Symptoms of Ectopic Pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilised egg embeds itself outside of the womb, most commonly in the fallopian tube. The condition is rare, affecting only 1 out of every 100 pregnancies. An ectopic pregnancy will not develop into a baby.

You may have an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy if you:

  • have previously suffered from a pelvic inflammatory disease, such as chlamydia
  • have previously experienced ectopic pregnancy
  • have ever had surgery on your fallopian tubes
  • conceived through the use of IVF
  • had a contraceptive IUD (coil) fitted at the time of conception
  • are 35 or over
  • are a smoker
  • have an abnormally shaped fallopian tube

Symptoms of ectopic pregnancy

Some women do not experience any symptoms, and may not discover the pregnancy is ectopic until the ultrasound scan. Symptoms usually start between weeks five and 14. Common symptoms include:

  • one-sided abdominal pain – this pain may be severe and persistent
  • vaginal bleeding – this may be bright or dark red in colour, and may stop and start

Less common symptoms include:

  • shoulder tip pain – this pain is felt at the tip of your shoulder, where your arm begins. It is most commonly felt whilst lying down, and can be a sign that the ectopic pregnancy has caused internal bleeding
  • diarrhoea and vomiting
  • bowel pain – you may experience pain when passing stools
  • painful urination

When to seek medical help

You should always contact your healthcare provider if you experience:

  • a change to your menstrual cycle
  • unusual vaginal bleeding
  • persistent abdominal pain

You should seek immediate medical attention if:

  • feel lightheaded or dizzy
  • have sudden, sharp abdominal pain
  • look pale
  • have diarrhoea
  • feel sick
  • have an increased heart rate

The most severe symptom of ectopic pregnancy is known as “collapse”, this occurs when the fallopian tube ruptures, causing internal bleeding. If this happens, you require immediate medical assistance.

Treatment for ectopic pregnancy

If you are suffering from an ectopic pregnancy, it is not possible to save the pregnancy. The treatment offered will depend upon your individual situation, but it will be one of the following:

  • active monitoring – if you are experiencing only mild symptoms, your healthcare provider may wish to monitor you to see if the pregnancy resolves itself. It is common for the pregnancy to be absorbed into nearby tissue, negating the need for further treatment.
  • medication – if diagnosed early, medication can be used to treat ectopic pregnancy. The medication works by stopping the embryo from developing, you will be monitored closely after the medication has been given. You will be advised to use contraception for six months, because the medication used can increase the risk of developmental problems in a baby conceived soon after it is taken.
  • surgery – this is the most commonly used treatment for ectopic pregnancy. Keyhole surgery (laparoscopy) is used to investigate the fallopian tubes with a small camera. The surgeon may need to remove the fallopian tube containing the ectopic pregnancy.

After treatment, you may wish to visit your healthcare provider to discuss when it is safe to start trying to become pregnant again. Counselling services are available for parents dealing with loss, so contact your healthcare provider if you would like a referral to a counselling service.

Written by Fiona, proud owner of a toddler, @fiona_peacock

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

Is it safe to exercise during pregnancy?

Many women ask their healthcare providers if it’s safe to exercise during pregnancy. Assuming you are a having a healthy pregnancy, light exercise won’t harm the baby, and it could actually make the pregnancy and birth easier for you. Exercise will keep you fit, and allow you to better adjust to your changing body throughout the pregnancy. Keeping fit will also help to prepare you for the birth itself.

Having said that, there are certain activities you will want to avoid. Contact sports and extreme sports, for instance, are not advisable for pregnant women due to the risks of falling or being hit.

Safe exercise during pregnancy:

Swimming
Many pregnant women choose to continue, or start, swimming during the first trimester and continue until the end of the pregnancy. The water supports the weight of your bump, so you will find it relatively easy to glide through the water. You could choose to swim lengths, or your local pool may offer aquanatal classes that you could attend. Not only is this a great way to exercise, you’ll also meet other soon to be mums in your local area.

Jogging or running
If you were a keen runner or jogger before the pregnancy, then you are fine to continue this activity. You may want to tailor your runs to fit with your pregnancy, for example shortening the distance or slowing down the pace of the runs as your pregnancy progresses. If you didn’t run or jog before the pregnancy, then you should try walking during pregnancy instead as this will put less strain on your body.

