In this book you have access to your own 'midwife' day and night. Examples of question styles include: “I am on the pill, but want to have a baby – what is the next step for me?”; “Why pregnancy. However, only one sperm can enter the inner part of the egg, also called the ovum.
If the embryo successfully attaches to the inside of the uterus and continues to grow, pregnancy occurs. Treatment success rates vary depending on the treatment used and the health status of the couple. It is quite common for not all eggs to be fertilized and for only two or three to develop into embryos.
If this is the case, sperm can be obtained through "sperm recovery", whereby a small needle is passed through the skin of the scrotum into the testicles and the sperm are withdrawn. Some women also experience spotting around the time their period is due, which can be mistaken for a lighter period that occurs when a fertilized egg implants in the uterine wall.
Laxatives: if you suffer from constipation, try natural diet remedies first, such as eating lots of fiber and drinking lots of fluids. Far left: if you're used to running, it's safe to continue doing so during pregnancy, unless you've had problems in this or previous pregnancies. If you decide to transfer care or move, you can take a copy to your new doctor.
Spend some time planning your baby's arrival, such as choosing colors for the nursery. THIRD MONTH: the baby's skin loses its transparency and becomes like a newborn. Depending on your medical history and gestational blood pressure or problems in previous pregnancies, you may be offered additional ultrasounds to check your baby's growth after 26-28 weeks.
During this procedure, the sonographer measures the baby and looks at the physical and structural development (see p.000). Diagnostic tests provide a definitive answer as to whether your baby has an abnormality, such as Down syndrome. During this procedure, a blood sample is taken from the baby's umbilical cord and this is used to diagnose chromosomal abnormalities when previous screening tests have indicated a possible problem.
Midwives undergo special training to find the heartbeat and many will not try to find the heartbeat until the baby is around 10 weeks old, and even then it can be difficult. Confirmation of the diagnosis of a twin or multiple pregnancy can typically be made at 12-16 weeks, but is often made as early as 5-6 weeks by ultrasound when two embryos or two gestational sacs are seen.
CONNECT WITH THE BABY: Even when your baby is in the incubator, there are many ways to stimulate and interact with him. Q: Our baby, born at 24 weeks, is doing well in the NICU but may have brain damage. the risk of any disability in a premature baby is highest at about 23-24 weeks and becomes much lower at 30 weeks. your baby's risk of brain damage depends on whether he has liver, kidney or breathing problems, is underweight, or has other medical conditions besides being premature. some of the most common long-term problems in very premature babies are those related to hearing, vision or fine coordination skills. however, in general, most babies born at 24 weeks do well with few other medical complications. if your baby is fine after a few weeks, that's a good sign. it's only natural that you continue to worry, but you may find it reassuring to talk to the doctors and nurses caring for your baby and be as involved as possible in his care. if your child is having a brain scan or any other type of specialized testing, you will be informed of the purpose and the result. doctors evaluate premature babies every day. stay focused while your child is in the hospital. If your baby has to spend a lot of time in NIC, it can be very difficult to deal with emotionally. there are steps that can help you get through this difficult time. spend as much time as possible with the child in the unit and get involved in their care whenever possible. if your baby stays away for a long time, don't feel guilty about spending time at home away from him. rather use this time to rest and reserve energy for your child. Remember that your child is receiving the best care possible. my child has not yet matured. labor and birth new parents new life. the basis of all problems, especially those related to brain growth and development. after discharge from the neonatal unit, your baby will still be monitored very closely in the clinic. although most serious defects can be detected from birth, it often takes some time before less obvious developmental problems are identified, so this period of follow-up is important. a full program of support should be available if any learning or sensory difficulties are identified.
Q How can we reassure our baby while he is in the neonatal intensive care unit. except in rare situations when your baby may be too sick to be touched, or if there is a high risk of infection, you and your partner will be encouraged to play a very important role in your baby's care and well-being . there are many things you and your partner can do to ensure that your baby knows you are there for him and is reassured by your presence. as well as having lots of physical contact with your baby, touching and caressing him to help with bonding. see above), your baby will also love hearing the sound of your voice, so spend a lot of time talking and singing to him. Q My midwife says I can have my baby at home, but what pain relief will I have. there are a variety of, mostly natural, forms of pain relief that you can use in your own home. alternative therapies, such as aromatherapy, homeopathic kits, reflexology and acupuncture can all be used in the meantime. above: Deeper breaths can help focus your mind and bring a sense of control. breathing in time with contractions helps you endure. exhale to relieve tension after each contraction. using relaxation and breathing techniques can help you relax and manage the contractions throughout your labor. try practicing techniques with your partner before labour. learning to control your breathing has many benefits, including helping you increase your energy reserves and let go of tension and anxiety so you can breathe with the rhythm of the contraction. in the earlier stages of labor you may want to practice taking longer, deeper breaths between contractions to keep you calm and focused. you can also try breathing in slowly at the start of a contraction and then breathing out slowly, continuing this pattern until the contraction is over. later in labor as contractions get stronger, you may find that shorter, lighter breaths help you ride through the contraction. it's all your fault, stop the pain. as a suitably trained person provides it. many women who give birth at home opt for warm water, either in the bath or in a rented pool, as it is an effective form of pain relief. the midwife can also help with position changes, massage and hypno-breathing techniques if natural forms of pain relief do not work. however, you may find that just by having your baby at home, you are less likely to need a lot of pain relief. this is because evidence suggests that women who stay at home as long as possible during labour, or for the whole labour, have a more positive experience, including requiring less pain relief. by adopting the correct positions, using massage, and breathing and relaxation techniques, you may find that you limit the amount of medical pain relief you need.
Q: I've heard that birth control pills can make you feel sick and make your baby sleepy after birth. 10 CM DILATED: At this stage, the cervix has dilated enough for the uterus to push out the baby. If you exercise a lot, your strong abdominal muscles make it harder to push the baby out.
Most units keep you in hospital after this, as nurses will regularly check the baby. Monitoring the baby: the baby's heart rate can be closely monitored on a cardiograph (Ctg) as contractions can be strong and sudden after an induction, increasing the chance that your baby will become fussy. MONITORING YOU AND YOUR BABY: an external monitor checks your baby's heartbeat and your contractions, producing a printout of the readings.
