Planning Antenatal Classes

Location:

• Waiting room
• Any available room where a couple can sit together and practice certain exercises

Instructors:

• Supervision of Gynecologist is mandatory
• Midwife/Nurses should be available as attendant
• Nutritionist, Dieticians, physiotherapist may attend and take sessions on Nutrition & exercise respectively

Contents:

Because the best time is before...

• Urine pregnancy test can be positive on the first day of your missed period
• You may experience cravings, morning sickness, fatigue, frequent urination

The tests

• Seek an appointment with your doctor to confirm a normal pregnancy after a urine pregnancy test is positive
• Discuss various tests that need to be done at this stage
  1. Hb/BG/HIV/HBSAg/VDRL/Blood sugar/TSH/Urine examination
  2. First USG for confirming a live baby
  3. Next USG at 11-14 weeks (for any abnormality in the baby)
  4. Double marker test to rule out abnormality

Inform your doctor if you have:

Report immediately if there is :

• Bleeding from the vagina
• Excessive discharge from the vagina
• Excessive lower abdominal pain or abdominal cramps
• Dizziness
• Excessive vomiting
• Fever with or without a rash

• Baby is now completely formed
• There is increased fatigue
• There might a tightening of uterus from time to time without actual pains(Braxton Hicks Contractions)
• Sleeping becomes difficult
• There is a little relief after 36 weeks when the baby goes down into pelvis and you can breathe easy (Lightening)

The tests

• Good idea to repeat a hemoglobin at this stage (32 weeks) to see if any correction needed
• Ultrasound needed if there is doubt about the growth of the baby
• A routine USG to look for the growth and weight of baby at 32-34 weeks may be offered by some

• Your antenatal visits would be more frequent (every 2 weeks after 34 weeks )
• Your doctor would measure BP and urine for proteins at each visit
• You would be examined for anemia or any swelling in the feet
• Your doctor would measure the size of the uterus with or without a tape

• If you are Rh negative and your ICT has been negative , now is the time to take Anti D Injections
• You continue taking iron and calcium supplements
• Wear comfortable shoes. Try resting with feet up to avoid swelling

• Discuss plans for labor and deliver:
  • Route of delivery
  • Place of delivery
  • Delivery companion
• Gather information on:
  • Feeding / caring for the baby
  • Newborn tests
  • Baby blues/ post partum depression

• What if I don’t go into labor?
• Till when should I wait for labor to happen?
• Can my pregnancy be electively terminated; When would that happen (Induction)?
• What are my chances of having a normal versus a caesarean deliver?

• Intermittent pain starting from back coming to the front of the lower abdomen with tightening of the uterus
• Bleeding from the vagina
• Rupture of the bag of membranes with sudden gush of watery fluid
• Thick sticky discharge from vagina
• Decreased perception of fetal movement

As your third trimester starts, your attention starts shifting from pregnancy care to how your delivery will take place. There is a lot you can do to prepare yourself for birth.

Build up your stamina. Make sure you continue a gentle form of exercise, such as walking every day for at least half an hour. If the weather is hot, choose a time of the day when the sun is not shining strong, such as early morning or at dusk. Make sure you always carry water with you and sit as often as you feel like.

Massaging the vagina and perineal area in the last weeks of pregnancy, (from about 34 weeks onwards) has shown to help the vagina stretch during birth. This might reduce the need for an episiotomy.

By the time you are about 36 weeks pregnant, you should pack your hospital bag. Once you are full term, at 37 weeks, your baby can be born at any time. In your hospital bag, you'll need a few items for the days you will spend in the hospital and a few essentials for your newborn's first days.

