Gestational diabetes is diabetes that is first diagnosed during pregnancy. This condition affects up to 14% of pregnancies.

Diabetes occurs when your body cannot produce the extra insulin needed for pregnancy. Insulin converts blood sugar into energy. During the second half of your pregnancy, your body requires extra insulin to meet the demands of you and your baby. If your body is unable to meet this demand, you may have an excess of sugar in your blood and this could cause the onset of gestational diabetes.

Am I at risk of gestational diabetes?
You are most likely to develop gestational diabetes if you:

• are overweight
• have previously had a large baby (4.5kg or more)
• developed gestational diabetes in an earlier pregnancy
• have a family history of diabetes

Symptoms and diagnosis
If you are at risk of developing gestational diabetes, you will be offered an oral glucose tolerance test. This test will be carried out between weeks 24 and 28 of the pregnancy. Blood tests are used to determine your blood sugar levels.

A dipstick test will be done at each antenatal appointment to test for sugar in your urine. If high levels of sugar are present, this can be indicative of gestational diabetes, and further testing will be carried out.

Gestational diabetes can often be asymptomatic. However, you may experience:

• tiredness
• excessive thirst
• excessive urination
• blurred vision

You can reduce your risk of developing gestational diabetes by:

• monitoring your weight gain
• eating a healthy diet
• continuing to exercise throughout the pregnancy
• not smoking

Will gestational diabetes harm my baby?
This condition needs to be carefully controlled to avoid causing harm to your developing baby. If there are excessive levels of sugar in your blood, this could cross through the placenta and reach your baby. If this happens, there is a risk that your baby could grow large. Large babies can cause problems during the birth, and so if this happens you may be advised to have a planned caesarean section.

Gestational diabetes can also increase your baby’s risk of health problems such as jaundice and low blood sugar after the birth. Your baby’s blood sugar levels may be monitored after the birth.

Your baby will be more likely to develop type 2 diabetes in later life. By teaching your child about healthy eating, and ensuring he eats a balanced diet, you can reduce this risk.

Treatment for gestational diabetes
To manage gestational diabetes, you need to control your blood sugar levels. This can usually be done by:

• eating a healthy diet
• avoiding sugary foods and drinks
• light exercise

You will be offered additional ultrasound scans to monitor your baby’s development later in the pregnancy. This is to check the baby’s growth and the amount of amniotic fluid present. You will probably be offered an scan every four weeks from week 28.

Up to 20% of sufferers cannot control their diabetes using the methods above. In this instance, you will be advised to either take medication or inject insulin to manage the condition.

Most women find that the diabetes disappears once the baby is born. You will be tested for diabetes at your postnatal check, and then again a year on. It is estimated that up to 20% of women diagnosed with gestational diabetes actually had undiagnosed diabetes prior to the 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.

It may be a missed period or sudden rush of nausea in the morning that pushes you to buy a pregnancy test. When you see those two pink lines, you’ll need a moment to let it sink in. Congratulations, you’re pregnant! Pregnancy is one of the most significant times in a woman’s life. It is a time of change and new beginnings. It is also a time of reflection and planning as a new parent.

After the reality of pregnancy has set in, and you’ve experienced a range of emotions, from excitement to shock, you’ll want to start planning. The best thing to do is to get proactive and start working towards a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. By contacting your doctor or midwife, exercising safely, and enjoying a well-balanced diet, you will be well on your way to having a fun-filled nine months and a gorgeous baby at the end of it.

First Things First: Doctor or Midwife?

If you haven’t already thought about it, you’ll want to decide whether you want to be treated by an obstetrician gynecologist (ob-gyn) or a certified midwife. Choosing who to take care of you and your baby during pregnancy is a very personal matter and is a decision you should be completely comfortable with. Relying on your medical history or personal beliefs can help make the most appropriate choice for you.

Avoid Harmful Habits

Your lifestyle has to change when pregnant, whether you like it or not. Things that can be potentially harmful to you and your baby should be avoided such as, smoking cigarettes, taking narcotics, drinking alcohol, consuming too much caffeine, and eating certain foods. You’ll also want to avoid heavy lifting or activities that are too strenuous. If you continue to exercise, make sure it is safe and not too intense. Face it, you will lose a certain amount of mobility after being pregnant!

