This clinic is run by the consultant and his/her team. In some hospitals a team member may deliver your baby, or the doctor on duty at the time. After delivery, you will stay on a semi-private ward, with approximately 3-5 other mothers.

will have approximately 8-10 antenatal appointments with your doctor or midwife during your pregnancy. You will visit your GP/antenatal clinic/ midwife monthly until month seven, fortnightly in month eight and weekly in month nine.

The First Antenatal Visit Your first visit to hospital can be any time from 8-20 weeks in the pregnancy.

The purpose of this visit is to get a full picture of your health and the health of your baby. You can expect to speak to a midwife, who will ask a range of background questions about your health and medical history.

If you are attending privately, you will be appointed your own consultant whom you will see at each visit. Your consultant may not necessarily be available to deliver your baby.

Private care also entitles you to a private room, although, again, this is dependent on availability.

This will also be an opportunity for you to ask questions about your care and the range of services that are available to you.

You will be asked for a urine sample, will have your blood pressure taken and will have blood tests. The purpose of the blood tests will be explained to you.

Antenatal Classes Generally in Ireland, you

In some hospitals, you may have an ultrasound scan on

your first visit, the purpose of this first scan is to assess the size and growth of your baby and determine a date for the birth of your baby The first antenatal visit lasts approximately two hours. If your pregnancy is normal, subsequent visits will be much shorter. Visits can be shared between the hospital and your GP or midwife.

Dating scan: During your first antenatal appointment you will probably be given a ‘dating’ scan. This is usually held around weeks 10-14 and is used to determine the delivery date of your baby and to check if it is a single or multiple pregnancy. This is a very exciting time as it is the first opportunity you will have to see your baby.

Antenatal Screening Antenatal screening is a way of assessing whether your unborn baby could develop or has developed an abnormality or other condition during pregnancy. You may be offered

screening tests that can detect structural abnormalities like spina bifida, which is a defect in the development of the spine, or some chromosomal disorders like Down’s syndrome, which is caused by an abnormal number of chromosomes.

Different maternity services may use different tests but screening usually involves a combination of ultrasound scans and blood tests. If after screening tests the risk of problems is found to be high, you may be offered pre-natal diagnosis. These are tests to find out the likelihood that your baby will be born with the suspected condition.

No test is 100% accurate and some abnormalities may remain undetected.

Should your baby be born with any health problems a support circle of care will immediately be put in place including any counselling you may need to cope with the news and prepare you for the future with your baby.

Subsequent Visits At each visit you will provide a urine sample, your blood pressure will be taken and you will be examined. If you have any questions or worries related to your pregnancy, you should ask the midwife or doctor.

Most hospitals will have a system of parent craft classes which you and your partner or friend can attend near the time of birth.

These sessions will provide you with an opportunity to learn more about breastfeeding, nutrition, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and preparing you and your family for the birth of your baby.

Information provided by the Citizens Information Board www.citizensinformation.ie More information can found on the Cuidiú, the Irish Childbirth Trust website www.cuidiu-ict.ie

Top Tips for Nutrition & Exercise When you’re pregnant you want to look and feel good, which means eating healthily and exercising, but what should you be eating during pregnancy and what type of exercise is safe?

Avoid eating for two Many women put on a lot of weight during pregnancy but this can make the whole experience more difficult. Try not to overeat when pregnant and ask your doctor how much weight you should be putting on.

Choose a healthy diet with

plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables, carbohydrates and protein. Avoid food with a high fat content and make sure you know about foods that aren’t safe to eat during pregnancy, like some soft cheeses.

Keeping active When you’re pregnant it’s more important than ever to keep active and exercise.

Activities like swimming and walking are perfect for pregnant women, but avoid contact sports or any activity where you’re at risk of falling over or getting hit in the stomach.

If you already have an exercise routine than ask your doctor for advice about whether your activity is safe to do or not.

If you find an activity that you feel comfortable there’s no reason why you can’t keep it up throughout your pregnancy. In fact, exercising will help you build stamina and strengthen your muscles which can make childbirth easier.

While Pregnant

13

Is It Safe To Exercise?

When you’re pregnant it’s important to keep as fit and healthy as possible, but many expectant mums worry that the exercise they do could harm their baby. Doctors recommend that you do mild to moderate exercise three times a week whilst pregnant so read on to find out what type of exercise you can do and what to avoid.

Perfect pregnancy exercises There are tons of exercises

and activities that you can do including walking, swimming and using an exercise bike. Yoga and Pilates are also good but only carry out recommended exercises if you want to do one of these.

You can also ride a bike on the road but most doctors recommend that you stop in the second trimester as there is always a risk of you falling off and harming yourself and your baby.

Exercises to avoid In general, avoid exercises where you could fall on your stomach or be knocked off balance such as gymnastics, horse riding or skiing. It’s also recommended that you avoid contact sports like football and rugby as there is a risk of you getting kicked or hit in the stomach. It is also unsafe to dive when you are pregnant.

While Pregnant

15

Morning Sickness For some poor unfortunates the joy of being pregnant is quickly overshadowed by a big and very unpleasant cloud - morning sickness.

If you’re very unlucky, you’ll feel sick and nauseous all day for the duration of your pregnancy and if you’re really, really unlucky and find yourself frequently throwing up, you may be diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG – extreme morning sickness) and given medication, or you could even be hospitalised for a few days to allow your body to recover.

Figures vary but morning sickness occurs in the first three months of up to 80% of pregnancies. Some women will experience nausea before they have even missed a period, but for most it kicks in around 5-8 weeks.

Symptoms of Morning Sickness These range from a mildly unpleasant taste in the mouth to violent vomiting.

Some women feel continually nauseous; others start to water in the mouth when they are faced with a strong smell. For some it can come as a bit of shock when their body rejects something that they previously loved – a common one here is coffee, the smell and taste of which can be enough to make some pregnant women gag on the spot. Fried foods, egg, fish and other strong smelling foods can have the same effect.

In extreme cases vomiting can occur regularly throughout the day. If this is your experience it’s important that you stay hydrated, so drink plenty of water and contact your GP for advice as they may recommend medication

to reduce the symptoms.

Where HG is diagnosed you may need to be hospitalised for a day or two to allow for the administration of fluids, vitamins and minerals through an intravenous drip.

What Causes Morning Sickness?

Research into why pregnant women suffer from morning sickness is ongoing and non conclusive, but here are some of the most common beliefs:

Hormones – Rising levels of the female sex hormone oestrogen can heighten your sense of smell, which may explain why certain smells can trigger the onset of symptoms. Increased human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) levels - after conception (when the sperm fertilises the egg), the body begins to produce a hormone called human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). It is thought that a rise in the level of hCG may cause nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.

Nutritional Deficiency – A lack of vitamin B6 is an-

Tips To Ease Morning Sickness There are no miracle cures or solutions for morning sickness. Below is a list of tried and tested suggestions for soothing the symptoms that have been known to work for other women. Hopefully, one will work for you too…

- Eat small snacks frequently. If your stomach gets empty,

other possible cause. Foods high in this vitamin include whole cereals, bread, soya beans, milk, potatoes and peanuts.

Gastric Problems – High levels of progesterone (a hormone that prepares the womb for pregnancy and protects the lining), increases the movement in the small intestine, oesophagus (gullet) and stomach reduces, causing nausea and vomiting.

tionary adaptation that has occurred to protect the foetus from harmful substances. Pregnant women often do not feel like eating foods that can potentially become contaminated, such as meat, poultry and eggs. Instead, foods with a low risk of contamination, such as bread and crackers, tend to be preferred.

Evolutionary Adaptation - Some scientists believe that morning sickness may be the result of an evolu-

the increase in acid levels can cause you to feel worse.

- Try to stay away from high fat foods, opting instead for seeds, crackers, vegetable or fruit sticks, jelly sweets.

- Try chewing on sticks of liquorice to help.

- Nibble on crystallised ginger pieces or ginger biscuits, as ginger is known to settle and

soothe the digestive system.

- Sip lemon, ginger or peppermint tea to refresh your taste buds and ease your stomach.

While Pregnant

17

Sex During Pregnancy Once the feelings of nausea and exhaustion pass, you should start to feel like your old self, only this time the increased levels of hormones in your body may make you feel even sexier.

There is no physical reason why you shouldn’t continue to have sexual intercourse right through a normal pregnancy. Sex with a bump is entirely possible and many women find that it’s even more enjoyable.

This is because of an in-

crease in vaginal lubrication and engorgement of the genital area helps some people become orgasmic for the first time or even multi-orgasmic!

Not having to worry about birth control is another big plus. Or if you have been trying for a baby for a long time, the fact that you are now pregnant allows you to enjoy sex simply for pleasure rather than for a purpose.

During the first 1-12 weeks of pregnancy you simply may not feel like sex as the changes in your body are probably causing feelings of extreme tiredness and sickness. If you feel like going to bed, it will probably be to sleep and nothing else.

This may be difficult for your partner to come to terms with as your body will not look any different outwardly. It’s important that you explain to them

how you feel and reassure them you do still find then attractive. Remember that while sex is important, you can still physically demonstrate your love by kissing, cuddling or giving each other massages. It is more important to continue sharing a loving relationship.

Breaking the Myth Sex does not harm your

Can Sex Induce Labour?

There is no real evident that sex can be used as a natural labour inducer once you reach full term, but there’s no harm in trying!

Reaching orgasm may help to stimulate the uterus into action and sex can trigger

baby. This is because your baby is fully protected by the amniotic sac (a thinwalled bag that holds the foetus and surrounding fluid) and the strong muscles of the uterus. There’s also a thick mucus plug that seals the cervix and helps guard against infection. The penis does not come into contact with the baby during sex.

the release of oxytocin, the “contraction” hormone.

Semen also contains a high concentration of prostaglandins that may help to ripen, or soften, the neck of the womb (cervix) ready for it to dilate when labour starts. If nothing else, it’s an enjoyable way of passing the time while you wait for your baby to arrive.

You may also find it more comfortable with your partner behind you while you are kneeling with your stomach supported by cushions.

Sexy Mama By your second trimester you should be feeling more energetic and the feelings of nausea should have passed. Your sex life should return to normal, but new positions may have to be explored as your baby grows and the bump starts to get in the way.

The missionary position (man on top) may start to feel uncomfortable as his weight presses on your tummy and tender breasts.

It can also be uncomfortable if the man’s penis penetrates too deeply. Popular positions during pregnancy include spoons (lie on your side with the man behind) and the woman on top.

While Pregnant

19

When Sex Isn’t Safe No two pregnancies are ever the same and it may be that your Doctor advises you to limit or avoid sex.

Circumstances where he/ she may choose to do this include if you have had a preterm labour or birth, more than one miscarriage, placenta previa, infection, bleeding and/or breaking of the amniotic sac or leaking amniotic fluid.

Sex after the Birth How soon after the birth of your baby you can resume having sex will depend on the type of delivery you had. Most women can generally recommence sexual activity around 4-6 weeks after delivery (longer if you have had a Caesarean).

This will allow the body to heal and the cervix to close. Ask your doctor for advice.

Your Week

by Week guide to Pregnancy First Trimester The home pregnancy test was positive and slowly the reality dawns that you’re pregnant. Over the next 40 weeks your body will change as your baby develops and The Baby Book’s week-by-week guide to pregnancy will explain exactly what’s happening and when.

By the time you realize you

are pregnant, you’re probably already 4-6 weeks into your pregnancy. The first step is to have your pregnancy confirmed by your healthcare provider. Once this is done you need to arrange your first prenatal visit. This is usually carried out between weeks 8-10 of your pregnancy and is a comprehensive appointment with your healthcare

practitioner. In most cases this will include an ultra sound scan to confirm the advancement of the pregnancy.

This is the first time you will see your baby (although it looks more like a jumping bean than a baby at this early stage!) and it’s an unforgettable experience.

First Trimester

21

Week 6

First Trimester You At 5-6 weeks your body starts to react to the pregnancy and it’s often these changes that alert women to the fact that they are pregnant in the first place.

You may be feeling nauseous and extremely tired.

You could find yourself running to the loo more often and your breasts may be tender and sensitive to the touch.

The nausea experienced by many women during pregnancy is commonly known as morning sickness however the name is a little misleading as it can strike at any time and for some women it lasts all day! The nausea usually passes by

Your Diary

week 12, but it can last for the entire pregnancy.

By week six your uterus is about the size of a plum.

Tiredness is common throughout pregnancy but it is often at its most extreme during the first 12 weeks. Try to rest as much as possible.

Take at least 400 micrograms of folic acid a day during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Folic acid reduces the risk of your baby having a neural tube defect, such as spina bifida.

