WELCOME

THANK YOU FOR PURCHASING MY E-

BOOK.

I AM A 100% CERTAIN THAT THIS E-

BOOK WILL HELP YOU THROUGH YOUR
9 MONTHS OF PREGNANCY!

TO BE HONEST, PREGNANCY IS NOT

ALWAYS 9 MONTHS OF PURE
PLEASURE; THERE ARE CHALLENGES
TOO. I HOPE YOU CAN USE THE
FOLLOWING CHAPTERS AS A GUIDE TO
THIS MARVELLOUS JOURNEY. WITH
KNOWLEDGE, PRACTICAL ADVICE,
HUMOUR, AND A FEW SENSIBLE NOTES
OF CAUTION WILL COME, I HOPE, THE
CONFIDENCE TO ENJOY YOUR
PREGNANCY AND THE BIRTH OF YOUR
BABY IN GOOD HEALTH AND A POSITIVE
STATE OF MIND.
THIS IS THE ORIGINAL COPY
AS I OWN COPYRIGHT!
NO PART OF THIS E-BOOK
MAY BE COPIED OR SOLD!
YOU WILL NOT FIND THIS
E-BOOK ANYWHERE ELSE!
CONTENTS

PAGES 4-7 CONCEPTION

PAGES 7-8 FINDING OUT YOUR

PREGNANT

PAGES 8-9 SIGNS OF PREGNANCY

PAGES 9-15 HOW THE BABY DEVELOPS

PAGES 15-17 REMAING FIT DURING

PREGNANCY

PAGES 17-20 EATING HEALTHY

PAGES 20-22 A LITTLE OF WHAT YOU
FANCY

PAGES 23-28 WEIGHT GAIN

PAGES 28-30 KEEPING BABY SAFE

PAGES 30-32 LOOKING GOOD & FEEING

ATTRACTIVE

PAGES 32-38 LETS TALK ABOUT SEX

PAGES 39-42 PREPARING FOR BIRTH

PAGES 42-44 ROUTINE TESTS

PAGES 44-46 FIRST TRIMESTER

PAGES 46-48 SECOND TRIMESTER

PAGES 48-49 THIRD TRIMESTER

PAGES 49-51 WORK DURING

PREGNANCY

PAGES 51-53 COMMON PROBLEMS

DURING PREGNANCY

PAGES 53-55 GETTING READY FOR THE

BIRTH
PAGES 56-59 HOW TO RECOGNISE WHEN
LABOUR STARTS

PAGES 59-62 TYPES OF DELIVERY

PAGES 62-63 FIRST STAGE OF LABOUR

(DILATION OF THE CERVIX 10CM)

PAGES 63-65 SECOND STAGE OF

LABOUR (THE PUSHING PART)

PAGES 65 THIRD STAGE OF LABOUR

(DELIVERY OF THE PLACENTA)

CONCEPTION

OH SURE, YOU LEARNED ALL ABOUT

THE BIRDS AND THE BEE’S AT SCHOOL.
BUT THIS TIME ITS REALLY ABOUT YOU,
SO PAY ATTENTION AND DON’T SKIP
OVER THIS SECTION. YOUR BODY’S
REPRODUCTIVE FUNCTION IS TRULY
ONE OF LIFE’S GREAT WONDERS.YOU’LL
FIND YOURSELF BEING THE SUBJECT
OF MUCH POKING AND PRODDING OVER
THE NEXT 9 MONTHS, AND
UNDERSTANDING EXACTLY HOW YOUR
BODY FUNCTION’S WILL BECOMEA
FOCUS OF YOUR WAKING HOUR’S.
TRUST ME.

OVULATION

Around the middle of your cycle, a ripe

egg or ovum is released from one of your
ovaries. This is called ovulation.

The egg is released into the fallopian

tube and is stroked down its length by
the 'fingers' which help to direct the egg
down into the tube.
At the same time, the lining of your
womb begins to thicken and the mucus
in the cervix becomes thinner so that
sperm (if you had intercourse) can swim
through it more easily.

Ovulation is characterised by an
increase in the levels of a hormone
called Luteinising Hormone produced by
the brain and responsible for the release
of eggs from the ovary every month
(hormonal surge ) and a small increase in
temperature.

Once released, your egg can survive up

to 24 hours.
EJACULATION

During sexual intercourse, sperm are

ejaculated from your partner's penis into
your vagina In one ejaculation, there may
be more than 300 million sperm.

The sperm are ejaculated into the vagina

at a speed of up to 500 cm (200 inches)
per second.

Once inside your body, the sperm begin

the hard work of locating your egg and
fertilising it.

FERTILISATION

Once your egg has been released and

your partner has ejaculated sperm into
your vagina, fertilisation can occur
anytime thereafter in the fallopian tube.

When ejaculation occurs, some of the

sperm

will leak out of your vagina again.

Some sperm will find their way and begin

to swim up through your cervix.

At the time of ovulation the mucus in the

cervix is thinner than usual to let the
sperm pass through more easily.

The sperm swim into the womb and so

into the fallopian tube.

One sperm may then join with the egg

and fertilise it. Conception is said to
have taken place.
IMPLANTATION

During the week after fertilisation, your

fertilised egg moves slowly down the
fallopian tube and into your womb.

The fertilised egg is growing already.

Your fertilised egg attaches itself firmly
to the specially thickened womb lining
and this process is called implantation.

Thereafter, your fertilised egg (your

baby) continues to grow and the womb
expands to accommodate the growing
baby.

FINDING OUT YOUR PREGNANT

Most women choose to go and see their

doctor quite quickly after they have had
a positive pregnancy test.

The advantage of going to see your

doctor is that you will be given advice
and support right from the start.

Your doctor is likely to take your blood

pressure, weigh and measure you and
also tell you about the antenatal (pre-
birth) services in your local area.

The other advantage of going to the

doctor early is that you will be given a
form that you can send away to get free
prescriptions and dental care.

SIGNS OF PREGNANCY

Morning sickness:

Can be one of your first signs that you

are pregnant. This doesn’t always mean
that you’ll get ill only in the morning. This
can occur, morning, noon or night-time.
It will normally happen in the first
trimester or your pregnancy and end by
the following, this isn’t the case in all
pregnancies though. Some women will
continue with it until the extreme end of
pregnancy.

Needing to pass water more:

You may find that you have to get up in

the night to do so.

An increased vaginal discharge:

Without any soreness or irritation.

‘Going off’ certain things:

Like tea or coffee, tobacco smoke,

alcohol, certain smells and even fatty
foods.

Changes in your breast:

These often become larger and very

tender and may tingle. The nipples may
darken and stand out.
Feeling tired.

Being constipated.

Food cravings.

HOW THE BABY DEVELOPS

Weeks 4-5

The embryo now settles into the womb

lining. The outer cells reach out like
roots to link with the mothers blood
supply. The inner cells form into 2 then
later on into 3 layers. Each of these
layers will grow to be different parts of
the baby’s body. One layer becomes the
brain and nervous system, the skin, eyes
and ears. Another layer becomes the
lungs, stomach and gut. The third layer
becomes the heart, blood muscles and
bones.

