Ask The Doctor – The Answers

Is it safe to eat tinned food?

This last week has seen an epidemic of scary articles suggesting that it may be dangerous for pregnant women to eat canned food, microwaved food, drink water from plastic bottles left in the sun , and handle cash register receipts. The alarm was raised after a meeting in Boston USA this week where some recent work on the risk of miscarriage was presented.  It presented the results of a study of 114 women , who were already known to have a history of miscarriage and / or infertlity. It found that those women who had high levels of a compound […]

41 weeks – baby not engaged, please help.

I am 41weeks with my 1st baby an appt on Thurs (41+3) to have a scan and discuss next steps – I have worked hard on my hypnobirthing to overcome pregnancy and labour fears and now it seems things are not really progressing. Head not and never been engaged and is floating high. I have concer n over head not fiiting (I have size 2 feet and am 4ft9 – husband 6ft 4) I am not keen on a C-Section due to recovery time but equally I don’t want a long induced labour only to end up with an emergency […]

I want to avoid a 2nd C Section

My baby boy will turn 2 around the time my next baby is due.  I want to avoid another C-section, can I opt for a water birth? Any tips on how to avoid another C-section? You have approximately a 75 % chance of success if you opt for a vaginal birth in this pregnancy.  The chances vary a little, depending on whether you laboured last time or whether you have already had a vaginal birth.  The best chances of success are to await a spontaneous onset of labour this time, and try and avoid an induction. Most hospitals will have special […]

Natural Birth After 3rd Degree Tear?

With my first baby, I had a long latent labour and didn’t progress so I was on an inducing drip throughout.  The baby’s head was side on so they were trying to turn him.  I had failed Ventouse and then they used forceps and the episiotomy extended and led to a 3rd degree tear (3a). I had some physiotherapy after and it took a good 6-9 months or so to get back to normal.  My body rejected the stitches and the healing felt really ‘tight’ and lumpy.  I limped for a while and still need to sometimes, it also aches […]

Mastitis at 31 weeks pregnant. Is this Common?

I was diagnosed with mastitis last weeks at 31 weeks pregnant (second baby), now successfully treated with antibiotics. Is there any link between mastitis during pregnancy and the baby arriving early? How common is it to contract mastitis during pregnancy? As far as I am aware , there is no link between mastitis and premature labour. Mastitis is not very common during pregnancy, unlike the early postnatal period , when up to 10% women may develop the condition. It’s encouraging to hear that the condition has responded well to antibiotics. Sometimes , diagnosis of breast problems in pregnancy can be […]

Can you do high swabs and smears when pregnant?

Can you do high swabs and smears when pregnant? Smears are sometimes done in pregnancy but are generally more uncomfortable for the woman and sometimes difficult to interpret If your cervix looks normal then you can relax Maybe have a smear at a later date (usually at least 6 weeks after delivery) if symptoms persist or if one is due.  

7 months pregnant, brown discharge

For the last couple of weeks I have experienced some brown discharge from my vagina. I am 7 months pregnant and overall I have suffered from a few infections, including urine infections, for which I took antibiotics. The last swab came clear but I still notice the discharge on a pantyliner, and sometimes it is more than usual. A midwife is saying not to worry, that it might be an old blood that is coming out and as long as the baby is kicking, I should be fine. No other problems, sometimes minimal itching. Thank you! It is normal to […]

31 Weeks and baby in posterior position. Can I do anything to encourage her to move?

I am 31 weeks pregnant and my baby is in a posterior position. Is there anything I can do to encourage her to spin? If she remains OP will I be able to have a natural birth or is a C section more likely / advisable? Your chances of a natural both are excellent. The position of the baby now is almost random and has no relevance at all to what may happen in 9 weeks time. Behave normally ! Good luck    

Round Ligament Pain at 29 weeks.

I hope you can help. I had awful pain yesterday on my right side of my bump near my hip. I think it was round ligament pain. The pain was so bad I cried but I lied down for a bit and it calmed down (I was also having braxton hicks). I read up today that you don’t usually get RLP in the 3rd trimester but I find that hard to believe. I suffer from pelvic girdle pain and I saw my physio yesterday morning and she commented on how strong my muscles are so if i’m growing a lot […]

41 weeks, head not engaged.

I am 41weeks with my 1st baby  and I have an appt this week (41+3) to have a scan and discuss next steps – I have worked hard on my hypnobirthing to overcome pregnancy and labour fears and now it seems things are not really progressing. Head not and never been engaged and is floating high. I have concerns over the head not fiiting (I have size 2 feet and am 4ft9 – husband 6ft 4) I am not keen on a C-Section due to recovery time but equally I don’t want a long induced labour only to end up […]