Do You Really Need a Birth Plan? Here's What You Should Know
Wondering if you need a birth plan for your upcoming labour and delivery? Discover the benefits of having a birth plan, how it can help you communicate your preferences with your care team, and how to create one that works for you. Whether you're planning a natural birth or have specific preferences for medical interventions, a birth plan can offer clarity and support during your pregnancy journey.
Overdue? Offering ideas & Debunking suggestions
If your due date has come and gone, chances are you’re pretty eager to meet your baby. If you take a quick look online you will find a range of suggestions that are rumoured to induce labour! Keep in mind that these methods haven’t been medically proven (although there are several studies) and most of the popular legends are more myth than fact (sorry!).
Is It Safe to Have Sex During Pregnancy?
Sex during pregnancy is generally safe for most women with healthy pregnancies. Your baby is well-protected by the amniotic sac, uterus, and mucus plug. However, your desire for intimacy may fluctuate throughout each trimester due to hormonal changes, fatigue, and physical discomforts. Open communication with your partner and consulting your healthcare provider if complications arise will ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. Let’s find out more….
How to Involve Your Partner in the Pregnancy Journey: Tips for a Stronger Bond
Pregnancy is an exciting time, and it’s important for both partners to feel connected and involved in the journey. From attending doctor’s appointments to helping with preparations for baby’s arrival, there are plenty of ways to include your partner every step of the way. This article offers simple and fun ideas to help your partner engage, bond with the baby, and support you during this special time. After all, teamwork makes the dream work!
Protecting Yourself and Baby: What You Need to Know About Listeria Infection During Pregnancy
Listeria infection may not be something most people think about, but during pregnancy, it's important to stay informed. This bacteria, often found in certain foods, can pose serious risks to both you and your baby. In this article, we'll cover how to protect yourself from listeria, the foods to avoid, and the signs to watch out for. By staying aware and taking simple precautions, you can help ensure a healthy pregnancy for you and your little one.
Understanding Screening Tests During Pregnancy: What You Need to Know
Pregnancy comes with a lot of excitement, but also many questions—especially when it comes to screening tests. These tests help ensure both you and your baby are healthy and developing well. From blood tests to ultrasounds, each screening provides important information about your pregnancy. In this article, we'll break down the most common screening tests, what they check for, and how they can help guide your pregnancy care.
What Do Babies Do All Day in your Uterus? A Peek Inside Their Busy Little World
Ever wonder what your baby is up to while nestled snugly in your womb? Spoiler alert: they're not just lounging around! From hiccupping and stretching to practicing their ninja moves, babies are surprisingly active in utero. This fascinating little world of kicks, tumbles, and even "breathing" practice offers a glimpse into their development and growing personality. Get ready to dive into the amazing daily life of your womb-dweller!
Get UPRIGHT !!!
Birth moved from home into hospital during the 1900s. The medical model of maternity care became entrenched in society, along with the expectation that women would labour on a bed. Flat on their back, and sometimes with their legs in stirrups. There is a complete lack of evidence to support this physiologically dysfunctional birthing position, which simply came down to doctor preference, and subsequently, how they were then trained (bugger!)
Advocacy during labour and the postnatal period.
Whether you give birth in the hospital, at home, an operating room, or in a warm bath or shower, labour and birth can be an arduous process. Almost inevitably, there will be choices to be made. Also, inevitably, it’s probably not going to go exactly as you had imagined, planned, or expected.
Why you need to do Antenatal Classes.
Childbirth is full of wonderment, excitement, joy, trepidation and a huge dose of the unknown.... how am I going to cope? will my partner support me in the way I need? Do I actually have options, can I say no? What if I can't do this? how does my body make breastmilk, can I sleep safely with my baby next to me? What is involved with an epidural? How can I have a natural birth? Do I have to give birth in hospital? These questions and soooooooo many more will be answered during antenatal classes - there is a huge list of benefits and positives for you and your partner or support person.
Congratulations. Welcome to your pregnancy!
Congratulations and welcome to your pregnancy! You've probably got a million questions and you're probably feeling a million different emotions right now, right? Excited, overwhelmed, scared maybe even unsure. We've got the practical advice on everything you need to know right now.
The Perks of Pregnancy.
Sure, you'll probably experience other physical and emotional challenges like morning sickness, sciatica, round ligament pain, haemorrhoids, varicose veins, heartburn indigestion, and mood swings, to name a few. But don't lose sight of all the awesome perks that pregnancy offers too.
Double the Love - expecting twins.
Every year in New Zealand around 1000 couples find themselves expecting twins, triplets or occasionally even more babies. Multiple births are more common than they were years ago, due to the advancing average age of mothers and the associated rise in assisted reproductive techniques, in particular the use of fertility drugs.
How to choose your midwife.
It's completely normal to have a lot of questions and concerns during this exciting time. Midwives are trained professionals who can provide valuable guidance and support throughout your pregnancy journey and beyond.
Not sure what to look for or what questions to ask when choosing a midwife? No worries, we've got you covered during this exciting and nerve-wracking time!
Vivid pregnancy dreams & nightmares!
Feeling like you've been streaming some pretty strange Netflix shows while you're sleeping these days? Something's definitely on your mind, and it's making you dream up a storm? Even if you're normally the type who doesn't remember your dreams when you wake up, you may suddenly find you're elbowing your partner in the middle of the night to recount the details of your latest wacky dream. Dreams may be so richly detailed and vivid that you may wake from them wondering, was that really a dream? While they may make you feel like you're losing your mind, pregnancy dreams are healthy and normal.
Does the position of your baby have an impact on your labour? You bet it does!
One of the things you can do to help your labour go well is to line your baby up so that it can take the easiest (optimal) pathway through your pelvis. Ideally, your baby should have it's back on your left and towards the front with feet kicking on your right, this is called an anterior position (or optimal fetal position).
Morning sickness, when does it start? And, can I do anything to help?
There is a big range of morning sickness, and it can vary from pregnancy to pregnancy, symptoms are often described from anything such as a bad hangover, really bad motion sickness to the more severe version known as Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) which affects around 2% of all pregnant women. If you are vomiting multiple times in the day, having trouble keeping fluids and food down - you may have HG. You should seek medical advice, as you may be at risk of serious dehydration.
Planning a homebirth?
Wondering if a planned home birth is right for you? guaranteed you have lots of questions such as, is it safe? Will you need a midwife? How do you create a backup plan? Is it messy (not as much as you think), Is it even possible?
Leg Cramps during Pregnancy - Ouch!
Along with swelling and varicose veins, leg cramps are an annoying part of pregnancy. These painful spasms that radiate through your calves and up your legs are very common. Although they can be felt during the day, they're usually more noticeable at night, when fatigue and fluid accumulation are at their peak (and when you have all that quiet and stillness to ponder them). Knowing what to do when you get a cramp and how to possibly prevent leg cramps from happening can make your pregnancy a bit more comfortable.
Breastfeeding - how your partner can support you.
For many women, their partner is their main source of support with breastfeeding. Many breastfeeding women give up sooner than they want to. You can be integral in keeping breastfeeding going. The more supportive you are, the longer your partner is likely to breastfeed and the more confident she’ll feel.
While breastfeeding is a natural process, it is also a learned skill. Breastfeeding isn’t always easy at first and can take a few weeks for both mum and baby to get used to. Some breastfeeding mums go through a rough patch, but good support and encouragement from you can help them get through it.
