Headaches are a common complaint during pregnancy. Headaches during pregnancy are thought to be caused by hormones, though they could also be connected to stress, fatigue and dehydration. Pregnancy headaches are most common during the first trimester, especially during the first few weeks when hormone levels are rapidly increasing. Most women find the headaches have cleared up by the second trimester.

Headaches during pregnancy are not unsafe for your baby, but can be annoying for you. Here are some tips for coping with headaches during pregnancy:

• Get some rest – headaches can be caused by tiredness, so listen to your body and get some rest. You need more rest during pregnancy as your body works overtime growing a baby.
• Have a glass of water – your body needs extra water during pregnancy, so you should be drinking eight glasses of water each day. Headaches can be caused by dehydration, so have a glass of water if you can feel a headache coming on.
• Eat healthily – fatty, processed and sugary foods can cause headaches. Reduce your reliance on these foods, and instead focus your efforts on eating fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds. Eating a balanced diet is very important during pregnancy.
• Avoid caffeine – in the short term, cutting out caffeine could cause you headaches, but within a week or two, you should be free from these headaches. Consuming too much caffeine can cause headaches, so try to reduce the amount you consume.
• Exercise – exercise is really important during pregnancy. Taking regular exercise can reduce a whole host of pregnancy symptoms, and help you to de-stress. If you feel a headache coming on, try taking a short walk outside and see if the exercise and fresh air help.
• Relax – stress isn’t good for you, and it’s not great for the baby, so spend some time relaxing each day. Try having a soak in the bath, or spend a few minutes meditating, at the end of each day to unwind.
• Medication – ibuprofen and aspirin are not safe to take during pregnancy. Speak to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to find out which headache medications are suitable for pregnant women.

When to call a doctor

If you experience visual disturbances or have a high temperature, contact your doctor. If the headaches don’t ease up, speak to your healthcare provider for advice.

How do you cope with headaches during pregnancy?

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.

If you’re experiencing early symptoms of pregnancy, the idea of having a to-do list may be laughable at the moment. If you are surviving by doing the bare minimum before collapsing in bed at 7pm, you may not be up for creating a to-do list. If you can muster the energy, however, you may find it useful to have a to do list ready for your energy boosts of the coming weeks. Here are some things to add to your 9 weeks pregnant to-do list:

1. Create a pregnancy exercise plan – this doesn’t need to be a colour-coded spreadsheet, but it is worth planning what exercises you will do. Exercise has lots of benefits, and this is especially true during pregnancy. Taking regular exercise can help you to get enough sleep, maintain healthy weight gain and prepare your body for labour. Find out if there are prenatal exercise classes available in your local area – aquarobics and prenatal yoga are popular classes. Swimming and walking are also great exercises during pregnancy.
2. Start thinking about names – chances are, you’ve been thinking about baby names since you found out you were pregnant, but now is the time to get organised. Pregnancies have a habit of passing quickly, and you don’t want to reach the finish line without a list of possible names. Invest in a baby name book, or find an online site, and work your way through some names together.
3. Plan your announcement – some couples choose to wait until the first trimester has passed before announcing the pregnancy to friends and family. If you have chosen to do this, in a couple of weeks you will be announcing the birth. Why not plan a special and unique way to announce your pregnancy?
4. Make plans – if you’ve been victim to your hormones during this pregnancy, you will be pleased to hear that these symptoms should subside in a few weeks. The fatigue, nausea and mood swings of early pregnancy should make way for the second trimester. The second trimester is a great time to catch up with friends, make plans for the nursery, and take a vacation together to enjoy some quality time before the baby arrives.
5. Plan your budget – there are things you will need to buy before the baby arrives, write a budget to avoid over-spending. Work out what you can afford, what you need and where you can save. Write the budget, and stick to it.
6. Keep track of fetal development  – Downloading a Pregnancy App, or buying a book that follows fetal development during early pregnancy can help you understand better what is going on inside your body. You may find the morning sickness slightly easier to deal with when you realize the amazing things your body is doing. Tracking your baby’s development can also help you to feel more connected with your baby during pregnancy.

Can you think of anything else to add to your to-do list during week 9?

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.

