Ask The Doctor – The Answers

Missed Miscarriage – Have I got retained products?

I was pregnant with my second child and at the 12 week scan I was informed I’d had a missed miscarriage. The baby’s heart had stopped beating around 9 weeks and the sac and foetus was small.  Perhaps interesting i’d done a test that morning as I’d been bleeding and was worried and it said I was pregnant but only by 2-3 weeks. I was bleeding lightly (mostly brown) so they suggested I let things happen naturally.  It’s been 2 weeks now and I’m hardly bleeding at all anymore. It got a little bit stronger but it’s been light bleeding […]

Pregnant and Anaemic, Can I Fly?

I’m 20 weeks pregnant, and receiving treatment for b12 and iron anaemia. While the treatment is helping, I’m still dizzy a lot, exhausted, and getting pins and needles. We are due to fly next week, but I’m not sure whether it’s safe/recommended while anaemic?  Without any further details , it’s difficult to comment . Anaemia itself should not add to the slight risks involved. Depends of course, on the level of anaemia and the duration of the flight If it’s a short haul ( less than 4 hrs), then you should be fine. If in doubt then ask your doctor, […]

Exposed to Cytomegalovirus- what can I do?

I think there is a risk I might have been exposed to cytomegalovirus but am unsure whether it is worth getting tested as apparently there is nothing that could be done even if you tested positive.  Is this is correct? Also, since I have been concerned about the risk of contracting cytomegalovirus and have read about it, I have questioned whether it is a good idea to swim in public swimming pools since it sounded like this is the kind of infection that could be passed on in this way. Please can you let me know on balance what the […]

Can a minor Prolapse be Reversed? Can I have another Baby?

I had a minor prolapse after my first child.  Please can you tell me if this can be reversed and if I will be able to have another baby? Minor prolapse is very common and there  should be no concern about fertility or miscarriage.  Delivery of the second baby is likely to be easy.  For most women it is the first delivery that causes most of the problems and subsequent deliveries rarely cause any further prolapse. It is not what it looks like, but how it works! For more information on Prolapse, please see this link.

Second Babies Can be QUICK!!

If you read the papers yesterday,you may have come across a great story about an actress who delivered on Hollywood Road, on the way to the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. What was interesting was that she lived very near the hospital and was less than one minute away when she delivered on her mother’s Burberry coat ! Thankfully all went well , and mother and baby were back home after 10 hours. All that hard labour, uncertainty, false alarms, endless phone calls , and no sleep for three nights, is , more often than not , repaid in a spectacular way […]

Chewing Gum after a Caesarean Section!

Yes it’s true. Chewing gum after your Caesarean section is good for you, and your bowels! It helps you pass wind earlier, open your bowels sooner, and even shortens your stay in hospital. A recently published report from China, published in the reputable British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, has shown significant benefits associated with early gum chewing, in women who had a C section for delivery. The study summarised the results of six studies, performed over the last 5 years, in Egypt, Turkey, The Philippines, Iran, Thailand and China. Compared with controls who had no gum , the gum […]

Breast and Bottle Feeding Advice with Charlotte Young IBCLC

Breast and Bottle Feeding Advice with Charlotte Young IBCLC http://milkmatters.org.uk/ http://www.analyticalarmadillo.co.uk/ 1) Is it safe to have a glass of wine whilst I am breastfeeding?  A glass is usually considered fine. It’s estimated < 2% of the alcohol reaches BM – so to transfer significant amounts, you would be too drunk to look after a baby (however they’re fed). Lots more info & link to a detailed article on my blog here:http://www.analyticalarmadillo.co.uk/…/breastfeeding… … 2) I have been told that chilli and garlic can affect the taste of breastmilk and affect the baby’s tummy, but my inlaws are Indian and we eat a […]

Coeliac Disease – Trying to Conceive

We are getting married soon and hope to start a family. I am a Coeliac. I read somewhere a while ago that Coeliac’s should take a much higher dose of Folic Acid, instead of the usual pre pregnancy OTC dose. Is this true? If so, would I need to get a prescription from my GP? There are no extra risks to you or your baby because of your gluten intolerance. The only issue is that you will not be able to eat conventional bread which is often enriched with extra folic acid Prenatal vitamins in the form of OTC folic […]

Toxoplasmosis scare – 16 Weeks Pregnant

I am 16 weeks pregnant and am concerned about a salad I ate about 4 days ago. The salad was a pre-prepared one made by a reputable (I would have thought!) catering company. I was a bit worried about whether it was the ideal choice but told myself I was being over anxious and there really was nothing else available to eat. I’d eaten most of the salad when I noticed that one of the leaves had some dirt on it. I didn’t eat any more of it at this point but have been worrying about it ever since in […]

How long should we wait before trying for a second baby?

  What is the correct interval between pregnancies? Traditional advice has been to wait at least a year before conceiving again , suggesting an actual birth interval of at least 18- 24 months as the ideal.  Often the ” fourth trimester”  takes longer than most women expected and the physical , psychological and social adaptations to childbirth can be considerable.  It has generally been acknowledged that a short birth interval of less than 18 months was not advisable because of increased problems during the pregnancy.  But the precise extra risks were, until recently, rather non-specific and uncertain. Recent studies have […]