A neural tube defect is when the foetus’s spinal cord (part of the body’s nervous system) doesn’t form normally. Folic acid

tablets are widely available from pharmacies, or you can talk to your GP about getting a prescription.

Baby It may not look like much, but by week six your 8mm embryo has already sprouted little buds that are the beginnings of arms and legs. It may only be the size of a poppy seed, but your unborn baby’s heart is now beating on its own at around 100-130 beats per minute, circulating blood to the developing brain tissues. Even the eyes are starting to take shape and will have started to darken with pigment.

Week 7

First Trimester You Chances are that some of the early physical effects of being pregnant – nausea, exhaustion and a strange metallic taste in your mouth – will have put you off drinking alcohol, but if you still like a drink then you need to consider how the alcohol you put into your body can affect your growing baby.

While one or two glasses of wine isn’t likely to harm your baby, no level of alcohol has been proven to be entirely safe during pregnancy and excessive alcohol intake has been associated with many problems.

Your Diary

Even moderate alcohol consumption during pregnancy can have an impact on the development of your baby’s brain. Whereas previously the occasional drink (one or two units once or twice a week) was considered OK for a pregnant woman, government advice now states that pregnant women should avoid alcohol altogether.

Baby At seven weeks your baby is now around 12mm long and is starting to look a little more like a baby. Arms and legs are beginning to take shape and subtle features such as eyelids, toes and fingers and forming.

Important developments are happening inside your baby too. Their digestive tract is developing and tiny breathing passages are beginning to appear where their lungs will be.

Although you won’t yet be able to feel your baby moving inside you the development of muscle fibres means that they are now able to make small jerky movements.

First Trimester

23

Week 8

Third Trimester You One thing will probably be overshadowing everything else at this stage and that’s the feeling of sickness often associated with weeks 8-12 of pregnancy. Rest assured, you’re not alone, in fact two out of three pregnant women experience morning sickness during early pregnancy.

Ironically these feelings of sickness are commonly associated with a healthy pregnancy and although there is no miracle cure, mum-to-be forums are packed full of tried and tested solutions for easing the sickness. We suggest trying out a few of

Your Diary

the most popular, such as nibbling on dry crackers; sucking on ice lollies; eating little and often or sipping ginger tea, and seeing which ones work for you.

The good news is that for about half of pregnant mums, the feelings of sickness have past by week 14, leaving them free to enjoy their pregnancy and their food!

Baby It’s time for a naming ceremony – at eight weeks your baby is now officially known as a foetus (Latin for ‘young one’). Measuring around 1.6 cm long, their eyes, mouth and nose are beginning to be more

defined. The buds of their milk teeth are starting to form and their tiny joints are developing. Every organ is in place and their unique fingerprints are beginning to form.

Week 9

Third Trimester You As the morning sickness eases and you regain your appetite it’s important to remember that healthy eating during pregnancy is as much about what foods to avoid as what foods to eat.

Certain types of food can contain elements that could harm your baby, while others carry a risk of poisoning that can affect you. Bacterial infections such as listeriosis, salmonella and toxoplasmosis can be dangerous for pregnant women and their unborn babies. The bacteria can harm the unborn baby and interfere with its normal development.

The following healthy eating advice has been issued by the NHS for pregnant women, more information can be found at

Your Diary

www.nhs.uk Do Cook eggs thoroughly until the whites and yolks are solid and avoid any foods that contain raw or lightly cooked eggs, such as homemade mayonnaise, sauces and puddings.

Make sure that all meats, especially poultry, are cooked thoroughly and wash your hands, utensils and work surfaces after handling raw meat.

Wash fruit, vegetables and salads to remove all traces of soil.

Don’t Eat mould-ripened soft cheese, such as brie, or blue cheese, such as stilton Eat any kind of pâté, including vegetable pâté, because it can contain listeria Eat liver or liver products,

such as liver pâté or liver sausage, as this is a very rich source of vitamin A Eat more than two portions of oily fish a week, or more than four cans of tuna. These contain high levels of mercury, which can harm your baby’s developing nervous system Eat raw shellfish, as they can contain bacteria and viruses that can cause food poisoning Baby Now around 2 cm long, your baby is starting to look like a real baby. Their arms and legs are growing fast; fingers and toes are nearly complete and their ears are developing. They’re becoming more active too – turning their head, curling their toes and opening and closing their tiny mouth.

First Trimester

25

Week 10

Third Trimester You Despite your uterus almost doubling in size (it’s now as large as a grapefruit) you’re probably still wearing your favourite jeans and are keeping your pregnancy secret from the world.

Try to eat a healthy, well balanced diet packed full off fruit and vegetables that deliver high level of vitamins and minerals. One important nutrient during pregnancy is iron. Iron is used in the formation of the red blood cells needed to carry the extra oxygen around your body and your baby needs it for its developing brain.

If you start to feel washed

Your Diary

out it could be that your iron levels are low – don’t panic – your baby will be fine but you could start to feel unwell. Talk to your midwife who will probably do a blood test to check your iron levels and recommend a tablet iron supplement if they are low.

You can avoid this by eating a diet that’s high in iron rich foods such as red meat, fish, eggs, dried fruit, wholegrain breakfast cereals and breads and green leafy vegetables.

Baby Hooray, you’ve made it to week ten, an important milestone in the development of your baby who is

less at risk for congenital malformations (physical birth defects), which usually occur during the first nine weeks of pregnancy.

Now measuring about 3cm your baby’s brain is developing faster than any other part of their body, so their head can look disproportionally large. Their muscles are getting stronger too and they are becoming more active every day – so much so that they now need to sleep!

Week 11

Third Trimester You You’ve nearly made it to the end of your first trimester but you may not yet look pregnant. Don’t be worrying that you can’t yet see a baby bump or feel your baby moving, these developments are just around the corner. In the meantime try to enjoy the fact that you are pregnant and can still see your feet!

Even though you may not yet look pregnant some women can notice some other physical changes by 11 weeks. Your hair and fingernails may be growing faster than usual; your hair may be more unruly than normal, or if you have greasy hair you may find that it needs washed less than usual.

Changes to your skin may also occur. Hormone

Your Diary

changes, increased secretions of the oil glands and the rise in androgen levels (the hormones responsible for causing teenage and pre-period spots) can see the unwelcome return of blackheads, spots and acne, especially during the first trimester.

Follow a good skin care routine but stay away from any prescription acne medications and over-the-counter skin care products containing vitamin A, retinol or antibiotics which should be avoided during pregnancy.

It’s like being a teenager all over again, except this time it should only last a few months!

Baby This is a big week for your

baby as they’re going to grow as much in the coming week as they have done in the previous eleven! In the next three weeks, your baby will go through a tremendous growth spurt, almost doubling in size. At no other time in your baby’s life will they undergo as many rapid changes as are occurring during this stage of your pregnancy.

Their brain, lungs, liver and kidneys, although minute, have all formed. They can suck, swallow and even yawn! Your baby’s movements are now getting more sophisticated. It may only measure 3-4cm but already your baby can kick, punch and arch its body, flex its fingers, form a fist and wrinkle its forehead!

First Trimester

27

Week 12

Third Trimester You At 12 weeks most women feel confident enough to start sharing the good news that they are pregnant. It’s probably unlikely you’ll be able to keep the secret for too much longer anyway as your uterus will shortly expand beyond your pelvis and rise above your public bone, growing into your abdomen and creating your beautiful baby bump.

Heartburn is a common complaint among pregnant women at this time. This burning sensation in the throat, chest and upper abdomen is caused by an increase in the hormone progesterone during pregnancy. Progesterone relaxes the valve between

Your Diary

your stomach and oesophagus. This relaxation allows stomach acids to enter the oesophagus and cause severe irritation, which gives you that burning sensation.

Here are a few popular relief remedies to try: Graze, or eat little often, chewing properly and eating slowing Drink liquids before and after your meals and not with them Avoid heavy, fatty foods that are hard to digest Avoid fizzy drinks, citrus juices and spicy meals Avoid eating late at night Baby A 12-week embryo measures around 8cm (3in); hair is now beginning to grow

and fingers and toes have small soft nails, while their mouth has 20 tiny buds that will become baby teeth.

They might even start to suck their thumb!

The placenta, your baby’s life support system, which develops from the fertilized egg, becomes fully functional around this time.

In the placenta, oxygen from the air you breathe and nutrients from the food you eat flow through a fine membrane and are carried to your baby along the umbilical cord, which is attached to the centre of the placenta. Antibodies that give resistance to infection pass to your baby in the same way, but so too do alcohol, drugs and nicotine.

Second Trimester The second trimester is often approached with relief as most women start noticing a decreased number of early pregnancy symptoms such as nausea and fatigue.

You’ll hopefully be feeling energetic and good about your body. Your sleeping pattern should have returned to normal, your hormone levels are settling down and a baby bump is

starting to show – in short, you’re blooming.

During the second trimester you will continue to see your healthcare provider every four weeks until approximately week 28, when prenatal visits become more frequent.

For your baby the second trimester is a time of rapid growth and by the end of

the second trimester your baby will weigh about 1.2 pounds and measure about 8.5 inches. You should be able to feel your baby move between the 18th and 22nd week of pregnancy (for some women it’s even sooner) and you may even be able to determine the sex of your baby via an ultrasound scan during the second trimester.

31

Second Trimester

Week 13

Third Trimester You Do you love your bigger boobs? Rounder and larger, your breasts are certainly changing as they prepare to feed your baby after birth. Your breasts can start to feel sore to the touch and a bit lumpy.

This is nothing to worry about and is caused by the development of the mammary glands and ducts that will supply the breast milk to your baby if you choose to breast-feed. You may have noticed a thin yellow liquid coming from your nipples.

Your Diary

Packed with nutrients and vital antibodies, this liquid is known as colostrum and is the first food your baby will receive before the milk starts to flow.

Have you had your first hot flush yet? Pregnancy increases your heart rate, which increases the volume of blood to the blood vessels causing your skin to blush.

Baby Your baby’s kidneys are starting to work and are now starting to send urine to the bladder.

By the end of pregnancy

week 13, your baby looks like a tiny yet fully formed baby. While your baby’s head is still quite large, his body is starting to catch up.

Week 14

Third Trimester You By now the horrible morning sickness should have eased and you feel begin to feel more like your old self – you may feel even better as many women notice a boost in energy levels during the second trimester.

The good news is that if you do get into a good exercising routine and combine it with healthy eating during pregnancy, you’re more likely to continue after the birth – which will help you regain your prepregnancy figure quicker.

Try to incorporate some exercise into your daily routine, but be sensible about the types of sports you choose to enjoy, walking, swimming, yoga and light aerobics are all great for keeping you fit and healthy. To find out which exercises are safe for you to do and always consult your midwife before you start anything new.

During pregnancy your body is quite literally sucking you dry so that it can provide all the necessary hydration for your baby’s development and the result is often dry, itchy skin. Help supply your body’s demand for fluids by drinking at least eight glasses of water a day. You may also need to adjust your skincare routine to incorporate products that are designed to feed

Your Diary

thirst-quenched skin. v Baby Your baby is now around 9cm long and their tiny heart is pumping several litres of blood through their little body every day.

By now, your baby should be receiving his or her nutrition directly from the placenta. Remember that everything you put into your body can cross the placental wall and impact your baby. This includes the 4,000 chemicals you inhale when you smoke a cigarette, some of which are harmful for you and your baby.

Week 15

Third Trimester You Did you know that you’re more likely to pick up colds during your pregnancy, as your immune system has to cope with looking after your baby as well as you? If you do get under the weather and want to take something, be sure to check the labels on any medication, as some aren’t safe to take during pregnancy. If in doubt, the best thing to do is ask your midwife.

Baby This week your baby’s bones are beginning to harden and a fine downy hair called lanugo is starting to appear on their skin. Lanugo covers every part of your baby in utero, except for the palms, soles of the feet, lips, penis, nails, and inner fingers and toes.

Typically babies will shed this hair by the 8th month of pregnancy, but it can persist in some newborns for a short period of time.

Your baby now has taste buds and is busy inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid that helps their lungs develop.

Your Diary

Second Trimester

33

Week 16

Third Trimester You Your growing bump is a constant reminder that one has become two (or maybe more if yours is a multiple pregnancy), however that doesn’t mean you need to eat for two!

It’s important that you eat a balanced diet and don’t let unhealthy cravings take over. Many women get pregnancy food cravings, ranging from freshly squeezed juice to deep fried Mars Bars – even marmite and beer (it’s a yeast thing). Try to indulge without over doing it or your waistline could expand quicker than necessary.