Eating Right

When you become pregnant, your body starts changing and directing most nutrients and minerals to your baby to help him or her grow. It is necessary for you to replenish your supply and take in more vitamins and nutrients when pregnant. You will need to increase the intake of calcium, folic acid, iron, etc. Prenatal vitamins along with a balanced diet can help you remain healthy throughout your pregnancy and ensure your baby gets the nutrients he or she needs.

Stress-free Preparation

Always remember to stay calm and breathe when pregnant. It is a time of change and can be scary, with appointments to remember, a nursery to set up, a baby App to read every day, etc. So it is important to take things step by step. Buy a planner and write things down so you don’t forget appointments or to buy specific baby items. A great way to stay organized is by downloading our app on your phone so that you are up-to-speed when on the go. Help yourself stay organized and you’ll be well on your way.

If you have any tips on how to stay organized during pregnancy, let us know what they are.

Written by Manal, first time mom

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.

I was having coffee with a pregnant friend who had just been running errands. She said the teller at the bank told her, “You’re having a boy. You always lose your looks with a boy.” Rude, you say? And insulting, I might add. But such stories are part of the advice people feel free to give pregnant women – solicited or not. We’ve all heard stories like these, but we scoff and carry on. Still, a part of our mind wonders if there’s any truth to these old wives’ tales. Here a look at some of the most popular:

• If you’re carrying your baby low, it’s a boy. Gender prediction is the most prolific area of pregnancy advice. Carrying high or low, craving certain foods, a high fetal heart rate, and more – all of these tales can be a fun way to guess at whether the baby will be a boy or a girl, but none have a basis in fact. Gender is determined at conception; and, whether male or female, there are no tell-tale signs to clue you in apart from an ultrasound or genetic testing. By the way, carrying low may just mean your abdominal muscles aren’t as strong or toned as other women. Or it could just mean that you are genetically prone to a certain body shape.

• Don’t hang the wash or reach to a high shelf, or your baby will be entangled in the umbilical cord. In Jamaica, women are told not to step over a donkey’s tether or the baby will end up with the cord tightly around his neck. In Sicily, wearing a scarf can cause the same mishap. Or, if you’re Navajo, it could be the sitting with your legs crossed that does it. Take a deep breath, and stop worrying about this one. At birth, the umbilical cord is about twenty inches (50cm) long, and this gives plenty of length for baby to move, twist and turn throughout pregnancy and birth without becoming knotted or entangled. In fact, true knots occur in very few pregnancies.

• If you have heartburn, your baby will be born with lots of hair. Strangely, this one may have some fact to it. One study showed over 80% of babies born to moms who had moderate to severe heartburn had lots of hair! This is probably related to hormones that not only control growth, but that initiate changes in a mom’s body to keep pregnancy healthy.

• Never take a bath when you’re pregnant. The tale goes that if you submerge your belly in water, your baby will drown. While you don’t want to sit in water that’s too hot (and raise your body temperature too much), a warm bath can safely soothe the aches and pains of pregnancy. Also, you may be told not to take a bath in labor after your water breaks because it increases your risk of infection. Studies have shown this is not true, and that even a water birth is safe.

• If you crave a certain food, you’re baby must want it. Hungry for salsa? Your little one must be ordering it up. Well, not really. But there is a chance he might like spicy foods if you eat them often. Amniotic fluid takes on the flavors from mom’s diet, especially strong ones, like garlic or hot pepper. Another thought about cravings is that your body must need certain nutrients when you crave particular foods, though it hasn’t been proven.

• Sex will start labor. Sex is typically safe throughout pregnancy, and, even though it may cause some mild uterine contractions, it won’t start labor necessarily. If your body is ready for birth, however, sex may get things moving. The oxytocin release with orgasm, along with the prostaglandins in semen, may help to soften the cervix and induce regular contractions.

Before the advent of modern medicine, old wives’ tales served as a way of understanding and explaining the unknown. Today, we have ultrasound to track fetal development and all sorts of medical tests to help us understand the intricacies of pregnancy and birth. But these tales persist. Perhaps we still seek to rationalize and exert some control over bodily processes. Or perhaps the tales just serve as a way to connect with the past and with each other.