• Copies of your medical records
• Slippers
• The hospital might have a gown they want you to wear instead of your home clothes once you get admitted
• An old nightdress or a comfortable sleep shirt/Tshirt to wear during labour
• Massage oil or lotion if you would like to be massaged during your labour
• Lip balm
• Pictures of someone or something you love. They could be the inspiration you need to see through to the end
• An elastic band or hair clip. You might want your hair tied up or pulled back during labour
• Things to help you relax or pass the time, such as music, books, magazines

• A stole or dupatta to cover yourself while breastfeeding
• Breast pads to soak up any leaking milk
• A going-home outfit. It will take a while for your tummy to go down, so you'll still need your maternity clothes for the first few weeks after birth.
• Front-opening ones (feeding gowns) are useful for breastfeeding
• Panties. Don't bring your best ones as they will get messy. Choose ones with a high elastic band so that if you end up having a caesarean, the band doesn’t lie on or near your wound
• Toiletries (hairbrush, soap, shampoo, deodorant, tooth brush, tooth paste and face wash, towel)
• Any medication you are on
• Maternity/sanitary pads

• A couple of baby outfits that are suited to the season (cotton jhablas, rompers sleep suits, T-shirts, shorts or leggings, will all work well
• Muslin or soft cotton cloths to clean up vomit or spills during breastfeeding sessions
• Blankets, socks, booties, caps
• Innerwear such as onesies or vests. Jumpers for winter babies.
• Nappies - your baby will pass urine at least 12 times in 24 hours and may pass bowel movements several times a day
• Baby wipes, Toiletries (baby soap, shampoo, hairbrush, nail clippers, towel)
• Waterproof sheet protector or rubber under sheet to keep the bed from getting wet with spit-up, pee or breastmilk
• Soft cotton sheets for your baby to sleep on, A changing mat

• About a month before your due date, or if this is your second baby, closer to your delivery, your baby's head moves down into the pelvis in preparation of birth. This is known as engagement or lightening.
• You may feel like you suddenly have more space for your lungs and stomach, but you may also feel your baby's head very low down. This can put a lot of pressure on your bladder, so you might be making more frequent trips to the loo.
• As you approach your due date, you might start getting contractions. These are practice contractions that can be painful, or they may just feel like your whole tummy is turning into a hard ball for a few seconds at a time.

• Once you reach the hospital for your delivery, your doctor will check you. If you are in labour, she will want to know how far your labour has advanced. She will judge this by how far apart your contractions are, and how much your cervix has dilated. She will also feel your stomach for the position of your baby.
• Most babies are in a head down position by the time you reach full term, but some babies stay head up and bottom down – a position known as breech. If you have a breech baby, or if your baby is laying sideways, also known as a transverse position, your doctor will suggest a caesarean delivery.

• Once your doctor has done a standard check, in most hospitals, the nurses will do an enema. An enema is a procedure by which the contents of your large intestine are washed out. It can be quite uncomfortable because a catheter is inserted into your anus. An enema is done, so that you do not pass stool as your baby comes out.
• The nurses will then shave your private parts. If you are going in for a caesarean, they will shave from your belly button down. If it looks like your labour may take a while, your doctor might suggest that you walk around the room. Walking and moving around can help to shorten labour.

• Make sure you walk with someone, so that you have support when a contraction starts. If you cannot walk around, ensure that you sit as upright as possible in your bed. Or you can kneel on the floor and lean forward onto a chair or sofa in the room. Being upright means that gravity helps your baby move down with each contraction.
• Your doctor might also offer you a drip to speed up labour. The drip will contain Syntocinon, which is an artificial form of oxytocin, the labour hormone. Oxytocin shapes the frequency, length and strength of your contractions. Giving you an added dose of the hormone helps to speed things along. If you have Syntocinon, your baby's heartbeat will be continuously monitored. Your doctor will strap electronic sensors to your tummy to keep a track of her heartbeat.

The first stage of labour is the time that your contractions open the cervix. This happens in three phases:

• Early labour
• Active labour
• Transitional phase

• The early phase is sometimes called the latent period or prelabour.
• The womb starts to contract or tighten regularly. The contractions start off being bearable but gradually become more frequent and painful.
• As the cervix begins to open, it gets thinner and softer. This phase can last a few hours or span out over a few days.
• Early labour is best spent at home if you have had an uncomplicated pregnancy, so that you can be comfortable and relax as much as possible. But some doctors prefer to monitor you right from the start. So call your doctor to be sure about how long she recommends you stay at home and when to come to the hospital.