Your Diary

If you find yourself craving for the weird a wonderful – coal, clay, chalk, washing powder- you could be suffering from ‘pica’, a craving for non-food substances.

No one quite knows where the urge comes from, one suggestion is that the craving is the result of a mineral deficiency, but needless to say, it’s best to resist these urges! If you feel you have these cravings, do discuss them with your midwife.

Baby At 16 weeks your baby’s umbilical cord is firmly attached to his or her belly, delivering vital nutrients to your baby. Measuring around 15cm your baby can now turn their head

and exercise all 40 sets of muscles.

Week 17

Third Trimester You Your baby bump is probably quite noticeable by now and you may need to think about investing in a few key items of maternity clothes. Look for items with expandable waistbands that will see you through the next 30 weeks.

Choose soft, comfortable fabrics that won’t irritate your expanding and increasingly sensitive skin and remember that being pregnant doesn’t mean you can’t be fashionable.

The high street is packed with fabulous pieces for pregnant women – check out Next, M&S, New Look, H&M and Mothercare.

Have you felt your baby’s movements yet? As your

Your Diary

pregnancy progresses, you will likely start to feel your baby move more and more.

At first it will feel like a light flutter in your stomach, but as your baby grows to fill the womb and becomes stronger. You may even be able to see parts of your baby pressed up against your tummy – a hand or knee or the back of their head.

Baby If you find yourself running to the toilet you are not alone. Your baby’s kidneys are fully functional now so, like you, they’re weeing several times a day. As your baby develops you will find that they respond more to outside influences.

Your baby’s hearing for example is improving every day and soon you will begin to notice that they jump or move in response to loud noises from the outside world. In a week or two your baby’s hearing will be sensitive enough to pick up sounds that are too high or too low for even you to hear. There is also a strong belief among natural health practitioners that even though your baby is still very small, your touch can help them to feel safe and warm inside the womb. It’s a natural instinct to protectively rub your bump, but try to set aside a little time each day to consciously rub your tummy in calming circular motions.

Second Trimester

35

Week 18

Third Trimester You Some women experience periods of dizziness at this stage, feelings of faintness are caused by an increase in your blood volume, which forces your heart to work harder than before. If you do start to feel dizzy, take a rest and put your feet up.

You can also help prevent feelings of wooziness by ensuring your blood sugar levels don’t fall too low.

Eat small, healthy snacks regularly throughout the day that release their nutrients slowly. Rather than reaching for your favourite chocolate bar nibble on some dried fruit or an oat cake – you’ll feel better for it, honestly.

Your Diary

It’s quite common to experience more vaginal discharge during the latter half of your pregnancy, however it can be hard to tell the difference between leaking discharge and amniotic fluid. The presence of amniotic fluid could be a sign of early labour and should be addressed straight away.

Typically amniotic fluid will be more clear and abundant. If you are not certain if your discharge is normal, or if it is bloody, you should contact your healthcare provider right away.

Baby Your baby is still enjoying

a growth spurt and now measures around 18cm.

The rhythm of their day is getting established, and they’re developing a sleeping habit – although you may find that it’s the total opposite of yours.

It can seem that your baby only springs into life when you are trying to get some sleep in the evening. If your baby is a boy, his genitals will become much more distinct and easier to see on a scan.

Week 19

Third Trimester You Constipation during pregnancy is a common problem and may be more troublesome from now on as your baby gets bigger.

The pregnancy hormone progesterone slows down the gut causing constipation, a nasty consequence of which are haemorrhoids (or piles) caused by pushing to pass hard stools.

Haemorrhoids are swollen veins around the back passage, which can protrude from your bottom and itch, ache and feel sore.

Constipation and piles can be avoided by eating a diet rich in fibre, so include high-plenty of fruit and veg in your diet, topped

Your Diary

up with wholegrain bread, wholemeal pasta, pulses and so on.

It’s also crucial that you drink plenty of fluids as this will help your bowels move more easily. Aim to drink at least eight glasses of water, fruit juices or smoothies throughout the day.

Baby At 19 weeks your baby is beginning to produce vernix, the white sticky substance that covers your baby’s skin to protect it from its environment.

Remember your baby is packed in fluid for nine months and the vernix provides a waterproof covering that will keep your

baby’s skin looking soft and supple.

If you are having a girl, she already has produced six million eggs in her ovaries, though this number will decrease by 4 million by the time your newborn baby is born.

Second Trimester

37

Week 20

Third Trimester You At around 18-20 weeks you’ll be called for an anomaly ultra sound scan which is a detailed check to ensure that your baby is developing normally. The 20-week scan is usually called the anomaly scan and its purpose is to check that everything is as it should be with your baby.

The sonographer will be looking at your baby’s heart, brain, kidneys and liver; they’ll be checking the spine and bone development; measuring the length of arms and legs and circumference of your baby’s head. The scan lasts about 15-20 minutes and you should be able to see

Your Diary

your baby on screen. The sonographer will probably point out some key details for you, such as the heartbeat, limbs and even toes, to help you become acquainted with your new baby.

At 20 weeks, they may also be able to tell which sex your baby is but not all hospitals will tell you this, so don’t be disappointed if they refuse to tell you – the most important thing is that your baby is healthy and developing properly.

If there is any kind of suspected problem, you will be told at once and you may be invited back for more detailed scans.

At 20 weeks you should be avoiding contact sports like hockey and dangerous sports such as horse riding, paragliding and bungee jumping. As a general rule you should avoid any exercise that involves lying on your back.

Baby Your baby’s taste buds are developing well now and they can taste the sweet amniotic fluids that surround them. Even before they are born your baby enjoys sweet tastes more than sour and later will associate them with comfort and security.

Week 21

Third Trimester You The next few weeks are an ideal time to think about going on holiday. You are hopefully feeling well, but your body has a lot of work still to do and needs plenty of rest.

Air travel can be undertaken until week 36 in pregnancy but after 28 weeks most airlines will request a letter from your GP stating that you are fit to travel.

Don’t forget to inform your travel insurance company that you are pregnant.

Sex may have been off the menu for the past couple of months as you battle tiredness, nausea and issues of body confidence.

Hopefully by now you are feeling more like your nor-

Your Diary

mal self and are growing to love your fuller boobs and gently curving tummy.

Your partner will probably appreciate your growing assets too and with their encouragement you may feel sexier than ever.

Sex while pregnant has lots of perks – you don’t need to worry about getting pregnant for one! The higher levels of hormones in your body can also make your breasts and vagina more sensitive and responsive helping you become more easily aroused.

If yours is a healthy pregnancy sex is perfectly safe, although after 24 weeks you should avoid lying on your back for long periods of time.

Baby Have you noticed your baby hiccupping yet? This is very common, although it can take a little getting used too. Most women notice them as repetitive or rhythmic movements that occur for several minutes at a time in their belly. It’s noting too worry about and can be quite amusing.

Keep in mind that some baby’s tend to hiccup more frequently than others. You may notice your baby tends to hiccup more at a certain time of day, which can for some women be the early hours of the morning.

Some baby’s will hiccup only randomly while others may hiccup as much as five or more times every day!

Second Trimester

39

Week 22

Third Trimester You Your skin can become more sensitive during pregnancy, not only due to higher hormone levels, but because it has become more stretched and delicate. It can also develop dark spots and blotches. The pregnancy hormones oestrogen and progesterone stimulate the melanin cells in the skin to produce more pigment, but because these cells do not produce extra pigment evenly, your facial skin may take on blotchy tan (a.k.a. the ‘pregnancy mask or to give it its official title, chloasma). These brown or yellow tinted patches tend to be round the eyes, forehead, cheeks, nose and chin.

Your Diary

Make-up works wonders here, but you can help reduce the development of chloasma by wearing a good sun cream (spf 30+) and staying out of the sun.

Baby Now measuring around 26cm your baby is starting to show some unique features. Eyelids have formed; eyebrows and fingernails have a developed. Their face looks much more like a newborn baby, although their skin is still transparent and they haven’t yet developed a layer of fat.

Week 23

Third Trimester You You could be starting to experience some of the most common pregnancy problems. Varicose veins can form on your legs or even on your vulva. Caused by a combination of increased blood volume and the effects of progesterone relaxing your blood vessels.

Varicose veins can be painful and unsightly, make sure that you take things easy and use our tips to help avoid any swelling or puffiness in your legs: Rest with your feet up whenever you can; ‘Circle’ your feet at the ankles to get your circulation going; Try support stockings if your legs do get puffy; Try doing regular stretching and walking – perhaps for 15 minutes in the morning and afternoon.

As your abdomen continues to grow you may start

Your Diary

developing stretch marks.

There are very few mothers out there who don’t have a stretch mark somewhere on their body. In fact it’s estimated that up to 90% of us develop stretch marks during pregnancy.

Stretch marks resemble cracks in the surface of the skin and can range from small red line to large silvery crevices. They are the result of your skin being stretched to its limit, causing tiny tears to appear in the supporting layers of skin. Early stretch marks will appear pink in colour, and may also be itchy. Gradually, the stretch marks will enlarge in length and width.

Be aware stretch marks won’t cause you any harm.

They may itch a bit but the problem for most women is purely a cosmetic one. The most common method used to prepare skin for stretch

marks is the application of creams and oils.

Baby Every day your baby stays in the womb increases their survival rate by approximately 3 percent during weeks 23 and 26. Generally after 26 weeks the survival rate jumps to 80-90 percent.

Your baby’s senses are well developed now and they can hear when you talk and sing – so now’s a good time to start one-sided conversations with them, if you haven’t started already!

Their brain is developing fast too, and needs lots of omega fatty acids to sustain its growth. These building blocks come from your own internal stores, so make sure to include foods such as oily fish in your diet. They’re a prime source of Omega 3.

Second Trimester

41

Week 24

Third Trimester You Are you feeling a little emotional? With high levels of hormones racing through your body you may feel like you’re on an emotional rollercoaster – don’t worry, use your bump as the excuse if you step on any toes along the way.

You and your growing baby need calcium for strong, healthy bones and teeth.

It’s also important for the healthy functioning of your muscular, circulatory and nervous systems. To help boost your calcium levels, drink the milk in your cereal bowl, have a yogurt snack or milkshake midday, take a glass of milk with your dinner and grate some

Your Diary

cheese on top of a salad.

Try cooking with these foods too. Non-dairy sources of calcium include tinned salmon, green leafy vegetables and baked beans.

Baby Now weighing just over a pound and measuring the length of a ruler (30cm)

it would be possible now for your baby to survive if he arrives prematurely.

He would require intensive care, but increasing numbers of babies are surviving at this age. Fat stores are beginning to be laid down and he can now wiggle his toes and grip with his hands.

Week 25

Third Trimester You As your bump grows you may start to feel heavy and less graceful than usual.

What is important is that you don’t use your baby weight as an excuse to lay down a few extra pounds.

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to weight gain but as a general rule, if you’re a healthy weight before pregnancy, you should aim to put on between 25 and 35 lbs during the nine months.

Aim to gain 15 to 25 lbs if you’re overweight. But remember, pregnancy is not the time to diet – you’ll have space and time to deal with any excess weight in the months after your baby is born. The main thing is

Your Diary

that you have a healthy approach to eating.

Baby

You not-so-little baby is approaching their third trimester and this is a big week for them. Around

pregnancy week 25, the structures of his spine are starting to form, including 33 vertebrae, 150 joints, and 1,000 ligaments, which will eventually support your baby’s body weight. Your baby’s capillaries, the tiny blood vessels that move blood from the heart to tissues in the body, are also forming this week.

By the end of week 25, air sacs and blood vessels in your baby’s lungs will develop, getting him ready for his first breath. Your baby’s brain is starting to get ready for conscious thought, making connections that mean they’ll start to remember things from their time inside you.

Second Trimester

43

Week 26

Third Trimester You Some mums-to-be can suffer from gestational diabetes, a form of diabetes that occurs in pregnancy when a woman’s body can’t make enough insulin to meet the extra demands of pregnancy. The main risk is that too much sugar will cross the placenta and be laid down by your baby as fat causing them to be abnormally large and forcing an early delivery.

Your midwife will screen you regularly for glucose in your urine, but if you’re at higher risk you’ll also be given a screening test around 28 weeks. You’re more at risk if you are overweight, an older mum

Your Diary

or have a family history of type 2 diabetes.

If you do develop diabetes during pregnancy, you can control the symptoms with a combination of healthy

eating, regular exercise and medication. You may also be given medication to take.

Baby The nerve pathways in your baby’s ears are continuing to develop. You might notice your baby jumping more often now to loud noises. If you aren’t already, this is a good time to start talking to your baby or playing relaxing music to them.

