Pregnancy

Healthy teeth, healthy mothers, healthy babies
During pregnancy women need to take extra care of their teeth and gums. The changes in their hormones can make women’s gums more susceptible to disease. These hormones can cause gums to become inflamed and bleed. A good routine of dental care, that involves brushing and flossing every day, can help to keep your gums healthy.

Common Questions Pregnant Women Ask
Women ask many different questions throughout their pregnancies, but there are some questions that seem more common. Here are the three questions Dr Hannah Dahlen is asked most often.

Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy
Nausea and vomiting affect 50-90% of pregnancies. Although referred to as 'morning sickness' the nausea and vomiting in pregnancy may occur throughout the day.

Pubic Symphysitis: A common cause of pain in pregnancy
Pubic symphysitis is one of the most common causes of pain in pregnancy. It can manifest as pain on one side of the lower back, pain radiating into one or both groin areas, or pain around the pubic bone.

Should pregnant and breastfeeding women take iodine supplements?
There have been reports in the media recently linking a lack of iodine in pregnant and breastfeeding women’s diets to intellectual problems in their children.

Pregnancy Choices – Who do you see?
Getting pregnant was the easy part – now what? Who do you see? Where do you go for your care? How do you find out what is available out there and most important of all, what is the best form of care for you.

Eating Fish During Pregnancy
Fish is a highly nutritious food and an excellent source of protein, vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin D, Iodine and the omega-3 fatty acids. All these nutrients provide important health benefits to you and your baby when you are pregnant or breastfeeding .

Prenatal Diagnosis Support
Stephanie recounts her story as a mother expecting a child with a fatal condition (Potter's Syndrome). Stephanie shares her journey to help families in a similar situation, and offers them practical support.

A Nine-Month Miracle
From the chaotic stampede of sperm towards the gently rolling ovum, to the amazing growth, development and birth of a tiny, yet perfect human, we indeed witness an awesome miracle. Life begins as union of chance and emerges as a masterpiece.

Understanding Anaemia in Pregnancy
By far the most common blood related problem pregnant women face is anaemia. Anaemia occurs when there is a lack of red blood cells due to a reduction in their production or an increase in their loss. 

Ectopic pregnancy
Any pregnancy that occurs outside of the uterus is called an ectopic pregnancy. The most common site for an ectopic pregnancy is in one of the fallopian tubes that lead from the ovary to the uterus.

Talking to your employer about Paid Parental Leave
Whether you are eligible for paid parental leave through your employer, and/or the Australian Government’s Paid Parental Leave scheme, it is important that you discuss your leave intentions with your employer. Start the conversation early in pregnancy.

Chickenpox- What pregnant women need to know
Contracting chickenpox during pregnancy can be a problem for both the mother and the baby. For mothers the greatest risk comes from contracting chickenpox in the last 10-12 weeks of pregnancy.

Acupuncture Induction for Post Date Babies
In addition to its common therapeutic uses, Acupuncture has value as an artificial method of inducing post-term babies. However it is also enjoying increasing popularity as women with uncomplicated pregnancies seek to avoid conventional medical induction, the imposition of medical timeframes, and the cascade of interventions that often follows.

Understanding Miscarriage
Miscarriage affects the lives of many women and their partners and the true impact is often underestimated by health professionals, family and friends. Just because miscarriage is a relatively common event does not mean it is insignificant or that it should, or will, soon be forgotten.

Babies second time around
“When are you going to have ‘number two’? You’re not going to let her be an only child are you? Don’t you think he needs a brother or sister?” Not only are we eventually asked these questions publicly by well meaning friends and relatives, but also at some point we begin to ask these same questions of ourselves privately as parents.

Early Pregnancy Questions
The first twelve weeks of pregnancy is called the first trimester.  In early pregnancy your body goes through amazing changes to support your baby. These changes affect you both physically and emotionally.

Symptoms of Pregnancy
You may begin to suspect you are pregnant very soon after the baby is conceived or you may not have any pregnancy symptoms till much later. We’ve listed some of the most common symptoms of pregnancy.

Magic - A Belly Grows
A wonderful slide show of pregnancy - funny, quirky and fabulous. A great idea you can use to document pregnancy.

Early Pregnancy - What to Expect
Even before you’ve missed a period, you may suspect – or hope – you are pregnant. Usually, the signs of early pregnancy are obvious. Nausea, a bloated tummy, period pain-like cramps, fuller breasts, and loss of sexual desire: they’re all signs you may be pregnant.