What are some of the more outrageous old wives’ tales you have heard?

Written by Michelle, writer, editor, Lamaze instructor, lactation consultant, and mother to 4 busy kids.

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.

For some women, the extra hormones raging through their body leads to an increased sex drive during pregnancy. For others, the back ache, swollen ankles and fatigue are enough to put them right off the thought of sex. If you don’t feel like having sex, that’s fine. Talk to your partner about how you feel.

If you would like to have sex, you may find it gets a little trickier in the third trimester. As your bump grows and your breasts become increasingly tender, you may need to experiment with sex positions for pregnancy to find one that feels comfortable.

Here are some tried and tested sex positions for late pregnancy:

1. Spoons in a drawer – lie on your side with your knees pulled up near your bump. Your partner should spoon you and enter you from behind. This position will prevent your partner from going in too deep so may be more comfortable for you. With your bump resting on the bed, you will be under less strain, too.
2. From behind – get down on your hands and knees (this position is sometimes referred to as ‘doggy style’). Your partner should enter you from behind.
3. On top – your partner should lie down, and you should lower yourself onto him. The good thing about this position is that you are able to control the depth of penetration. Simply rock gently in this position.
4. Reverse cowgirl – like the above, but you should sit facing your partner’s feet instead of his face.
5. Take a seat – your partner should sit on a sturdy chair. You should then lower yourself onto him. This position allows you to control the depth of penetration, and also allows for plenty of kissing.
6. Face to face – lie facing your partner, and lean your top leg over your partner’s side. This position will restrict deep penetration, and the weight of your bump will be supported on the bed.
7. The edge – sit at the edge of the bed, and pull your feet up onto the edge of the mattress. Lie yourself back, ideally on a pillow to keep you tilted upright (and avoid lying flat on your back). Your partner should stand or kneel in front of you.

It may take a few attempts to find the position that works best for you. As your body changes, and your centre of balance moves, you may need to keep adjusting the sexual positions in favour.

Later in the pregnancy, it is normal for orgasms to trigger Braxton Hicks contractions. It’s nothing to worry about if you experience these irregular contractions.

If you experience cramping that doesn’t disappear after a few minutes, or if you experience pain or bleeding during or after sex, you should contact your healthcare provider.

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.

The reality is that not every pregnant woman looks like Kate Middleton prior to, or even one month after pregnancy. In fact, according to the American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), around 61% of all pregnant women are overweight at the onset of pregnancy. What does this mean? Are there more risks for overweight women than there are for their average or underweight counterparts?

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a woman is overweight if her BMI is above 25. New research also suggests that a woman is overweight (even her actual scale weight is appropriate) if her waist measures more than 36 inches. Of course, we all know that ethnicity, genetics and a bunch of other things play a part in your weight. During pregnancy, there is quite simply a lot of emphasis placed on your weight and many practitioners will encourage already overweight women to not gain in excess during pregnancy.

Health wise, the risks of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia are higher if you are overweight. Even so, experts agree that with a careful diet and routine management and prenatal visits, these two diseases can be avoided and controlled during pregnancy. More important is your personal health history of diseases such as high blood pressure – that may be made worse by pregnancy.

According to author Van der Ziel, coauthor of Big, Beautiful, and Pregnant: Expert Advice and Comforting Wisdom for the Expecting Plus-Size Woman, “You can be overweight and have a fit pregnancy. Any obese pregnant woman can modify her risks by eating well, exercising, and adhering to weight-gain guidelines.” And, even more important is that your pre-pregnancy weight, if managed well during pregnancy can be non-issue. The presumption that a woman will not have a healthy pregnancy just because a woman is plus size and pregnant is simply NOT true.

Certainly, pregnancy is not the time to diet or minimize your caloric intake. Instead, it is important for ALL pregnant women – not just plus sized ones – to eat for health, choosing foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals rather than in calories because this is what your growing baby will need to be healthy. Additionally, make sure that you have a practitioner who is both understanding and non-judgmental about your weight, as this is supposed to be a happy time in your life.