Your baby is now around 34cm long and weighs approximately 1lb 7oz – so you should feel their movements every day. For some women this is very comforting, for others the sensations that go with sharing their body with their developing baby feel very alien.

Third Trimester You’ve made it to the final stretch. By now your baby has an 80% chance of survival if born premature and it looks just like, well, a baby! Their skin is covered with vernix; a thick white grease, which protects it from absorbing too much amniotic fluid but this will usually have disappeared by

the time she is born.

Fat stores are being laid down, the lungs are strengthening and she is starting to recognise your voice. As a mum-to-be, the physical effects of carrying extra weight can start to take their toll over the next few weeks, but these

discomforts will be far outweighed by the excited anticipation of giving birth and meeting your baby.

Common complains include frequent trips, fatigue, disrupted sleep patterns, cramp and fluid retention.

Week 27

Third Trimester

You Caused by the release of stomach acid, heartburn is commonly experienced by pregnant women, especially in the third trimester. A powerful burning sensation in the middle of the chest, heartburn is often causes by foods that are spicy, rich or fried. Symptoms are often worse when lying flat so a top tip is to sleep propped up at night.

Bleeding from the vagina at any time in pregnancy can be a warning signal.

Bleeding after about five months may be a sign that the placenta is implanted in

Eat your evening meal early, and don’t eat anything in the couple of hours before you go to bed. Get plenty of medical advice – and don’t take any indigestion remedies before checking with your midwife first.

the lower part of the uterus (placenta praevia) or that it has started to separate from the uterus (placental abruption). Both of these can be dangerous for you and the baby, so contact your midwife or doctor immediately.

Your Diary

Baby Your baby is now 37cm long and weighs around 2lb. As you enter your third (and final!) trimester, your baby will start to receive immunity to infection from the antibodies that cross through the placenta. This immunity will be boosted by breastfeeding and lasts until your baby is a few months old.

Third Trimester

47

Week 28

Third Trimester You If you’re feeling excessively tired it could be that you are anaemic. Anaemia is common in the third trimester because of the growing demands your baby is making on your body’s iron supplies. Your blood will be tested for anaemia around week 28 and if you are found to be anaemic you may be prescribed iron tablets.

You can also boost your body’s natural iron levels by eating more red meat and green vegetables such as spinach. Vitamin C boosts your body’s ability to absorb iron, so drink fruit juice with your meal.

Your Diary

If you’re RhD-negative you’ll be given an anti-D injection at 28 weeks. This is to protect your next baby from anaemia, which could occur if the baby’s blood is Rhesus positive.

Baby Your baby’s five senses are now well developed. They can look round and open and close their eyes and can taste, touch and rec-

ognise your voice without difficulty.

As your baby grows, there’s less and less space to roll around in, but they’ll still kick for all they’re worth!

In search of a comfortable position, they’ll start to pull their arms and legs up towards their chest in the classic foetal position.

By about 28 weeks pregnant, your baby’s brain starts to mature and form grooves that we commonly associate with a human brain.

Week 29

Third Trimester You Constant trips to the toilet; cramp, your baby kicking, back pain…the list of symptoms that can cause a bad night’s sleep go on and on. The reality is that lots of mums have difficulty sleeping during pregnancy, resulting in extreme tiredness and even depression.

Finding a comfortable sleeping position is crucial - try sleeping on your side with three pillows – one between your knees, one in the small of your back and one under your head.

Make sure your room is well ventilated; take a lavender infused bath or burn some lavender essential oils to aid relaxa-

Your Diary

tion and try having a warm, milky drink before you go to bed avoiding stimulants such as caffeine found in tea and coffee.

Baby At nearly 40cm in length, your baby now weighs

around 2lb 4oz, although at this stage there can be quite a variation in size and weight between babies. In many respects your baby is fully formed now as all the organs are developed but will continue to mature as they get ready to greet the world.

Third Trimester

49

Week 30

Third Trimester You From about 30 weeks pregnant, the amount of amniotic fluid in your tummy will start decreasing as your baby continues to grow and take up more space. Your uterus has likely reached around 4 inches above your navel and though it seems impossible to grow any further, you still have 10 weeks to go!

Your uterus may be pressing on your bladder now and you might get a touch of cystitis that can give you a burning sensation when you wee. A good way to help flush out toxins naturally is by drinking a glass of cranberry juice a day and plenty of water. If the pain persists chat to your midwife as there are some safe types

Your Diary

of antibiotics available.

If you feel like a little pick-meup indulge in some pampering. A full body massage is a great way to help relieve pain, swelling, discomfort, and fatigue associated with the latter stages of pregnancy.

Lots of spas offer specific prenatal massages and some hospitals even offer them as part of their alternative therapies support.

Baby Your baby is opening and closing their eyes around this week. They’re also in the land of nod, spending about 80% of sleeping time in REM (dream) mode. Lungs are quickly developing now, getting ready for full time work after birth.

White fat is now being deposited beneath the skin, which helps make baby’s skin look pink. As you might expect, there’s lots of accelerated brain development at this stage. Nerve fibres are developing rapidly, enabling brain impulses to travel faster and increasing your baby’s ability to learn when they reach the outside.

You have probably noticed an arm or leg moving across your belly at one time or another.

Many parents have a lot of fun playing “guess the body part” as their unborn baby moves around. A hard round lump is likely the head or your baby’s bottom, whereas a longer flat surface may be your baby’s back.

Week 31

Third Trimester You By pregnancy week 31 you are likely to be a bit off balance. During the last trimester of pregnancy certain hormones in your body have caused your joints to loosen to prepare for delivery. This may actually shift your balance. Other women find their feet grow an entire size during pregnancy.

ally happens at around 36 weeks for first-time mums, but for subsequent babies it may not happen until the beginning of labour.

Unfortunately this is not a side effect that will go back to normal after pregnancy.

You’re probably feeling quite breathless at the moment and this sensation will possibly stay with you during your pregnancy, until your baby drops down into your pelvis. This usu-

Baby Your baby is about 41cm long and starting to pile on weight. The parts of their brain responsible for memory are starting to develop. But how do we know? One study found that babies who were played the theme tune to

Your Diary

Your uterus is so large that it’s pressing up against your diaphragm (which is the muscle that usually controls your breathing) so there’s not much room for lots of air.

a popular soap while in the womb responded to it after birth, unlike those babies who hadn’t heard it before birth. You’ll never watch EastEnders in the same way again!

Will it be baby blues or a brown-eye girl? Your baby’s iris colour begins to appear around the thirty-first week. Most babies are born with dark blueish-brown or bluish-gray eyes, but this shade almost always changes after birth. True eye colour won’t be apparent for six to nine months - final formation of eye pigmentation happens in response to exposure to the strong light of the outside world.

Third Trimester

51

Week 32

Third Trimester You As your body begins to prepare for labour, it’s common to experience practice contractions, called Braxton Hicks. Although they are completely harmless and usually only last about 30 seconds, it can be a shock to feel your uterus tightening and relaxing. Don’t worry: it’s simply your body’s way of preparing for birth. If they occur more than four times an hour, let your midwife, GP or maternity unit know what’s happening.

Another unwelcomed side effect of pregnancy is sciatica, a pain that can go from your back, over the bottom and down the legs caused by a trapped nerve or the position your baby is lying in.

Your Diary

It’s wise to avoid high heeled shoes and make sure you avoid lifting anything heavy and when you sit, try sitting cross-legged on the floor (like school children do), or sit using a pillow behind the small of your back for support.

When sleeping, see if you can lie on your left hand side, which will help the blood flow better around your body and can help ease sciatica. You might find that sleeping with a wedgeshaped pillow underneath your tummy or using hot or cold packs helps to reduce your back pain.

At 32 weeks the total volume of blood circulating in your body is about 40 to 50 percent higher than

it was before you became pregnant. This added blood volume helps accommodate your foetus.

Baby When your baby is awake their eyes are open and they’re doing lots of things that a newborn baby would do, like grasping at their feet and sucking their thumb.

Your baby is also making lots of facial expressions and you’re probably fascinated to see what they’ll look like when they come into the world!

Some babies will have settled into their labour position - with head down, chin tucked into chest, and bottom up. Your baby may even be smiling!

Week 33

Third Trimester You By around 33 weeks you may start experiencing pain or tingling in their fingers and wrists, especially if you work in an office job. This is common because the tissues supporting and surrounding your wrists and fingers swell during pregnancy. This compresses the nerves running through the carpal in the wrists, causing pain and discomfort.

This pregnancy induced form of carpal tunnel syndrome is usually temporary and sometimes relieved by simple wrist exercises or use of a wrist brace during pregnancy. If you are experiencing significant discomfort, be sure to let

Your Diary

your doctor know so they can recommend an appropriate treatment.

You may notice your baby is sleeping more often (though still not enough to let you relax), and those kicks, turns and hits feel a bit more sharp and painful.

This is due to the fact of your baby’s growth and less room inside the womb.

He or she isn’t moving more or less than they did in earlier weeks, there’s just less room now.

Baby At 33 weeks your baby’s immune system is getting stronger. When they’re born in a month or so, about two-thirds of their

immune system is developed. Your baby’s skin is getting thicker and much less wrinkled, too.

The baby is using its lungs to practice breathing by inhaling amniotic fluid.

Your baby is drinking about a pint of amniotic fluid a day now and urinating the same amount. The early baby fuzz, lanugo, is disappearing now and being replaced by actual hair.

The nails of your baby are now long enough to reach to the tip of the fingers or beyond.

Third Trimester

53

Week 34

Third Trimester You Night-time trips to the toilet will become a feature of life for the next few weeks – so reduce your drinking before bed, but make up for it during the day. Always take a loo trip just before bed, and try to make sure you empty your bladder completely.

Your uterus now just about 5 to 6 inches from the top of your navel. You may notice that you look similar to or different from other pregnant women who are as far along as you are. Every woman carries her baby differently. Some tend to carry more wide, while others carry lower or higher. You may even carry differently from one pregnancy to the

Your Diary

next!

There are many women who believe the way you carry represents the gender of your baby, but by and large, this is an old wives tale! It is fun to guess however, particularly if you are waiting until delivery to determine the sex of your baby!

Baby With only about six or so weeks left, your growing baby measures around 45cm and weighs about 4lb 6oz. Their skin is really starting to thicken with a layer of fat stored beneath for insulation and nourishment.

Antibodies to provide immunity against disease are continuing to be received

from you, strengthening and preparing them for life outside the womb.

All of the bones, except for the skull, continue to harden. The reason the skull doesn’t harden is because it needs to remain flexible and soft for the travelling through the birthing canal.

Some babies might be in the breech position still.

If this is your case, do not worry- there is plenty of time left for him or her to turn around. Some experts say certain exercises such as yoga can help your baby turn around, however consult with your healthcare provider first before taking on any new activities in the 3rd trimester.

Week 35

Third Trimester You Your baby should be moving head-down to your pelvis region, which reduces pressure on your ribs, chest and lungs but increases pressure on your bladder. This will cause you to urinate more often, and can become quite irritating.

Back pain and pelvic pain, as well as pelvic numbness are inevitable. Numbness is due to pressure on your pelvic nerves. Get used to this, as this will continue until the birth of your baby.

You’re probably feeling tired and heavy by now, and the mood swings you experienced earlier during your pregnancy may have

Your Diary

returned – making you feel irritable. Your dreams may also be vivid as your mind adapts to your upcoming life change.

pain. As they grow, the volume of amniotic fluid shrinks in your womb – they’re now filling almost the entire space.

Colostrum, a watery fluid, may be leaking from your breasts. This is the first milk you’ll produce pretty soon after the birth. It’s extremely rich in nutrients for your new baby.

Meanwhile, their intestine fills with a greenish substance called meconium, which is made from waste from the liver and bowel.

This will be in one of the first nappies you have to change!

Meanwhile, inside your womb, the placenta has reached maturity. When your baby is born the placenta will be about one sixth of their weight.

Baby Your baby is now responding to light, sound and

Your baby’s suckle reflexes should be well developed now. If born prematurely at pregnancy week 35, most babies will still be able to breastfeed with little trouble.

Third Trimester

55

Week 36

Third Trimester You You’ve finally made it to the 36th week of your pregnancy, and now you are considered full term, or at 9 months exactly from conception.

Congratulations!

Your baby will be born anytime now, as most births take place during weeks 36-40. While some women hope and pray that their baby will come early, the vast majority of babies actually come on or close to their due date.

If you haven’t down so already, now is the time to pack a bag for the hospital.

