Vaginal discharge during pregnancy is just one of the least pleasant side effects of being pregnant. And, it’s one of the least talked about – probably because so many women are embarrassed about it, that they don’t want to mention it to their physicians or talk to their friends about this often ‘sticky’ situation.

The reality is, that excess discharge and moisture from the vaginal area is completely normal during pregnancy. With your hormone levels on the rise – fluid levels and blood volume constantly increasing throughout pregnancy and your uterus and cervix changing to facilitate your readiness for delivery, your vaginal discharge will naturally secrete more mucous than normal.

The discharge is normally clear and runny, and can have a white or yellow tinge to it.  Many women have so much discharge during late pregnancy that they have to wear a pad or panti-liner in order to control it. The good news is that this normal pregnancy discharge is not accompanied by itching or burning or a foul smell as is present when you have a yeast or vaginal infection. If you DO notice any of these symptoms – or have any abdominal pain, and the discharge becomes extremely bloody or greenish in color, you should contact your physician so that you can be treated. Keep in mind that it is extremely important that you do not go to your local drug store and try to self treat your ‘condition’ with over the counter medications.  Some of these medications can be harmful to your unborn baby and should not be utilized while pregnant.

The closer you get to your due date, the more vaginal discharge you will have. In the third trimester especially, it is normal to begin losing your mucous plug which can cause the discharge to be thicker than usual. The mucous plug is defined as a ‘jelly like’ substance that plugs the cervix and therefore the birth canal, during pregnancy. The loss of the mucous plug can occur swiftly all at once, or it may cause a continuous increased mucous discharge for a few weeks.  It may even begin to have a pinkish color (although not extremely bloody) which indicates that you are getting closer to delivery

For the most part, an increase in discharge during pregnancy is simply annoying and doesn’t signify that you are having any serious problems with the pregnancy. Listen to your intuition and if you notice any sudden and very drastic changes, it is best to get in touch with your health-care provider. Additionally, if you have any bloody discharge, you should contact a health professional.

During pregnancy, you will have many side effects and symptoms or worries that may seem embarrassing to talk about with others. The reality is that each and every woman experiences different things, and that most of the changes occur as your body prepares for labor and delivery. Pregnancy is definitely not a time where you should feel shy or embarrassed about what is going on with your body.

Written by Stef, Mother of 4 @Mom-Spirational

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

Some women really do glow and exude self-confidence, from the moment they pee on the stick to the final push of labour. These women look amazing in maternity wear – even yoga pants – and seem to have been designed with pregnancy in mind. These women appear to be doing pregnancy ‘right’, and as they jog past you, momentarily blinding you with their glow, you can’t help but worry that you’re doing pregnancy all ‘wrong’.

Not all women feel confident and beautiful during pregnancy. For some, the changing body and continuous weight gain can take its toll. If you’re feeling self-conscious about pregnancy weight gain, the following tips may help to ease your mind:

1. Weight gain during pregnancy is normal – It’s not just normal, it’s expected. Your body is busily growing a whole other person, so of course you will probably put on a few extra pounds. Look around you, all of the other women at your prenatal class are looking pregnant too.

2. Weight gain doesn’t mean overweight – Weight gain during pregnancy is made up of lots of different things. On average, the placenta alone weighs 0.7kg (1.5lb), and the extra blood coursing through your veins is responsible for an extra 1.2kg (2.6lb). Your body stores fat in preparation for breastfeeding, so around 4kg (8.8lb) of fat is there to make sure you have the energy necessary for feeding your newborn. So don’t think of it as ‘fat’, think of it as pregnancy weight.

3. Pregnant bodies are beautiful – You may not feel it now, especially if you’re nearing the end of pregnancy. You may feel big, cumbersome and exhausted, but to most onlookers, you are beautiful. Your body has changed to allow you to grow, sustain and birth a new life. It might not be the Hollywood figure we’re used to seeing in the media, but that doesn’t mean you’re not rocking it.

4. It’s only temporary – It can be hard to adjust to the physical changes of pregnancy. As soon as you become accustomed to one change, something else changes. Your bump will continue to grow, your breasts will change and your face may look a little bigger by the end too. Through all of this, remember it is only temporary. After the birth, your body will start to shrink back down, and you will be able to regain a little bit of that sense of self you are currently longing for. You’ll even be able to get into your old jeans again.