• When your cervix has dilated to 4cm, active labour starts.
• Your contractions will get stronger and more frequent. They will also last longer. Eventually they may be coming as frequently as every three to four minutes and lasting 60 to 90 seconds.
• This phase of labour can last between 5 to 18 hours and is usually best spent in hospital. This is the time that many mums ask for pain relief.

• During the transitional phase, the cervix dilates from 8cm to 10cm. Contractions may last for over a minute and come every two to three minutes. You might feel shaky, shivery and sick.
• This is often the most painful and intense part of labour and can last between a few minutes to an hour.

• You will be made to remove all your jewellery, make-up and nail polish. This is so that your skin tone can be monitored during the operation. You won't be able to wear contact lenses or glasses either.
• A sample of your blood might be taken to check that your iron levels are high enough and you haven't got anaemia. If you are anaemic and happen to have huge blood loss, you will need a blood transfusion.
• You'll be given an anaesthetic. Usually, regional anaesthesia such as a spinal or an epidural is used. This type of anaesthesia numbs your bottom half and is safer for you and your baby than a general anaesthetic, which puts you to sleep.
• A drip will be inserted into a vein in your arm. This will give you fluids and make it easy to give you drugs if you need them during the operation or later.
• A thin tube, or catheter, will be inserted into your bladder via your urethra. This will make sure your bladder is empty. The catheter will stay in place after the operation until you regain sensation and can control your bladder independently again.
• The area on your tummy where the cut will be made will be shaved and cleaned with an antiseptic. Then it is covered with special sterile sheets, which are cut in the centre, so that only the part to be operated on remains exposed.
• Your blood pressure will be taken and your heart rate will be monitored at all times.
• You'll also be given an injection of antibiotics to ward off infection and anti-sickness medicine to stop you from vomiting, which is a common side-effect of the anaesthetics.

• Once you are ready for the operation, the doctor will make a small horizontal cut into your skin - about two fingers' width above your pubic bone. This type of cut is called a bikini cut.
• Your doctor will then open the layers of tissue and muscle to reach your uterus. When your doctor opens up your uterus, she then breaks the sac your baby is in. You may hear fluid gushing out. Your baby is then lifted out. You may be aware of the assistant pressing on your belly to help your baby be born. It only takes a few minutes from the time the doctor starts the operation until your baby is born.
• Your baby will be quickly checked over by the pediatrician. He will then be brought to you.
• After your baby is born, your doctor will gently tug the umbilical cord to pull out the placenta. She will then concentrate on stitching you up. Each layer of muscle and skin needs to be closed using clamps, staples, or sutures.
• When you're ready, you'll be moved to your room where you, your husband and your baby can be together. If there is a need for it, your baby might be moved to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) instead where he will receive specialized medical care.
• You may start shivering, because your body temperature drops during the operation. Your nurse will warm you up with blankets and help you breastfeed your baby. You may find it more comfortable to breastfeed if you both lie on your side and face each other. It often takes some time to find a comfortable feeding position after a caesarean, but it's worth persevering for both you and your baby’s sake, and it does get easier.

• The first few hours after birth are important. Your baby goes from a warm and protected environment to a whole new world of lights, sounds and sensations.
• As your baby adjusts to this new world, she may calmly take it all in or respond the only way she knows how, by crying lustily.
• You can help her by soothing her with the sound of your voice and holding her, skin-toskin.
• She will recognize your voice, the sound of your heartbeat and your smell.

At one minute and again at five minutes after birth, your baby will be checked and given a score from zero to two for five factors that will measure her wellbeing. This is known as the Apgar scale and it looks at your baby's:

• Appearance (skin tone)
• Pulse rate (heart rate)
• Grimace (reflex response)
• Activity (muscle tone)
• Respiration (breathing)

The scores are added to reach a maximum of 10 points. Most newborns score between seven and 10, which mean they do not need any treatment. A difficult or premature birth, or pain relief such as pethidine during labour, for example, can affect your baby's wellbeing after birth and lower the scores.

