All posts by admin

Can I reduce my chances of getting pre-eclampsia again?

I had pre-eclampsia with my last pregnancy and I was induced at 36 weeks. I’m now 30 weeks into my 2nd pregnancy and so far I’ve no signs of pre-eclampsia which is great although I’m aware I have a 1 in 8 chance of it happening again. I wondered if there were any tips you could share for anything I can do to improve my chances of not having it this time around? As so far I’ve not come across any. The midwives have basically said I have to wait and see. I’m taking an Asprin a day, not drinking […]

19 weeks pregnant, terrible swelling/fluid retention

I’m 19 weeks pregnant and for the past 3 weeks i’ve had awful water retention. My legs go up by 3-4cm by the end of the day.  I wake up in the morning with stiff fingers and wrists. I’m concerned because i’m told that it’s too early for such bad retention. I drink 1.5 litres of water a day and I try and exercise daily, usually by walking. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn’t. Should I be worried? Thanks. At least half of pregnant women get fluid retention or oedema. It’s particularly common in the first pregnancy and most noticeable […]

Will my second labour be easier?

  I delivered a healthy baby boy at in Sept 2011 at 38 weeks via a C-section (due to failure to progress). I am now pregnant again due to deliver end of October. I understand every pregnancy & Labour is different, however I’ve heard that labour with second baby is always easier, is this a myth? Also because I had a C-section last time does it mean my chances of having a natural birth are slim?   The most common reason for failure to progress in the first labour is due to an unfavourable position of the baby combined with […]

Two grandsons for the Doctor!

The doctor’s two daughters have produced two baby boys in they past few weeks! Rebecca gave birth to Augustus (Gus) on February 24th (6lb 11oz) Sophie gave birth to Oswald (Ossie) yesterday, April 25th (7lb  8oz) , even more special as it is his big sister’s birthday! Photos to follow….    

Having sex with 2 different men – can this affect chances of getting pregnant?

I’m seeing a woman who is in another relationship. I have been tested for STIs and am clean, we don’t use condoms to maximise sensations, and I can’t have babies anymore do there are no risks. I am infertile due to sterilisation her other partner is fertile, she wants to try for baby with him but still wants to carry on seeing me, if we have intercourse will this effect her ability to fall pregnant? Based on the information provided and assuming that she is your only sexual contact , then the risk to your partner is in theory minimal […]

Cone biopsy, loop diathermy – premature labour?

I have had a cone biopsy and my cervix measures 3cm. Do I need to be concerned about premature labour. I am now 28 weeks should I stop exercising and is there other measures I should take? A cervical length of 3 cms is normal and,  by itself , is not a risk factor for preterm labour . You have reached 28 weeks , so have already missed an extremely premature birth. Even if you delivered tomorrow, your baby would have more than a 90% chance of a healthy survival Cone biopsy is rarely performed . Its much more likely […]

Strange period- ovulating or pregnant?

I had a weird period that started Wednesday lunch time no pain light had to use tampon through night lasted 7.30hrs then changed 2hrs later then 1.30hr later then 3-4 hrs then lasted through the night again next day 3hrs change then 7.30 hrs then just pad through the night and spotting on sat but no pain my breasts have hurt and tingling still moody and very emotional I just don’t know what’s happen. When should I take another pregnancy test? Or could I now be ovulating early? I am so sorry, but I really cannot comment on this.  Please […]

Pre-eclampsia with first pregnancy – what are the chances of me getting it again?

I had pre-eclampsia with my last pregnancy and I was induced at 36 weeks. I’m now 30 weeks into my 2nd pregnancy and so far I’ve no signs of pre-eclampsia which is great although I’m aware I have a 1 in 8 chance of it happening again. I wondered if there were any tips you could share for anything I can do to improve my chances of not having it this time around? As so far I’ve not come across any. The midwives  have basically said I have to wait and see. I’m taking an Asprin a day, not drinking […]

What is the correct rate for Caesarean Sections?

This is probably the wrong question! Until fairly recently, Caesarean Section (CS) was a potentialy dangerous operation , associated with a high risk of complications. In the nineteenth century it was usually safer for the mother to do her own CS rather than risk a doctor performing it in hospital! Since I have been delivering babies the rate of CS has increased by 6 times , but the operation has become considerably safer. This is due to improvements in anaesthesia ,antibiotics, preventing blood clots and safer surgery. The current variation in CS rates may be explained by a number of […]

Do all pregnant women need Vitamin D?

Do all pregnant women need Vitamin D? Probably not , but yes , if you at extra risk. A recent study published in the Lancet has looked the relationship between Vitamin D levels in blood during pregnancy and Bone Mineral Content (BMC) in their children 10 years later. They have studied 3690 women , who were pregnant in the 1990s and correlated their vitamin D levels at all stages in pregnancy with their child’s BMC . They found no significant correlation. They did , however find higher levels in the summer months and lower levels in smokers and non-white mothers. […]