5. Track your numbers – As long as your weight gain is within the healthy range for your pre-pregnancy BMI, you should have nothing to worry about. Your healthcare provider should have weighed you at your first appointment, and have offered you advice about healthy diet and weight gain. If you are concerned about weight gain, speak to your healthcare provider.

6. Nearing the finish line – if pregnancy has been nine long months of feeling insecure, worrying about weight gain and longing for your old body, you are probably keen to get to the finish line. Remember, when you do finally reach the finish line, your newborn baby will be waiting for you.

How do you feel about your changing body?

Written by Fiona, proud owner of a toddler, @fiona_peacock

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

Pregnancy can be a daunting time. You have so much left to organise, you are on a hormonal roller coaster, and you’re probably exhausted. On top of all that, you may be a bit scared of meeting your new baby. Many mums worry that they won’t feel an instant bond with their baby. There’s no need to wait until after the birth, you can start to bond with your bump right now. Here are some ideas to help you start to build your lifelong relationship with your baby:

1. Talk to your bump – when your baby is born, one of the ways she will recognise you, is by the sound of your voice. Whether you talk directly to her or not, she’ll be used to hearing your voice in everyday life. Your newborn will be comforted by the sound of your voice. Talking to your bump is a great way to start the bonding process.
2. Write things down – keep notes of the memories you have of being pregnant. You could add a section to your baby book, for time spent in the womb. Does your bump always jiggle when drum and bass comes on the radio? Or has the baby ever kicked you so hard it’s left a bruise? Keep note of all these things so you remember them for years to come. You’ll be able to tell your child about them in the future.
3. Stroke your bump – respond to your baby’s kicks and nudges, by stroking that area of your bump. It’s amazing to think that each of those nudges is your baby moving around inside you. Take the time to appreciate that, and respond to baby by stroking or talking to your bump.
4. Relax and think – make sure you spend some time each day relaxing and focussing on your baby. It could just be fifteen minutes before bed, but make sure you have some time to enjoy your bump. Life can be so hectic, and relaxation is even more important for pregnant women. Slow down, and mentally prepare for life with a baby. You could do this while relaxing in the bath, or during your prenatal yoga session.
5. Make your baby a present – a knitted blanket, a handmade teddy or drawing for her bedroom wall, there are lots of things you could make. You might not have time when the baby arrives. Making your unborn baby a present is a great way to bond, and plan for the future. It doesn’t matter if what you make has missed stitches, ink smudges or uneven seams. It doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be from you.
6. Get daddy to bond too – men miss out during pregnancy. On the one hand, they miss out on the haemorrhoids, the swollen ankles and the acne. But they also miss out on the amazing aspects of pregnancy, like feeling your baby move inside you. Take your partner’s hands and place them on your bump so he can feel your baby kick. If he wants, he could talk to your bump too. The baby will recognise his voice when he’s born, and will be reassured by it.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

Staying fit during pregnancy helps your body to prepare for childbirth. Spending nine months lounging on the sofa, eating for two, isn’t going to do much in the way of stamina – and you’ll need stamina for the marathon that is labour. Some women swear by prenatal yoga as the key to a healthy pregnancy, great birth and speedy postnatal recovery. Here are seven reasons why prenatal yoga is the perfect pregnancy exercise:

