Blog Page: Page 4

Having sex after having a baby will depend very much on your birth experience and the method of infant feeding.  Very often the mode of infant feeding has a bigger impact on the return of your sex life than your mode of delivery.  Breastfeeding mothers usually find they have a low libido, their vagina may feel dry and sex will often not be top of their agenda.  If you do want to have sex, then there is no reason why you cannot, as long as everything has healed.  Make sure you use some lubricant to make it a more comfortable […]

The first few weeks after your baby’s birth can be very overwhelming.  We have put together a small but simple section designed to help you during this tough period.  If you are worried about your baby at any stage, please contact your GP or Paediatrician. Click here for more on Jaundice Click here for our To Do List Click here for more on Tests and Immunisations Click here for more on Prevention of Cot Death Click here for more information on Breastfeeding

There are 3 types of psychological problems after childbirth. “3rd day Blues” To a certain extent all women may suffer from this, especially first time mothers who have had a long drawn-out or difficult labour.  By the time the baby is born they have probably not slept for 3 nights and are suddenly expected to know how to look after a screaming baby. By the end of the 3rd day after the baby has arrived, you may be short of sleep, with a sore bottom, sore nipples, sore abdomen, with a hungover or equally sleep-deprived partner and feel overwhelmed by […]

For many women, pregnancy and the 6 months afterwards can be a uniquely stressful and emotional time, especially if it is their first pregnancy.  Traditionally most attention has been directed towards psychological problems after the pregnancy.  However, more recently it has been understood that at least 1 in 10 women may have psychological problems during pregnancy.  At least 50% of pregnancies are unplanned.  Some women are unsupported and have no extended family network.  Others may find themselves isolated and far away from friends and family or may have previous history of psychological problems.  Anxiety depression and panic attacks are therefore […]

This is something that many women worry about during their pregnancy.  However, if you are having a normal pregnancy without any complications there should be no reason why you cannot continue to have sex until your waters break.  You do not need to use a condom unless your partner has an infection.     Will it harm the baby? Having sex whilst pregnant is not linked with premature birth, miscarriage or infections, nor can you harm the baby. You may feel the baby move around more if you have an orgasm.  This is probably because an orgasm causes the uterus […]

Perineum Most women having their first vaginal birth will experience some damage to the perineum or pelvic floor.  (The Perineum is the area between your vagina and your anus with underlying muscles that support the pelvic floor).  Usually this is recognised immediately after delivery and is treated by careful repair of the vagina and deeper tissues by a midwife or obstetrician.  This is usually performed immediately after delivery using either a local anaesthetic or an epidural and is generally performed in the delivery room. Occasionally this may need to be done in an obstetric operating theatre which will allow for […]

Here are some tips that we have collected from talking to first time mothers.   Maternity Tips Staying Comfortable You do not need to waddle when you are pregnant. If you actually think about it whilst you are walking, you will find that you can walk relatively normally. If you hold your stomach muscles in and concentrate whenever you are standing you find that this forces you to straighten up and will stop you from arching your back – this can stop it aching and can make you look about 1 month less pregnant! Continue doing everything as normal until […]

At birth most babies are born in a good condition and cry strongly within the first few minutes of life.  Healthy babies can usually be put straight onto mother’s stomach, “skin-to-skin” with minimal handling.   Your midwife or doctor will usually check with you that you are happy with this to be done, if not, the baby can be cleaned and dried before it is passed to you.  Parents can watch with amazement as baby’s colour changes from blue to pink.  During this time, direction of blood in baby’s heart is changing and lungs are filling for first time.  Do not […]

Currently in this country more than 1 in 4 babies are delivered by caesarean section.  A majority of these are performed as emergency procedures rather than electively (before labour begins).  There are 4 grades or categories of Caesarean Section in this country. Grade 1 – where conditions are life- threatening to the mother or baby for example in the case of cord prolapse, uterine rupture, separation of the placenta or acute and severe fetal distress.  In this case the caesarean will be done within half an hour. This is sometimes called a “Crash Section”, and is unusual and quite dramatic. […]