• Soon after birth, your baby will get an injection of vitamin K, as a preventative measure against a rare complication called vitamin K deficiency bleeding.
• This is because vitamin K is needed for blood clotting, and babies are born with small amounts of vitamin K.

• Before you leave the hospital for home, your baby will also get her first vaccines against some serious illnesses: BCG, which protects against tuberculosis, Hepatitis B vaccine (Hep B) and polio drops (also called oral polio vaccine or OPV).

• Ideally, your baby should get her first feed of breastmilk within the first hour of birth, but this may not be possible if you've had a difficult birth, or your baby needs special care.
• If your baby is placed on your chest, skin to skin, she may wriggle to your breast and feed, or she may only smell, lick or nuzzle your breast. All these things will help you and your baby get breastfeeding off to a great start.
• The first milk your body produces is known as colostrum. It is thicker and often more yellow in colour than regular breastmilk.
• This first milk is extremely good for your baby. It is with antibodies that will help your baby fight infections and viruses in the coming days. It is also rich in protein and it has a laxative effect that helps your baby pass her first bowel movement.
• For the first hour, your baby will probably be quite alert, but she'll soon need a long sleep to recover from the physical strain of birth. This is a good time for you to catch up on some sleep as well. If you feel bruised and battered, tired or disappointed, don't be hard on yourself. It doesn't mean you won't love your baby, or you won't be a wonderful mum. You're just exhausted and in need of a good rest. You'll have plenty of time in the days and weeks to come to build a strong and loving relationship with your baby
• Advantages of Breastfeeding https://youtu.be/br6JPhWpCnc

• Take iron supplements prescribed by your doctor
• Iron pills not to be taken on empty stomach
• Don’t drink milk with iron rich meal
• Don’t take tea, coffee with meal or iron supplement
• Cooking in iron vessels may increase iron content of food. Do this no more than 2-3 times a week
• Add few drops of lime to dal,curries, sprouts or other iron rich food
• You can also drink lemonade or orange juice with your meals
• Sources of iron: green leafy vegetables, cauliflower, fenugreek, mint, lentils, beans, chicken, fish, egg, dried fruits such as apricots, raisins

• Exercise improves muscle tone, prevents low back pain, decrease chances of varicose veins, leg cramping, reduces constipation, improves mood
• Exercises which can be done: walking, swimming, cycling on stationary bike
• Aim for at least 30 min of daily moderate intensity activity
• Avoid lifting very heavy weights
• Do not overexert yourself or exercise upto exhaustion
• Eat a light snack 30-60min prior to workout, drink water
• Do not exercise if you have hypertension, ruptured membranes, bleeding per vaginum, preterm labour, incompetent cervix, other medical conditions
• Stop exercise if shortness of breath, vaginal bleeding or loss of fluid from vagina, uterine contractions, chest, leg, joint or stomach pain

• Imagine trying to stop passing wind and hold your flow of urine at the same time. The feeling is of squeeze and lift pulling up and in around your front and back passages
• Hold the squeeze for upto 10 seconds
• Do 3 or 4 sets, three times a day

• While standing, do not exaggerate hollow of your back.
• Stand with feet's apart, hold your head up

• While sitting, sit so that the whole length of your thighs supported by the seat
• if needed a cushion can be placed between the back rest and your back.
• Take support of the back of chair and sit straight

• While lifting and carrying, do not bend your waist. Keep your back straight and bend your knees and hips

• The best sleep position during pregnancy is sleep on side. Even better is to sleep on your left side

• Always turn on your side first and get up with the support of hand

• Regular monthly check up is necessary
• Eat balanced diet
• Take small frequent meals if required
• Have plenty of water
• Always remain in good, cheerful and relaxed mood and also maintain pleasant atmosphere with good ventilation and airy rooms
• A minimum of half an hour walk at fairly brisk pace is a good exercise
• Sleep at least 8 hours in night & 1-2 hours in day time.
• While picking up things from the floor, sit down & then lift
• Wear your seat belt while driving

As your womb grows larger, ligaments stretch and you feel this in your groin area. By sleeping on your side with the leg that hurts on the bottom, the ligaments will relax and pain decreases. Take enough calcium.