1. It relieves stress – studies have found that yoga relieves stress. Pregnancy can be a stressful time, and it can be hard to switch off at the end of a long day. Taking yoga classes can help you to learn ways to relax. Prenatal yoga classes often include a segment of ‘relaxation time’ which is really quiet time for pregnant women. This will give you some much-needed rest, and allow you to feel completely and utterly relaxed (unless the pregnant woman snoring next to you is ruining your zen).
2. You’ll meet other mums – the class will be full of women just like you. Sleepless nights can be tough, so you’ll need a supportive network of mum friends you can moan to at 3am. Start collecting now so you’ll always have someone to message during night feeds! Prenatal yoga instructors understand the importance of such a support network, and will often allow for socialising both before and after class in the hope of encouraging people to build relationships.
3. It improves body confidence – learning yoga, and strengthening your body, may help to improve body confidence. As you become more aware of your body’s capabilities, you may feel more able to trust your body. And when better to trust your body, than during pregnancy and labour? You probably already feel pretty amazed by your body – after all, it is growing a baby – but learning to control your movement can be the cherry on top of your body confidence cake.
4. It’s all about balance and strength – with your growing bump, you may be feeling clumsy and unbalanced. Yoga can help you to gain control of your changing centre of gravity, and improve posture to reduce aches and pains. Including yoga positions in your daily routine can help to strengthen your core muscles, open up your hips and pelvis, and may help to ease any discomfort caused by the pregnancy.
5. It has transferable skills – the breathing techniques used during yoga are perfect for labour. You’ll learn breathing techniques and visualisations that can be used to keep calm and focus during contractions.

Are you taking a prenatal yoga class?

Written by Fiona, proud owner of a toddler, @fiona_peacock

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

The flu is a highly infectious virus. It tends to occur seasonally, and is usually around during the winter months. During pregnancy, your weakened immune system means you have an increased risk of catching flu. The weakened immune system also puts you at a greater, though still very small, risk of developing complications if you do contract the virus.

Flu vaccine during pregnancy

Pregnant women are offered the flu vaccine each year. Usually offered in the fall, it takes a couple of weeks for you to develop an immunity after the shot. The flu vaccine is considered safe to administer at any point during pregnancy. There is no need to wait until your second trimester, as the vaccine is considered safe even during early pregnancy.

If you have not been offered the flu vaccine, speak to your healthcare provider to find out why. It is not possible to catch flu from the vaccine, although you may experience some mild side effects that mimic flu symptoms. As with all vaccines, there are a number of possible side effects, please ask your healthcare provider about these before being vaccinated. There is a nasal spray flu vaccine available, but this is not suitable for use during pregnancy.

Symptoms of flu

If you contract flu, you will experience a fever of over 38C/100.4F, and at least two of the following symptoms:

• runny nose
• headache
• sore throat
• tiredness
• loss of appetite
• muscle aches
• cough
• shortness of breath
• diarrhoea or vomiting

The potential complications of suffering from flu during pregnancy include pneumonia, dehydration and difficulty breathing. If you think you may be suffering from flu, contact your healthcare provider for advice.

Treatment for flu during pregnancy

The following tips may help you to manage your flu symptoms:

• get plenty of rest
• increase your fluid intake
• eat little and often
• use cold flannels to lower your temperature
• speak to your pharmacist for advice on which over the counter medications are safe to take during pregnancy

When to call your healthcare provider

Pregnancy puts you at a slightly increased risk of a number of complications. For this reason, it’s important to seek immediate medical help if you notice any of the following symptoms:

• difficulty breathing
• shortness of breath
• coughing up a bloody mucus
• turning blue
• pressure or pain in your chest or abdomen
• dizziness
• severe vomiting
• reduced foetal movements
• a high fever that cannot be lowered with over the counter medications

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

Preparing to be a father for the first time can be overwhelming. You are about to fall head over heels in love with a person you’ve only just met. Changing dirty nappies, running around the park, first days at school, first dates, growing up – you have it all to come. From the first time you hold your baby in your arms, your life with change – but how can you prepare for something so huge? Here are some ideas:

1. Do your homework – there are hundreds of books on the topic of parenting. You don’t need to read them all, but you may find it useful to read a couple. Ask your partner about books she has enjoyed, or ask any friends or family you feel are good parents to recommend books they found useful as new parents.

2. Speak to fathers – it can be hard to describe what fatherhood is really like, but those best placed to try are fathers. Talk to your friends and family who are fathers, and ask them for advice. They may be able to offer tips and suggestions that could help you, or even let you in on things they wish they’d done differently.

3. Speak to mothers – it’s not just the fathers you need to talk to … get chatting with their partners too. Ask the mothers what makes a good dad, and ask for examples of things to avoid. They may be able to give you tips to make those first few months easier, and even how to ensure you and your child share a loving relationship through to adulthood.

