Pregnancy | Postpartum
There are a number of essential items you will need during
your pregnancy, and a long list of items that you need to buy so you are
prepared for your baby’s arrival.
While you are pregnant, you will need:
To prepare for your baby, you need to set up their nursery, get a car seat, clothes, nappies, a pram, a changing mat, and the list goes on, and on! Download our handy baby checklist to help you get everything you need for your exciting new
arrival.
When expecting a baby, your body experiences significant hormonal shifts that can cause a range of symptoms. No two pregnancies are the same, so symptoms can vary greatly from person to person. However, some common early pregnancy symptoms include fatigue, changes in breast tissue, missed periods, frequent urination, and morning sickness. A missed period is often the first indication of pregnancy, accompanied by nausea and vomiting in more than half of pregnant women. Many can also experience fatigue, frequent urination, food cravings, back pain, and shortness of breath during the later stages of pregnancy.
Every woman is different, and everyone’s pregnancy experience will be different, but some may start to notice early signs ofpregnancy like nausea or tender breast tissue as early as a week or two after conception. If you start to experience these symptoms, this is when you should take a pregnancy test.
Symptoms will become more noticeable at around four-six weeks, this is when you may start to experience morning sickness and vomiting. You may also notice that you are feeling more tired and exhausted, more emotional, and you may experience strange cravings and reactions to certain foods.
Feeling prepared for the birth of your baby will help you
feel more relaxed and stress free on the days and weeks leading up to your due
date. It’s important to have your hospital bag packed and ready to go at least
three weeks before your baby is due.
In your hospital bag you will need:
To make sure you don’t miss a thing, you can download our helpful
hospital bag checklist.
It is entirely safe to travel while pregnant, depending on how far along you are.
The best and safest time to travel when you are pregnant is during your second trimester, from 14 to 28 weeks. This time is when you will feel at your best, and when risks are at their lowest. Travelling too early while pregnant is risky because this is when miscarriages can be more common.
After the 36-week mark, health care professionals strongly advise against travelling or flying, and some airlines won’t allow this anyway.
Bland and dry foods such as bananas, rice and toast can be easy to digest when experiencing morning sickness. There is also some evidence to suggest that food and drink containing ginger can help to ease nausea and vomiting.
It’s also important that you try to get plenty of rest and sleep, as fatigue can make nausea worse. Avoid smells that make you feel sick, and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
Try snacking little and often, eat small frequent meals with plain foods like bread, crackers and pasta.
After giving birth, midwives often recommend at least a few days of bed rest, or up to a full week if possible, as your body goes through some major changes. You can expect vaginal discharge, known as lochia, as your body sheds the blood and tissue from your uterus. The discharge is heavy and bright red in the beginning, potentially containing blood clots, and will eventually become lighter in colour. Remember that recovering from pregnancy and childbirth is not a quick process and can vary from person to persom. Although many women may feel mostly recovered after 6-8 weeks, it is not uncommon to take longer to feel like yourself again. Additionally, some new mums may experience emotional postpartum effects such as the baby blues or feeling down or anxious.