The fifth week is the time of the first

missed period when most women are
only just beginning to think that they
may be pregnant. Yet already the baby’s
nervous system is starting to develop. A
groove forms in the top layer of cells.
The cells fold up and round to make a
hollow tube called the neural tube. This
will become the baby’s brain and spinal
cord, so the tube has a ‘head end’ and a
‘tail end’. defects in this tube are the
cause of spina bifida.

The actual size of the embryo at this

stage is 5mm.

Weeks 6-7

There is now a large bulge where the

heart is and a bump for the head
because the brain is developing. The
heart begins to beat and can be seen
beating on an ultrasound scan. Dimples
on the side of the head will become the
baby’s ears and also thickenings where
the baby’s eyes will be. On the body,
bumps are forming which will become
muscles and bones. And small swelling’s
(called limb buds) show where the arms
and legs are growing.

At seven weeks the embryo has grown

from 5mm to about 10mm long.

Weeks 8-9

A face is slowly developing. The eyes are

more obvious and have some colour in
them. There is a mouth with a tongue.
There are now the beginnings of hands
and feet, with ridges where fingers and
toes will be. The major internal organs
are all developing- the heart, brain,
lungs, kidneys, liver and gut.

At nine weeks the baby has grown from

10mm to about 22mm.

Weeks 10-14

Just 12 weeks after conception the fetus

is fully formed. It has all its organs,
muscles, limbs, bones and its sex organs
are well developed. From now on it has
to grow to mature. The baby is already
moving about but the movements cannot
be felt just yet. By 14 weeks the
heartbeat is strong and can be heard by
using an ultrasound detector. The
heartbeat is very fast about twice as fast
as a normal adults heart beat.

At 14 weeks the baby has grown from

22mm to about 85mm.

Weeks 15-22

The baby is now growing quickly. The

body grows bigger so that the head and
body are more in proportion and the baby
doesn’t look so top heavy. The face
begins to look much more human like
and the hair is now beginning to grow
aswell as the eyelashes and eyebrows.
The eyelids still stay closed over the
eyes. The lines on the skin of the fingers
are now formed, so the baby already has
its own individual fingerprints. Finger and
toenails are also beginning to grow and
the baby also has a firm hand grip. At
about 22weeks the baby becomes
covered in a very fine, soft hair called
‘lanugo’. the purpose of this isn’t known
but it is thought that it may be to keep
the baby at the right temperature. The
lanugo disappears before birth, though
sometimes just a little is left and
disappears later.

Between 16-22 weeks you will be able to

feel your baby move for the first time. At
first you feel a fluttering or bubbling or a
very slight shifting movement, maybe
like indigestion. Later you cant mistake
the movements and you can even see
the baby kick about, often you can guess
which bump is a hand or foot.

At 22 weeks the baby has grown from

85mm to 27cm.
Weeks 23-30

The baby is now moving about vigorously

and responds to touch and sound. A very
loud noise close by may cause baby to
jump and kick. It is also swallowing
small amounts of the amniotic fluid in
which it is floating and passing tiny
amounts of urine back into the fluid.
Sometimes the baby may get hiccups,
and you can feel the jerk of each hiccup.
The baby may also begin to follow a
pattern for waking and sleeping. Very
often this is a different pattern to yours,
so when you go to bed at night the baby
wakes up and starts kicking. The babys
heartbeat can now be heard through a
stethoscope. Your partner may even be
able to hear it by putting an ear to your
tummy. At around 26weeks the baby’s
eyelids open for the first time. The eyes
are almost always blue or dark blue. It is
not until some weeks after birth that the
colour of the eyes change.

At 30weeks the baby has grown from

27cm to about 33cm.

Weeks 31-40

The baby is growing plumper. So the skin

which was quite wrinkled before is now
smoother. Both the vernix and the lanugo
begin to disappear. By about 32weeks
the is baby usually laying head down
ready for birth. Sometime before birth
the head may move down into the pelvis
and is said to be ‘engaged’ but
sometimes the baby’s head does not
engage until labour has started.

REMAINING FIT DURING PREGNANCY

Staying fit throughout your pregnancy is

good for you, not only will it help you
keep your body toned but it also can help
when it comes time to push that baby
out. Every pregnant lady wants to be
able to go back to her pre-pregnancy
weight after the toddler is born, but the
sole way to do that is to make sure you
can.
By excising or working out every day you
are making certain you don’t add fat to
your body. During labour it’ll be much,
much easier to move the baby if you’ve
been strengthening your leg and
stomach muscles. Who knows, it may
even make labour a little bit shorter.
Isn’t that what we all want?

Plus when you are tired and just feeling

a little bit blue, just by exercising you
actually increase your energy.

Here are a few quick things you can do

to stay fit in pregnancy, without really
having to break out a sweat. I’m sure by
now you’ve heard of yoga, this is a very
good thing for you to practice, especially
if you haven’t often been in the best of
shape. Not to fret, there are beginning
levels here, you don’t have to jump into
the human pretzel right away. Try
purchasing a set of little weights that
you can use throughout the building, like
hand weights or wrist weights that can
use while walking. Instead of just laying
on the couch while you rest you can be
lifting small weights.

Get a chair and try doing a couple

crunches, 5 to 10 in the beginning to
make certain you don’t pull anything.
Don’t be concerned you can always add
to it as the weeks go on.

Try running, walking or jogging outside.

Not only will this boost up your energy
but it’ll also help get your spirits up,
especially if you’ve been indoors all day.
Remember, if you are going for a walk to
always carry a drink with you. You don’t
want to dehydrate out there. Always
make sure that you are wearing sensible
shoes, before you leave the house. If you
didn’t always run, ask your doctor if you
can. Sometimes a doctor may suggest
you hike around the block at first and
increase it from there, if you didn’t
always do it before you were expectant.
If you can you may want to try going for
a swim or try bicycling. However, if you
detect that you are mishap prone you
may want to remain away from the bike.
A bike accident is something that can
easily happen, even when you’ve always
road a bike. Swimming can help you
unwind and stay cool. Take a dip in the
pool near you, they may even have a
swim class for pregnant women in your
locale. This would be a great way to
meet other moms.

Whenever you are doing exercises, make

certain you aren’t overdoing it. If you
believe you could be stop immediately
and take a break. You never want to do
anything that’ll hurt the pregnancy.

TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF

Taking care of yourself is the first and

best way to take care of your future
child. Your most important role during
pregnancy is looking after your own well-
being and maintaining a healthy diet to
provide for the needs of the little one
growing inside. If you’ve never paid an
ounce of attention to your diet, now is
the time to start.

Eating healthy is essential in meeting the

rapid growth needs of your baby,
maintaining your health, and preparing
you for breastfeeding. As a pregnant
mother, you should eat a variety of foods
from three important food groups:

Carbohydrates

(e.g. brown rice and wholemeal bread)

Proteins

(e.g. eggs, meat and fish)

Fats

(e.g. olive and sunflower oils)

You need all these because each food

group offers a different type of nutrition.
For instance, meat is rich in protein and
iron but has no vitamin c. broccoli has
lots of calcium and vitamins but no
protein.

Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables:

As these provide the vitamins and

minerals, as well as fibre which helps
digestion and prevents constipation. Eat
them lightly cooked in a little water or
raw to get the most out of them. Frozen,
tinned and dried fruit and vegetables are
also good. Try and aim to eat at least
five portions a day.