4. Speak to your partner – you won’t be raising this baby alone, so find out what your co-pilot thinks. What will she expect from you, what sort of parents does she want you to be, and what sort of parents does she want to avoid becoming? Be honest about how you both feel, discuss your hopes for the future, and try to work out ways to make them reality.

5. Go to class – antenatal classes aren’t just for pregnant women, they’re just as much designed with you in mind. The classes will teach you the basic of baby care, as well as helping to prepare you for the first few months of fatherhood. If you’re not used to being around babies, those first few weeks can be a bit of a shock, but antenatal classes can help by adjusting your expectations for life with a newborn.

6. Take paternity leave– whether you are able to take paid paternity leave will depend upon which country you live in, but try to organise some time off for immediately after the birth. Time off from work will help you to get to know your newborn, support your wife while she recovers from the birth, and enjoy some time with your new family. Take whatever you can afford off. You won’t regret spending that time with your new baby.

7. Start as you mean to go on – get stuck into being a father. Changes nappies, give cuddles, wear your baby in a sling, and bathe your baby. Your baby could hear your voice in the uterus, and so knows exactly who you are immediately after the birth. It may take a while to find your feet as a father, but learning on the job is the best way to get involved.

How are you preparing to be a father?

Written by Fiona, proud owner of a toddler, @fiona_peacock

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

In the first trimester of pregnancy, and sometimes later, experiencing extraordinary fatigue is very common. For some women, this fatigue can prevail throughout their pregnancy (very debilitating, I know!). However, it is not a worrisome condition. Sustaining another life inside can naturally take a toll on your body and drain it of energy. However, the fatigue often comes with some aches and pains and makes it difficult for you to carry on with your daily routine. Let’s first take a look at what causes fatigue, before you set off to deal with fatigue during pregnancy.

Causes of Fatigue

Pregnancy-related conditions that can be the underlying cause of fatigue include:

• Anemia or lack of iron to carry oxygen to the baby sufficiently.
• Lack of exercise (even if you hate it) since it slows down the flow of blood and affects your stamina.
• Over-exertion, especially lifting heavy things.
• Too much heat or dehydration.
• Vitamin deficiency and lack of B-complex vitamins.
• Improper diet that doesn’t fulfill the necessary nutritional requirements for pregnancy.
• Depression, which can occur during pregnancy.

By knowing the underlying cause of fatigue, you can be in a much better position to cope with it. So, if you are feeling unusually fatigued, ask your doctor about these possible causes.

How to Cope With Fatigue

If you are finding the fatigue too much to cope with, there are several ways you can deal with it and try to keep it to a minimum.

• Try to Take Short Naps: This may be an easy one for many of you out there, because who doesn’t like to nap! When you feel too tired, take a short nap. The good thing is that while you are pregnant, even a short nap of a few minutes can work wonders for you, making you feel refreshed and energized.

• Cut Back on Your Activities: Cut back on your usual activities. Socialize less, let the housework go once in a while, take an occasional off day from work in the middle of the week, and send the kids to a friend or relative for the afternoon. Give yourself a break and put your feet up, you’re pregnant so you deserve it!

• Eat a Healthy Diet: You need to get at least 200 extra calories every day during your pregnancy; and, as much as you want, you definitely can’t get them from junk food and snacks. You need to follow a proper and balanced diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, lean meat, diary, and whole grains that can give you energy.

• Drink Water: Your body needs plenty of fluids during pregnancy to stay hydrated. However, you should cut back on drinks that have caffeine and instead drink plenty of water. While this may make you go to the toilet more than you like, it is important to have fluids in your body at this time.

• Exercise Regularly: While there is no need to overexert yourself, believe it or not, too much rest can also be bad for you. Make sure you have a regular exercise regimen to follow, even if it means taking a short walk every day. However, for some women, exercising is not recommended so get a go-ahead from your obstetrician or midwife first so you can properly deal with fatigue during pregnancy.

In what ways are you fighting your pregnancy fatigue?

