Incontinence is a common problem during pregnancy and following childbirth. This can be either urinary incontinence or bowel incontinence. According to the HSE, 1 in 13 women following childbirth suffer with leaking from the back passage and 1 in 6 women will pass wind without being able to control it following childbirth. This can have a significant impact on your quality of life and your daily activities. Urinary Incontinence After Childbirth Hormonal changes during pregnancy together with the increasing weight of the baby stretch the pelvic floor muscles which cause them to become weaker an ..read more

According to the HSE about 40% to 85% of all women who give birth vaginally will experience perineum tearing with two thirds of these women needing stitches. Your perineum is the area between your vaginal opening and your rectum. This area stretches a lot during childbirth, and sometimes it tears. If your health care provider performs an episiotomy during birth, it is this area that is cut. Perineal massage during the late stage of pregnancy can be to prepare the perineum for delivery. It loosens the tight perineal muscles, which softens and flexes the birth canal. Follow these steps to massag ..read more

Heavy bleeding after giving birth is called postpartum haemorrhage. According to WebMD It affects up to 5% of women who give birth. It’s most likely to happen within the first 24 hours after delivery but it can happen anytime within the first 12 weeks after your baby is born. Postpartum haemorrhage can be primary or secondary: Primary PPH is when you lose 500 ml or more of blood within the first 24 hours after the birth of your baby. Primary PPH can be minor, where you lose 500–1000 ml, or major, where you lose more than 1000 ml. Secondary PPH occurs when you have abnormal or heavy vaginal bl ..read more

Perinatal Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is when a woman develops OCD during pregnancy or after birth. According to the Health Service Executive Perinatal OCD affects at least 2 in every 100 women. Perinatal OCD has three main symptoms: Obsessions - frequent unpleasant thoughts, images, urges or doubts. Anxiety - distress caused by these unpleasant thoughts. Compulsions – behaviours (e.g., washing of hands) or mental acts (e.g., counting) that the person keeps repeating, to try to reduce their anxiety or to prevent bad things from happening. Symptoms of Perinatal OCD: Intense fear that ..read more

According to the Australian journal of general practice Anaemia in pregnancy is a significant global health problem, with 38% of women worldwide affected, predominantly because of an iron deficiency. What is Iron Deficiency? Iron deficiency is a progressive process, in which iron stores fall, from being replete to deplete and finally absent, consequently resulting in iron deficiency anaemia. In pregnancy, iron deficiency is usually due to an imbalance of demand and supply, which worsens as pregnancy advances. Iron utilisation is increased during pregnancy, as iron is required for foetal growth ..read more

Postpartum PTSD is a mental health condition that affects women following childbirth. The condition develops out of a traumatic experience that took place before, during or shortly after the birth. The long-term consequences of PTSD after childbirth can be devastating for the mother and her family. Women who have experienced PTSD may experience nightmares resulting in conditioned insomnia, difficulties with breastfeeding, impaired bonding with the child, difficult sexual relations with their partner, and poor sense of self-worth. According to the HSE Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Services ..read more

Postnatal depression can bring on chronic feelings of shame, loneliness, and hopelessness. According to the HSE up to 10% of people experience depression after the birth of a child. Only 25% of women with postnatal depression seek psychiatric treatment as part of their recovery plan. At Lloydspharmacy we are here to support and encourage you on your journey to recovery. It is vital you reach out to a friend, your pharmacist, or your doctor. There are three main types of postnatal mood changes that can occur within the first year after giving birth. Postnatal Mood Changes: Baby Blues: The baby ..read more

When you become pregnant there are a few aspects of your lifestyle that may need to be changed, mainly to the food or drinks you may consume. We have compiled a list of lifestyle changes we would recommend making, to ensure you and your baby stay safe throughout this exciting journey. Many of our colleagues at LloydsPharmacy have experienced the journey of pregnancy themselves, so we know how important it is to have the right information for what is best for you and your baby. Alcohol and cigarettes We advise not drinking any alcohol throughout your pregnancy. This will give your baby a better ..read more

As you go through your pregnancy, you may experience a range of different symptoms at different stages. We have complied a list of common symptoms in each trimester and some helpful tips on how to manage them. Many of our colleagues at LloydsPharmacy have experienced the journey of pregnancy themselves, so we know that sudden changes to your body can be slightly unnerving. Our teams are here to help you throughout your journey, at every stage. Trimester 1 Morning sickness Many women suffer from morning sickness or nausea during the first trimester. Although known as morning sickness it can h ..read more

Umbilical cord care After your baby is born there will a small piece of the umbilical cord left, usually 2-3 cm. This will fall off in 5 – 15 days. However, before it falls off there are few precautions you should take to ensure it stays healthy and there are no infections. Practice good hand hygiene before and after touching the cord. Use cotton wool and cooled boiled water to clean around the base of the cord. Ensure the cord is dry after you’ve cleaned it. Make sure the nappy doesn’t cover the cord. You can fold the top of the nappy to ensure this is possible. Keep an eye on the cord and l ..read more