Starchy foods like bread, potatoes, rice,

pasta, chapattis, yams and breakfast
cereals:

Are an important part of any diet and

should, with vegetables form the main
part of a meal. they are satisfying,
without containing to much calories, and
are an important source of vitamins and
fibre.

Cut down on fat and fatty foods as well:

Most of us eat far more fat than we need

to. Fat is very high in calories and too
much can increase the risk of heart
disease, and it can contribute to being
over weight. Avoid fried foods, trim the
fat off meat, use spreads sparingly and
go easy on food like pastry, chocolate
and chips which contain a lot of fat.

Try to cut down on sugar and sugary

foods:

Like sweets, biscuits and cakes, also cut

down on the sugary drinks like coke.
Sugar contains calories without
providing any other nutrients the body
needs. It also adds the risk of tooth
decay.

Dairy foods like milk, cheese and yogurt:

Are important as they contain calcium
and other nutrients needed for your
baby’s development. Choose low-fat
varieties wherever possible, for example
semi-skimmed milk or skimmed milk,
low-fat yogurt and half-fat hard cheese.
Try and aim for two-three servings a day.

Food hazards during pregnancy:

Listeriosis- caused by the bacteria

listeria monocytogens, sometimes found
in unpasteurised milk, soft cheese,
pates, cooked chilled foods, rare meat
and pre-prepared coleslaw.

Toxoplasmosis- caused by an infection

from parasite called toxoplasma gondii,
sometimes found in raw or rare meat,
particularly lamb.

Salmonella- the salmonella bacteria is

traced to eggs and chicken. It is
therefore advisable to avoid foods that
contain raw egg and always make sure
you cook chicken and eggs thoroughly.
Wherever possible purchase free-range
eggs and chicken.

Botulism- the outline toxin is found in

improperly tinned or preserved food such
as cured ham or pork.

A LITTLE OF WHAT YOU FANCY

You may think food cravings during

pregnancy are just an indulgence but,
alternative therapist, Pat Thomas
believes they have a purpose.

Food cravings and aversions are a

normal part of life, but seem to intensify
during pregnancy. Nutritionists believe
that the craving is not for the food itself,
but for what it contains and the effect it
has on your body.

Cravings can also be the result of a

dietary imbalance. A high grain diet often
produces wild cravings for fats and
sweets. Those high in protein can bring
on cravings for sugar, and high sugar
consumption can make some individuals
crave salt.

A craving is not a bad thing; it's a

message from your body. If you are in
tune enough, you will be able to respond
to it appropriately. If a craving is allowed
to turn into a regular binge, it could
affect your health and the health of your
baby.

Here are some common cravings and

what they may be telling you:

Apples Calcium, magnesium,

phosphorous, potassium. This is a
pretty healthy craving. If you have
a high-fat diet, your body may be
craving the pectin for its ability to
lower cholesterol.

Melon Potassium and vitamin A are

its main nutrients. Canteloupes are
also high in vitamin C, calcium,
magnesium, phosphorous, biotin,
and inositol - so go ahead, give
into it.

Cheese Calcium, phosphorous and

aluminium. Eat more broccoli and
other green vegetables as a lower
fat alternative.

Eggs Full of protein but also

sulphur, amino acids, selenium
and, in the yoke, fat. The white
contains useful fat-dissolving
choline. Often it's not the eggs, but
the accompaniments (bacon,
sausages etc) which are
unhealthy. Vary your protein
sources to include oily fish like
salmon and mackerel and dried
beans to ease the craving.

Milk Calcium is the obvious choice.

But milk also contains useful
amino acids such as tryptophan,
leucine and lysine. As long as
you're not allergic, allow yourself
an extra glass.
 Olives, pickles Sodium - your
pregnant body needs more of it.
Your body may also crave salt to
balance excessive sugar intake.

Peanut butter/nuts B-vitamins,

protein and fat. You need more of
each when you are pregnant. A
diet rich in oily fish will help
diminish the craving and be lower
in calories.

Weight gain during pregnancy:

Weight gain during pregnancy is not only

inevitable, it's also necessary. While the
phrase 'eating for two' shouldn't be
taken literally (you only need
approximately 200 extra calories a day),
while you are pregnant you are the soul
provider of the vitamins, minerals and
nutrients your baby needs to grow.
Throughout the duration of your
pregnancy your body naturally puts the
needs of your baby before its own. For
this reason, it is essential that you eat a
nutritious, well balanced diet not only to
ensure that your baby develops healthily,
but also to ensure that your body is
nourished enough to carry, deliver and
care for a new baby.

There was a time when a lot of emphasis

was placed on maternal weight gain
during pregnancy. This was mainly
because midwives used this as an
indication of baby's growth and
development. However, since the
introduction of more sophisticated and
accurate measures such as ultrasound,
this practice has tailed off. Now, while
an eye is kept on weight increase, it is
no longer carefully monitored, unless a
specific health problem dictates
otherwise.

When you attend your first antenatal

appointment, the midwife is likely to
measure your height and weight and use
this to calculate your BMI (body mass
index). This figure will help the midwife
to establish whether your pre-pregnancy
weight was healthy for your size and
enable her to make recommendations
relating to your ideal weight gain over
the course of your pregnancy.

Recommended weight gain:

There are four major BMI categories in

which you are likely to fall:

Underweight - BMI less than 18.5 -

If you are classed as being
underweight your health care
provider is likely to recommend
that you gain between 28 and
40lbs during your pregnancy. Even
if you have been particularly
conscious about your figure prior
to pregnancy it is important to put
this weight on as it will help your
baby to grow healthily and provide
you with the energy stores you
need to delivery and feed a new
baby. Research has suggested that
women who do not follow a
healthy pregnancy diet and fail to
put on sufficient weight are more
likely to deliver smaller babies who
require more medical attention. If
you are finding it difficult to put on
weight then you should discuss
this with your health care provider.

Normal - BMI 18.5 - 25 - If your pre

(or early) pregnancy weight is
classed as 'normal' this means
that your weight is in the ideal
range for your height and you
should aim to gain between 25 and
35lbs during the course of your
pregnancy. You should aim to gain
approximately 5lbs in the first
trimester and then about 1lb per
week for the rest of your
pregnancy. It is important to aim
for a steady weight increase as
this will ensure your baby receives
the spread of nutrients he or she
needs. If you notice any sudden
increases or decreases in your
weight then you should notify your
health care provider as this could
be a sign of complications. Many
women find it helpful to keep a
weight diary throughout their
pregnancy so that they can
monitor both their own and their
baby's progress. Weigh yourself on
the same day each week -
mornings tend to be best - and
remember to account for small
fluctuations due to water
retention.

Overweight - BMI 25 - 30 - If you

are classed as being overweight
you will need to put on less weight
during pregnancy as you are
already likely to have sufficient
energy stores to help ensure your
baby has all the nutrients needed.
For this reason you are likely to
gain between 15 and 25lbs during
pregnancy. If you were trying to
lose weight before you fell
pregnant any strict diets should be
abandoned, pregnancy is not the
time for calorie counting. Instead
you should focus on a healthy diet
and plenty of gentle exercise to
help control weight gain - talk to
your doctor before starting any
exercise program.

