Be flexible: It is common for mums to struggle with coming to terms with what they planned versus what reality serves up. For example, you may have planned to return to work in 3 months yet circumstances change when bub arrives. Don’t believe the hype: The media portrays a romanticised version of motherhood: Understand
Whether the temperatures are warm and balmy or you need to bundle up to head outdoors, it's always nice to get a little exercise and enjoy the fresh air, regardless of the time of year. But if you're looking for something a little more interesting than taking the same walk around the block with
Thalassaemia is the most common inherited blood disorder in the world and it affects the production of haemoglobin, resulting in severe anaemia in those affected. The red blood cells of a person with Thalassaemia only survive a few weeks instead of four months. That's why they require ongoing blood transfusions and treatments to remove
Women having twins are more likely to suffer certain pregnancy complications than women who have only one baby. High blood pressure of pregnancy is one of these complications and it tends to be worse in identical-twin pregnancies. In order to detect this early, we need to monitor the woman’s blood pressure. Testing the urine
“Don't give up trying to find your way. But do remember that sometimes it takes bending to avoid breaking” (Katinka Hesselink). In my last Presidents Report I wrote about being in the back of the proverbial car moving towards our destination calling out, are we there yet? On November 1st 2010 we reached one
From the Australian College of Midwives Presidents report September 2010 Are we there yet? That phrase seems to hum along in the back of my mind a lot these days. This inevitably conjures up memories from my childhood of sitting in the back of a car full of hot, bored siblings; elbows digging into
Hyperemisis Gravidarum HG is characterised by persistent vomiting and severe nausea. The woman suffering from HG is unable to maintain adequate hydration and fluid, which will jeopardise her electrolyte and nutritional status. Dehydration, ketonuria, electrolyte imbalance and a body weight loss of greater than 5% of pre-pregnancy weight characterise HG. Onset is always in
Tina Cassidy, a former Boston Globe reporter and editor, has taken a refreshingly new approach to an old and much-written story – the history of childbirth. From pre-history to modern-day times, this book is an amazing read. Tina Cassidy combines sociology, anthropology, archeology, evolution and history together in a delightfully informative concoction. Cassidy became
For many women, urinary incontinence is a clear problem without a clear cause or solution. The fact that one in three women who have ever had a baby wet themselves indicates the extent of this problem. Urinary incontinence is distressing and embarrassing and can impact significantly on women’s lives. The silence that surrounds urinary
For me labour was definitely not what I was expecting. In the weeks leading up I did what most expectant mothers did, I read every source I could on labour and birth so I could be prepared as possible. My husband had a fairly good idea of when the baby was conceived so I