Walking
Walking is a great way to keep fit during pregnancy. It shouldn’t put too much strain on your changing body, but will help to keep you active. Why not build a half hour walk into your daily routine, this could be as simple as getting off the bus a few stops early on your commute to work.

Yoga or pilates
Both of these exercises are very popular with pregnant women, and there are many prenatal classes on offer across the country. Yoga and pilates focus on flexibility and muscle strength. Both exercises also focus on relaxation and breathing techniques that will be great to utilise during labour. If you are taking a class such as yoga or pilates, always tell the instructor that you are pregnant as this will allow them to alter activities for you.

You may find that as the pregnancy progresses, you need to reduce the amount of exercise you take because you feel tired more easily. Listen to your body, and don’t try to overexert yourself. Don’t overdo it. Monitor your breathing. As long as you can still talk and not run out of breath, you’re probably doing the exercise at the right intensity. Be sure to drink plenty of water while you exercise, and stop exercising if you start to feel faint. If you are a high risk pregnancy, please speak to your healthcare provider before starting an exercise regimen.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

Early Symptoms of Pregnancy

You won’t notice any pregnancy symptoms until implantation occurs. Implantation is when the fertilised egg implants itself in the lining of your uterus. This usually occurs between seven and 10 days after conception. Once the embryo is implanted in your womb, it will start producing pregnancy hormones, and you will begin to notice changes in your body. If you suspect you may be pregnant, look out for the following early symptoms of pregnancy:

A missed period This is considered to be one of the most reliable early symptoms of pregnancy. If you have a regular menstrual cycle, and your period is late, it could be the first clue that you may be pregnant.

Spotting Some women notice spotting (light bleeding) around the time of implantation. Spotting is much lighter than a menstrual period, often little more than a few spots of blood, and tends to be brown or pink in colour.

Nausea Once your body starts producing pregnancy hormones, you may begin to suffer from nausea and morning sickness. Unlike the name suggests, morning sickness can happen at any time during the day. Try to avoid low blood sugar by eating little and often.

Increased discharge This thick, odourless, milky discharge is nothing to worry about, but you can wear a panty liner if you prefer.

Breast changes Breast changes are often considered to be one of the give-aways of early pregnancy. You may notice that your breasts appear bigger and feel tender. Your nipples may darken, and you may notice small bumps appearing on the areola.

Feeling tired Not just I-watched-too-much-Greys-Anatomy-last-night-tired, the tiredness of early pregnancy is experienced by many as a fatigue. If you’re finding it hard to get out of bed in the morning, yawning your way through client meetings, and falling asleep on the sofa before dinner, you may be experience pregnancy fatigue.

Heightened sense of smell Some women notice they are extra sensitive to smells during pregnancy, and this can kick in even before the pregnancy is confirmed. Some women report aversions to smells including petrol (gasoline), laundry detergent and cigarettes.

Feeling emotional As your body begins rapidly producing hormones, you may notice yourself feeling more emotional than usual. If you find yourself sobbing over commercials, and screaming at your partner for using the wrong washing up sponge, it could be pregnancy hormones at play.

Not all women experience all of the symptoms above. You may experience some and not others, you may not notice any symptoms, or you might hit the jackpot and be able to tick each one off your pregnancy bingo scratch card. Each pregnancy is unique, and your symptoms will differ to those of other women. If you have more than one pregnancy, you may notice different early symptoms of pregnancy for each.

If you think you may be pregnant, the most accurate way to find out for sure is to take a home pregnancy test. Wait until the day your period is due, because this increases the accuracy of the test. Read the instructions carefully, and follow them exactly when performing the test. Good luck!

What first made you wonder whether you were pregnant?

Written by Fiona, proud owner of a toddler, @fiona_peacock

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

The Dos and Don’ts of Pregnancy Nutrition

Pregnancy is a special time for women, and should not be taken for granted. Proper nutrition is crucial for the health of you and your child. In fact, studies show that what you eat and drink, how physically active you are, and how much you weigh all have an effect on the baby’s present and future growth. Therefore, food must be chosen wisely – not just to suit the palate, but to nurture the baby as well.

There are two factors that must be considered when it comes to pregnancy nutrition – what to eat and how much weight to gain. Many women think that pregnancy is a great excuse to gain weight. However, you shouldn’t go overboard. You do not need to consume more calories than your normally do during the first trimester. Only after the 12th week you can add 300 calories more to your normal daily intake.