Don’t forget to include the following:

Your Diary

A front-opening nightgown (easier for breastfeeding)S Slippers Loose fitting clothes – a track suit is ideal Knickers and maternity pads for heavy bleeding after birth Nursing bras & breast pads Towels x 2 Toiletries and cosmetics (you’ll want to look good for all those visitors) Your favourite snacks and drinks Nappies and clothes for your new baby Baby By 36 weeks your baby is close to its full term length of around 46cm (18in) and weighs about 2.75kg

(6lb). His growth won’t be as rapid now, but he should continue to gain weight at about 250g (9oz) a week. If this is your first baby, their head may already be pointing down and be ‘engaged’, getting ready for birth – but don’t worry if you can still feel them squirming about, it’s perfectly normal.

Week 37

Third Trimester You You may feel the urge to do some cleaning and decorating in preparation for the arrival of your new baby. This flurry of activity is known as ‘nesting’ and is a very natural instinct, just be careful not to overdo it!

Be cautious of the fumes from paint and it’s also best to also avoid climbing ladders as your balance is affected during pregnancy.

Because your baby has less room to move around now their movements may feel more like squirming than kicking.

Baby Your baby’s face is filling out, and now has

Your Diary

eyelashes. Their neck is thickening and their eyelids can now open and close easily.

Did you know that some researchers believe your baby actually releases a signal to trigger labour?

There are several theories.

Some believe that when your baby’s brain is completely mature, it sends a signal to the foetal adrenal glands. These glands then start to secrete the hormone cortisol, which may alter the metabolism of oestrogen and progesterone, resulting in labour.

Other researchers have

postulated that the lungs secrete signals indicating they are mature, as well as enzymes that result in the release of prostaglandins, which help the cervix ripen and help the uterus to contract. This is highly likely as the body does release prostaglandins around the time of birth.

Third Trimester

57

Week 38

Third Trimester You It’s the final countdown and it’s quite natural for you to be obsessing over the delivery of your baby. Most mums-to-be get anxious when thinking about the labour, and so do dads!.

Go over your birth plan to make sure it’s clear in your head and talk to your birth partner about it too.

Your birthing plan should cover all aspects of delivery and is your chance to advise your careers how you would like your labour to develop.

Your birth plan is personal to you. It will depend not only on what you want, but also on your medical history, your own circumstances, and what is available at your maternity service.

Your Diary

Points to include could be: Who you would like to be in the delivery room with you?

Do you mind students being present?

Would you like pain relief and if so, what kind?

What position you would like to be in for delivery?

How you feel about assisted delivery?

Would you like the umbilical cord to be cut by your partner?

Do you want your baby cleaned before being given to you?

Do you want immediate skin-to-skin contact?

How will you be feeding your baby – breast or bottle?

There are many more things

you may like to add. Or if you’re not sure where to start you may find it useful to download one of the many birth plans available online.

These provide a good starting point and will get you thinking along the right lines.

Baby Your baby is now considered ‘full term’. Your baby’s weight gain slows considerably, but they’ve got just a little more to grow. Essential fat (aka baby fat) will continue to form. This will round her out and help her stay warm after birth. If you have an ultrasound during the 3rd trimester, the technician might measure the head, stomach, and femur to estimate your baby’s weight.

Third Trimester You There’s only a couple of weeks to go and you now need to prepare yourself for the physical demands of labour and the challenges ahead as you adjust to life with your new baby. This means you need to be taking it easy! Rest while you can and get the rest of the world – and particularly your partner – to attend to your every whim.

Your Diary

Baby Around a week before giving birth, your baby’s head will drop down into your pelvis, although this will probably already have happened if this is your first baby.

The bones in their skull are ready for birth and are able to slide over each other and overlap, allowing your baby’s head to pass through your cervix.

Your baby is now around 50-51cm long and gaining about 1oz a day in weight.

Third Trimester

Week 39

59

Week 40

Photo by gordonflood.com

Third Trimester

You You’re almost there and your baby is ready and waiting to be born! 95 percent of babies don’t arrive by their estimated due date. Twenty-five percent come earlier, and 70 percent come late.

As your labour and delivery approaches, your uterus may have slightly reduced in size as your baby’s head may have fallen into your pelvis. This is often called “lightning” or “engagement.”

There’s some good news – once your baby’s head has engaged, you’ll feel less breathless because your lungs will be less pressured by your baby. You’ll be looking out for the classic signs of labour – some ‘show’ from your vagina, the mucus plug coming away and the onset of contractions.

Diarrhoea is another classic sign of pre-labour. The bowel is stimulated during pre-labour as the cervix rip-

ens. This is nature’s inbuilt mechanism for the body to empty itself prior to active labour beginning. Diarrhoea usually settles once strong established labour is in progress.

Depending on whether you have a vaginal birth or a Caesarean section, you’ll spend at least a night or two at the hospital before returning home with your newborn. Remember you won’t be allowed to take your baby home from the hospital in a car without

a properly installed car seat. There are a variety of styles, models, and price ranges to choose from, so pick a seat you’re comfortable with as your baby will spend a lot of time there.

Baby Over the last nine months, your baby has developed from one cell to a little human made up of over 200 million cells. How amazing is that?

At birth, the average baby weighs around 7lb 7oz and measures 51cm from head to toe. Inside, there’s no spare room, so your baby can only move from side

Your Diary

to side because they’re so cramped.

Don’t be surprised at how your baby looks after birth.

Their little heads can be misshapen and their skin can be discoloured and have patchy looking rashes.

Some are born with lots of hair, others are bald – each is individual.

Don’t be alarmed if your newborns genitals appear red and enlarged. Male infants can have an unusually large scrotum and their breasts may also be enlarged. This is caused by naturally occurring maternal hormones and is a temporary condition.

Females (and even males) may actually discharge milk from their nipples (known as witch’s milk), and/ or a bloody or milky-like substance from the vagina. In either case, this is considered normal and will disappear in time.

Third Trimester

61

Stretch Marks Get Ready to Stretch It’s estimated that up to 90% of us develop stretch marks on our stomach, breasts, thighs or buttocks during pregnancy. But what causes them? How can you avoid getting them and what can you do to get rid of them? The Baby Book has the answers‌ Stretch marks resemble cracks in the surface of the skin and can range from small red lines to large silvery crevices. They are

the result of your skin being stretched to its limit, causing tiny tears to appear in the supporting layers of skin. This excessive stretching of the skin over a short period of time is unavoidable in pregnancy but can also happen if you gain weight quickly, or if you experience a rapid growth spurt as a teenager.

Genes are also thought to have a role to play. Chances are if your mother developed stretch marks you will

too. Your ethnic background is another factor – women with dark skins are less likely to develop stretch marks than those with fair skin. Skin type may be an issue too; dryer skin has less elasticity than oily skin, and is more prone to stretch marks.

Another belief is that the extra hormones generated by pregnancy attract more water into the skin. This relaxes the bonds between collagen fibres and makes

Giving Birth

65

it easier for the skin to tear when it is stretched.

Stretch Mark Development Most stretch marks are noticed in the final trimester of pregnancy but some appear earlier. As soon as you discover you are pregnant it’s important to begin a daily moisturising routine to prepare your body for the ‘big stretch’ ahead and prevent stretch marks developing.

Early stretch marks will appear pink in colour, and may also be itchy. Gradually, the stretch marks will enlarge in length and width and become a reddish or purple colour.

Once the stretch marks have matured, they lose their reddish/pink hue. In

the months after pregnancy, they will start to fade and become pale white or silver.

It’s important to be aware that stretch marks won’t cause you any harm. They may itch a bit but the problem for most women is purely a cosmetic one – they look unsightly!

Tip: Drink plenty of water.

If your body is well hydrated - this will help your skin to stretch.

Stretch Mark Prevention Opinion is split as to whether we can actually prevent stretch marks developing, however keeping skin supple and well moisturized may help prepare it for the stretch ahead.

The most common method

used to prepare skin for stretch marks is though the application of creams and oils that help to promote the growth of elastin and collagen.

The market is flooded with products specially designed to prevent and treat stretch marks. These creams and oils usually contain tried and tested natural ingredients known to boost skin recovery such as cocoa butter, wheat germ oil, lanolin and Vitamin A and they work by saturating your skin with moisture. When applying the creams or ointments, take time to massage the area to help increase blood flow. Increased blood flow to the area can decrease the healing time needed for stretch marks.

Birthing Options Where to have your baby Early on in your pregnancy you will be asked to decide the type of birth you would like. This is so the antenatal care you receive can be tailored to suit your needs and so the health care team can ensure you have the help required when your baby is due. Depending on where you live in the country you should have all, or a combination of the following, available to you: hospital; ‘home from home’ ward in hospital or birthing

centre and a homebirth.

Following a medical assessment of your pregnancy your GP or midwife will advise on which birth they feel would be best for you.

If your pregnancy is normal and shows no signs of complications it is likely all of the above options will be available; if however your pregnancy is irregular or you are carrying more than one baby and it is anticipated you will need medical assistance during delivery a

home birth or home from home style delivery will probably be ruled out in favour of a supervised birth in a maternity suite of the hospital.

Hospital birth Most women give birth in an NHS or HSE hospital maternity unit with some women opting to pay for a private clinic or hospital. If you choose to give birth in hospital, you’ll be looked after by a team of midwives, with doctors avail-

Giving Birth

67

able if their help is required.

This is the best option if you want the latest medical technology available to take care of you and your baby throughout your delivery.

During your antenatal appointments you will still have the opportunity to discuss options for the delivery of your baby. For example you may decide to include in your birth plan that you would like a hospital delivery but with minimal medical intervention, choosing gas as your pain relief; or you may want every help that you can get and opt for the full pain relief of an epidural with an assisted delivery.

Your midwives and doctors will provide information about what your hospital can offer and which they feel would be best for you.

Most hospitals have shared postnatal wards where you will be moved too after the birth of your baby. If this is your first baby you will probably spend the first couple of nights after the birth of your baby here.

During this time the mid-

wives will ensure you are comfortable and confident with feeding, bating and caring for your baby. If you have had a baby before, you may only need to spend one night in hospital, providing both you and baby are healthy. Some hospitals offer private rooms which you can pay for if you prefer the privacy of your own room.

Advantages of a hospital birth: direct and immediate access to obstetricians, anaesthetists (who administer pain relief such as epidurals and general anaesthetic and neonatologists (specialists in newborn care) access to operating and emergency services use of a special care unit should your baby need it Choosing Your Hospital If there is more than one hospital in your area you can choose which one to go to. Find out more about the care provided in each so you can decide which will suit you best. You might want to ask what

equipment the maternity wards have – birthing pools, birthing balls, TENS machines etc‌depending on what is important to you. Ask if you can have a tour of the maternity facilities before making your final decision. Most antenatal classes arrange a visit to the labour ward at your local maternity unit so that you and your birth partner are familiar with the facilities that are available. Remember, wherever you decide to give birth, you can change your mind at any stage of pregnancy.

Home from home care midwife-led units/birth centres Home from home care units are becoming increasingly popular and are led by midwifes who care for women having normal births. These units can be part of a large hospital, based in a smaller community hospital or they may be completely separate.

They are designed to be less intimidating than a delivery room – instead of medical equipment you are more likely to see a comfortable chair. The idea is to create a relaxed home

from home environment where the emphasis is on natural delivery with medical support usually nearby if needed.

Many units have water birth facilities on site. The number of home from home units available is still quite limited and they are very popular, so often need to be booked in advance.

Of course forecasting the exact delivery date of your baby is not an exact science, so while everything will be done to try and accommodate you, it may be that a room simply isn’t available when you need it, in which case you will be offered alternative hospital care in a delivery ward.

It’s important to bear in mind that these types of mid-wide led units are only suitable for uncomplicated pregnancies as epidurals and Caesareans are not usually available. Should

your delivery become more complicated, you will be moved into a regular delivery suite.

Home Birth If you have a straightforward pregnancy and both you and the baby are well, you might choose to give birth at home. In England, around one in every 50 babies is born at home but in Northern Ireland and Ireland the figure is less than 0.5% of all births. This is despite The National Childbirth Trust appointing TV celebrity Davina McCall as their Ambassador for Home Birth. She said: “I gave birth to all three of my children at home and it was truly amazing,” but it seems the majority of women remain to be convinced.

There is a shortage of midwives trained in home delivery care; as a result,

this option is not available in every area. Ask your doctor or GP if a home birth is available to you [see notes on Ireland below].

If you give birth at home, you’ll be supported by a midwife who will be with you throughout the labour.

If you need any help or the delivery of your baby is not progressing as well as it should, your midwife will make arrangements for you to be transferred to hospital.

Reasons for choosing a home birth include the comfort of familiar surroundings; no need to travel during labour; no need to leave your family the ability to recover in your own home.