Obese - BMI 30+ - If you are

classed as obese with a BMI of 30
or more you should expect to gain
less than 15lbs during pregnancy
as you already have the maternal
energy reserves to help your baby
develop. If you had a poor diet
before you became pregnant you
should focus on eating healthily
and taking part in gentle exercise
such as walking or yoga. This will
also help reduce the risk of
developing gestational diabetes,
 high blood pressure or
complications with delivery. If you
are concerned about your weight
or your diet your doctor will be
able to advise you.

The above advice only applies to those

carrying single babies, for those
expecting twins or multiples you should
expect to put on more weight simply
because you have double the baby to
nourish and carry.

Your weight gain is made up of this:

Baby 2.5 - 4kg ( 5 - 9 pounds )

Placenta 500 - 1000g ( 1 - 2 pounds )

Amniotic fluid 1.5 - 2.5kg ( 3 - 5

pounds )

Extra weight of uterus, breasts and

energy stores of fat 2-5kg (4-11
pound)
 Extra weight of blood 2-4kg (4-9
pound)

KEEPING BABY SAFE DURING

PREGNANCY

There are things you can do today to

keep your baby safe. Help prevent
problems by following this simple advise.

Look after your teeth

Have dental check-ups. ( free dental

treatment on the NHS for all pregnant
women) It’s worth a visit as research has
found that mums-to-be who suffer
chronic gum disease may be more likely
to have a baby that’s born too early. The
likely culprit is a labour - inducing
chemical found in mouth bacteria. Clean
your teeth twice a day as this will
prevent you from getting gum disease.

Stop smoking

Smoking when pregnant, not only are you

putting your own health at risk but that
of your unborn child too. Imagine your
womb filling up with noxious smoke. This
is the environment you are creating
every time you light up a cigarette.
Smoking while pregnant deprives your
unborn child of oxygen and also puts risk
for problems such as miscarriage and
premature delivery. Your best bet is to
quit smoking the minute you find out
your pregnant.

Cut out the alcohol

Pregnancy is a time when you are better

off giving up drinking altogether. There
may be a difference between one glass
of wine and alcohol abuse, but nobody
really knows.

Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol

during pregnancy is known to cause
physical defects, learning disabilities
and emotional problems in children.

Women who have the occasional glass of

wine a week don’t appear to have any
more problems than women who don’t
have a drink at all.

Medication during pregnancy

Do not expose yourself or your baby to

medications without checking with your
doctor or midwife first.

Taking painkillers like aspirin and

Ibuprofen during pregnancy has been
linked to a higher risk of miscarriage.
Paracetamol is the safest painkiller for
mums-to-be, but don’t over do it.

Common medications to avoid during

pregnancy include:

Certain antibiotics

Antidepressants
 Antihistamines

antinausea pills

Aspirin

Cortisone

Cough syrup

Diet pills

Tranquillizers

Vitamins in excess quantities

Cut out the caffeine

‘java junkies’ who cant seem to live

without the stuff, be warned! Some
studies suggest that drinking 4 or more
cups of coffee a day may increase the
risk of miscarriage, premature birth,
stillbirth and cot death.

If you really cant live without those cups

of coffee try to cut down or even better,
find a substitute for those daily cups of
fresh coffee, try decaffeinated.

FEELING ATTRACTIVE AND LOOKING

GOOD

All pregnant women have to grapple with

body issues. The concept of being seen
in public with an oversize middle is
daunting. But there’s no reason why you
cant get sex appeal or fashion goals.
When you are pregnant, people don’t give
you a hard time for having a big tummy.
You may think you look overweight, but
everyone else see’s a women who is
going to have a baby. Here are the
simple facts: you are pregnant, your
tummy and body are expected to grow
big. The times have changed and
privately or publicly, many modern
pregnant women are starting to think of
themselves and being pregnant, as being
sexy. To them, the tighter the clothes,
the better. It’s all about being excited
about pregnancy, feeling attractive and
looking good.

Fashion advice

We can all use a little fashion advice

now and them, but remember it’s
important to do what feels right to you.
Look for clothes that make you feel
special and good about yourself. When
you do feel confident, strong and
beautiful on the inside, you will look
great on the outside too.

Once you do find the clothes you are

most comfortable in, no doubt you’ll
wear them over and over again. As your
pregnancy progresses, look for leggings
and jeans with a waistband that cradles
the tummy or big enough to stretch over
your tummy. Try to avoid wearing
restrictive clothing, especially tight
belts.

Personal beauty

Pregnancy is a great time to treat

yourself to a new beauty routine and
perhaps even a day to a health spa, if its
not to much of a strain on your budget.

Make-up is perfectly fine during

pregnancy, and there is no need to give
it up if it’s part of your normal routine.
No doubt you will find yourself making
some adjustments, your hair and skin are
also undergoing tremendous changes as
your pregnancy proceeds.

What about my hair, can I dye it?

This is the question that tops the list of

most pregnant women, is whether or not
it is safe to dye your hair. No one
actually knows whether using chemical
dyes during pregnancy is completely
safe or not. The decision is yours but
experts recommend that you wait until
after your first trimester.

NOW LETS TALK ABOUT SEX

It is perfectly normal and safe!

If you're having a normal pregnancy, sex
is considered safe during all stages of
the pregnancy. A normal pregnancy is
one that's considered low-risk for
complications such as miscarriage or
pre-term labour. Expectant parents often
worry that sex can be harmful during
their pregnancy. They fear that
intercourse could hurt the baby, or even
cause a miscarriage. Some are afraid
that the baby somehow "knows" that sex
is taking place. The baby is well
protected by a cushion of fluid in the
womb and by the mom’s abdomen and is
completely safe.

The partner sometimes worries that

intercourse might cause discomfort or
pain for the pregnant woman. Worries
like this are common and completely
normal, but most of them are unfounded.
In actuality, sexual desire may increase
in some women, due to the changes of
pregnancy that leave the vulva engorged
and the breasts extra sensitive.
If your pregnancy is considered to be
high risk, you may need to be more
cautious than other women. In this case,
your health care provider may advise you
to avoid intercourse for all or part of your
pregnancy.

Pregnancy and sex

Many expectant mothers find that their
desire for sex fluctuates during certain
stages in the pregnancy. Also, many
women find that sex becomes
uncomfortable, as their bodies get larger.
You and your partner need to keep the
lines of communication open regarding
your sexual relationship. Talk about
other ways to satisfy your need for
intimacy, such as kissing, caressing, and
holding each other. You also may need
to experiment with other positions for
sex to find those that are most
comfortable. Many women find that they
lose their desire and motivation for sex
late in the pregnancy - not only because
of their size but also because they're
preoccupied with the impending delivery
and the excitement of becoming a new
parent.

There are many reasons why sex during

pregnancy can be more enjoyable, even
if you are doing it less. There is an
increase in vaginal lubrication,
engorgement of the genital area helps
some people become orgasmic for the
first time or multi-orgasmic, the lack of
birth control, or if you have been trying
for awhile, a return to sex as pleasure as
opposed to procreation. On the other
hand there are reasons why sex might
not be as pleasurable: fear of hurting the
baby, nausea, fatigue, awkwardness, etc.

Safe positions
Positions that work before pregnancy
and early in pregnancy can be
uncomfortable or even unsafe at later
stages of the baby’s development. For
example, a woman should avoid lying flat
on her back after the fourth month of
pregnancy, because the weight of the
growing uterus puts pressure on major
blood vessels.