Written by Manal, first time mom, rearing an infant.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice.  All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

If you are like many people – having a baby changes your living arrangements quite a bit. So many people find out that their family will be growing and immediately jump the gun and start looking for a bigger home or a bigger car in order to accommodate having a baby. Is this really necessary?  If you live in a one room apartment does your baby need a nursery? Is your two-door car suddenly too small for a baby?

Long gone are the days when young parents would make do with what they had and work towards the bigger and better things in life as their children grew older. Today, it is typical for expectant couples to get a new car or buy a new house because they think that they will NEED these things when the baby arrives. The reality is that your baby needs very little in the first year with the exception of TLC.

Your baby will not notice that they don’t have a room, and they certainly won’t recognize the new car smell or be mobile enough to enjoy a playroom all of their own. Heck, most babies don’t even need a closet and can get by with a dresser during the first few months of life. Plus, there’s a good chance that even if your baby had a room of his or her own – they might be sleeping in the corner of yours anyways.

Jumping the gun and adding expenditures and bills to your life will only make things more stressful in the long run. It is completely possible to renovate a one bedroom apartment to give your baby ample space for a crib or place of their own. Plus, you may decide once you have a baby that you don’t want to rush back to work – yet if you have a big new house and new car, you will not have a choice but to do so. Having a baby changes many things.  And certainly the mark of a good parent is not the size of the house that you live in nor the kind of car that you drive. If you are worried about school districts – remember that you have several years to ponder that question as well.

My advice to you is to make things as simple as possible. The first year will go so fast! If you can ensure that you enjoy getting to know your baby and realize that things are not important to a newborn, you will certainly make better memories for yourself.

There may come a day when you outgrow your home, or your car. When that time comes, deal with it. But until then keep your life as simple as possible and cherish the moments you have together.

Written By Stef, Mom of 4 @Momspirational

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

So, you were feeling nauseous, you missed a period and you decided it’s time to take a pregnancy test. Now, with the two pink stripes clearly visible on the test, congratulations are in order. You are pregnant, and you are going to go through one of the most significant experiences of your life. While you are on this roller coaster ride, not only is your life about to change, but so is your body.

After you get pregnant, your body goes through a number of changes, not just externally but internally as well. There is much more to these changes than a bloated body and swollen feet, and before you decide how to deal with a changing body during pregnancy, you first need to understand what they actually are and why they happen in the first place.

Common Body Changes During Pregnancy

Here are some common changes that take place inside your body during pregnancy:

• You start growing a completely new organ inside – the placenta. This organ starts developing roughly a week after conception to form a protective barrier around your baby that stops your blood from mixing with the baby’s blood, while allowing the oxygen and nutrients to get through. The placenta also excretes hormones that support pregnancy and prepare your body for nursing.
• During pregnancy, your body starts releasing a hormone called relaxin, that is known to soften and loosen bones and ligaments. While this makes it easier for you to go through labor, it also affect other parts of your body, resulting in back aches and swollen feet.
• During pregnancy, the hormones in your body also affect spatial memory, making you forget what you were doing just minutes before.
• By the time you reach the 20th week of your pregnancy, you are carrying around 50% more blood than before, which is required by the body to nourish the pregnancy. This excessive blood is the reason behind varicose veins, nosebleeds and hemorrhoids experienced by some women at this time. The extra circulation also gives you the famous pregnancy “glow.” So don’t hate it, embrace it!

Ways to deal with a changing body during pregnancy

The best way to deal with your changing pregnant body is to keep a positive attitude towards it, no matter what others say. Remember that this is one of the best experiences of your life, a miracle is about to happen and all the changes that your body is experiencing are for the good.

Staying active is another way to maintain control over your body. Try to make a regular exercise regimen, go for a short walk or take a swim. In the advanced stages of pregnancy, swimming is one of the best ways to stay active. Yoga is another way you can cope with your changing body.

Don’t feel helpless, because you are not (contrary to the popular belief). While it is true that you cannot completely control the changes in your body during pregnancy, letting go completely can make things worse for you. Consume a healthy, controlled diet, and exercise regularly so that you don’t become overweight.

Lastly, talk to people about your changing body and your concerns, especially your partner and other women who have gone through pregnancy. They can help you maintain a positive attitude about your body during pregnancy.

Written by Team Health & Parenting

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.