Being pregnant with your first baby can be an exciting and scary process signaling many life changes ahead. If you are an expectant mother, this section is designed to give you the information you need to look after your health and the health of your baby – both during pregnancy and after childbirth.
Obstetricians and gynaecologists are specialist doctors that work in women's healthcare. A gynaecologist is devoted only to the reproductive care of women while an obstetrician is concerned with the care of women during pregnancy and after childbirth.
Most pregnant women know that it’s wise to avoid taking medications during pregnancy, yet sometimes prescription drug use is necessary even for those who are expecting. Read on for an overview of the least to most harmful classes of drugs.
When you become pregnant, it's suddenly not just your own health you have to look after, but also that of your future baby. Here are some health tips to give your baby the best possible start in life.
The birth of a baby can trigger a jumble of powerful emotions, from excitement and joy to fear and anxiety. But it can also result in something you might not expect — depression. If you’d like to learn more about the baby blues and postpartum depression, see the page Postpartum Depression.
Obstetrics deals with problems that arise in maternity care, treating any complications of pregnancy and childbirth and any that arise after the birth. Obstetricians are also concerned with the health of the fetus and, on some occasions, may see women before conception to plan their pregnancy.
Some obstetricians specialise in a particular aspect of maternity care such as:
Gynaecology is the care of women with problems of the female reproductive system, such as the ovaries, tubes, womb, cervix, and vagina. A gynaecologist is devoted only to the reproductive care of women while an obstetrician is concerned with women during and a just after pregnancy. Some gynaecologists specialise in:
Both obstetricians and gynaecologists care for women who have had a miscarriage. Around the world, most specialists work in both obstetrics and gynaecology. However, a growing number are now beginning to work in one particular area.
During pregnancy, medications taken by the expectant mother can cross the placenta and enter the developing baby’s bloodstream. The effect that it has on the unborn baby depends on the medication and the trimester in which the medicine is taken. Harmful consequences may include miscarriage, low birth weight, birth defects, or neonatal abstinence syndrome.
Most pregnant women know that it’s wise to avoid taking medications during pregnancy, yet sometimes prescription drug use is necessary even for those who are expecting. Always consult your doctor before taking any medications – whether prescription, over-the-counter or herbal.
The following overview will give you more information on what the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ranks as the least to most harmful classes of drugs during pregnancy:
When you become pregnant, it's suddenly not just your own health you have to look after, but also that of your future baby. Here are some tips to give your baby the best possible start in life:
About two to three days after childbirth, some women start to feel depressed, anxious and upset. But mild depression and mood swings are common in new mothers—so common, in fact, that it has its own name: the baby blues. The baby blues are perfectly normal and will often fade without treatment within one to two weeks. However, if your symptoms don’t go away or start getting worse, you may have postpartum depression.
Postpartum depression is a more severe and long-lasting depression characterised by intense feelings of sadness, anxiety, or despair. Postpartum depression can prevent new mothers from being able to do their daily tasks. While there is still no known cause, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists state that a combination of factors, including hormonal, social and psychological changes, often play a part.
Postpartum depression symptoms may include:
If you're feeling depressed after your baby's birth, you may be reluctant or embarrassed to admit it. But it's important to get professional help right away as postpartum depression can interfere with your ability to take care of your child. With treatment and support, you can get back on the road to happy motherhood.
Treatment and recovery time vary, depending on the severity of your depression and your individual needs. Postpartum depression is often treated with counselling and antidepressant medication. With appropriate treatment, postpartum depression usually goes away within a few months.
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