Safe sex positions

The spoon position can be very cosy and

intimate. to try it, lie on your side with
your body curled in a C-shape, and have
your partner curl around you, facing your
back. He can enter you from behind
while both of you are lying on your sides.

This position works especially well

during late pregnancy, since it allows
you to set the pace. Make sure, however,
that he doesn't enter you too deeply.
A good choice for late pregnancy, this
position lets you control the depth and
intensity of the thrust and keeps weight
off your belly. You and your partner lie
down side by side, facing each other. He
slips his leg over yours and enters you
from an angle. You can keep your legs
straight or bend them back, whatever is
more comfortable for you. To vary things,
lie on your back and have your partner
lie beside you on his side. Put your leg
closest to him over his legs. He can then
enter you from the back and side.
You can be on all fours on the bed,
staying steady, or lean down onto pillows
with your partner kneeling and entering
you from behind. Or try bending over the
bed, supported as needed by pillows,
with your partner standing and entering
you from behind. This position allows
your partner to thrust deeply, so be sure
to let him know what is comfortable for
you.
In this position, you straddle your partner
while he is sitting on a comfortable chair
or on the edge of the bed. (You'll
probably be most comfortable straddling
if your feet touch the floor.) You can also
sit in an armchair or on the end of the
bed with your partner kneeling in front of
you. You can wrap your legs around your
partner.

Lie face-up on the edge of the bed, with

your legs spread and your feet on the
floor. Your partner should stand or bend
over you to enter you. This position
allows him to thrust more deeply so
you'll have to tell him how gentle and
slow you want him to be.

Most missionary positions aren't

comfortable for expecting moms, but
many women feel most comfortable in
missionary positions. This one works
well for pregnant women. You lie on your
back, knees back and opened, with your
feet on the bed or resting on your
partner's chest, or with your legs
straight up and resting against your
partner. Your partner kneels between
your legs to enter you, putting no weight
on your abdomen.

PREPARING FOR BIRTH

Nobody really likes to talk about it, but

lets face it, birth is painful. From your
friends you’ll probably hear birth stories
ranging from ‘ it wasn’t that bad’ to
‘never again’. but these assessments of
the event will do little to educate you on
what to expect during birth and how best
to deal with it.

The question that confronts all first-time

pregnant women and their partners is
whether or not to attend antenatal
classes.
You should attend these classes as
these help you to prepare for labour and
childbirth. These are run by qualified
midwives.

The topics discussed at antenatal

classes:

Information about the process of

labour and child birth.

‘what to expect’ details of medical

procedures and interventions.

Suggestions about possible physical

preparations for labour and childbirth.

Advice on relaxation techniques.

The opportunity to learn about and

experiment with different birth
positions.

A guide to pain relief

The chance to try out massage skills

and breathing techniques.
 Some indication of the changes you
might experience after the birth and
into early parenthood.

Developing a birth plan

A birth plan is a way of communicating

with the midwives and doctors who care
for you in labour. It tells them about the
kind of labour you would like to have,
what you want to happen and what you
definitely want to avoid. It's not written
in tablets of stone because the best birth
plans acknowledge that things may not
go according to plan. You need to write
the plan in such a way that your midwife
doesn't feel she has her hands tied. She
may need to recommend a course of
action which is not what you had
originally hoped for, but which is in the
best interests of your baby.

Before writing your birth plan Talk to

your partner or the person who will be
your birth companion. What sort of
labour and birth would they like you to
have? How do they see their role?

Then jot down your ‘birth wishes’ just as

they come to mind and write a birth plan
together so then you know what each
other wants to happen during labour and
childbirth.

What to include in your birth plan:

Do you want your partner or chose

companion to be with you during
labour?

Do you want your partner or chosen

companion with you for certain
procedures? E.g. caesarean section
or forceps delivery.

Is equipment such as birthing balls,

mats and a birthing chair available to
you if you want it or can you bring
your own?

How do you want your baby heart to

be monitored if everything is
straightforward? E.g. hand held
device (sonic aid) or whether you
want electronic monitoring using a
belt strapped around your waist.

Do you prefer to be cared for and

delivered by woman only?

Is it important for you to be able to be

mobile while in labour?

What position you would like to be in

for birth?

Would you like to use a birthing pool

for pain relief?

What type of pain relief you would like

during labour? E.g. pethidine, gas and
air, epidural or no pain relief.
 Are epidurals available at all times if
you decide you would like one?

Do you want your baby delivered

straight on to your tummy or would
you like baby to be cleaned first?

How do you wish to feed baby once

arrived? E.g. breastfeed or bottle
feed.

Do you want you baby to have vitamin

k and by which route? E.g. by mouth
or injection.

Do you prefer quiet and dim lights?

Do mind if students are present?

Routine tests

Routine antenatal tests help your doctor

or midwife assess your health and
monitor your pregnancy for signs of
possible problems.

Blood tests:
Initial tests will determine whether or
not you are immune to rubella; assess
your haemoglobin and blood-cell
concentrations and hopefully rule out
any sexually transmitted diseases such
as syphilis and hepatitis. Your blood will
also be assessed to determine your
blood type and RH factor. Whether or not
you are anaemic, if you are you will be
given iron and folic acid tablets to take.
You will also be tested for hepatitis B,
this is a virus that can cause liver
disease and may infect your baby if you
are a carrier.

Urine tests:

This is so that your midwife can test

your samples for signs of kidney
infection, glucose ( a sign of diabetes)
and albumin ( a protein that indicates
pre-eclampsia).

Ultrasound:
Everyone loves to see the baby on the
ultrasound. The purpose of the
ultrasound is to provide the doctor with
a good survey of the baby and the
conditions in your uterus. A simple
ultrasound can provide a wide array of
valuable information about the age of the
fetus, location and size of the placenta,
whether the size of the fetus is right for
its age, rate of growth, amount of
amniotic fluid in your uterus and number
of fetuses.

Blood pressure:

Your blood pressure will be taken at

every antenatal visit. A rise in blood
pressure later in pregnancy could be a
sign of pre-eclampsia.

Height:

Your height will be recorded on the first

visit because it’s a rough guide to the
size of your pelvis.
Weight:

You will be weighed from now on. Your

weight gain will probably be checked
regularly, although this is not done
everywhere.

You will also get the choice to do a

screen test to see if your baby has
down’s syndrome. Many women have
these tests done while a lot chose not to
have the screen test.

For the next 40 weeks, counting from the

first day of your last menstrual period,
your pregnancy will be referred to in 3
parts, these are called trimesters.

The first trimester lasts 12 weeks, the

second from week 13 to the end of week
27 and the third from week 28 to week
40.

FIRST TRIMESTER

Many of the physical changes that occur

during the first 3 months are not visible.
Your metabolic rate is increasing
because all the systems in your body
must work harder to accommodate the
developing baby to grow and to grow the
placenta.

During these first weeks, your body

begins to produce more blood to carry
nutrients to the fetus. Your heart
multiplies its efforts to accommodate
this increased blood flow, and your pulse
quickens by as much as 10-15 beats per
minute. Your pulse rate will continue to
rise until you are in the middle of the
second trimester.