As your pregnancy advances from 1 ^st to third trimester, your skin changes from oily to dry skin. Use skin lotion or moisturizer.

Because of hormonal changes, hair on your head may fall out. There is no need to worry- This is temporary and will only last until your menstrual period returns. Eat well balanced diet containing green vegetables or seaweeds.

Craving occurs especially during first trimester. It is normal provided you are having healthy low calorie foods. If you experience craving for clay, dirt etc., then consult your doctor.

Expectant mothers breast grow larger to meet their baby needs. Some women even experience a bit of leakage at full term. Increase your bra size and wear a more supportive bra.

Tips to manage stress>

• Eat a healthy, well balanced diet
• Get plenty of sleep
• Exercise regularly, yoga or meditation
• Talk regularly with your partner
• Reduce your workload

• Deep heat : Ask your partner to rub your back or indulge in a pregnancy massage. Simply apply the heat pack for approximately 15-20 minutes to your sore back as often as every 3-4 hours
• Posture pointers:
  1. Always stand up tall and straight with your shoulders back – as if trying to get your head to touch the ceiling
  2. When sitting make sure your back is supported by a small pillow in the curve of your spine to encourage you to sit up straight
  3. Don’t wear high heels!
• Sleep easy: y: Try lying on your side to take stress off your lower back. Placing a pillow between your legs to support the weight of your top leg and decrease low back strain
• A daily walk of between 20 and 30 minutes can do wonders
• Back care: Never, ever, bend with your legs straight and always squat or kneel to pick up objects off the floor, keeping your back straight

Sex during pregnancy does not hurt the baby but watch out for sexually transmitted diseases. However in women who have threat of miscarriage or unexplained vaginal bleeding, low lying placenta, sexual intercourse should be avoided.

Travelling short distance is no harm, but travel comfortably. Wear your seat belt while driving. Avoid long distance travelling. Avoid travelling by two & three wheelers. Do not drive.

Exercise improves muscle tone, prevents low back pain, leg cramping, reduces constipation, improves mood. Exercises such as walking, swimming, cycling on stationary bike can be done. Aim for at least 30 min. of daily moderate intensity activity. Eat a light snack 30-60min. prior to workout, drink water. Stop exercise if shortness of breath, vaginal bleeding or loss of fluid from vagina, uterine contractions, chest, leg, joint or stomach pain.

A pregnant woman needs to add 400 to 500 Kilocals. to her diet and consciously consume a balanced diet with fruits and greens. She needs two fruits a day, plenty of vegetables, a serving of tubers and shoots, milk and at least 10 to 12 glasses of water a day.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/255491/pregnancy-myths-busted.html

Talk to your wife beforehand about what she wants and doesn't want during labour. You're the one who may need to take charge and let the gynecologist know.

The mum-to-be is the center of attention, but you'll probably be spending the night at the hospital too, so don't forget to pack some things for yourself. Pack a clean T-shirt, too. Being able to change will help you feel fresher if you're up all night. Also remember to take something to eat and drink - you could be at the hospital for a while.

Labour is not the right time to be flipping through a pregnancy and birth manual, so bone up on your reading beforehand. Going to antenatal classes will help. You'll get solid, basic information about what labour and birth entails, as well as a sense of how other dads- to-be are planning the event.

Labour strategies that work for some women, may not work for your wife. A labour partner's job is to discern what works, and be prepared to drop what doesn't.

Well before your baby's due date, you and your wife should take time to discuss her expectations and options. Later, you will be able to take the initiative while keeping her wishes in mind.