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.

The loss of a child is an experience you may never truly recover from. It is likely that you will carry with you part of that grief for the rest of your life, although your emotions will become more manageable over time. Though you may be excited when you discover you are pregnant again, you may feel more worried than excited, at least for a little while.

It is important to remember that experiencing a miscarriage in the past, does not increase your chances of suffering another miscarriage. Many women who experience miscarriages go on to have problem-free healthy pregnancies.

You may find yourself feeling worried and anxious about the pregnancy, and may lose sleep over concern for your pregnancy. Anxiety is common during pregnancies after loss, and you may find that time seems to pass very slowly throughout this pregnancy. You may find that you feel less anxious once your pregnancy has progressed past the timing of your previous miscarriage. Some women find that hearing their baby’s heartbeat for the first time, or seeing their baby on an ultrasound scan, reduces the feelings of anxiety.

How to cope with the worry

Your experience is unique to you, and you will need to find your own path to ease your worry. You may find the following tips useful, however, as ways of reducing or coping with your anxieties over the pregnancy:

• take care of yourself – do all that you can to ensure you are having a healthy pregnancy. Eat a healthy, balanced diet, drink plenty of water, and take regular exercise. Rest when you feel tired, and make sure you are trusting your instincts and listening to what your body tells you.
• relax – take some time out at the end of each day to clear your mind. Meditation, yoga, or even just a long soak in the bath, could be all you need to help yourself relax at the end of the day. Clear your mind of negative thoughts and worries, and instead spend some time thinking positively, focusing on the fact that you are pregnant right now, and making sure you feel calm.
• be honest – a problem shared is a problem halved. Talk to your partner about how you feel, he may be able to reassure or comfort you during times of worry. Speak to your mum, best friend, or an online support group of strangers – whoever you feel comfortable opening up to.
• talk to your healthcare provider – your healthcare provider is there to support you during pregnancy, as well as during the birth. Be honest about how you are feeling, and any worries you may have. Your healthcare provider may be able to offer advice to calm your nerves, practical help in the form of extra check ups, or support simply by listening to you.

Announcing the news

Some couples choose to wait before announcing the pregnancy for fear of another loss. For others, however, the support of friends and family is a must, and so the news is shared earlier. Whether you wait until after the scan, or tell people straight away, is a personal decision that only you and your partner can make.

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.

Baby showers are an important occasion in the social calendar of a mum-to-be. As the organiser, you want to make sure the event goes above and beyond her expectations. Having a theme can help to tie an event together. It’s important to plan the theme before sending out the invitations, so that they can correspond with the theme and give guests an idea of what to expect.

Boy/Girl Theme – If you know the sex of the baby, then this a great way to tailor the baby shower. Go for blue decorations for a boy’s shower, and pink for a girl’s. Make sure the invitations, cake, decorations, balloons and party favours all tie into the colour scheme. For a little boy, you could have toy boats and train tracks as part of the decor. For little girls, you could opt for floral decorations and some dolls to add to the effect. Even if the sex of the baby is unknown, you could still utilise the boy/girl theme by having a mixture of pink and blue decorations – and a lot of question marks.

Bookworm – When you think back to your childhood, one of the things that stands out most is probably your favourite books. From bedtime stories with your parents, to learning to read, our childhoods are filled with books. You could ask each of the guests to bring a copy of their favourite childhood book. You could even theme the party around the mum-to-be’s favourite childhood book. There are so many beautiful and colourful children’s books to choose from, and you can pick copies up for next to nothing at your local charity or thrift shop. For decoration, you can display inspirational quotes from children’s story books.

Baby Animals – Baby shops across the world are filled with animal themed products. From circus bedding, to farmyard dinner plates, you can get pretty much anything adorned in animals. Animals are a great theme for a baby shower, and it’s really easy to find inspiration. Baby animals are particularly relevant at a shower – so fill the walls with lambs, kittens and elephant calves. The great thing about this theme is that any decorations can be passed on to the mum-to-be to use in the nursery. A great centrepiece for this theme, would be a giant stuffed animal that could be given as a gift too.