After a few weeks of pregnancy, you may

not recognise your breasts. Not only are
they enlarging and very sore and tender,
thanks to the increased amount of
progesterone and oestrogen your body is
producing, but you will probably notice
other changes as well. The areola
(pigmented circle around the nipple) is
darkening and spreading and also may
notice little bumps on the areola.

Occasional headaches trouble many

women in early pregnancy. The cause is
uncertain, but like so many other
discomforts of the first trimester,
changes in your hormone level and
increased blood circulation may be
factors. Other possible causes are the
stress and fatigue that often accompany
the emotional and physical adjustments
to pregnancy.

The increasing size of your uterus in the

first 3 months, along with more efficient
functioning of your kidneys, may cause
you to feel the need to urinate more
often

You may not feel like eating much. This

may mean that you don’t gain weight, or
you may even lose it.

Stave off hunger by eating little and

often. This will also help nausea and
dizziness and provide your body with the
nutrients he needs to grow.

You don’t need to boost your calories

yet, but do eat a healthy diet. These
weeks are crucial for your baby’s
developing organs.

Weight gain up to week 12 should be no

more than 5lb ( 2.3kg ). Mid to late
pregnancy is when you really start to
gain weight, as your body lays down fat
stores.

SECOND TRIMESTER

By now you’re probably feeling pretty

good about yourself and your pregnancy.
The second trimester is often known as
the ‘golden period’ of pregnancy. Many
women report a surge of energy and
emotional boost. Your hormones have
begun to level off, and the nausea,
fatigue and other challenges of early
pregnancy have gone. You’re ‘showing’
and the whole world begins to know that
your pregnant.

The second trimester is the beginning off

real expansion. Stretch marks begin,
sometimes invisibly. Everything grows:
moles get bigger, skin tags get bigger,
even warts can get bigger. Thanks to
oestrogen, everything has a better blood
supply.

This also may explain why your gums

may bleed after brushing your teeth.
Your uterus will grow to the height of
your tummy button. The skin on your
grown tummy may start to itch. You may
feel pain down the side of your tummy as
your uterus stretches.

Take rest breaks during the day if you

are feeling tired; don’t push yourself. You
may get leg cramps, especially at night,
if you’re not getting enough calcium.

During the latter part of the second

trimester, and even more so in the third,
lying comfortably in bed becomes a
battle that distracts many women. If
sleeping on your back was your
preferred position, giving it up can be a
traumatic struggle. Losing sleep while
tossing and turning trying to adjust to
your new shape is very common.

I found the best position for sleeping

during pregnancy was lying on my side
(the left was ultimately preferred, but
either is fine) with a pillow between my
legs.

Many women experience lower back pain

starting in the second trimester of
pregnancy. Wearing flat shoes and
adopting a correct posture are the
simplest and most effective solutions,
but you could also try a pregnancy
support girdle, it helped me.

The second trimester is the most stable

time of your pregnancy. You are feeling
well, despite some minor discomforts,
and are ready to conquer the world. Slow
down don’t forget you are still pregnant.
There are activities about which you
must think twice, and some that you are
best avoiding altogether.

Whether it’s moving boxes, picking up

armloads of heavy shopping bags, or
carrying older children, none of this is a
good during pregnancy.

Now that you are showing , it may be a

good time to break the news of your
pregnancy to your employer. Most
women choose to keep pregnancy
private until the second trimester. This
approach gives you time to plan your
announcement, negotiate the best
maternity leave, and to protect your job.

Towards the middle or end of this

trimester, you will feel the baby’s
movements. You will also feel some
pains related to the growth of your
uterus and your entire mid-portion.
Heartburn, constipation, backache,
forgetfulness and difficulty finding
comfortable sleeping position are all
annoyances that will pass.

During the second trimester the fetus is

growing rapidly and appears to be fully
formed. At this time the fetus has
rudimentary use of all its senses: touch,
taste, smell, hearing and vision.

THIRD TRIMESTER

As the third trimester arrives you are

well on your way to the finish line.
Weeks 28-40 mark a period of rapid
growth, at this stage your baby will gain
nearly half its birth weight and cause
your uterus to expand to more than a
thousand times its original size.

You are most certainly uncomfortable,

uncommonly tired, and probably pretty
nervous too. The looming question as
you peer at your tummy button is ‘how is
this watermelon-like creature ever going
to get out of there’. at this point you
body may be warming up with Braxton
hicks contractions, causing you a lot of
discomfort as your uterus contracts and
tightens.

Headaches may also occur more

frequently in the third trimester. Try to
get enough rest and relaxation,
especially if you are feeling quite tense
and emotional. Backaches can also
occur as your growing tummy affects
your posture.

During this last stage of pregnancy you

should try and stay close to home or at
least near a medical facility.

As your date approaches, you will see

more of your doctor or midwife, and you
will get frequent updates on your
progress towards delivery. During this
visit they will try to feel which position
the baby is in, head up or head down.
The midwife may also take
measurements of the height of the
fundus. (the height of the fundus is the
measurement of the growth of the uterus
and where it is situated in your tummy.
Your midwife will use a tape measure to
measure your tummy from the top of the
pubic bone to the fundus, or at the top of
the uterus).

WORK DURING PREGNANCY

Its shocking to think that pregnancy

discrimination still exists, but it does. In
the UK it is illegal to sack or refuse to
promote someone simply because she is
pregnant. Employers must treat
pregnancy the same as any other
medical condition.

Most pregnant women are able to work

as long as they want to. However, a very
few jobs may be unsafe or ill advised
when you’re pregnant.

If you work with chemicals or other

dangerous substances, for example,
 or if your job title includes you
climbing stairs, or lifting anything
heavy, you will have to switch to
something more appropriate for your
condition.

Your employer has a legal obligation

to make sure the work that you do,
and your working conditions will not
put your health or baby’s health at
risk.

You are entitled to paid time of work

to attend antenatal appointments and
classes (you may need to prove this
with a note from your doctor or
midwife).

Maternity leave:

You can choose when to start your

maternity leave. It can be at any time in,
or after, the 11th week before your baby
is due. However, your maternity leave
will start automatically if you're off work
for any reason to do with your pregnancy
from the fourth week before your baby is
due.

You must produce a medical certificate

(MATB1), if your employer asks for one,
showing when your baby is due. You can
get your MATB1 from your midwife or GP.

Once your employer has received your

notice that you want to take maternity
leave, they must write to you within 28
days and tell you the date your maternity
leave runs out and therefore the date
when you are expected to return to work
from maternity leave.

If you decide you want to return to work

earlier than the date your maternity
leave is due to end, you must give your
employer eight weeks’ notice of your
new date of return to work.

As from April 2007 you are now entitled

to 39weeks maternity leave will full pay.

COMMON PROBLEMS DURING

PREGNANCY

Slow growing babies:

Many of the tests in pregnancy check the

growth of your baby. If you smoke
heavily midwives will be monitoring your
pregnancy closely. Blood pressure
checks may also pick signs of trouble. If
there is a concern about your baby’s
health there will be further test to be
carried out and monitoring will be more
frequent.

