Pregnancy Clinic
Did your pregnancy dreams include visions of a neat rounded belly, and little kicks that made your heart flutter? While it's true that pregnancy has its share of wonderful moments and experiences to cherish, it also has a raft of less than fabulous pregnancy symptoms - including many you'd rather not discuss in public and many you'd probably like to forget (which you will, by the way, since forgetfulness is another symptom).
There are pregnancy symptoms you expected (like morning sickness – which also arrives in the evening) and symptoms you almost definitely didn't (like constipation, nosebleeds and bleeding gums). It's probably reassuring to know that you're not alone suffering these ailments - you're actually joining millions of other expectant women who are also wading their way through a different selection of pregnancy complaints. But it also helps to have some tried and true remedies at your (swollen) fingertips that will allow you to navigate around the majority of pregnancy grumbles.
Pregnancy Health
All about pregnancy scans The majority of scans are performed by an sonographer using an ultrasound scanner.
Pregnancy Health
Diet for Pregnancy - 10 essential recommendations
Pregnancy is a great time for eating and drinking
Pregnancy Health
Having sex during pregnancy
Unless there is an overriding medical concern when...
Labour & Birth
Packing your hospital bag
Many women pack their bag weeks in advance, then i...
Parties & Celebrations
Announcing the birth
When you have given birth you can’t wait to ...
Professional care
Choosing a doula
For couples who want to find continuity of care within a less formal medical setting, a doula is a great option. Rather than being a practitioner who cares for the mother to be and her baby, a doula guides the woman (or couple) through pregnancy so she can care for herself, continuing that support during the birth and into the early weeks of parenthood.
Labour & Birth
Labour: what to expect
Labour on average lasts around 12 to 15 hours, but this can be much longer or shorter. It tends to be longer with a first baby but no two women are the same, so trying to compare your expectations with the experiences of others won’t necessarily help.
At certain stages pain relief or other procedures may take your birth experience in a different direction, but the outline below helps you understand the key stages of labour.
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