Ten Questions About Pregnancy You Might Not Want To Ask Your Doctor
by:
Alan Cutler
TEN QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT NOT WANT TO ASK YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT PREGNANCY
Q1. Can I get pregnant following oral sex or heavy petting?
No. You can only get pregnant from full sexual intercourse.
Q2. How will I know if I am pregnant?
If you have had sexual intercourse since your last period and you are late for your current period, you may be pregnant. Following implantation of the fertilised egg menstruation should not occur, hence for women who have been sexually active and who have previously menstruated regularly, the absence of a period should be put down to pregnancy.
The most common way to confirm a pregnancy is to purchase and undertake a home test. These are relatively cheap and can be done in the privacy of your home. The manufacturers claim they are over 95% accurate.
If the home test has a positive result, you should make an appointment to see your doctor.
Q3. Is it safe to have sex during pregnancy?
For most couples it is normal for them to enjoy an active sex life throughout the pregnancy. Sexual intercourse will not harm the development of your baby as it is cushioned by a bag of fluid in your uterus.
Sex during your pregnancy may also help you both unwind and should help you maintain a strong bond with your partner, ready for the months ahead.
Q4. Does vaginal discharge increases during this time?
Yes, unfortunately it does. Vaginal discharge may well increase during all stages of your pregnancy and should be similar to the discharge you have previously had before a period. It is only if the discharge becomes very thick, smelly or blood stained that you need to seek medical assistance. If the cause is an infection, it can be easily treated with creams or tablets.
Q5. Will I get piles/haemorrhoids?
You may. Although people laugh and joke about piles, they are no laughing matter.
During pregnancy the walls and veins in your anus swell and blood flow becomes sluggish, causing the affected veins to throb and become painful.
There are precautions you can take to help reduce the chances of developing piles, such as:
„Ï Eat a high fibre diet and drink lots of fluid to avoid constipation.
„Ï Try to relax on the toilet and not strain.
„Ï Undertake regular exercise and pelvic floor exercises to help blood flow around your anus.
If you do get piles, your doctor, midwife or pharmacist will be able to suggest a suitable cream to ease the pain.
Q6. What is the best contraception to use after birth?
This will depend on how soon you wish to have another baby. If you want another baby soon (within one year), then short-term measures such as the cap or condom, ideally with the use of a spermicide, are probably the best contraception.
Long term, methods such as contraceptive injection, hormone implant and ¡¥the pill¡¦ may be your best options.
Q7. How soon can I have sex after birth?
It is advisable to wait a few weeks after a normal delivery, and up to three months after a caesarean, as healing may take this length of time. It is important however that both you and your partner agree: neither should feel pressured into it.
Be aware that you may feel dry; though by using water-based lubricants there is no reason why sex should not be as enjoyable as before.
Q8. How will the midwife measure cervical dilation?
The midwife will measure how dilated (or open) the cervix is by gently inserting two fingers into the vagina. She assesses how open the cervix is by opening her fingers and feeling around its perimeter. She will also be feeling the position of the cervix and how soft it is.
She will always try to be gentle but sometimes the process can be slightly uncomfortable. Try to stay as relaxed as possible: the tenser you are, the more uncomfortable the procedure will be. Hold your partner¡¦s hand while the midwife examines you and ask him to try and distract you.
Q9. How will the hospital staff break my waters if they need to?
The midwife will discuss with you why you might need your waters breaking. Remember though, if you are not comfortable with this you can decline. If you fully understand the need to have your waters broken, and are happy to go ahead, the midwife or doctor will perform a normal vaginal examination then insert a long thin plastic hook that is a little bit like a crochet hook. The hook will be brushed over the bag of waters, which will usually be enough pressure to break it. The cervix does, however, have to be sufficiently open for this to be carried out.
Q10. If I have an episiotomy or perineal tear, how will it be repaired?
It is not always the case that your perineum (the area between the vaginal entrance and the rectum) will tear or need to be cut. Moreover, if it is, there is no way of knowing if you will require stitches. Some studies have shown that perineal massage can help prevent trauma. Your midwife will be able to advise you on this. Sometimes if a small tear has been sustained, it will be left to heal naturally.