Vaginal bleeding:

This may also be known as spotting, but

be sure that is what is happening. There
is a difference between strongly bleeding
and spotting. Spotting is lightly bleeding
kind of like your period, the blood can be
red, pink or even brown. If you are
bleeding actively with any discomfort
then call out your doctor, if you can’t get
a hold of him go immediately to the
emergency room. Bleeding can be a
number of things from implantation,
ectopic pregnancy, labour, infection or
even miscarriage. Always let your doctor
know, so other problems can be ruled
out, you’ll feel better too.

Dehydration:

While you are pregnant it is easy to

become dehydrated, particularly if you
have morning sickness or just don’t drink
those 8 glasses of water. If you find
yourself pale, dry mouth or unsteady, you
could be dehydrated and should be seen
by a physician. Dehydration can cause
premature labour and/or problems on the
pregnancy.

Stomach pain or cramping:

Awaiting the pregnancy it may be hard to

decode the difference between a
growing pain and an actual stomach
pain/cramping. However, if you do get a
pain of any sort rest. After a few minutes
if it doesn’t subside, call your physician
and explain the cramp to him. Don’t be
anxious about it if you find out you only
had gas or were having Braxton hicks
contractions, at least you understand
everything is okay with pregnancy.

high blood pressure and pre-eclampsia:

During pregnancy your blood pressure

will be taken at every antenatal
appointment, this is because a rise in
blood pressure can be the first sign of a
condition known as pre-eclampsia. Your
urine will also be checked for protein. If
you do have pre-eclampsia you will
probably feel perfectly well in yourself.
Some women experience such symptoms
as headaches, visual disturbances,
swelling and tummy pain. If you do have
any of these symptoms get in touch with
a midwife or doctor straight away and
get yourself checked out, as this can
cause fits in mothers and affect the
baby’s growth if you do have pre-
eclampsia.
Deep vein thrombosis:

DVT is a serious condition were clots

develop, often in the deep veins of the
legs. It can be fatal if the clot travels
from the legs to the lungs.

If you develop swollen painful legs or

have breathing difficulties after a trip, go
to your doctor or your nearest accident
and emergency department immediately.

GETTING READY FOR THE BIRTH

Are you so done with pregnancy you

could stick a fork in yourself? The last
few weeks are always the longest — but
they can also be the busiest. So much to
do, so little time (or so much
time…)Eager to see your feet again?
Desperate to sleep on your stomach — or
just plain desperate to sleep? Tired of
those midnight (and 2 a.m. and 3 a.m.
and 4 a.m.) bathroom runs? Welcome to
the end zone — the point in your
pregnancy where time seems to slow
down, and the waiting becomes
interminable (especially if your nine-
month pregnancy is now entering your
tenth month). Looking for something to
do while you wait (besides bite the nails
on your twiddling thumbs)? Pass the time
productively by getting as much done as
you can before the big day (or night)
arrives. Here's a handy roundup of
everything you need to check off your
list before that D-day dawns.

Planning on delivering in a hospital ? You

could just show up — but it’s better to
come prepared.. Leave the frantic, last-
minute dashes to the hospital to the
sitcom casts (it won’t be half as funny on
your reality show). For a less stressful
delivery, it helps to plan ahead.

Things to pack in your hospital bag:

Two copies of your birth plan, if you

wrote one

Toothbrush and toothpaste

Dressing gown

Shampoo

Shower gel

Flannel

Slippers

Nighties

Two to three nursing bras

Sanitary towels

Knickers

Loose comfortable outfit to wear

during day

Clothes and nappies for baby

Change or phone card for the hospital

payphone

Breast pads
 Clothes for coming home in

Clothes for baby coming home

Book or magazine to read

A shawl to wrap baby up in

Pain relief:

Think about pain relief beforehand and

write

down your preferences in your birth plan.

But try to keep an opened mind, as you
don’t know how you’ll feel on the day.

TENS machine:

Sends electric pulses to pads on your

back. The pulses block pain signals to
your brain and stimulate your own
painkilling hormones.

Gas and air (entonox):

This is a mixture of oxygen and another

gas called nitrous oxide. Also known as
laughing gas, this is inhaled through a
mouth piece or mask. You can use it at
any point in labour. This wont remove the
pain, but it can help by reducing it and
making it easier to bear.

Pethidine:

Stronger painkillers that are injected, or

given

intravenously, during the early stages of

labour. They take about 20 minutes to
work and last up to 4 hours.

Diamorphine:

More powerful than pethidine, this

injection blocks the transmission of pain
signals to your brain and is less likely to
cause nausea and vomiting than
pethidine.

Epidural:
An epidural is a special type of local
anaesthetic. It numbs the nerves which
carry the feeling of pain from the birth
canal to the brain. So for most women an
epidural gives complete pain relief. It
usually takes 20minutes for the
procedure to be complete then another
15-20 minutes for the epidural to work.

Self-help:

Using relaxation, breathing, keeping

mobile, having a partner to support and
massage you, and having confidence in
your own body will all help.

HOW TO RECOGNISE WHEN LABOUR

STARTS

You’re unlikely to mistake the signs of

labour when the time really comes, but if
your in any doubt, don’t hesitate to
contact the hospital.

Signs of labour
Regular contraction:

You may have been feeling contractions

(Braxton hicks when your tummy
tightens and then relaxes) throughout
pregnancy. Lately you will have become
a lot more aware of them. When they
start to come regularly, last more than
30 seconds and begin to feel stronger,
labour may have started. ( gradually they
will become longer, stronger and more
frequent)

Backache:

You will get a aching, heavy feeling,

which some women get with their
monthly period.

A SHOW:

You will get this either before labour

starts or early in labour. The plug of
mucus in the cervix which has helped to
seal the womb during pregnancy comes
away and comes out of the vagina. You
don’t lose a lot of blood with a show. The
‘show’ is a small amount of sticky pink
mucus.

Waters breaking:

The bag of water in which the baby is

floating may break before labour starts
or during labour. If the waters break
before labour it may be a slow trickle or
a sudden gush of water that you cant
control.

More frequent urination and bowl

movements:

If you think you couldn’t fit anymore trips

to the toilet into your day I’ve got bad
news for you. When the baby drops, it
presses directly onto your bladder, and
so can expect even more frequent urges
to urinate. Also a kind of natural
cleansing of the bowels can occur at this
time in preparation for delivery. The
hormones acting on your intestines
cause some women to have diarrhoea or
even abdominal cramps.

Going into hospital when you are in

labour may be frightening, but attending
antenatal classes and visits to the
hospital should help.

Before going to the hospital don’t forget

to ring them to let them know your on
your way. Once you arrive take your
notes to the hospital admissions desk.
You will then be taken to the labour
ward, were you can get changed into
your nightdress to feel more comfortable.

The midwife will ask you about what has

been happening so far and will examine
you.

This will include:

Taking your pulse, temperature and

blood pressure and check your urine.

Feel your abdomen to check the

baby’s position and record or listen to
 your baby’s heart

Probably do an internal examination

to find out how much your cervix has
dilated, as then the midwife will be
able to tell you how far your labour
has progressed.

These checks will be repeated at

intervals throughout your labour. Always
ask about anything you want to know. If
you and your partner have made a birth
plan make sure you give this to your
midwife so then she knows your wishes
during labour.

