Have you any suggestions to beat nausea and vomiting in pregnancy?

Eating little and often may help some women. Accupressure bands though designed for travel sickness can help for morning sickness in pregnancy. Drinking ginger ale or using grated fresh ginger in hot water or ginger biscuits may also help. Ginger is a popular remedy for morning sickness. Peppermint is also renowned for its digestive powers so drink peppermint tea or suck mints. Sometimes just brushing your teeth may help to quell a bout of nausea.

Why do I feel breathless in pregnancy?

During later stages of the pregnancy your baby presses on your diaphragm, stopping you breathing freely. This is even worse if you are expecting twins or more. It resolves a little when your baby's head engages at around 37 - 38 weeks of pregnancy. Breathlessness can also be caused because of anaemia so check with your LMC or specialist. Otherwise sit down or crouch until it passes. If breathlessness is accompanied by chest pain or swelling call your LMC or specialist immediately.

I am fifteen weeks pregnant and I have been advised not to sleep on my back. Why?

You can sleep on your back in early pregnancy or until you feel comfortable to do so. As the pregnancy advances you may experience a sense of faintness if you lie on your back. This is called supine hypotension. It is caused by the weight of your uterus and your baby pressing on the major blood vessels. This can be alleviated by the number of pillows you use. If you need to sleep on your side then the left side is best because it can help increase blood flow to the placenta. When sleeping on your side putting a pillow under your bump may help to make you more comfortable.

Should I wash my baby's hair everyday?

Newborn babies don't get very dirty, so you will only need to wash his/her hair once a week or so to keep it looking shiny and feeling soft.

My newborn baby is scratching himself with his sharp nails. When should I cut them?

Wait until your baby is asleep to cut his nails so he won't squirm and protest. Use special blunt baby scissors or nail clippers. When cutting the nail, follow it's natural line, leaving a small line of white showing. Get a friend or relative to show you. You can try nibbling the nail down if you are concerned of accidently harming the baby's finger with scissors or clippers.

I am 9 weeks pregnant. Can I dye my hair during pregnancy?

There is no evidence to indicate with certainty that colouring your hair can be harmful to your baby. As major development is taking place in the first twelve weeks of pregnancy some women feel comfortable not to dye their hair till they are past twelve weeks. If you use semi permanent or permanent dye then make sure the room is well ventilated, that you wear gloves and not leave the dye on for too long. Henna is semi permanent and a good alternative as it is made from vegetable dye. It does have a distinct smell which you may need to get used to.

Can I use a spa or hot sauna while I am pregnant?

To get information on this visit the webpage: Hot Baths/ Sauna in Pregnancy

I have fibriods and I have just found out I am pregnant. Can fibriods cause a problem in pregnancy?

Most fibriods don't cause a problem in pregnancy however it depends on how big they are and where they are located. Large fibriods can affect the way your baby lies in the uterus (womb) and this can affect the type of birth you have. Sometimes fibriods can cause pain during pregnancy. Large fibriods can also increase the risk of bleeding after the birth as it stops the uterus contracting efficiently.

You may be advised to have scans during pregnancy to check the size and location of fibriods.

Which bra should I buy now that I am 23 weeks pregnant?

During pregnancy expect to increase about a cup size and a rib size, so from a 34A to 36B. The underwired bras can be uncomfortable in pregnancy while the breasts are tender. The soft-cup style are more comfortable and may have enough give to span two sizes. If you are buying bras for breast feeding it is important to shop for this during your last month when you will be close to the size you will be after your baby is born.

When the milk comes in a few days after the baby's birth you are likely to go up another cup size. Therefore buy a bra that has room to accomodate larger breasts and breast pads. If you are a "B" cup then buy a "C" cup. Fit your rib size on the loosest hook as then you can move in when the breasts size goes down. For breast size to go down usually takes about ten to twelve weeks following the birth of the baby. Try not to get underwired bras as they compress the milk ducts and ensure the bra gives full access to the breast.

I am breast feeding my three week old baby. I notice that I get pain in my breast when I am breast feeding at night. Is this common or am I doing something wrong?

Poor latching is the most common cause of breast pain during feeding. As it seems to happen at night it may be that you are tired or sleepy and this may affect the baby's latch on the breast. Breast feeding is not supposed to hurt and when it does there is usually something wrong. Take the baby off the breast and relatch and see if it improves. Even a short time of initial pain can cause nipple damage and decrease milk production. If the pain is still persistant talk with your LMC, lactation consultant or breast feeding support group.

If you have any questions that hasn't been answered on this page you can email them to me. The email link is in the main menu