Ask The Doctor – The Answers

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Miscarriage, positive pregnancy test?

Hi. I had a chemical miscarriage at 5.5 weeks. I did a pregnancy test last week (4weeks to the day I had a miscarriage) and it was positive. Does it mean I am pregnant or should I wait a couple more weeks. How long does it take for the HCG hormone to leave your body? What are the chances of a recurrent miscarriage?   It may take up to 6 weeks for HCG to leave your body after a normal pregnancy but less than that after an early miscarriage. Could you be pregnant again? Recurrence of miscarriage is no more […]

UTI – need antibiotics, worried for safety of baby

I had my first appointment with a midwife last week where I gave a urine sample-there was some traces of blood unit so they sent it off for tests. I called today and gave been told I’ve got a UTI- I am terrified of the effect this may have on baby and need for anti-biotics- please advise. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are surprisingly common in pregnancy, due to the way that the kidneys and bladder respond to the hormone and physical changes of pregnancy It is not unusual for infections in the bladder to be discovered on routine testing without […]

Can I use an “intimate” wash when pregnant?

What intimate wash to use in pregnancy? I have recurring infections as one doctor told me to stop using Femrfresh. Femfresh is safe in pregnancy but has no particular benefits ( pregnant or not) If you have an offensive discharge then please see your doctor or midwife and ask to have a swab taken to see if there is any infection Vaginal douching is not recommend in pregnancy

Astigmatism – can I give birth naturally?

My left eyesight is quite bad, I think I have 4.5 diopter on my left eye and astigmatism. I heard this means I would not be able to give birth naturally as it is too much pressure. Is this true and if yes, what would I need to do for NHS to accept that? On the information you have given there appears to be no reason why you should not be able to have a normally managed labour and delivery Astigmatism is not in my experience an indication for avoiding labour or pushing Unless your Opthalmologist has advised against it […]

Scared about alcohol consumed during first trimester

I hope this doesn’t sound too ridiculous but I ate a beef stew cooked with beer this evening without really thinking and had assumed that all the alcohol is driven off in cooking.  Later on I suddenly started questioning my assumption and have worked myself into an anxiety state over it.  The stew was probably cooked for at least one and a half hours and contained I think roughly 750ml Speckled Hen (roughly 5% vol?).  It was cooked in a large casserole on the hob with the lid on and I would have eaten less than half of it.  Please can you […]