Giving birth is often a long, hard job. At some point during the hours of labour, you and your wife will discover something she can focus on during contractions. It could be a breathing pattern, a spot on the ceiling, or even a soft baby toy you've brought with you. Your job is to help your wife find this distraction, and then bring her back to it whenever she starts to think she won't make it. Your wife will be relying on you to keep her concentration levels up.

Neither you nor your wife knows what labour will be like, or what will help your wife.

Though there will be lots of experienced people around to help you, you will be your wife's most important support. Do whatever she needs, from running to the cafeteria for a cup of juice to getting her another drink or talking things through with your doctor.

There's a lot going on in the birth room. Be aware of what you are willing to do during the process, and what you want to leave to the professionals.

Only you and your wife know what you both want, but she may not be in the best condition to make hard decisions. Be ready to step in with some decisive action if the situation calls for it.

Unlike what you see in films and on television, most women are in labour for hours before they even go to the hospital. Many couples find it more comfortable to spend the early stages of labour at home. Besides, many maternity units prefer you wait until your contractions are regular and close together before booking into the hospital.

1. Start with only a few inches of warm water. Your baby’s bath water should be between 32 and 37 degrees Celsius. After filling the basin or tub, be sure to swirl the water with your hands so there are no hot spots.
2. Before you put your baby in the bath water, test the water’s temperature on the inside of your wrist to make sure it is not too hot.

NOTE: Be sure that your home’s hot water heater is set no higher than 48 degrees Celsius to help protect against accidental scalding.

3. Using one arm to gently support your baby's back, head and neck, gently place her in the baby bath. Continue to support her using one arm while bathing her with the other.
4. Gently wipe around your baby's mouth, nose and whole face, working from the middle outward. Wipe the creases in her neck and don't forget behind her ears!
5. You can use a gentle cleanser formulated for babies. If your baby has more hair, you might try a gentle shampoo. Don’t be afraid to gently wash the soft spots (called fontanels) on your baby's head.

6. Wash the diaper area last. For a baby girl, cleanse the genital area washing from front to back. For boys, gently wash the penis and genital area, also washing from front to back, and dry thoroughly. For an uncircumcised boy, avoid pulling back the foreskin.
7. Let your baby take a few moments in the bath to enjoy the warm water. Pour cupfuls of water over her body to keep her warm. Be mindful of running water directly from the tap as water temperature can sometimes change suddenly.
8. Wrap both hands around your baby's chest under her arms, support her head, and lift her out of the bath and quickly wrap her in a towel.
9. Dry your baby well in all the creases, as excessive moisture could lead to skin irritation. Pat her skin dry to avoid skin damage.
10. Before dressing your baby, apply a gentle baby powder and a gentle baby moisturizer, such as hypoallergenic which is clinically proven to be gentle and mild.

• Make sure everything you need - Towel, clothes, diaper, baby wash is within reach before you start. NEVER leave the baby unattended in water, not even for a moment.
• Fill your tub (with a non-slip mat at bottom) with a few centimetres of warm water. The temperature of the bathing water should be kept close to the body temperature (around 37oC). Swirl the water gently to ensure there are no hot spots, and test the temperature with the inside of your wrist before you place baby in the water.
• Support the baby with one hand, while you wash with the other. Wet the washcloth with warm water, and wash the baby’s eye area from the inside corner to the outside corner. Then add a small amount of cleanser, and continue to clean from top to bottom. To clean the scalp, use a wet washcloth and a tiny amount of baby shampoo. Rinse the washcloth and use it to wipe off the shampoo. Be sure to always wash the diaper area from front to back.
• Rinse the baby with small cupfuls of water. Use water from the tub, not directly from the faucet, as water temperatures can vary unexpectedly.
• Lift the baby gently out of the tub and dry with a soft towel.

• Before cleaning your baby's umbilical cord, you can put her shirt and diaper on to keep her warm.
• Remember to avoid covering the cord with the diaper, because the cord area should be kept dry and clean at all times.
• Clean around and in the base of the cord with a cotton ball.
• Do not be afraid to clean the cord; the quicker the base dries, the sooner the cord will fall off

A clinically proven BEDTIME ROUTINE can help baby fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer in a simple 3-step before bed routine to help babies sleep better in just one week.

