FAQ

Most women start to feel their baby move around 20 weeks gestation. However, with subsequent babies, it may be as early as 16 weeks.
Baby’s movements can be described as anything from a kick or a flutter, to swish or a roll.

Movements are unique for every woman, and for every pregnancy. It is important to get to know your baby’s unique pattern of movements.
There is no set number of normal movements. Each time you feel the movements are reduced, please contact me for appropriate advice. I will organize for the baby’s heartbeat monitoring and further tests as required to ensure the baby’s well being.

Most women can safely maintain their pre-pregnancy level of exercise while pregnant. However, as pregnancy progresses, the body goes through significant changes, such as increased resting heart rate,increased laxity (looseness) of joints, changes in centre of gravity. Therefore, modifications to programs may need to be considered. In general 150 minutes of moderate exercise in a week is recommended during pregnancy.
Women who were previously sedentary can safely commence a light exercise program and gradually build up to the recommended amount under expert guidance.
Women with complicated pregnancies or a serious medical condition, or those who exercise at the elite athlete level, may need to modify their program.
As a general rule, contact sports and activities that carry high risk of falling(eg: rollerblading)are best avoided.

Pre-pregnancy:

I recommend that you check your rubella (German measles) and varicella (chickenpox) immunization status before falling pregnant. This requires only a simple blood test with your GP or obstetrician/gynecologist.
If you are not immune to one or both of these viruses you should see your GP and get vaccinated. However as these vaccines are not safe to have during pregnancy, you will then need to wait another 3 months before attempting to fall pregnant.

During pregnancy:

Once pregnant I recommend that you receive the annual flu (influenza) vaccine. It is safe to have it at all stages of pregnancy including the first trimester. It is free for pregnant woman and available at your General Practitioner (GP)
The vaccine will also protect your baby from influenza for the first six months of life. Pregnant women are unfortunately both at increased risk of catching seasonal flu and also more likely to become seriously unwell if they do contract it.

Whooping cough vaccine:

Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a highly contagious disease caused by bacteria. It is spread by droplets from coughing and sneezing. It causes serious in infants under 12 months of age, while older children and adults usually have milder disease.

Adult pertussis booster vaccines (combined with diphtheria and tetanus) are recommended for all women in the third trimester of each pregnancy, regardless of when their last vaccine was administered. The optimal time for vaccination is between 28 and 32 weeks. This allows the protection of the newborn by the transfer of high levels of antibodies across the placenta from the vaccinated woman to the fetus.

Protection is not life-long and begins to fade after 6-10 years. I, therefore  recommend that partners, family and anyone else who will have contact with your baby should have a booster every ten years. Boostrix® is completely safe when administered in pregnancy.

Folic is recommended at least one month before conception and for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy at a dose of 500 mcg daily. Iodine 125mcg daily is required once you are pregnant. It is an essential mineral for your baby’s development.
I recommend a daily pregnancy multivitamin, such as Elevit or Blackmores as these already include folate, iodine, Vitamin B3 and iron avoiding the need to take anything more than a single tablet.

A normal balanced diet helps achieve the dietary requirements of most essential vitamins and minerals.

In certain circumstances, I would recommend additional iron, VitaminB12, Vitamin D, Calcium or magnesium supplements.