Reading the bump

The shape of your bump isn’t dictated by the baby’s sex; it depends on its position, your height and weight gain, previous pregnancies and the shape of your pelvis

Pregnancy & Sex (4)

High levels of progesterone and oestrogen during pregnancy will make your breasts and vagina super sensitive and you may orgasm more quickly and more often than usual. As side effects go, it beats getting piles hands down.

Bleeding after sex is usually nothing to worry about. During pregnancy, erosions or small, harmless growths (polyps) can develop on your cervix, which might bleed during penetration. But if you bleed heavily after sex, feel any pain or have contractyions that don’ty subside after 30 minutes, get checked out by your midwife or GP immediately

Some men, faced with their partner’s pregnant curves, will think ‘Let me at her!’ but others may find your new body less sexy. Talk honestly about how you’re both feeling, and if he’s worried about hurting the baby, reassure him that while he is, of course, extremely well-endowed, the baby is well protected in your womb.

What’s so good about breastfeeding

* By breastfeeding you’re protecting your baby from asthma, ear infections, gastro-intestinal infections, childhood diabetes, chest infections, urine infections, eczema and obesity. Not bad really!

* Breastfeeding helps protect you from ovarian cancer, breast cancer and osteoporosis

* Breastmilk is so ideally tailored to your little one’s needs that there is very little waste – some babies go 7-10 days between poos!

* The Government advises exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, but almost 80% of mums have stopped by then. The WHO recommends breastfeeding until two years

Key Trends – Autumn/Winter 2007

With so many trends going on this season, there is something for everyone, pregnant or not. Whether you prefer long or short, feminine or mannish, brights or darks… there should be plenty of options for you to dress in your own pregnancy style this season.

1. Shapes
Fall for striking silhouettes and sculptural shapes like the dramatic maternity coats and trapeze jackets. Add volume with gathered puff sleeves, curvy dresses, the wrap dress and distinctive sculpted knitwear with draping cowl necklines.

2. Femme Fatale
Patent is everywhere this season. Think feminine all the way from your pregnancy figure hugging curves to your luscious red pout and Jackie O shades. Seriously chic.

3. Mannish Tailoring
Give your maternity look a masculine spin with sharp suiting, jackets and wide legged maternity trousers that would sweep the floor if not for your high shine platforms.

4. After 6 Glamour
Steal the spotlight in this season’s pure glamour revival with attention-grabbing pieces like Isabella Oliver’s Wrap Column Dress. Sweep your hair up in a neat chignon and grab your biggest, boldest clutch for guaranteed gorgeousness after dark.

5. Legs, Legs, Legs
Hemlines are rising so flaunt your shapely pins with the key maternity skirt shape, the Mini Skirt or Mini Wrap Dress. Give legs high definition in black opaque tights or jeweled brights in the season’s dark palette.

Breastfeeding myths busted

“Breastfeeding always hurts” – in the early days of breastfeeding, you may feel a ‘tugging’ pain for a few seconds as your baby latches on. If it lasts any longer than this, then your baby probably isn’t latched on properly. Check your positioning immediately with your m,idwife or health visitor.

“If I skip a feed I’ll have more milk” - skipping a feed actually decreases your supply because milk is produced on a supply-and-demand basis. The more you feed, the more you produce.

“Bottlefed babies sleep better” - research proves this is false – and think of the tiome it’ll take you to prepare the bottle

Pregnancy & Sex (3)

A toned pelvic floor will improve your sex life, make labour easier and stop you peeing every time you cough or laugh after the birth. Squeeze your pelvic muscles for at least 10 seconds, relax and repeat 10 times.

The missionary position is not easy for heavily-pregnant women. Instead try spooning, when you both lie on your sides with your partner curled in behind you.

Thank your hormones for all that hot sex you’ll be having with Brad Pitt/George Clooney/the bloke on the train – in your dreams! Some women even orgasm in their sleep (just try explaning that one to your partner….)

Take in a cool bag

Take a small cool bag to hospital to keep snacks in. Stock it with enough for you and your partner as you’re unlikely to be given much food outside of mealtimes.

Isabella Oliver Winter 2007

This season’s luxe lineup includes cuffed wide-legged trousers, sexy ruched shirts with slouchy sleeves, curve-hugging dresses, over-sized cowl-neck sweaters, kimono-inspired tops, racy off-the-shoulder gowns and swimwear (perfect for playing-up up that new-found cleavage). Plus, everything’s available in an earthy color palette (from charcoal grey, ivory to black) that perfectly complements every skin tone.

Ease your labour

Communication is key to a good birth. A midwife can’t read your mind, so tell her what you want and how you’re feeling as your labour progresses, and in return listen to her advice. She’s there to work as a team with you and your partner

Pregnancy & Sex (2)

You may become more easily aroused and moist during foreplay and sex when you’re pregnant, but that doesn’t mean your partner can stop trying!

If you notice your vagina looks or feels slightly swollen, don’t panic. It’s a normal, and temporary, side effect of all that extra blood pumping around your body.
(So that’s just saved you a potentially embarrassing trip to your GP).

If you’re having a low-risk, normal pregnancy, you can have sex right up to the moment your waters break. So, if you’ve nothing more pressing to do between contractions, it could help to pass the time (?!)