Pregnancy Advice

To date, most cases in pregnant women have been mild - mirroring the experience in the general populations. Symptoms are fever, cough and breathin...

So you’re thinking about having prenatal screening. A few things you might consider…. Why do you want to have screening done and what will you do if you get an abnormal result?

Hypothyroidism (under active thyroid) during pregnancy affects about 0.5% of women. Thyroid hormone is needed for babies brain development. In the first trimester of pregnancy the baby is completely dependent on the mother for the production of thyroid hormone.

The first thing to say is that if you have epilepsy, the most likely thing is that you will have a healthy pregnancy with a good outcome for you and your baby. There are a few things to think of in advance.

Pregnancy and after the birth of your baby are unique opportunities to embrace healthy lifestyle choices including a healthy diet and regular exercise. This is especially important if your BMI is >25. 

Gestational diabetes means diabetes diagnosed for the first time in pregnancy and resolving after delivery. It affects about 10% of women. It is increasing in prevalence, probably due to the increase in obesity and older age of pregnant women. Screening for gestational diabetes is recommended for women based on risk factors. 

So if you have high blood pressure or pre-eclampsia during your pregnancy you might wonder what happens after you have your baby. For most women blood pressure problems start to resolve after delivery and by 6 weeks postnatally you will be off all medications and have normal blood pressure.

Hyperemesis gravidarum is protracted nausea and vomiting in the first trimester of pregnancy. It can lead to weight loss, electrolyte imbalance such as low potassium or sodium and dehydration. It affects about 3% of pregnant women. It is more than just morning sickness. It is caused by the pregnancy hormone hcg

Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy complication that affects about 10% of first time mums. It usually happens after 28 weeks gestation and close to the end of the third trimester. If you have pre-eclampsia you will have high blood pressure that causes a headache.

Unfortunately there tends not to be much sleeping in pregnancy, especially in the third trimester. However, there are a few dos and don’ts and a few tricks to help if you are not sleeping.

So you were given an estimated due date and it has come and gone. Don’t despair. It’s very common for women, especially in their first pregnancy, not to labour by their due date. 

It is important to stay active in pregnancy. Women often ask me about exercise during pregnancy. For those that have an uncomplicated pregnancy, exercise is safe and beneficial. However, if you have complications you should always check with your obstetrician if it is safe to continue to exercise. In general, what is recommended is 20-30 minutes of moderate exercise five days a week.