Articles

Pregnancy and Teeth- By Dr James Invest

Gum problems   The hormone levels in your body change while you are pregnant and this can cause the gums to swell, become tender and bleed, this condition is known as “pregnancy gingivitis”. Because of this it is important to keep your teeth and gums clean and visit your dentist regularly.  It is recommended that you also see a dental hygienist for thorough cleaning and polishing of your teeth, which will reduce or prevent pregnancy gingivitis. Pregnancy tumours or pregnancy epulis In some women overgrowths of tissue appear on the gums, most often during the second trimester.  These are non-cancerous […]

PCOS and Miscarriage

My partner and i were trying to conceive for nearly a year. Sadly we miscarried at 5 1/2 weekes. i was diagnosed with PCOS a year back could the miscarriage be due to this? We would like to start trying again but very scared to do so incase we lose our baby again! Does having PCOS mean multiple miscarriages? Most early miscarriages are due to random and unpredictable chromosomal problems which are essentially non viable pregnancies.  Although PCOS is sometimes associated with difficulty getting pregnant and a slight increase in miscarriage , nature is still very much on your side. […]

Sex in Late Pregnancy

Sex in Late Pregnancy – What’s Your Position? Our Article for Sheknows.co.uk  

2 Vessel Umbilical Cord and Reduced Fluid

My amniotic fluid seem reduced according to the sonographer which concerned me but then I read on my 20 week scan report that baby has a 2 vessel umbilical cord too! Are the two connected? All organs have been checked and seem ok but having read up on the 2 vessel cord, it had worried me greatly! Any info/advice will be gratefully received! Having 2 vessels in the umbilical cord, rather than 3, can increase the chances of abnormalities in the baby, both structural and chromosomal. The important first step is to have a detailed and expert scan after the […]

Eating my placenta?

I have recently started reading about having my placenta made into capsules following the birth, to be taken by me and that the benefits for the mother’s mood, energy levels and milk supply are really high. I just wondered what the medical viewpoint is on this to help me make an informed choice and whether you’ve had any experience or feedback?   This is a practice that is undergoing a small revival in Western Countries.  After a long and detailed search, we can only find one useful article/study on this subject and we have concluded that there is no evidence […]

Perineal Massage – does it work?

Perineal Massage – Will it reduce the risk of cuts or tears? Perineal massage is something that has become more “fashionable” over the years – with more and more women being advised to massage their Perineum with certain oils (such as Almond oil or Olive oil) from about 35 weeks.  What many women want to know, before they embark upon this “challenge” (which indeed it can be at 35 weeks pregnant!), is, “Will it reduce my risk of tearing?”. There have been a few studies recently which would seem to suggest that it can be useful in helping to prevent […]

I Wet myself when I sneeze or cough! Help!

I am 24 weeks pregnant and every time I sneeze or cough I wet myself. What can I do?  This is called stress incontinence and is quite common in the middle part of pregnancy. It is quite likely to improve later in the pregnancy, particularly if the head engages. You may find some improvement from doing your pelvic floor exercises. In fact we recommend that all pregnant women do them throughout their pregnancy and not just afterwards. It remains to be seen whether you will have problems in the postnatal period or not. It may take a full 3 months for […]

Breech Baby at 30 weeks – what can I do?

My baby is in the breech position at 30 weeks, is there anything I can do to persuade him to move?! This is quite normal at this stage and is of no significance medically. At 30 weeks 10-20% of babies may be in this position and a majority will turn spontaneously without any persuasion. If however, the baby remains in the breech position at 36 weeks (as 5% do) then a scan may be done to confirm the position and to investigate the cause if any. At this later stage, if the baby is still breech your midwife/doctor will talk to […]

Going Overdue? Can I avoid it?

My mum went overdue with all of us an she says I probably will. Is it genetic? (she didn’t get many stretch marks and I don’t have any either) or will I just because it s my first and its more common?  Also if I do go overdue I’m confused at all the old wives tales about what to eat and do to get the baby to come. pineapple and walks and Guinness haha! What actually works? Most professionals seem to agree that the stretch mark issue is probably genetic,  but going over due is usually random.  Your midwife will […]

Scared of Giving Birth. Can I request a Caesarean?

I’m 24+3 and I’m really scared of giving birth. I want to ask for an elective c-section, is it possible on the NHS? It is important that try to explore the reasons behind this fear. Are you afraid of the pain of labour? Are you concerned that you will not get good care? Are you worried about the unpredictability of labor and not feeling in control? Or is there a family history of bad experiences in labour? We suggest you talk to your midwife/doctor who can refer you to a counsellor to talk through your fears. If he or she […]