Here are some special considerations on pregnancy nutrition:

  • Do not eat undercooked meats or seafood.

Eating undercooked meats and seafood can cause diseases such as toxoplasmosis and salmonellosis. These can potentially cause stillbirth, fetal defects, infection, or health problems after birth.

  • Reduce your risk for listeriosis.

Listeriosis is a disease caused by bacteria found in soft cheese, raw vegetables, and unpasteurized milk. Wash fruits and vegetables before eating, stick with hard cheeses, like parmesan and cheddar, and make sure your milk is pasteurized.

  • Limit your caffeine intake.

You should limit your daily intake of caffeine to 200 mg (12 oz cup). Studies show that women who consumer over 200 mg of caffeine per day have a higher risk for miscarriage, stillbirth, and preterm birth. You may also want to cut back on tea, coffee, soft drinks, chocolate, and energy drinks, as they contain phenols that prevent iron absorption.

  • Consume plenty of omega-3 fatty acids.

Studies show that omega-3 has positive effects on the baby’s eyes and brain. You can take at least 400 mg of mercury-free DHA supplements, or be sure you’re eating foods rich in these fatty acids. The best sources are cold water fish such as sardines, tuna, herring, salmon, and anchovies.

  • Stay away from eating certain fish: mackerel, shark, tile fish, tuna steaks, albacore tuna, and swordfish.

These fishes contain high levels of mercury which may have neurological effects on your baby. Limit fish intake to no more than 12 ounces per week, and stick with fish like salmon.

  • Avoid any alcoholic beverages.

Heavy alcohol drinking can cause birth defects. It can also cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) which is characterized by speech and language delays, small head size, abnormal facial features, learning disability, and many other problems.

  • Take your prenatal vitamins regularly.

Prenatal vitamins are essential for pregnant women as they provide more folic acid and iron, necessary all throughout the pregnancy for the development of the baby’s brain and spinal cord.

Written by Team Health & Parenting

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

Is Red Wine Safe During Pregnancy?

Decades ago women smoked and drank alcohol during pregnancy. Not because they wanted to injure their babies, but because there wasn’t enough research to show that alcohol and tobacco use were harmful to an unborn baby. In other words, they didn’t know any better. In fact, your mom may have smoked, or enjoyed a daily nightcap while she was pregnant with you and you were a healthy baby, right?

Now we know better. We know that everything we put into our bodies while we are pregnant, has a direct effect on our unborn baby. Still, there have been many rumors and myths in regard to the safety of drinking minimal amounts of red wine during pregnancy. Some women have been told that it was not just okay, but healthy – while others have been told that it is a complete no-no and ALL alcohol should be avoided.

Still today, even with the studies of fetal alcohol syndrome (which involves large amount of alcohol consumption) many women are still confused. Some doctors today say yay, while others say nay.  “The problem with drinking alcohol during your pregnancy is that there is no amount that has been proven to be safe,” says Jacques Moritz, MD, director of gynecology at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital in New York. Additionally, David Garry, DO, associate professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and chair of the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Task Force for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists District II/NY, agrees. He says that researchers don’t know enough about the potential effects of drinking alcohol at particular times during the pregnancy to be able to say that any time is really safe. It’s also difficult to predict the impact of drinking on any given pregnancy because some women have higher levels of the enzyme that breaks down alcohol.

So, is red wine safe during pregnancy? If you are considering that glass of red wine – then the best thing for you to do is talk to your doctor first and see what he or she says. Without knowing ALL the facts about the effects of alcohol, even in small amounts, during pregnancy – avoidance is perhaps the best answer to the question. Nine months is a short period of time to give up alcohol!

The human body and the miracle of pregnancy is something that will never be fully, 100% understood. Learn as much as you can about your growing baby. Taking risks may just not be worth it!

Written By Stef, Mom of 4 @Momspirational

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

Smoking During Pregnancy

It’s never too late to stop smoking. Quitting smoking won’t be easy, but it is now more important than ever before. Each cigarette contains 4000 chemicals, 60 cancer-causing compounds, and can restrict the oxygen supply to your developing baby. Stopping smoking will be immediately beneficial to both you and your unborn child.

Each time you smoke a cigarette, your baby’s oxygen supply is reduced meaning your baby’s heart has to work much harder than it should.