Bath time is the perfect way to start your baby’s pre-bed routine. Use a wash with an enjoyable and familiar scent to help your baby sleep better. In studies, babies bathed with a fragranced bath product (compared to those who weren’t) spent nearly 25% less time crying before sleep.

Soft lullabies and dim lighting helps baby settle. You can help your baby wind down further by reading or singing softly. It's best to avoid active play at this time, so your baby goes to bed sleepy but still awake. This will help her learn how to self-soothe and get back to sleep on her own if she wakes up during the night.

• Be careful not to apply your baby’s diaper too tightly.
• Let your baby go without her diaper as much as possible.
• Apply Johnson’s® Baby Diaper Rash Cream with each diaper change.
• Change your baby’s diaper frequently.
• Choose the right size diaper.

• Keep your baby clean and dry by changing the diaper frequently.
• Clean your baby’s diaper area well at each diaper change. Remember to pat her skin dry, don’t rub.
• Don’t put on the diaper too tight, as it allows better air circulation and speeds healing. You could even let your baby sleep with a bare bottom.
• If the problem still persists, you should immediately contact a doctor.

Postnatal depression is a type of depression that many mothers experience after having a baby

The postnatal massage is a full body massage that is given to a mum every day for up to 40 days after birth

• To ease sore spots and relax muscle tension
• Increase the flow of blood and oxygen to mother’s muscles, getting rid of the toxins
• Speed up recovery from a caesarean section if you've had one

This is the time to stay calm and remind your wife what a great job she has done so far

Run your wife a relaxing bath, massage her shoulders, arrange for favorite meals, and bring her snacks as well as drinks while she breastfeeds.

listen: You and your wife really can't do enough of this. Give your baby and wife equal amounts of praise, and be honest about how becoming a parent has made you feel. In return, you need to listen to her, and understand that while she may feel weepy and ecstatic all at the same time, all she needs from you is love and support.

Content of the sessions

Average normal pregnancy lasts for

283 days, or 40 weeks

Conventionally, it has been divided into 3 trimesters

MYTH SMASHER

As your womb grows larger, ligaments stretch and you feel this in your groin area. By sleeping on your side with the leg that hurts on the bottom, the ligaments will relax and pain decreases. Take enough calcium

As your pregnancy advances from first to third trimester, your skin changes from oily to dry skin. Use skin lotion or moisturiser

Because of hormonal changes, hair on your head may fall out. There is no need to worry- this is temporary and will only last until your menstrual period returns. Eat well balanced diet containing green vegetables or seaweeds

Expectant mother’s breasts grow larger to meet their baby’s needs. Some women even experience a bit of leakage at full term. Increase your bra size and wear a more supportive bra.

Craving occurs especially during first trimester. It is normal provided you are having healthy low calorie foods. If you experience craving for clay, dirt etc., then consult your doctor

1. Eat a healthy, well balanced diet
2. Get plenty of sleep
3. Exercise regularly with yoga or meditation
4. Talk regularly with your partner
5. Reduce your workload

Ask your partner to rub your back or indulge in a pregnancy massage. Simply apply the heat pack for approximately 15-20 minutes to your sore back as often as every 3-4 hours

• Always stand up tall and straight with your shoulders back – as if trying to get your head to touch the ceiling
• When sitting make sure your back is supported by a small pillow in the curve of your spine to encourage you to sit up straight.
• Don’t wear high heels!

Try lying on your side to take the stress off your lower back. Place a pillow between your legs to support the weight of your top leg and decrease low back strain

Never, ever, bend with your legs straight and always squat or kneel to pick up objects off the floor, keeping your back straight

• Any leaking or bleeding per vaginum
• Decreased baby movements
• Pain or cramps in your abdomen
• Sudden or extreme swelling of your face or fingers
• Severe headache
• Blurring of vision
• Less urine or burning when you void
• Chills or fever
• Repeated vomiting