You won’t notice any pregnancy symptoms until implantation occurs. Implantation is when the fertilised egg implants itself in the lining of your uterus. This usually occurs between seven and 10 days after conception. Once the embryo is implanted in your womb, it will start producing pregnancy hormones, and you will begin to notice changes in your body. If you suspect you may be pregnant, look out for the following early symptoms of pregnancy:

A missed period This is considered to be one of the most reliable early symptoms of pregnancy. If you have a regular menstrual cycle, and your period is late, it could be the first clue that you may be pregnant.

Spotting Some women notice spotting (light bleeding) around the time of implantation. Spotting is much lighter than a menstrual period, often little more than a few spots of blood, and tends to be brown or pink in colour.

Nausea Once your body starts producing pregnancy hormones, you may begin to suffer from nausea and morning sickness. Unlike the name suggests, morning sickness can happen at any time during the day. Try to avoid low blood sugar by eating little and often.

Increased discharge This thick, odourless, milky discharge is nothing to worry about, but you can wear a panty liner if you prefer.

Breast changes Breast changes are often considered to be one of the give-aways of early pregnancy. You may notice that your breasts appear bigger and feel tender. Your nipples may darken, and you may notice small bumps appearing on the areola.

Feeling tired Not just I-watched-too-much-Greys-Anatomy-last-night-tired, the tiredness of early pregnancy is experienced by many as a fatigue. If you’re finding it hard to get out of bed in the morning, yawning your way through client meetings, and falling asleep on the sofa before dinner, you may be experience pregnancy fatigue.

Heightened sense of smell Some women notice they are extra sensitive to smells during pregnancy, and this can kick in even before the pregnancy is confirmed. Some women report aversions to smells including petrol (gasoline), laundry detergent and cigarettes.

Feeling emotional As your body begins rapidly producing hormones, you may notice yourself feeling more emotional than usual. If you find yourself sobbing over commercials, and screaming at your partner for using the wrong washing up sponge, it could be pregnancy hormones at play.

Not all women experience all of the symptoms above. You may experience some and not others, you may not notice any symptoms, or you might hit the jackpot and be able to tick each one off your pregnancy bingo scratch card. Each pregnancy is unique, and your symptoms will differ to those of other women. If you have more than one pregnancy, you may notice different early symptoms of pregnancy for each.

If you think you may be pregnant, the most accurate way to find out for sure is to take a home pregnancy test. Wait until the day your period is due, because this increases the accuracy of the test. Read the instructions carefully, and follow them exactly when performing the test. Good luck!

What first made you wonder whether you were pregnant?

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 exhaustion of the first trimester pretty much guarantees most women a good night’s sleep at the start of the pregnancy. Chances are, you’re falling asleep on the sofa long before the watershed. You may find yourself needing more sleep than ever before. No matter how much sleep you get though, you’re probably still exhausted. From the excessive sleeping of the first trimester, to the rare uninterrupted sleep of the third trimester, sleep during pregnancy is never easy.

How should I sleep?

During the first trimester, you don’t need to worry too much about the position you sleep in. Which is handy, because you’re likely to fall asleep in strange places like on the bus, or hiding in the stationery cupboard at work.

As the baby starts to get bigger, and your uterus expands, you’ll need to start paying attention to how you sleep. Pregnant women are advised to avoid sleeping on their tummy once their bump begins to show. By this stage, sleeping on your front will probably be quite uncomfortable anyway.

Around the same time, you’ll need to avoid sleeping on your back too. Your expanding uterus can restrict blood flow when you lie on your back. The uterus compresses the vein that returns blood to the heart, and this can restrict the amount of nutrients and blood reaching the baby. If you do lie on your back for long periods, you may find yourself feeling nauseous and light-headed.

Your healthcare provider will recommend that you sleep on your left hand side throughout the pregnancy. This position will allow the baby to receive the optimum amount of nutrients through the placenta. Sleeping on your left hand side will improve circulation, so your body won’t have to work quite as hard.

Getting a good night’s sleep

It can be difficult to get a good night’s sleep during pregnancy, especially in the last few weeks. You may find yourself needing to use the bathroom throughout the night, and your bump may be preventing you from finding a comfortable position. You may also have a busy mind because of the impending arrival. To try and get a good night’s sleep, you could:

• have a bath to help you relax before bed
• ask your partner for a massage before bed
• drink hot teas (not caffeinated) before bed
• prop yourself up with extra pillows
• sleep with a pillow between your knees
• if you are feeling anxious about anything, speak to your partner about it before you try to sleep

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.