Vintage Tea Party – Since the mum-to-be can’t drink and baby showers tend to take place in the afternoon, why not celebrate with a vintage inspired tea party? Think bunting, mismatched cups and saucers, and cupcake stands for decorations. For food, serve cucumber sandwiches, mini cupcakes and a victoria sponge. Ask guests to dress in vintage inspired dresses to match the surroundings.

Mocktail Party – Indulge the mum-to-be’s decadent side by hosting a mocktail party. There are loads of amazing recipes to choose from, and you certainly won’t miss the alcohol. Fruity, fizzy and milky – there are lots of different types of mocktails so try to offer a selection at the party. For the decorations, try to dress the venue like a fancy cocktail bar (or, even better, have the party at a fancy cocktail bar). Mood lighting, background music and bold colours will look great with this theme. Make sure you have all the right glasses, garnishes and decorations to make the mocktails feel extra special.

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.

The pelvic floor is made up of a collection of muscles and ligaments that stretch from the pubic bone to the end of the backbone. The pelvic floor is a supportive hammock and gets put under a lot of strain during pregnancy as it stretches to accommodate the growing baby.

Why do I need to do pelvic floor exercises?

The pelvic floor comes under a great amount of strain during pregnancy and childbirth. By exercising the muscles, you can strengthen your pelvic floor. This reduces your risk of suffering from stress incontinence after the pregnancy. With weak pelvic floor muscles, you may find that you leak urine when you laugh, cough or sneeze.

How to do pelvic floor exercises

1. Tense your anus as if you’re holding in a bowel movement.
2. At the same time, tense your pelvic muscles as if you are holding in a wee or gripping a tampon.
3. Release.

The pelvic floor workout routine:

• Repeat the above steps quickly, eight times.
• Then repeat the above steps again, but this time hold step two for 10 seconds before releasing. Repeat this eight times.
• Tighten the muscles (in steps one and two) in stages. So tighten a little bit, hold for 10 seconds, then tighten a bit more, hold for 10 seconds, then tighten fully and hold for 10 seconds. Repeat this staggered process as you relax the muscles too. This exercise is the hardest of the three, so be warned! Repeat this eight times (you might want to build up to this number slowly if you’re a beginner).

Try to repeat your pelvic floor workout three times a day for the full length of your pregnancy. Many women find they forget to do the pelvic floor workout, so try to incorporate it into your daily routine. You do your workout while you sit down to enjoy your three meals of the day, or you could do them each time a particular advert comes on the TV. Find a routine that works for you, and stick with it.

When should I stop?

You can continue these exercises right up until the very end of your pregnancy, unless told not to by your healthcare provider.

Don’t give up your pelvic floor routine at the end of the pregnancy, you should continue these exercises for the rest of your life. Not only could they help to heal and strengthen the muscles after the birth, but they could reduce your risk of suffering incontinence in the future. Pelvic floor exercises can also help to reduce your risk of suffering from a prolapsed uterus or bladder.

Over the last few years, whether or not to practice pelvic floor exercises during pregnancy has become controversial. Pelvic floor exercises, however, do seem to be the most useful when they are part of an overall fitness routine and when they are done correctly. So be sure you are getting the recommended amount of exercise each day (most experts recommend 30 minutes of moderate exercise each day for pregnancy) and learn more about the best methods to exercise your pelvic floor muscles.

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.

Chances are you have been trying to put off looking for a childcare provider for your baby as long as possible. If you are like most moms, thinking about WHO will take care of your baby BEFORE you have even given birth, seems a bit counter-intuitive. Plus, all the waiting around, and your accumulation of maternity leave and vacation time from work, likely makes you feel like there is no rush to choose a daycare provider, especially in the third trimester of pregnancy. Right?  Wrong! Here’s why.

Firstly, you might be shocked to start your search for the perfect daycare, find one – and then find out that you have to be put on a waiting list for several months to a year. In the United States, many of the premiere daycare centers have waiting lists a mile long, especially for the newborn, infant and baby rooms. The reason is simple. There are only so many babies that these daycare centers are legally allowed to have per room. Secondly, there is a high demand for top-notch facilities. And in order to find the best facility for you and your baby, you will have to do a lot of research and door to door visiting of daycare centers so that you can get an ‘intuitive feel’ for the center before enrolling your child.