On the negative side, only basic pain relief and medical care is available at home and you will face an emergency trip to hospital

Giving Birth

69

should complications arise during delivery. It can also be difficult to rest and recover in your own home when you’re surrounded by chores to be done.

If you choose a home birth your midwife will explain to you what you can expect and will discuss the option and cost of installing a birthing pool in your home should you want one. It’s most likely that you will be assigned a home delivery midwife who will look after you during your antenatal appointments and will come to your home when you go into labour. This enables you to develop a bond with your midwife prior to delivery and is another positive reason for choosing a home birth.

Choosing a Home Birth in Ireland If you want to avail of the public homebirth services,

you will firstly need to approach your Local Health Office in the HSE. Write to their community Care Section, informing them of your wish for a home birth, and requesting a list of midwives / doctors who might attend you.

When you make contact with the midwife or doctor of your choice, you will need to ask them to fill out a Form of Application for Maternity Care. his will entitle you to free antenatal, delivery and postnatal services. The HSE will also provide you with a “maternity pack”, with all you will need for a home delivery.

Alternatively, you can engage a midwife privately and your antenatal, delivery and postnatal care will be provided by him/her.

Where a woman engages the services of a private midwife for the purpose of

a domiciliary birth, the HSE may make a contribution towards the costs incurred.

For a list of independent midwives, contact the Homebirth Association of Ireland.

In certain circumstances, where a mother opts for a home birth, the HSE may provide a grant towards midwifery costs, however some local HSE offices have suspended payment of the home birth grant indefinitely.

For more information on home births contact The Homebirth Association of Ireland Email: homebirth@eircom. net or visit www.homebirth.ie Tel: + 353 (0)1 2761812

Baby Essentials Checklist

Nappies? Check! Baby Bath? Check! Use this easy checklist to ensure you have everything you need for the arrival of your baby One of the most exciting things to do during pregnancy is to shop for your new arrival. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that a tiny baby can need so much and if budgets are tight, the financial pressure can become a real worry.

However you can pick up some real bargains, especially at car boot sales, charity shops, and online – eBay and gumtree are great sites to browse for all manner of baby things.

You’re also sure to get offers from family and friends who want to buy a gift for the baby or are happy to pass onto you any baby things that they have out grown. Rather than gather things you don’t need, or leave yourself short on the things you do need, it pays

to make a list of all the baby essentials you’ll need to acquire before baby arrives.

Here’s a useful checklist that covers all the basics for your new born…

Baby Clothes 6 x vests (min) 6 x babygro (min) Cardigans Mittens Socks/booties Hat Coat/snow suit Baby Nursery Moses basket or crib Fitted sheets Blanket Room thermometer Baby monitor device Black out blinds Baby Feeding Breast pump (if breast

feeding) Feeding bra Breast pads Formula milk (if bottle feeding) Bottles Storage jars Bottles & teats Bottle sterilizer Baby Care Nappies (disposable or cotton) Wipes Nappy cream Changing mat Nappy bags/bin Baby bath Baby bath wash Hooded towel Baby Travel Baby car seat Buggy or pram suitable from birth Parasol (if summer) Baby changing bag

Giving Birth

71

Birthing Plans Tips and advice on writing a birth plan What should I include in my birth plan?

Your birthing plan should cover all aspects of delivery and is your chance to advise your careers how you would like your labour to develop. Your birth plan is personal to you. It will depend not only on what you want, but also on your medical history, your own circumstances, and what is available at your maternity

service.

Points to include could be: Your doctor, midwife or friends may have asked you whether or not you have written a birth plan and thought to yourself, ‘what’s that?’

Basically a birth plan is your chance to communicate to the careers, doctors and midwives who will be helping you deliver your baby, how you would like the labour to progress. It’s

helpful to have it in writing, because lets face it, you may not feel like talking when you’re in the middle of pushing a baby out!

It’s a good idea to think about the birth well in advance of your delivery, just in case baby decides to come early. The good thing is that as you bring your birth plan with you to the hospital, you can make changes to it at any stage.

So for change your choice of pain relief from gas to

an epidural, you have the flexibility to do this.

What you do need to remember is that your birth plan is not a set of rules that the hospital has to follow. It’s simply your chance to outline how you hope the delivery will go. If you face complications during the delivery of your baby, the doctors will progress as and how they feel is in the best interest of the health of both you and your unborn baby, but nothing will be done without your consent.

Be prepared to be flexible should the situation arise and don’t be disappointed if your delivery doesn’t go according to your plan as you can’t plan for the unforeseen.

What should I include in my birth plan?

Your birthing plan should cover all aspects of delivery and is your chance to advise your careers how you would like your labour

to develop. Your birth plan is personal to you. It will depend not only on what you want, but also on your medical history, your own circumstances, and what is available at your maternity service.

Points to include could be: Who you would like to be in the delivery room with you?

Do you mind students being present?

Would you like pain relief and if so, what kind?

What position you would like to be in for delivery?

How you feel about assisted delivery?

Would you like the umbilical cord to be cut by your partner?

Do you want your baby cleaned before being given to you?

Do you want immediate skin-to-skin contact?

And Remember...

This isn’t an essay – you’re not getting marked on the quality of your birth plan, but it does help to be clear

and concise in your wishes.

Try to keep your plan to one or two pages and store it to the front of your pregnancy notes so it can’t be missed. Tell your birthing partner where the notes are kept and make sure they inform the medical staff on your arrival at the hospital that you have a birth plan with you.

73

Giving Birth

Photo by Teza Harinaivo Ramiandrisoa

Stages of Labour It’s a commonly asked question: ‘How will I know when I’m in labour?’ You may think the answer is obvious (you’ll be in a lot of pain!) but actually your labour could have got underway without you really realising it. There are three stages to labour and here’s what you can expect with each of them.

Stage One The first stage of labour begins with the onset of contractions. You may ex-

perience small contractions coming and going over a period of hours or even days but never getting any stronger. This is known as prodromal and means early labour is not far away.

The first stage of early labour is when the cervix is at least 3cm dilated. At this stage your contractions will be occurring every 5-20 minutes and will only last about 30 seconds. There may be a pink,

slightly bloody or mucous discharge from the vagina and backache, nausea and diarrhea may also occur.

You’ll feel restless, excited, nervous, a whole range of emotions. This is a good time for your partner to support you with a soothing massage.

As your body moves into active labour, your contractions will become more intense and more regular – every 2-3 minutes and

bour can take up to 3 hours in transition, and a mother who has vaginally delivered before will usually take no more than an hour. Some women have a very short, if intense, transition phase

lasting longer, around 4060 seconds. As the pain intensifies you might want to take bath or try your TENS machine at home. When the increases and you want more pain medication, it’s time to go to the hospital.

Active labour continues until your cervix is around 7-8cms dilated – this can take anywhere from 20 minutes to many hours, depending on whether it is a first time delivery.

The final stage of active labour is called the transition period and covers the period up to 10cms when

the cervix is regarded as completely dilated. At this point your contractions will be at their strongest lasting 60-90 seconds with only a few minutes break in between. This is the most intense stage of labour as delivery is not far off. You might begin to feel a bit overwhelmed by the pain, you may find it hard to focus and feelings of nausea are common. It’s likely you’ll be highly irritable and you may tremble uncontrollably as your body copes with the pain and the adrenalin.

A woman in first-time la-

Stage Two Begins with the complete dilation of the cervix (10 cm) and ends with the delivery of your baby. During this stage your contractions will be slower, 2-5 minutes and last 60 to 90 seconds.

At some point you’ll feel an irresistible urge to push - your midwife will advise you when is the right time to do so and will help you find a comfortable birthing position. This active pushing stage can last minutes or hours, depending on your body, and your baby’s position in the birthing canal.

Pushing will help move your baby down through the birthing canal into

Giving Birth

75

advise you not to push every time, which may give the perineum (the area between your vulva and anus) a chance to stretch without tearing.

Medical assistance can sometimes be needed if your labour is very long and you and baby are tiring or showing signs of distress.

A small cut may need to be made in the perineum, or forceps or suction may be required to help your baby out.

In extreme circumstance and emergency caesarean may be called for. Your doctor or nurse-midwife will be deciding what is best for you and your baby. the crowning position.

When the baby’s head passes through the vagina (crowns), you will feel a burning pain. The head is the largest part of the baby and the hardest part to deliver. If this is happening quickly, your doctor may

This pushing stage can be as short as a few minutes or as long as several hours.

You are more likely to have a fast labour if you have given birth before.

Stage Three Now you’ll have your baby in your arms, but there

is one final phase to be achieved – the delivery of the placenta. On average it takes about 20 minutes for the placenta to detach from the uterine wall, although it can be longer.

Your midwife will know when your placenta is ready to detach and will ask you to do a few final pushes to deliver the placenta through the birthing canal. This is relatively painless and is over in minutes. Once the placenta has emerged the cord will be clamped and cut and your labour will be over.

Natural Labour Inducers Old wives tales or effective labour inducers? The Baby Book looks at some of the common methods used to bring on labour.

Before we go into some of the natural labour inducers that have been used by women for generations, let’s cover a few basics.

Firstly, none of these methods should be attempted unless you are 40 weeks pregnant as by this stage your cervix will be softened and ‘ripe’ and your baby fully developed. Secondly don’t attempt anything that you aren’t comfortable with and stop immediately if you start to feel pain. If in

dovubt, always talk to you doctor or midwife before attempting any of the below.

Sex: Sex tops the list of tried and tested labour inducers. Granted it may not be the first thing on your mind bearing in mind you are now 40 weeks pregnant and probably feel a bit like a beached whale, but this is the last chance you may have for a while to enjoy an intimate moment with your partner, (remember sex will off the menu for 6 weeks after birth) and as semen contains prostaglandins, which can help stimulate contractions and

start labour, it’s worth a go. Orgasms in women can also trigger labour.

Nipple Stimulation: If you can’t face full on sex, how about some nipple stimulation? Nipple stimulation causes the body to release oxytocin, which like pitocin (a synthetic substance used to induce labour contractions) can cause uterine contractions, so monitor your contractions slowly to be sure you don’t over stimulate.

Brisk Walks: Walking is a great form of exercise for a pregnant women but it can be especially useful in

Giving Birth

77

the final days as it can help stimulate labour, particularly if you are having contractions that aren’t yet regular. Walking can also help your baby move further down into your pelvis for delivery.

Spicy Foods: Although this method isn’t backed up by any medical evidence, some women do believe that hot and spicy foods can help trigger labour.

The theory is that spicy food can stimulate your digestive system and may even irritate it. The irritation can cause you to have diarrhoea which in turn leads to dehydration in pregnant women known to cause contractions to start. Spicy food may also induce labour by increasing prostaglandin production.

The hormone prostaglandin helps to contract the smooth muscles of the body and are known to play a role in inducing labour.

Pineapple: Pineapple is not supposed to induce labour, but rather is thought to be a cervical ripening agent

that stimulates prostaglandins, although this has not been proven.

Liquorice: Real liquorice candy, the black kind, is thought to also stimulate the production of prostaglandins. This is due to the chemical glycyrrhizin.

“Sex tops the list of tried and tested labour inducers.”

Eating lots of liquorice might also result in mild diarrhoea, which causes intestinal contractions that may lead to sympathetic uterine contractions.

Castor Oil: This is not the most pleasant method as castor oil tastes foul and

almost always causes diarrhoea. Its primary use is a stimulant laxative and it’s this stimulation of the bowels that can lead to cramps and tightening of the muscles in the intestines.

These cramps may spread to the uterus, tightening the uterine muscles and stimulating contractions.

These contractions may or may not lead to the onset of active labour. If you are considering this, be sure to talk with your doctor first to see what dose they might recommend.

Membrane Stripping: Not to be tried at home, this is something your health care team may suggest if your baby is overdue. During a vaginal examination your doctor will place a finger through the cervix and basically ‘sweep’ the membranes. This helps release the amniotic membranes from the lower uterine cavity. Sweeping of the membranes may release prostaglandins, which can help push the body into labour.

Pain! Who Needs It? As the delivery date for your baby approaches it’s hard not to worry about the physical demands of labour and the pain that will be involved. The important thing to remember is that there is a pain relief solution out there to suit you. Whether you want to go natural with a little help from gas and air, or you’d prefer to use medication to block out the pain altogether, the choices are plentiful.

It will come as no surprise

to hear that giving birth is usually painful but the amount of pain a woman feels during labour will differ greatly depending on factors such as the size and position of the baby, the strength and speed of contractions, the natural pain threshold of the woman, her stress levels and so on.

Talk about your pain relief options with your midwife or doctor and make sure you raise any questions you may in your antenatal class

where other women who have had previous births will be able to share their experiences with you.