How will smoking affect my baby?
There are a number of risks associated with smoking during pregnancy, including an increased risk of:

  • bleeding
  • placental abruption
  • premature birth – smoking doubles the risk of premature birth
  • low birth weight – smoking doubles the chance that your baby will weigh less than 2.5 kg (5.5 lbs) at birth
  • stillbirth
  • Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) – the risk of SIDS doubles if you smoke during pregnancy
  • developing asthma
  • developing a heart defect
  • behavioural problems
  • learning disabilities

How to quit
There are a number of methods in place to help you quit smoking during pregnancy, and you need to find the one which works for you. Hypnosis, financial rewards, and patches are just a few ways that other people have found successful.

  • believe in yourself – confidence goes a long way where willpower is involved, so you need to believe you can quit
  • if your partner smokes, ask him to quit with you
  • ask your friends and family not to smoke around you
  • change your routine – if you always smoke during a certain activity, try to change your routine to bypass cravings
  • light exercise – exercise is a great way to beat cravings and make the most of your recovering health. You should notice week by week that your breathing capacity and stamina are improving
  • build a support group – friends and family who want to help you quit, especially if they are ex-smokers themselves, will be great people to talk to during cravings
  • tell your healthcare provider  – your healthcare provider will be able to help and advise you how to best stop smoking. Your healthcare provider won’t judge you. They just want to assist you, so don’t worry about asking for help
  • remember your motivation – whether that means carrying a scan photo to focus on during cravings, or a factsheet of the dangers for your baby, make sure you remember why you are doing this

Cigarette cravings
If you’re giving up cigarettes, you’re probably going to experience some strong cravings. Each craving only lasts for up to five minutes, so instead of reaching for the cigarettes, find another distraction to see you through. Lollipops, chewing gum, and ringing a friend, are just a few ideas to help you fight the cravings.

What if I relapse?
If you relapse, quit again. Relapsing isn’t failure, just try again and learn from your mistakes. Now you’ve identified a weak spot (did you relapse because of stress or habit, for example?), you can avoid it happening next time. Don’t give up on giving up.

Do you have any advice to women who want to give up smoking during pregnancy?

Written by Fiona, proud owner of a toddler, @fiona_peacock

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

Five Widely Believed Pregnancy Myths

It can sometimes be hard to differentiate fact from fiction. Just because you’ve been told something more times than you can remember doesn’t mean it’s true. In fact, a lot of the popular old wives’ tales about pregnancy are false. Here are five widely believed (but definitely not true) pregnancy myths:

1. Your bump can give clues as to the sex of your baby – if you’ve decided to wait until the birth to discover the sex of your baby, you probably hear this one a lot. Friends, family and strangers will be using the size and position of your bump to guess the sex of your developing baby. According to legend, a high bump indicates you are carrying a girl, while a low bump is a sure sign you’re having a boy. Sadly, there is no truth to this myth, so you can keep the gender a surprise if you wish.

2. If you suffer from heartburn, your baby will be born with a full head of hair – heartburn has little to do with your baby’s ‘do, and more to do with the foods you eat and with your slowing digestive tract. Whether you suffer from heartburn or not is really no indication of how much hair will be atop your baby’s head at the birth.

3. Having sex while pregnant could harm your baby – don’t worry, you can continue to have a sex life during pregnancy. Unless your healthcare provider has advised you to go on ‘pelvic rest’, sex during pregnancy is perfectly safe. Your mucus plug will keep your uterus closed, and your baby safe from infection during pregnancy.

4. You should be eating for two – this is something you have probably heard a lot, but it’s factually incorrect. During the first and second trimester, you shouldn’t need to eat any extra calories. By the third trimester, you will need an extra 200 calories a day, but this amounts to two slices of wholemeal toast with a thin spread of butter. It’s hardly eating for two.

5. You shouldn’t start exercising during pregnancy – this isn’t true at all. Even if you’ve never exercised before, pregnancy is the perfect time to start. It’s more important than ever to look after your body, and keep fit in preparation for the birth. If you are a bit of a couch potato, break yourself in gently with some walking, swimming and prenatal yoga. If you’re a keep-fit fanatic, you can keep up your exercise routine, but be wary of any potentially dangerous activities such as extreme sports.

What pregnancy myths have you heard?

Written by Fiona, proud owner of a toddler, @fiona_peacock

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.