Pregnancy & Sex (8)

You might be feeling sick, washed out and bloated, but to the average bloke on the street, your pregnancy curves are the ultimate sign of fertilioty. So don’t be alarmed if your previously surly bus driver starts winking at you in the morning

If deep penetration becomes uncomfortable as yopur pregnancy progresses, tilting your hips upwards and supporting them with a pillow will stop your man thrusting too deeply

Accept that there will be times during your pregnancy when you and your partner are out of sync sexually and try to maintain intimacy in non-sexual ways, like having a cuddle or just holding hands

Aspirin may help pre-eclampsia

Recent research suggests that aspirin could play a role in reducing the likelyhood of pre-eclamsia in some women. A study of more than 32,000 pregnant women found that cases of this potentially life-threatening condition were reduced by 10% if aspirin was taken.
However, you should never take aspirin during your pregnancy without medical advice

Pregancy & Sex (6)

Nocturnal action your partner may find less loveable is snoring. A third of all women snore during pregnancy as hormones can cause the membranes in your nose to swell. Great

If anal sex is part of your repertoire, you can continue (carefully), but use a condom. Anal sex won’t harm your baby directly, but your man should wash thoroughly afterwards so you avoid and potential vaginal infection or transmission of bugs such as E. coli

If your partner doesn’t fancy an eyeful of breastmilk, tell him to stay away from your boobs for a bit. Post-birth boobs may spurt milk at embarassing moments – but once you’ve suffered the physical indignities of giving birth, you won’t find this nearly as mortifying as you’d think

Are You In Labour?

Your uterus has an annoying way of practising for the big day, and sometimes it can be hard to tell if it’s just adry run or the real thing. Here’s how to tell the difference:
It’s probably a practise run if:
- you get infrequent, irregular pains
- you can talk at the same time as having one
- the pain diappears when you change position, walk or
rest
- you only feel pain in your lower abdomen

It’s probably the real thing if:
- the pains grow steadily more frequent and intense
- the pain lasts about 40 seconds or more
- you can’t focus on anything else
- the pressure stretches across your abdomen or back, radiating to the front

Help in easing heartburn

* Avoid large meals – eat little and often instead
* Relax – don’t rush your food, and avoid drinking too much at the same time.
* Sit upright after meals and prop yourself up with plenty of pillows at night
* Avoid trigger foods such as spicy dishes or citrus fruit, particularly in the evening, and have a mik drink before bed.
* Try homepathy or aromatherapy. Or ask your pharmacist’s advice – you can take certain medicines for heartburn in pregnancy

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Semen contains substances called prostaglandins, which can soften the cervix and kick-start contractions to bring on an overdue labour. If you’re not due, the only thing to move should be the earth…

Oral sex is fine, but hormones can make your vaginal secretions taste stronger. And make sure your partner knows that blowing into your vagina can be dangerous for you and the baby.

Up in Smoke

The health risks that passive smoking pose to your unborn baby are much higher than previously thought, say researchers from the US and China. Studies found that a third of women whose partners smoked more than 20 cigarettes a day had a miscarriage within six weeks of conceiving. Cigarette smoke damages the chromosomes in sperm, and women who are exposed to tobacco smoke can also suffer from a reduced blood flow to the placenta and iregular hormone levels. These are just some of the factors that can contribute to early miscarriage say the scientists

Morning Sickness – you’re not alone

According to a poll on Prima Baby’s www.babyexpert.co.uk, morning sickness affects 7 out of 10 mums-to-be. More than half (56%) start feeling queasy between four and eight weeks. But 4% said they felt nauseous within a week of concdeption and 5% only started feeling ill after 12 weeks.
The good news is that 55% said the nausea eased between three and four months and 66% said it stopped completely by five months.
However, 13% said their symptoms continued until the birth!

Pregnancy & Sex (7)

After you orgasm, you may not feel your baby move for a bit, or he may go bonkers. That’s because contractions in your uterus caused by your climax can soothe some babies and stimulate others.

Your GP may advise you against sex during your pregnancy if you have a history of miscarriage or low-lying placenta, or are diagnosed with an incompetent cervix. Time to polish up your foreplay skills then.

Sexual desire can fluctuate from day to day during pregnancy, so if you jump on your partner as soon as he walks in the door one night and get into bed in your biggest up-to-the-armpits pants the next, blame it on your hormones

What’s to know about breastfeeding?

* The consistency of your milk changes throughout each feed – it’s thin and watery at first, then once your baby’s thirst is quenched, it becomes thick, creamy and full of calories and nutrients

* Don’t be worried about breastfeeding in public, 71% of mums feel comfortable about doing it while out and about

* Don’t panic if your new born feeds constantly for the first few weeks – he’s stimulating your milk supply, the more he feeds, the more you’ll make.

* In Africa, on average, mums feed for 16 to 28 months.

* Breastfeeding for just one month has health benefits for the first 14 years of your child’s life.