What Causes The Pain?

Labour pain is caused by a combination of things: The strong uterine contractions and the tension they place on supporting ligaments; pressure of the baby on the cervix, vagina, urethra, bladder, and rectum; stretching of the cervix, pelvic floor muscles, and vagina.

Giving Birth

79

Your body’s natural response to this pain is to release powerful endorphins. Endorphins are natures own pain killers and are naturally released into the blood stream when the body is physically stressed beyond its normal limits (think of an athlete running a marathon!).

The endorphins increase as your labour does – so the key here is to ensure that you are mentally and physically in a state that will encourage endorphins to be released at all times.

They are at their highest during the pushing stage, which then gives rise to the elation you feel after the birth and encourages bonding with your new baby.

For many women, endorphins just aren’t enough to get them through the pain of labour and there are numerous medical pain relief options out there to help.

Gas & Air - This is the most common form of pain relief used routinely in both hospital birthing suites and for homebirth. A mixture of Nitrous oxide (laugh-

ing gas) and air is inhaled through a mouthpiece/ mask and can be used to take the edge off the pain when contractions peak.

You control when you take it and how much you use (you can’t overdose) and only insignificant amounts

hours. They are as effective as pain killers but they do have some unwanted side effects, for example they cross the placenta barrier and their sedative effects can leave your baby sleepy for a day or two, making feeding more difficult.

reach your baby. It does have a strange smell and taste and it can leave you feeling sick and lightheaded.

Epidural – The most effective form of pain relief, this anaesthetic drug numbs the nerves that carry pain signals to your brain from the lower back downwards.

The drug is injected into the epidural space at the side of the spinal cord and a thin tube is left in place to allow top-ups as needed.

As you have no sensations from your lower half you will have no natural instinct to push which can mean that you will need an as-

Pethidine And Diamorphine – These opiate based pain killers are related to morphine and are usually administered by syringe into your bottom. Both these drugs take up to 20 minutes to take effect, but their effects last for between two and four

sisted delivery. You may be offered a ‘mobile’ or lowdose epidural, which allows you to retain some feeling.

This helps you feel the urge to push in second stage.

Natural Pain Relief There are a number of tried and tested techniques that can help you to cope with the pain of labour.

TENS – a tens (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) machines deliver small amounts of electrical current through pads taped to your back, blocking pain signals and stimulating your body’s production of endorphins. Particularly effective during the first stages of labour, you control the strength of the current using a hand-held device. Tens machines may be available on loan from your hospital or you can buy them from leading chemists such as Boots.

Relaxation - The first is to

train your body to relax through deep controlled breathing to allow the endorphins to have maximum effect. This breathing technique is usually taught in the ante natal class and will be encouraged by the midwife during labour.

Water - Using a bath or birth pool during labour can relax you and make your contractions seem less painful. The combination of water and warmth makes the muscles relax and helps to ease contractions. Some women find that taking a bath at home once the contractions begin allows them to delay going to hospital and helps them to relax and prepare for what lies ahead. If you are having a home birth you can talk to your midwife about installing a birth pool in your home. Some hospitals also have birthing pools making this form of natural delivery available to women in a safe environment where medical back

up is on hand should any complications arise. If you are considering this type of delivery you will need to discuss this with your midwife before hand as birthing pools need to be booked in advance.

Alternative Therapies – Although not effective at providing pain relief, you might like to incorporate some of the more popular alternative therapies into your birth plan. Massage, aromatherapy and music can all help to create a relaxing environment for you during labour.

If this is your first baby, you may not know which methods will be most helpful until labour has started.

The best thing you can do is be open minded and prepared to try several different pain relief methods until you find the one that is right for you.

After Pregnancy

83

Sex After Pregnancy & Birth One of the most frequently asked questions by new mums is ‘when can I have sex again after delivering my baby? The general advice is that vaginal intercourse can commence again after 4-6 weeks. This allows the cervix time to close; the delicate vaginal tissues time to heal and the bleeding time to stop, reducing the chance of any infection. However, depending on the type of delivery you have had your body may need a longer

time to recover.

If the birth of your baby was a difficult one and you suffered from a torn perineum (the skin between your vagina and anus) or surgical cuts were made in this area during delivery, then it may be a couple of months before the stitches have healed and you feel comfortable with the thought of intercourse, In extreme cases, where the anus has been damaged during delivery, this recovery time may be even

longer.

Sex too soon after giving birth.

Generally it’s advised that you shouldn’t recommence sexual intercourse until you have been for your postnatal check-up with your doctor. This usually happens around 6 weeks after delivery.

Having sex too early does pose certain risks. These include: - Infection of the cervix and uterus

- Tearing of vaginal stitches - Air can very easily get into the blood vessels of the newly-delivered womb and cause a fatal illness known as ‘air embolism’ Loss of Libido In addition to the physical impact that childbirth, delivering a baby causes a massive hormonal shift in your body and it’s a combination of both these things that often results in new mums complaining of a loss of libido or sex drive. Caring for your new baby 24 hours a day can also leave you feeling exhausted and you may find that sex is the last thing on your mind for weeks, if not months to come.

As a new mum you may also struggle with your post baby body. Nothing is quite as it was before – your breasts will have changed, you may still have a bit of a baby tummy and chances are you’ll have a few stretch marks too. You

may not feel as sexy or attractive as you did before pregnancy. To another mum this is understandable, but your partner will probably think you are as gorgeous as ever and may think these feeling are totally irrational. It’s important to talk to him so he knows how you are feeling.

When He Says No It’s not a very common occurrence, but some men find the experience of watching their partner endure the pain of childbirth, so emotionally traumatic that they find it difficult to resume intercourse. This can be partly due to feeling guilty for being responsible for putting her in that position and party because they are a little grossed out at having seen all that blood and action down there. This is usually just a passing phase, but if your partner is struggling with the idea of

Beating the Baby Blues If the birth of your baby leaves you feeling sad and depressed, it could be that you are suffering from the baby blues. But for some women, postnatal depression can take on a much more serious for. You imagine that the arrival of your newborn baby will bring nothing but joy and happiness into your life.

So it may come as quite a shock if you find yourself shedding tears and feeling down in the dumps.

The Association for PostNatal Illness quotes that as many as one in two women

who have just given birth experience the baby blues.

Or in other words, they feel emotional and mildly depressed for a few days.

During this time you may find yourself crying for no explained reason, minor issues may seem like major problems and instead of feeling happy, you feel miserable.

Unexplained aches and pains, sleeplessness and feelings of exhaustion are also associated with the baby blues. Thankfully, for most women the symptoms only last a few days

and disappear as quickly as they arrive, leaving you to enjoy the delights of motherhood.

What Causes The Baby Blues?

After Pregnancy

85

No one thing is responsible for the baby blues; instead it’s believed to be a combination of biological and emotional issues. The birth of your baby causes radical changes in the hormone levels in your body, with some hormones rising and others falling, which can throw your emotions into chaos. The apprehension and natural anxiety leading up to the delivery of your baby, and the physical exhaustion resulting from giving birth, paired with the demands of early motherhood, can leave you mentally exhausted and your body feeling like it’s done ten rounds with Mike Tyson.

Coping With the Blues It’s important to remember that for most women, the blues pass quickly and are a very natural response to the anxieties and demands your mind and body have been experiencing in the run up to, and beyond, the delivery of your baby.

Don’t be ashamed to cry

if you feel emotional and try to talk to someone about our feelings. If not your partner, then talk to your midwife who will be making regular visits to your home to check on the health of both you and your baby in the days after birth.

After the birth of your baby, try and rest as much as possible. Focus on the needs of your newborn (which can be demanding in themselves) and banish all thoughts of house work, chores, cooking etc. Accept offers of help from your partner, family or friends.

Postnatal Depression If the symptoms of the baby blues stay with you for more than just a few days it could be that you are suffering from Postnatal Depression (PND). In this case you should see your health visitor or doctor to discuss the problem.

PND is an unpleasant illness which affects about

10% of mothers who have recently given birth and is more common in women with a previous history of depression.

Unlike the baby blues which occur in the first few days of giving birth and only last a few days in total, PND can start at any time in the first days, weeks or months after the birth. It often lasts for more than three months and sometimes as long as a year or more, especially if the mother doesn’t receive appropriate treatment.

Symptoms of Postnatal Depression include: Anxiety – unreasonable fears and concerns - Emotional unbalance – one moment you may be laughing hysterically, the next you may be cross, crying or shouting for no real reason.

Panic attacks – physical evidence of this includes rapid heartbeat, sweating, nausea Depression – feelings of sadness and unhappiness

After Pregnancy

87

often combined with negative thoughts Tiredness – feeling of exhaustion and lethargy. You may not feel like you have the energy to get out of bed in the morning.

Confusion, memory loss or the inability to make a decision or focus on any one thing. Simple tasks may seem impossible to achieve No interest in sex Lack of appetite Recovering from Postnatal Depression Many sufferers of depression recover naturally but treatment can speed up the time it takes. Treatments on offer include therapies and medication. Talking can be one of the most effective healers – you may find talking to a friend, family member or your health visitor is sufficient or your doctor may refer you to a psychologist, psychiatrist, counsellor or community psychiatric nurse. Antidepressant drugs can also help you recover from the unpleasant symptoms of depression. For some women a combination

of both therapy and medication is the key to a successful and full recovery.

Important: This is not a definitive list; you may be experiencing other symptoms that are PND related. Please contact your doctor or midwife for support and advice.

What is Puerperal Psychosis?

Postnatal depression covers three degrees of mental illness that can occur after the birth of a baby. The mildest and shortest lived of these is the baby blues, and the most severe form is puerperal psychosis. Puerperal psychosis is a rare illness that affects between one and three mothers per thousand. The onset of puerperal psychosis is usually very sudden, and in more than 80% of cases within the first two weeks after delivery. Symptoms of the illness vary but manic or depressive symptoms such as refusing to eat, frantic energy, sleep disturbance, paranoia and irrational thoughts, tend to dominate. Usually the mother will be admitted to hospital

where the average stay is 6-8 weeks. Treatments include medication and various forms of individual, group and occupational therapy.

Looking to the Future At all times it is important that sufferers of postnatal depression, whatever it’s form, remember that they will make a recovery. This is not a fatal illness, it is treatable with a range of therapies and/ or medication and sufferers can look forward to a happy future with their baby.

Help and Information If you feel you are suffering from any of the described forms of postnatal depression, please speak to your health visitor or doctor for advice.

You can also find useful information on the below websites: National Child Birth Trust www.nct.org.uk Meet a Mum Association www.mama.co.uk The Birth Trauma Association www.birthtraumaassociation. org.uk

Post Natal Depression If the symptoms of the baby blues stay with you for more than just a few days it could be that you are suffering from Postnatal Depression (PND). In this case you should see your health visitor or doctor to discuss the problem.

PND is an unpleasant illness which affects about 10% of mothers who have recently given birth and is more common in women with a previous history of depression.

Unlike the baby blues which occur in the first few days of giving birth and only last a few days in total, PND can start at any time in the first days, weeks or months after the birth. It often lasts for

more than three months and sometimes as long as a year or more, especially if the mother doesn’t receive appropriate treatment.

Recovering From Postnatal Depression Many sufferers of depression recover naturally but treatment can speed up the time it takes. Treatments on offer include therapies and medication.

Talking can be one of the most effective healers – you may find talking to a friend, family member or your health visitor is sufficient or your doctor may refer you to a psychologist, psychiatrist, counsellor or community psychiatric nurse.

Antidepressant drugs can also help you recover from the unpleasant symptoms of depression. For some women a combination of both therapy and medication is the key to a successful and full recovery.

Important: This is not a definitive list, you may be experiencing other symptoms that are PND related.

Please contact your doctor or midwife for support and advice.

What is Puerperal Psychosis?

Postnatal depression covers three degrees of mental illness that can occur after the birth of a baby. The mildest and shortest lived of these is the baby blues,

After Pregnancy

89

and the most severe form is puerperal psychosis. Puerperal psychosis is a rare illness that affects between one and three mothers per thousand.

is not a fatal illness, it is treatable with a range of therapies and/or medication and sufferers can look forward to a happy future with their baby.

The onset of puerperal psychosis is usually very sudden, and in more than 80% of cases within the first two weeks after delivery. Symptoms of the illness vary but manic or depressive symptoms such as refusing to eat, frantic energy, sleep disturbance, paranoia and irrational thoughts, tend to dominate. Usually the mother will be admitted to hospital where the average stay is 6-8 weeks. Treatments include medication and various forms of individual, group and occupational therapy.