If the area does require stitches, the midwife who has been looking after you will usually do it. You will be given local anaesthetic to numb the area before the midwife starts and she will check that you are unable to feel any pain before commencing. These days, stitches are almost always dissolvable and will not need to be removed.
Want to know more?
If you do want to know more about pregnancy, from conception to labour, you should take a look at ¡¥Pregnancy for Beginners¡¦ ¡V a comprehensive guide for the new mother-to-Be. Written by a State Registered Midwife, it is a simple, easy-to-understand, yet comprehensive, book you can download to your computer in minutes. See www.pregnancyfacts.org for full details of this invaluable guide for the newly pregnant woman.
About the author:
Written by a practising midwife, this article gives a taster for her comprehensive, yet easy-to-read ebook, ¡¥Pregnancy for Beginners ¡V The Complete Guide for the First-Time Mother-to-Be¡¦, a unique source of advice for newly pregnant women. See www.pregnancyfacts.org
Lingerie Makes Great Gift
for Him and Her
by: Jim Jin
It is cliché to say that lingerie is the gift that “gives to him and
her”, or is “the gift that gives back” because clearly the man does not
lose when he gives lingerie out as a present. The only time the plan
backfires is when he gets something in the wrong style—or much worse—the
wrong size. But when the man puts some time and consideration into the
purchase of some lingerie, he and the receiver are rewarded which is why
it makes a great gift.
Too often men find themselves tempted to buy whatever they happen to
find attractive or sexy. These same men are then surprised later on when
their girlfriend or wife is utterly repulsed by the lingerie and refuses
to wear the garment. It takes a special kind of woman to tolerate a thong
but men continue to thrust their desires into lingerie purchasing
decisions that utterly conflict with the desires and tastes of the
partner. Thong sales only account for 23% of all lingerie purchases which
is why odds are that a woman probably will not appreciate a thong as much
as the man giving it.
In order to make a lingerie gift successful, the man must do his
homework. What about her body is she most proud of? Whatever part of the
body this happens to be, make sure to buy lingerie that accentuates this.
For a woman who is particularly proud of her cleavage, a halter might be
the way to go but a chemise would probably be best for someone with nice
legs. No matter what part of the body she happens to be most comfortable
with, there is definitely a piece of lingerie out there made to complement
it.
The color of the lingerie is very important to consider as well. When
deciding upon color, you have to take into account the partner’s hair.
Blondes tend to do best with lighter colors or even pastels. Brunettes
need a color that accentuates their darker hues so purples or even dark
greens and reds work well for women with this color of hair. Redheads need
a dark color but it must be complementary which is why greens and blues
work best.
Now lingerie need not only look great—it must feel even better!
Basically, if you enjoy touching it, she should enjoy wearing it. Silks
and satins are always great choices as they are always smooth to the touch
and feel great on her as well. For men or women shopping online, only buy
fabrics that you are personally familiar with so you know what to expect.
The right style, color, and fabric will not make the slightest
difference in the world if you get the wrong size. Too many sad jokes are
made about men trying to size up their partner’s cup size by using their
hands to cup imaginary breasts. Anyone shopping (either online or at a
retailer) should know the sizes of the garments they are after before ever
looking at styles and colors. If it is possible, ask. If not, you will
have to play detective and sneak a peak at her unmentionables while she is
in the shower or something. No matter how you do it, just make sure you
get those sizes or it may come back to haunt you.
Lingerie can definitely be one of the most intimate and rewarding gifts
a person can give or receive. When the desires, size, body, and tastes of
the receiver are taken into consideration when making a purchase, lingerie
can be rewarding to the buyer in ways no other gift possibly can. But,
when a person buys something that they will like without being considerate
of the person they are expecting to wear the item, a lingerie purchase can
backfire. Lingerie should be a gift that a person remembers fondly so be
sure to think of how she would feel wearing the item before buying and you
are sure to have many happy returns!
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