As you begin to search for a daycare center, you may want to make impromptu stops at daycare centers without appointments so that you can see how things are run when the center is not expecting a visitor. Certainly you will have to check in with the front office staff before touring the center, but not allowing the center time to ‘prepare’ in order to make a good example to gain a customer is a smart way to check the integrity of a daycare center.

When you tour, pay attention to the children and your intuition. Do the kids look happy?  Are there adults present at all times? Do you get a good feel from the staff that is in charge of the daycare center? Are all of the employees certified to care for children?  Are doors locked and secure? Pay close attention to how things are organized, and come prepared with as many question as possible. Also, avoid making a hasty decision – and try to visit a center that you are interested in at least 2 -3 times before committing so you can get a better feel of the day to day operations.

You should also check online for any complaints or problems with a daycare center. Sometimes, you will find problems or concerns from other parents in forums or local listings specific to your town. Also, check in with neighbors and other moms around your area to see which day care centers they would recommend, and which ones they would not. Other moms can be your greatest source of information, especially if they have personal experience with the daycare center.

Certainly, looking for a daycare center in your third trimester can be bittersweet. If you know you are going back to work, and know that you will have to rely on a daycare for your child, it will be much easier to research and visit the daycares, prior to having your baby than it will be afterwards.

Also, don’t totally count out in-home day care centers, which can also provide a loving, more personal environment for your child. If you go to an individual for your daycare needs, you should do not just a background check on the provider, but also ask to see all credentials they have which allow them to care for children in their home.

Remember, the most important decision you will make after you have your baby is who will care for your child in your absence. Use your best judgment and don’t be afraid to rely on your feelings and intuition to help you make a decision.

Written By Stef, Mom of 4 @MOM-SPIRATIONAL

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.

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

Early pregnancy can be an overwhelming time, and your head may feel busy with a mix of emotions, questions and worries. One of the first things you’re probably desperate to know is your due date. So, while I can’t help you with the morning sickness, or the sleepless nights worrying about whether you’re ready to be a mum, or the almost obsessive urge to blurt out the news to everyone you meet, I can help with your due date.

How to calculate your due date – if you want to calculate it yourself, other than using our Application.

It is important to note that this method is more effective for women with regular 28 day cycles. If you have an irregular cycle, the date given by this method will be less reliable.

1. Determine the first date of your last menstrual period. If you keep note of your cycle, or use a smartphone app to keep track of it, this will be easy enough. If you don’t keep records of your periods, try to remember events around your last cycle. For example, did you stay at a friends, or go swimming? Information like this may help to remind you of the timing of your last cycle.
2. Add 40 weeks to the date above (280 days). This is your calculated due date.

Don’t permanent marker that date into your diary just yet though, remember this is just an educated guess. The calculated due date is used as a rough estimate to ensure the dating scan is scheduled in the correct window. Dating scans are most reliable when they occur between the eleventh and thirteenth week of pregnancy, which is why your date scan usually happens around week 12. By calculating your due date using the above method, your doctor can book your dating scan correctly and give you the best chance at an accurate due date.

You should bear in mind, however, that only five percent of babies are born on their due dates. Unfortunately, without access to your diary, Junior won’t know when he’s expected to make his grand entrance. Try not to get fixated on your due date, because you may end up disappointed when the day passes without incident.

You may even like to keep your due date relatively private, only telling close friends and family. The due date is bad enough when you spend it grumpily bouncing on a birthing ball while eating a vindaloo and staring at the clock. It’s made a whole lot worse when you start getting text message from colleagues, old friends and people you barely know asking if the baby is here yet.

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.

During pregnancy, you may feel a whole host of emotions including excitement, happiness, fear, sadness, anger and panic. Don’t worry, it’s totally normal to feel all of these things. Pregnancy can be daunting, you know your life is about to change forever, but you can’t quite imagine how. You may find that your mood changes without warning. From feeling ecstatically happy one minute, to uncontrollable sobbing the next. These mood swings are a common feature of pregnancy, and most women experience them at some point.

