What should I do if I suspect I am pregnant?

The first thing most women do is run out and buy a home pregnancy testing kit. A pregnancy test checks your blood or urine for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) a hormone that is produced only in pregnancy.

If you use two tests you will have a higher rate of accuracy than using only one. Although today's do-it-yourself pregnancy tests are advanced, a laboratory test will still be more accurate. It is a good idea to make an appointment with your doctor so that the pregnancy can be confirmed by ultrasound and you can discuss your concerns and the lifestyle changes you would need to consider to ensure the safety of your baby.

The minute you suspect you are pregnant you should begin prenatal care and avoid things in your environment that could be hazardous to the baby. You should be eating a healthy diet while avoiding foods that could prove harmful. You should maintain or modify your exercise routine taking into account your pregnancy.

Early pregnancy symptoms include:
* Positive pregnancy test
* Missed menstrual period
* Breast changes
* Fullness, bloating or an ache in the lower abdomen
* Fatigue and drowsiness
* Feeling faint
* Nausea
* Vomiting
* Frequent urination
* Increased vaginal secretions

Some women experience one or more of these symptoms while others experience few symptoms, if any. Every pregnancy is different and every experience of pregnancy is different.

Kerry

Am I at risk for Swine Flu?

The H1N1 virus is becoming quite widespread in South Africa as it is worldwide.

As a pregnant women the virus is more of a concern. A pregnant woman's immune system is not going to function as effectively against the virus. Particularly in the last trimester of pregnancy (27-40 weeks). Children under five are also considered a risk category.

As a pregnant woman, if you have any of the following symptoms, contact your healthcare provider:

* Fever (not always present)
* Cough
* Runny or stuffy nose
* Sore throat
* Body aches
* Headache
* Fatigue or tiredness
* Diarrhoea or vomiting (not always present)
* Loss of appetite

More serious symptoms include:
* Rapid breathing or trouble breathing
* Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
* Severe or persistent vomiting
* Sudden dizziness
* Confusion
* Regular flu symptoms that subside but then reappear with fever and a persistent cough

Please be careful mommies.

The first list of symptoms also applies to children.

The more serious list of symptoms for children includes:

* Rapid breathing or trouble breathing
* Bluish or gray skin
* Not drinking enough fluid
* Severe or persistent vomiting
* Not waking or interacting
* Irritability: won't be held or hugged
* Flu symptoms that improve but then return with a fever and a worse cough.

Again, contact your healthcare provider who will be able to advise you on what to do.

Also, be aware that there are risks associated with treating small children with the antiviral Tamiflu. There are side effects that you will want to discuss with your healthcare provider. These include nightmares and nausea, among other things.

Kerry

Is it normal to have strange dreams in pregnancy?

There are so many things about pregnancy that people don't tell you! Dreams in pregnancy are certainly more vivid.

Some of these dreams one would expect a woman to experience during pregnancy because of the apprehension she may be feeling about the birth or parenthood.These would include having an abnormal infant, getting home with the baby to an unfinished nursery, leaving the baby in a supermarket and other similar themes.

Other dreams are more surprising. Women have dreams of being attacked, of being shut in a confined space, and drowning. By far the most surprising for most women is the sexual encounter dreams which are also completely normal.

It is important not to let yourself feel any form of guilt, panic or fear regarding these dreams. They are merely fantasies which you certainly cannot control.

Many of the dreams of pregnancy are more uplifting in their anticipation of the birth of a unique and beautiful human being. These are the dreams you would want to focus on. Let their positivity fill you with happiness and peace and try not to be too anxious about the impending birth and motherhood.

Kerry

How do I Deal with Morning Sickness?

There are many discomforts that women may have to deal with in pregnancy. With approximately 50-75% of women experiencing it, morning sickness is very prevalent. Morning sickness is a misleading way to describe the nausea and vomiting experienced by pregnant women as these symptoms are not merely confined to the early hours of the day, but may be experienced at any time of the day or night.

The exact cause of morning sickness remains a mystery but it is widely considered to be the result of hormonal, physiological and neurological factors.

It can strike anytime from about 5 weeks of pregnancy and usually continues until about week sixteen of pregnancy, although some women have the misfortune of being plagued right up until after their baby's birth.

To prevent morning sickness you could try some of the following:

• Minimise your exposure to smells to which you may be sensitive. These may include cigarette smoke, meat being cooked, even your partner's cologne!
• Decrease or (preferably) stop smoking.
• Eat at the first sign of hunger.
• Eat a piece of toast, a dry biscuit or have small sips of a hot drink before you climb out of bed in the morning.
• Eat frequent, small meals instead of three main meals. Allowing sugar levels to drop too low will exacerbate morning sickness.
• Eat low fat protein and carbohydrate-rich foods.
• Avoid foods that are high in fat or that are fried and greasy.
• Lemonade, ginger ale or other carbonated (caffeine free) beverages have been reported to ease morning sickness.
• Ginger capsules and ginger root tea have also been known to reduce morning sickness. It is important to remember though, that this is one of the many herbal treatments of which safety in pregnancy has not been established.

In my second pregnancy I was told that a particular brand of antacid tablet would ease the morning sickness. It didn't, but for the woman who recommended it, it was a great help. What works for one woman may not necessarily work for another.

Let me know if you have any other suggestions that may be helpful to preggie mums.

Kerry

Hello World

Hello World!

I am a Certified Childbirth Educator and Perinatal Fitness Instructor. I teach antenatal classes and fitness classes to preggie mums. I also assist with breastfeeding support and postpartum care for the new baby and the rest of the family as they adjust to their new roles. I am incredibly blessed to have a job that allows me to connect with parents in such a personal way at such a beautiful time of their lives.

I am hoping to use my blog as a platform to share some of the knowledge I have, and to hopefully help mums with their care and concerns during the childbearing year. A time that is so intimate and beautiful but also a time that can be confusing. I hope mums will find my blog a place of compassion and a source of useful information.

Looking forward to meeting you all in "blogland"!

Kerry