Mark Twain Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint
When the baby is still relatively small, before about 32 weeks, she has room to change positions frequently. After this most babies settle into their preferred position, and it’s important to know what it is, since this can profoundly affect the birth. HEAD DOWN This is the best position for birth, and more than 95 [...]
Extra days or weeks past your due date may provide crucial extra resting time before the birth. Only 5 per cent of women deliver on their due date, with the majority giving birth a little late. The main reason for due dates rarely being accurate is because the due date is an estimated time around [...]
Here are a few meal ideas for keeping up your essential breastfeeding vitamins and minerals, healthily and deliciously. Breakfast for breastfeeding mums Fortified breakfast cereal, topped with apricots and low-fat milk. Boiled egg with wholemeal toast and low-fat margarine. Glass of orange juice and a bowl of strawberries and banana. Waffles with maple syrup and [...]
During pregnancy your increased blood flow will probably make you feel warmer than usual and, as a result, you’ll sweat more easily than you usually do, Make time for a daily, or even twice daily, bath or shower – use warm water rather than hot, as hot water will open your pores and make you [...]
It’s not unusual for your feet to swell, so you may need shoes in a larger size than usual. Some women find that their feet remain slightly larger after the birth. Whether or not you buy new shoes, always bear the following in mind: Avoid shoes with high heels – Apart from being uncomfortable, they’ll [...]
As an expectant mother, it’s vitally important to look after your breasts. Breasts themselves contain no muscles and so are supported by the muscles on the chest wall. Unsupported or badly supported breasts are more likely to develop stretchmarks or to sag, so even if you have never felt the need for a bra before, [...]
There’s no need to change your image just because you’re pregnant – if you didn’t like flowery prints or big bows before, why should you now? Equally, if you didn’t flaunt your figure before, pregnancy may not be the best time to start. Long, loose tops and dresses will drape your bump gracefully, while tracksuits [...]
In recent years, glossy images of sexy, heavily pregnant celebrities have turned pregnancy into a fashion statement. This glamour and chic has filtered down to the woman on the street, so, from a fashion point of view, there has never been a better time to be pregnant. You may feel the urge to buy a [...]
When it comes to giving birth, an upright position is best, as it enlists the aid of gravity to help to push your baby out. You may want to stick to one position or try a few out; do whatever makes you feel most comfortable. There’s a variety of positions in which you can give [...]
Recent years have seen a move away from hospital births with pain relief, and women now have greater choice about the circumstances in which they gave birth. NATURAL BIRTH Those who favour giving birth without drugs believe that birth is a natural, healthy process, which women’s bodies are equipped to deal with on their own. [...]