The old adage goes…once a C-section, always a C-section. Yet, is another C-section always the only option? Not necessarily! Many doctors are now suggesting that mothers who have undergone a C-section during a prior pregnancy opt for VBAC during later pregnancies. VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Caesarean) is when a woman gives birth vaginally after having previously given birth via C-section. This includes birth assisted by forceps or ventouse. Factors There are several factors your doctor will consider when deciding if you could potentially be suitable for a VBAC. These include: • The reason for t ..read more

Ah the final month, the moment you have been waiting for is within touching distance (literally!). Now all you need is a sign from your little one that he or she is ready to meet you. Here are the telltale signs you need to know that your baby is on its way out.   This was liked and shared by hundreds on our Facebook page last week and it didn’t surprise us one bit. #firstworldpregnancyproblems8 signs labour is coming soon Your baby drops This usually occurs one to four weeks before your due date. This is your baby descending into your pelvis and getting into position to make his final ex ..read more

Pregnancy – No one ever said it was easy. It tends to come with a lot of side effects – morning sickness, backache, tiredness and much more. But try not to worry, here at maternity&infant we will try our best to make those 9 months the best they can possibly be for you. Read: 7 ways your body changes after pregnancy Morning sickness Some of you may scoff and say “morning sickness? Try all day sickness!”. Some of you poor souls may be plagued all day by the effects of “morning sickness” so be prepared to visit the loo a lot during your first few months. Your hormones are creating havoc wit ..read more

During pregnancy, exercise can feel like a chore. You’re already tired, feet may be swollen and still at work for the most part. But exercise can have great health benefits – especially when you’re pregnant. It can help you sleep better, stretch your aching muscles and reduce discomfort and back pain while increasing circulation. The following types of exercises are safe during pregnancy, though some may not be suitable during the last few weeks, and you may need to lessen activity as your pregnancy progresses. Talk to your doctor or midwife before starting exercises that are new to you. Ball ..read more

Giving birth is no picnic, says everyone. But if we all know that, then why are we constantly bombarded with images of women who have ‘bounced back’ after birth? And while we question ourselves, and say ‘it’s not possible’, on some level we all believe that it is. Here are some of the reasons why we’re not bouncing back after birth. Your period Yep, full on periods. They are heavier, they are messier, and your postpartum bleeding (a little thing called lochia) can last anywhere from two weeks to six weeks. So forgive us for avoiding that bikini or gym snap for a while. Your lady bits Don’t ..read more

If you’re anything like us, we don’t tend to travel light. We’re the ones checking in a bag for a weekend away, and if we have the car we don’t see any reason not to bring a rake of food, our beach umbrella, and our sleds, just in case. But when it comes to packing your hospital bag – it doesn’t make sense to bring the whole house with you. You’ll have limited space once you get your hospital bed, and soon you’ll be sharing that space with your little bundle of joy. So here are some things that you definitely don’t need to pack in your hospital bag. Recently bought underwear Yes, you’ll be ..read more

Breech position simply means that your baby is upside down in the womb, i.e. when their feet point towards your vagina, while their head remains upright towards your chest. This isn’t a problem during the course of your pregnancy – for the most part your baby will move around freely in the womb. But at the eighth month, things start to get a little tight. This is the time when your baby will usually get into vertex position – the preferred birthing position for baby. About four per cent of babies remain in breech coming up to their due date. What can you do? If your baby is remains in the b ..read more

Pre-eclampsia is a high blood pressure condition that only occurs in pregnancy. It can occur anytime after 20 weeks but is more common during the last few weeks of pregnancy. If a woman has high blood pressure and protein in her urine, she will be diagnosed with pre-eclampsia. Other symptoms can include liver or kidney abnormalities, persistent headaches and vision changes. When can it be diagnosed? Pre-eclampsia can progress at a slow or rapid pace and symptoms can be mild and severe. Severe symptoms can cause life-threatening complications if they’re not diagnosed and treated quickly. You ..read more

Gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy because the mother’s body is not producing enough insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps the body break down sugar to be used as energy; if the body is not producing enough insulin the amount of blood sugar rises. How does it affect my pregnancy? This develops in pregnancy when some hormones begin to work against how insulin usually operates. High blood sugar levels in the mother’s body that are passed through the placenta to the developing baby can affect the baby’s health. Gestational diabetes occurs in the second half of pregnancy usu ..read more

High risk pregnancies are not common, but they do exist more often than one would think. And this does not constitute the regular discomfort of morning sickness, fatigue, and swollen ankles that most pregnancies present. Pregnancies that are high risk are usually due to preexisting conditions. They can also occur due to complications that arise without warning during pregnancy. What is a high risk pregnancy? A pregnancy is generally categorised as high risk in order to allow medical professionals to monitor progress and intervene if necessary. Common risks include: Age Previous birth exper ..read more