Pregnancy Tips: Sex Before And After Pregnancy

GREAT EXPECTATIONS
By Dr Ann Tan, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist |
Women and Fetal Centre, a member of Pacific Healthcare Holdings

reprinted with permission from "Great Expectations by Today's Parents magazine

Until what stage of pregnancy can I still have sex?
Actually both sex and pregnancy are natural events and you can enjoy them concurrently so long as you do not experience any undue pain or bleeding. If you have any particular pregnancy problems of preterm labour/ incompetent cervix or multiple pregnancy, you should consult your obstetrician on the advisability of intercourse. The use of condoms may help to reduce the uterine reactivity by preventing semen from contact with the cervix.

How soon can I have sex after my baby is born?
There is no hard and fast rule and usually the woman is ready in four to six weeks post normal vaginal delivery and Caesarean section too! The vaginal wound is usually a little firm initially but should stretch out once activity is resumed while in the case of a Caesarean delivery, there should be no difference at all. For the latter, deep penetration may cause stretching of the Caesarean scar and that may initially be uncomfortable.

I am six months pregnant and find myself surprisingly more turned on than usual. Why is that?
The hormones of pregnancy are making you more curvy than before and it’s very natural that you might feel more sexy than ever before! Enjoy!

Source: Pregnancy Tips: Sex Before And After Pregnancy

Pregnancy Tips: Too Much Water in Water Bag

GREAT EXPECTATIONS
By Dr Low Kah Tzay, Paediatrician | Mt. Elizabeth Hospital
reprinted with permission from "Great Expectations by Today's Parents magazine

I’m due to have my second baby soon. My doctor says there is a lot of water in the water bag.

What does this mean?

It can be difficult to find out the cause of polyhydramnios (excessive fluid) and, sometimes, no cause can be found. Sometimes the extra fluid is due to a problem with the baby, or with the placenta or with you, the mother.

Possible causes include:

> Maternal diabetes, where your blood sugar levels are not well controlled. Your baby’s urine output increases and this in turn increases the volume of amniotic fluid

> Being pregnant with twins. There may be a particular problem if the babies are identical (monozygotic).

> Infections that affect your baby, such as rubella, cytomegalovirus,toxoplasmosis and syphilis, may be associated with polyhydramnios.

> A congenital problem with the baby occurs in about 20 per cent of polyhydramnios cases. There may be a blockage in the oesophagus (swallowing tube), meaning he cannot swallow the amniotic fluid and control the amount of it around him. It may also be a sign that the baby has a problem with his central nervous system, or with his heart or kidneys.

> Sometimes, polyhydramnios is associated with babies who have chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down’s or Edward syndrome

> In rare cases, the placenta may have developed a tumour or there may be a problem with the arteries in the umbilical cord resulting in polyhydramnios.

Most women with polyhydramnios go on to have healthy babies, particularly if the condition is mild. If you are not known to have diabetes, you will be given an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). If this is high, you may be referred to a diabetes specialist who can get your blood sugar levels down. This will reduce the amount of fluid.

Ultrasound scanning can help spot any problems with your baby. If a detailed scan shows nothing untoward, your baby is usually fine and the polyhydramnios is caused by something else.

There are other laboratory tests for investigating polyhydramnios if infection is suspected. You would be followed up at more frequent intervals as you are at higher risk of going into premature labour, cord prolapse when your water bag ruptures or the placenta starting to come away from the wall of the uterus (abruption placenta).

In mild cases of polyhydramnios, your doctor will advise you to rest or even start your maternity leave early. Even then, because your uterus is so swollen, you may go into labour prematurely.
Go to the hospital immediately if your waters break or you start having contractions.

Dr. Low Kah Tzay is a paediatrician working at Mt Elizabeth Hospital. He specializes in the management of growth and development of children; such as feeding difficulties, language delay, sleep disorders, attention disorders, autistic spectral disorders and learning diffi culties. His website is at www.pediatricdoctor.net.

Sources: Pregnancy Tips: Too Much Water in Water Bag

Pregnancy Tips: Sex Before And After Pregnancy

GREAT EXPECTATIONS
By Dr Ann Tan, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist | Women and Fetal Centre, a member of Pacific Healthcare Holdings

Reprinted with permission from "Great Expectations by Today's Parents magazine

Until what stage of pregnancy can I still have sex?
Actually both sex and pregnancy are natural events and you can enjoy them concurrently so long as you do not experience any undue pain or bleeding. If you have any particular pregnancy problems of preterm labour/ incompetent cervix or multiple pregnancy, you should consult your obstetrician on the advisability of intercourse. The use of condoms may help to reduce the uterine reactivity by preventing semen from contact with the cervix.

How soon can I have sex after my baby is born?
There is no hard and fast rule and usually the woman is ready in four to six weeks post normal vaginal delivery and Caesarean section too! The vaginal wound is usually a little firm initially but should stretch out once activity is resumed while in the case of a Caesarean delivery, there should be no difference at all. For the latter, deep penetration may cause stretching of the Caesarean scar and that may initially be uncomfortable.

I am six months pregnant and find myself surprisingly more turned on than usual. Why is that?
The hormones of pregnancy are making you more curvy than before and it’s very natural that you might feel more sexy than ever before! Enjoy!

Source: Pregnancy Tips: Sex Before and After Pregnancy

Pregnancy Tips: I Am Pregnant, When Should I See A Doctor?

GREAT EXPECTATIONS
By Dr Lai Fon Min
Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist | A Company for Women, Medical Centre | reprinted with permission from "Great Expectations" by Today's Parents magazine


WE JUST FOUND OUT A FEW DAYS AGO I AM PREGNANT AND I BELIEVE I’M 4-6 WEEKS ALONG. HOW SOON DO WE SEE A DOCTOR TO CONFIRM THE PREGNANCY AND THEN WHEN SHOULD WE BOOK IN AN OBSTETRICIAN?

It is a good idea to see your obstetrician as soon as you know you are pregnant if you have had previous difficulty in conceiving or currently have bleeding in pregnancy.

Otherwise, a good time would be between six to eight weeks of pregnancy when an ultrasound scan can be done. The earlier you make your appointment, the earlier your pregnancy can be dated and your due date calculated.

Be prepared for lots of questions as your obstetrician needs to establish an accurate picture of your health, your husband’s health and both of your families’ medical history. Here are some of the things he may ask you:

Date of last period – knowing the date of your last monthly period, or LMP, allows your doctor to calculate your due date. You will also be offered a dating ultrasound scan to confirm that the pregnancy is in the correct place to get a more accurate idea of how far along the pregnancy you are and to see if you are expecting more than one baby.

Previous miscarriages, abortions and births – this information is important and could have a bearing on how well you cope with pregnancy this time around. It has an impact on how your obstetrician manages your labor.

Family history of disease/genetic conditions screening is now available for known genetic conditions, such as ß-thalassemia major, so if you have a family history, your obstetrician can explain and organise tests.

A family history of allergies, heart disease or certain other major medical conditions could all have a bearing on your pregnancy, so go prepared with any relevant information about you and your husband’s medical history.

Your lifestyle – your obstetrician will ask a few questions about how much alcohol you drink and whether you smoke. As both can affect your baby’s health, your obstetrician will offer advice on how to quit smoking in addition to advice on diet and other aspects of daily life

Source: Pregnancy Tips: I Am Pregnant, When Should I See A Doctor?