What causes mood swings during pregnancy?

Simply put, hormones. Yes, those blasted things that are also making you nauseous, are now turning you into the stereotyped irrational pregnant woman often seen in US sitcoms. It’s not just the hormones though, lack of sleep can play a part too. If you’ve been struggling to sleep, you may find yourself more irritable than usual. Even if the pregnancy was long-anticipated, you may still feel scared and unsure as you embark on this life changing journey.

How to manage mood swings during pregnancy

• talk it out – open up to your partner about how you are feeling. Chances are, he’s feeling every bit a nervous about parenthood as you are, and you’ll both feel a lot better after talking through your concerns.
• be honest – if you’ve just screamed in your mum’s face because she said you were blooming, apologise and explain you’re feeling hormonal. One of the great things about pregnancy is that people are more lenient with you. People expect you to feel tired, emotional and hormonal, so they tend to be more understanding of grumpiness.
• take it slow – if you’re trying to keep up your fast paced lifestyle, you may find the exhaustion is adding to your bad mood. Try taking it slow, spend time relaxing it each and do things at your own pace. This should help you to feel more in control.
• rest – try to get as much sleep as you can, you may find napping during the day or straight after work helps you to make up the hours lost at night. If you’re struggling to sleep at night, try to rest instead. Relaxing can help you to feel rested, even if you haven’t been sleeping. Working on your laptop at 3am won’t help you feel relaxed, and it is in fact likely to make you feel more stressed.

When it’s not just mood swings

If you are feeling down, and you can’t seem to shake it, speak to your healthcare provider. You may be suffering from antenatal depression, and they will be able to advise you of where to get help. It is important to remember you are not alone, and there is help available to you.

If your mood swings are extreme or are interfering with your everyday activities, you should speak to your healthcare provider.

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.

Hypnobirthing is the use of hypnosis during labour. The practice aims to replace feelings of fear with confidence, and to allow women to experience labour in a positive way.

How does hypnobirthing work?

Hypnobirthing techniques can reduce your need for other forms of pain relief during labour. It can also help you to feel calm and positive during labour, rather than feeling scared or in pain. When you feel scared, your body initiates the fight or flight response. During this response, stress hormones, including adrenaline, flood your body. This reduces blood flow to the uterus, which can slow labour. The stress hormones can alter the amount of oxytocin released by your body. Oxytocin and other feel good hormones are released during labour and play a vital role in natural pain relief; without this, you may find labour to be more painful.

Where can I learn more about hypnobirthing?

There are a number of different ways to learn the basics of hypnobirthing:

• One on one – you can have individual sessions with a hypnobirthing practitioner, and they will teach you how to use the techniques and tools to ease yourself into a calm state of mind.
• Group sessions – you can attend classes to learn these techniques whilst also meeting other expectant parents. The classes are usually quite intimate, with only a small number of couples attending each one. Be sure to take your birth partner with you so that they can learn how to help you use hypnobirthing on the big day.
• Learn at home – the most affordable option is to use hypnobirthing CDs. The CDs help you to get into the correct state for labour. You should listen to them during pregnancy to help yourself get used to hypnobirthing, and then use them once your labor begins. You can also try an App.

You should get your birth partner involved in hypnobirthing from an early stage. Your birth partner should learn the breathing, relaxation and visualization techniques to be able to guide you during labour. You should practice your hypnobirthing techniques together at home as often as you can before the birth. You should aim to know the techniques so well that they become second nature to you during labour.

When should I start hypnobirthing?

The ideal time to attend classes or start listening to your CD, is between 25 and 29 weeks. By this time you will feel focused on the impending birth, and yet will have enough time left to learn the techniques. However, you can start at anytime, so do not feel that at 34 weeks it is too late for you start. The relaxation techniques will be useful during labour, no matter when you start to learn them.

During labour

Once labour starts, use the hypnobirthing relaxation techniques to stay calm. Listen to your hypnobirthing CD, and ask your birth partner to read through the visualization scripts and help you with the breathing techniques during surges.

Are you planning to use hypnobirthing, or have you used it before? Please share your experiences in the comments below.

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.