Help and Information If you feel you are suffering from any of the described forms of postnatal depression, please speak to your health visitor or doctor for advice. You can also find useful information on the below websites: National Child Birth Trust www.nct.org.uk Meet a Mum Association www.mama.co.uk The Birth Trauma Association - www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk Symptoms of Postnatal Depression include: - Anxiety – unreasonable fears and concerns - Emotional unbalance – one moment you may be laughing hysterically, the next you may be cross, crying or shouting for no real reason.

- Panic attacks – physical

Looking to the Future At all times it is important that sufferers of postnatal depression, whatever it’s form, remember that they will make a recovery. This

evidence of this includes rapid heartbeat, sweating, nausea…

- Depression – feelings of sadness and unhappiness often combined with negative thoughts - Tiredness – feeling of exhaustion and lethargy.

You may not feel like you have the energy to get out of bed in the morning.

- Confusion, memory loss or the inability to make a decision or focus on any one thing. Simple tasks may seem impossible to achieve.

- No interest in sex - Lack of appetite

Baby Care

91

Nappy Hygiene Nappy sterilising and washing will be a part of your daily routine for quite a while. So you may as well get organised!

Washing Reusable Nappies If you use a disposable inner liner with your reusable nappy, any soiling can be dripped straight into the toilet.

If the nappy itself gets dirty, hold the corner firmly over the toilet and let the toilet flush over the surface of the nappy to remove the worst of the soiling.

• Store used nappies in a bucket until you are ready to wash them • You can use a nappy sanitising liquid in the bucket, but this isn’t suitable for all nappies, so do check. Some mothers add a few drops of tea tree oil to the water, or a couple of teaspoons of white vinegar or a handful of washing soda. Alternatively, simply drop them in a covered bucket and store them dry, with maybe a little tea tree oil. Wash the nappies using a non-biological washing powder.

• Check the washing tem-

perature to use as it varies from brand to brand.

• Dry nappies outside if possible; the fresh air and sunshine will help make then white and softer.

Laundry Services In some areas, nappy laundry services take all the effort out of washing and drying reusable nappies.

The used nappies are stored, collected regularly, and then returned to you nice and clean. You do, of course, pay for this service.

Starting Feeding These days, many mothers decide to breastfeed.

Breastfeeding is the natural way to feed your baby. It has advantages for both of you.

A Good Start Even if you haven’t yet decided about breastfeeding, it’s worth at least starting off by breastfeeding your baby. It is possible, but may be difficult to move to breastfeeding once your baby has bottle fed. So give breastfeeding a try and see how you and your baby get on.

Skin-To-Skin Contact Holding your baby close is a really important part of getting to know each other. It also keeps your baby warm and helps keep his temperature, heart rate and breathing regular. Take your time when you first meet your baby, and hold him skin-to-skin. Your midwife will leave you and your

baby and partner alone for as long as you like. It’s an ideal time for you and your baby to try and first feed.

able. Your partner or midwife can assist you once you feel ready. It’s never too late!

Often a baby held skinto-skin will ‘root’ around; searching for the breast.

This is a good time to give your baby his first breastfeed.

If you had a caesarean this should happen just the same time. If you cannot hold your baby at first, ask for help as soon as you feel

The First Milk In the first days your breasts contain colostrums.

This is a hugely important food; a very very concentrated version of breast milk. It passes antibodies to your baby to protect against infection and gives a kick-start to the immune system, so that your

new baby gets the best protection possible against illnesses.

There’s not much of it as far as quantity goes, but colustrum is highly superior in quality to anything else that could be offered to a newborn. It gives way to milk after a few days.

Feeding now can give you a good opportunity to get breastfeeding off to a good start before the milk comes in. Don’t worry if it doesn’t seem like there’s a lot, just offer the breast whenever your baby needs a feed.

5 Myths of Breastfeeding “You need to be calm and rested to breastfeed, because stress makes your milk dry up” It’s pretty hard to stay calm and well rested with a new baby! However, mothers have breastfed their babies through wars, bombardment and famine. In fact the hormones released when you breastfeed have a soothing effect.

“You need to prepare your nipples before the birth for breastfeeding.”

There is no need to toughen your nipples, use creams to soften the skin or express colostrum.

The best preparation for breastfeeding is having your partner’s support, and being shown how to attach your baby correctly right from the start.

“Blondes, redheads and women with fair skin have more sensitive nipples.”

There is no evidence for this. Sore nipples are caused by your baby not being attached properly.

You can get help on correct positioning from your midwife, health visitor or breastfeeding counsellor.

“Breastfeeding can drain you – formula feeding is less tiring.”

Being a mother is tiring whichever way you feed your baby. When you breastfeed at night, the hormones your body releases will help you get back to sleep more easily than if you have to get up to prepare bottles.

“You need to drink milk to make milk” If this were true, then cows, sheep and other animals wouldn’t be able to feed their babies! In fact, you only need to eat and drink a good variety of foods according Baby-Led / Demand Feeding Breastfeeding works on a ‘supply and demand’ basis.

The hungrier your baby is, the more often he will want to go to the breast. The more often you put him to the breast, the more milk you will make. So baby-led feeding is very important.

Offer your baby the breast whenever he seems hungry and let him breastfeed for

as long as he wants. This way you will build your milk supply to match his needs.

Some babies are sleepy and may not feed much at first, this is quite normal. But if your baby still doesn’t feed regularly after 24 hour, ask your midwife’s advice.

Don’t just leave him without a feed.

Sore Nipple Fix Ouch! If it really does hurt, make sure you: Try and improve the way your baby attaches to the breast. Ask your midwife, breastfeeding counsellor or health visitor to help Bathe your breasts with plain water (soap can remove natural oils and contribute to cracking) Never pull your nipple out from your baby’s mouth like a cork from a bottle; put a finger gently into the side of her mouth to break the suction Express a little milk onto your nipples after feeds and let it dry If you’re using breast pads, use ones without a plastic backing to let the air in, and make sure that your bra is not too tight Remember, once your baby is attached correctly, the pain will fade. Ask your midwife or health visitor if there is anything she would recommend to help the healing in the meantime.

Baby Care

93

Breast or Bottle?

It’s a dilemma that every mum-to-be faces – do you breastfeed your baby or do you opt for giving your newborn formula milk?

Writer and mum of three Tara Craig looks at the options…

Is there a right or wrong answer to the question ‘should I breastfeed my baby? The government and health agency would recommend ‘breast is best’ and there’s no doubting the quality of the ingredients, but although it should be the most natural thing in the world, breastfeeding doesn’t always go to plan.

There are lots of reasons why ‘breast is best’; here are just a few of them: All in all, there are some very compelling reasons as to why you should think about giving breastfeeding a go. But what if you just don’t want to or you find that you simply can’t?

The ‘Real Life’ experience: As a mum myself I have made various attempts to breastfeed all three of my children, some more successful than others.

Wanting to make sure I gave my baby the best start in life, my first-born was breastfeed for a full six months. Both he and I took to the whole thing in our stride and the experience was, for the most part, enjoyable. This wasn’t the case for baby number two who struggled to fit onto my nipples (were they too big or was his mouth too small?) and seemed never to be content with what was on the menu. After just one week I ended up in bed with a burning fever and a breast that had swollen up like a football (the midwife later informed me I had mastitis, inflammation of the breast tissue and a relatively common side effect of breast feeding which was

cured with a dose of antibiotics and some cabbage leaves). Feeling incredibly sorry for myself, I watched on guiltily while my husband took over my former role and feed our baby a bottle with ease.

For baby three it was a different experience again –neither she nor me had any problem with the breast, but with two other children demanding my attention and a job to hold down, I found it stressful and impractical to breastfeed my baby (trying to cup your baby to your boob in a relaxed manner, while wrestling your two other children apart as you talk deadlines on the phone isn’t easy) and so the bottle won out over the breast and to be honest, I don’t think I could have coped otherwise.

While I have no doubt that breast milk probably can’t be beaten when it comes

Baby Care

95

to content, I don’t think I could have managed without the help of the bottle.

For me it was all about survival and as a working mum the bottle proved to be the more practical solution.

But what’s right for you?

Only you can answer that question and you’re probably only going to know the answer once you get started. Breastfeeding can be a rewarding and bonding experience with your child. It’s also free and packed with nutrients and vital antibodies that formula milk just can’t replicate. On the other hand, not every woman has the confidence to pull out her breast in a café or busy shopping centre at feeding time, but the alternative – locking yourself inside a public toilet for a 20 minute feeding session – is equally unappealing. Put like this, it’s easy to see how the process of pulling out a pre-heated bottled

can seem so much more dignified and social.

The Verdict: The arguments for breastfeeding are compelling, and while they won me over initially, I wasn’t prepared to sacrifice the quality of my time as a mother, wife and writer to stay 100% committed to that food source for my children. I did the best I could, but I don’t think any of my children are any the worse off for having experienced what milk tastes like when it’s powdered and from Daisy the cow.

Useful links: Association of Breastfeeding Mothers - www.abm. me.uk A Breastfeeding Community - www.mumslikeus.ie Registered charity in Ireland offering support to breastfeeding mothers www.thebreastway.com Baby’s who are breastfed have

a smaller chance of: Developing eczema Getting ear, chest and tummy bugs and having to go to hospital as a result Being fussy about new foods Being constipated Being obese and developing diabetes when they are older Mums who breastfeed: Have lower risks of breast and ovarian cancer Naturally use up about 500 extra calories per day and often find it easier to lose their pregnancy weight Save money - formula feeding can cost as much as €45 a month Have a lot less hassle there is no need to clean and sterilise bottles, boil kettles and wait for the milk to cool every few hours

97

Your antenatal care team may use words or medical terms that you are not familiar with. These brief explanations may help.

Anaemia – a condition where you’ve run low on iron, which can make you feel tired.

Anaesthetic – a drug that stops you from feeling pain; a general anaesthetic will put you to sleep as well; a local anaesthetic stops pain by making one area numb but you stay awake.

Analgesic – a pain-relieving drug that doesn’t cause unconsciousness Antibody – a protective substance that your body forms to fight a particular infection.

Areola – the dark area around your nipples.

Birth Canal – this is your vagina.

In pregnancy, it’s the passage between you uterus and the outside world.

Braxton Hicks – the painless ‘practise’ contractions that you feel in the last months of pregnancy.

Breech – a baby lying in the womb with his bottom down. Instead of the head, the buttocks or feet would be born first.

Cervix – the neck of the womb, which gradually opens during labour for your baby to be born.

Chromosome – a bundle of genes that influences how a baby will develop.

Contraction – the tightening of the muscles of your uterus (uterine contractions); in labour these

push the baby out.

Crowning – the baby’s head ‘crowns’ when it can be seen at the opening of your vagina during labour.

Dilation – or dilatation the gradual opening of the cervix during labour; when it’s opened as far as it will go, it’s said to be ‘fully dilated’.

Down’s Syndrome – happens when he baby has an extra chromosome, resulting in health problems and learning difficulties.

Ectopic Pregnancy – when the developing baby grows outside the uterus.

Embryo – the medical name for your baby up to about eight weeks.

Engagement – when the baby’s head settles down into your pelvis, ready for birth.

Fetus – the medical name for your developing baby between eight weeks and birth.

Gestation – the time from conception to birth, generally 40 weeks starting from the first day of the last menstrual cycle.

Haemorrhage – bleeding usually of a severe and sudden kind.

Hepatitis – an inflammation of the liver, often due to infection.

Induction – when labour is started deliberately; you may be induced if the baby is late, or seems in distress.

Jaundice – a yellow colour to the skin and whites of the eyes which some babies develop a few days after birth because their livers are immature. It may clear up on its

Dictionary

Dictionary own in a couple of weeks or be treated with UV lights.

Lightening – when the baby drops down into your pelvis 2-3 weeks before labour.

Moulding – as the baby moves down through the birth canal, the head may be ‘moulded to make the passage easier – the bones of the skull are soft and able to overlap for birth.

Perineum – the area of skin and muscle between your vagina and anus (front and back passage).

Placenta – the large fleshy organ which nourishes your baby in the womb and takes waste products away.

Pre-Eclampsia – a potentially serious problem of pregnancy where the blood pressure rises – other signs include headaches, protein in the urine, and sudden swelling of hands, feet and face.

Sickle Cell – an inherited disorder of the blood.

Spina Bifida – literally ‘split spine’ – the baby’s spine does not develop properly which can cause lasting disability.

Tay Sachs – an inherited disease most usually found in people of Jewish origin.

Thalassaemia – an inherited disorder of the blood Uterus – the womb the strong, muscular organ, which increases hugely in size as your baby grows.

Vagina – the canal that leads from your external genitals to the cervix, the neck of the womb; also called the birth canal.