Labour is divided into three stages. Each

of these stages is explained below. The
average time for each stage is given only
as an indication. Labour usually lasts
between 12-14 hours, in a woman's first
pregnancy and tends to be shorter (6-8
hours), in subsequent pregnancies.
Labour is so different for everyone and
can be a lot longer or shorter than the
average time. However, the information
below will give you an idea of the
general pattern so that you will know
what to expect and be prepared for
labour and delivery.

TYPES OF DELIVERY

Induction:

The main reason for induction is that

your baby is overdue, and many doctors
prefer to induce labour once your baby is
between one and two weeks late. This is
because the placenta works less
efficiently as the pregnancy goes on, and
the bones in your baby's head may
become harder and less able to 'mould'
during the descent down the birth canal.
Other reasons why you may be induced
include:

Pre-eclampsia

Multiple-births
 Labour is progressing too slowly

Waters break early leaving the

baby exposed to infection

Diabetes - baby is growing too

large

Placenta is detached from the wall

of your uterus

Caesarean section:

If either you or your baby is at risk,

doctors will advise a caesarean. The
operation usually takes around 45-60
minutes, but the baby is delivered
between the first 5-10 minutes. The rest
of the time is taken to stitch mum up.

Situations include:

Foetal distress: Your baby's

heartbeat is slowing and it might
become dangerous.

Failure to progress: Labour is

 taking a long time and you are
exhausted.

Placental problems: e.g. placenta

praevia where the placenta blocks
the cervix or is starting to peel
away from the womb (placenta
abruptio).

Cord Prolapse: the umbilical cord

moves into the birth canal in front
of the baby cutting off the oxygen
supply.

Pre-eclampsia: this can only be

relieved by delivering your baby.

Your baby has a medical condition

which may put them at risk, e.g.
premature or heart problem.

There may be other reasons for you

being offered a caesarean, including
having had a previous caesarean; if you
are expecting two or more babies;
doctors believe your pelvis is not big
enough for your baby's head to pass
through; your baby is lying on an
awkward position or thought to be in
distress (not getting enough oxygen); or
you have a medical condition that could
put your baby at risk.

Whatever the reasons, it's essential that

you feel fully informed and understand all
the reasons for the operation, so ask as
many questions as you need before
making a decision. You can always ask
for a second opinion - for example some
obstetricians are willing to let you try
delivering twin babies or a breech baby
(feet or bottom first) vaginally, while
others will prefer to offer a caesarean.

Even in an emergency situation, make

sure you (or at least your partner)
understand what is happening.
Forceps:

Forceps are like metal tongs with two

large spoon shaped edges that fit around
the baby's head. They are inserted into
the vagina to grip the baby's head and
speed up delivery. This technique may be
used if the baby's heartbeat slows down
during a slow delivery of the head, or to
ensure its safe delivery during a breech
birth.

Forceps are used when the mother is

unable to push because she has had an
epidural injection or because labour is
not progressing well or if the baby is in
distress.

Forceps deliveries are becoming less

common, as many doctors prefer the
alternative technique of vacuum
extraction which works in a similar way.
Where delivery is delayed and the baby's
head remains high up in the pelvic
cavity, Caesarean section is likely to be
considered a safer option.

Forceps can bruise your baby's head,

and his/her head may appear elongated
or an odd shape, but any bruising or
swelling will usually subside within a few
days and will have disappeared within a
couple of weeks.

The first stage (dilation of cervix to

10cm):

Yours cervix needs to dilate to 10cm

before your baby can start to move down
the birth canal. Contractions of the
powerful muscles at the top of the uterus
open up the cervix (neck of the womb).
Your progress during this stage is
assessed according to how many
centimetres dilated your cervix is. Once
your cervix is dilated to 10cm you will
then probably feel the urge to push and
you will begin the second stage of
labour. You will be discouraged from
pushing during this stage since pushing
before the cervix is fully opened wastes
energy and may tear the cervix.

You can help by keeping active and

moving around, as your baby's head
pressing on the cervix encourages it to
open. There are many different positions
that you can adopt to ease the
discomfort. Some women prefer to stand
up and move around as this helps to
strengthen contractions and accelerates
labour. As the contractions proceed, you
may instinctively choose a sitting or
kneeling position. During this stage, the
heart rate of the mother and baby are
monitored roughly every 15 minutes. This
alerts the midwives if the baby becomes
distressed. If the baby's heart rate
becomes too fast or too slow, the doctor
may decide to deliver by caesarean
section.

The second stage (the pushing stage of

birth):
During this stage you will push your baby
down the birth canal and your baby will
actually be born. Once your cervix is
10cm dilated, you will probably feel
overwhelming urges to 'bear down' and
push your baby out with each
contraction. Your baby's head is pressing
on your rectum, which gives you a
sensation of needing the toilet but don't
let that worry you - push when you need
to and remember each push is bringing
your baby nearer. Each contraction is a
squeezing of the uterus which pushes
your baby down the birth canal.

If you are able to stay on all fours for the

delivery, your baby's head will stretch
the tissues at the back of your vagina
more gently and you're less likely to
tear. Otherwise you will probably be
placed in a semi-upright position
(between sitting up and lying down)
propped up by pillows. This is to make
good use of gravity and reduces the risk
of tearing. It also puts less strain on your
back and pelvis.

On average it will take one to two hours

for your baby's head to reach the
opening of your vagina, known as
'crowning', when the midwife will tell you
to stop pushing as she eases the baby's
head out to avoid a tear. Then the
shoulders are born one at a time, and
with a great slippery rush, the rest of the
body is delivered, and you can hold your
new baby. Once the umbilical cord has
stopped pulsating, it is cut and clamped.

Your baby's heart rate will continue to

be monitored during this stage to check
that the baby is not in distress.

Third stage (delivery of the placenta):

Average time: Few minutes to over an

hour.

After the baby has been born, the

placenta needs to come out of the
uterus. This is painless, and you may be
offered an injection to speed up the
delivery.

Your uterus will continue to contract to

expel the placenta. During the first or
second contraction after delivery, the
placenta usually detaches from the
uterus, and a gush of blood soon follows.
Usually the mother can push the
placenta out on her own. But the doctor
or midwife will be able to help with
pressure on your abdomen if you are
having difficulty.

As soon as the placenta has been

delivered you will be given oxytocin to
help the uterus contract. Contraction is
essential to prevent further bleeding
from the area where the placenta was
attached to the uterus.
SO THERE YOU HAVE IT

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO

KNOW FROM CONCEPTION TO
THE DELIVERY OF YOUR
BABY!

I HOPE YOU FOUND

EVERYTHING IN THIS BOOK
USEFUL, AND I HOPE IV’E
EASED YOUR MINDS AND I
ALSO HOPE YOU FEEL A LOT
MORE RELAXED NOW YOU
KNOW WHATS GOING TO
HAPPEN THROUGHOUT YOUR
PREGNANCY AND DURING
LABOUR!
THANKS AGAIN FOR
PURCHASING MY PREGNANCY
E-BOOK.

****I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO

WISH YOU ALL GOOD LUCK
WITH YOUR PREGNANCY AND
LABOUR. YOU WILL DO JUST
FINE*****

!KIND REGARDS!

** LYNZ **
THIS IS THE ORIGINAL COPY
AS I OWN COPYRIGHT!
NO PART OF THIS E-BOOK
MAY BE COPIED OR SOLD!
YOU WILL NOT FIND THIS
E-BOOK ANYWHERE ELSE!