The importance of routine screening checks for emotional wellbeing
Perinatal mental health expert Professor Marie-Paule Austin recently led the charge to have a mental health screening tool added to the national guidelines for caring for pregnant women and new mums. As a part of Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Awareness Week, she explains why this is so important. As most mothers will attest – you […]
9 reasons to exercise during pregnancy
There are many benefits associated with staying active during pregnancy, as long as your pregnancy is progressing well and there are no complications. Moderate cardiovascular exercise won’t harm an unborn baby and it is generally advised that pregnant women continue doing the same exercise they did before they fell pregnant — with a few exceptions […]
Speaking Gibberish? Blame it on Baby Brain
One sure sign you are beginning to suffer from baby brain is when you notice yourself beginning to speak gibberish – this also includes wixing of mords, I mean mixing of words, and just generally speaking complete nonsense. ‘Gibberish’ and I are seemingly now well acquainted… Needless to say, my husband is becoming fluent in […]
Seatbelts and pregnancy: how to buckle up safely
If you’re pregnant and involved in a car accident you can significantly reduce the risk of foetal injury if you are wearing your seatbelt correctly. But what is the right way to fasten your seatbelt when you’re pregnant? We get tips from car safety expert Lotta Jakobsson. Jakobsson, the Global chairperson of the International Organisation […]
Pregnancy, parenting and rheumatoid arthritis
Becoming a mother was always part of my life plan. Something I took for granted. I certainly didn’t contemplate an incurable, chronic and painfully debilitating disease affecting my path to and throughout parenthood. I was like most people in Australia who believe that arthritis affects people in their older years – not young vibrant women […]
Relief for pregnancy leg cramp sufferers
Does this sound familiar? You’re pregnant and you’ve finally gone to sleep. It took a lot of tossing and turning before you found the perfect position but your eyes have finally closed. You did have to get up to pee twice but sleep has finally taken over. You did find it a bit uncomfortable at […]
Preparing the perineum – how to reduce the chances of an episiotomy or perineal tear
Women are often well aware and concerned about the physical challenge of birthing a baby, particularly the crowning of the baby’s head. The crowning refers to the widest diameter of the baby’s head as it journeys through the birth canal. A pregnant woman may well become anxious about her ability to push her baby out […]
Pregnancy and postnatal complications
Sometimes, a pregnancy doesn’t go a smoothly as planned and complications arise. When this happens, your healthcare provider will be there to provide you with additional care, information and support. However, it is always helpful to have some additional resources to hand and so we’ve detailed some pregnancy complications below. Some of these are very […]
Pregnancy exercise dos and don’ts
Keeping fit and healthy while you are pregnant is important. If you already exercised before falling pregnant, you are generally safe to continue your routine, with some modifications as you progress through your pregnancy. You should consult your doctor when you fall pregnant as to what exercises are OK for you to do. Here are […]
Pregnancy heartburn – causes and tips to ease your pain
Pregnancy isn’t always a smooth ride. You can suffer through many different pregnancy complaints and ailments from morning sickness to back pain to incontinence and so, so many more. One of these is acid reflux – more commonly known as heartburn – and while it is not necessarily a serious condition, it can definitely be […]