Root Arcana

Author: Kath Cutler

TEN QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT NOT WANT TO ASK YOUR DOCTOR ABOUTPREGNANCYQ1. Can I get pregnant following oral sex or heavy petting?No, pregnancy cushion, . You can only, pregnancy cushion, 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 andyou are late for your current period, you may be pregnant.Following implantation of the fertilised egg menstruation shouldnot occur, hence for women who have been sexually active and whohave previously menstruated regularly, the absence of a periodshould be put down to pregnancy.

The most common way to confirm a pregnancy is to purchase andundertake a home test. These are relatively cheap and can bedone in the privacy of your home. The manufacturers claim theyare over 95% accurate.If the home test has a positive result, you should make anappointment 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 sexlife throughout the pregnancy.

Sexual intercourse will not harmthe development of your baby as it is cushioned by a bag offluid in your uterus.Sex during your pregnancy may also help you both unwind andshould help you maintain a strong bond with your partner, readyfor the months ahead. Q4. Does vaginal discharge increases during this time?Yes, unfortunately it does. Vaginal discharge may well, pregnancy cushion, increaseduring all stages of your pregnancy and should be similar to thedischarge you have previously had before a period.

It is only ifthe discharge becomes very thick, smelly or blood stained thatyou need to seek medical assistance. If the cause is aninfection, 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 nolaughing matter.During pregnancy the walls and veins in your anus swell andblood flow becomes sluggish, causing the affected veins to throband become painful.

There are, pregnancy cushion, precautions you can take to help reduce the chancesof developing piles, such as: Eat a high fibre diet and drink lots of fluid to avoidconstipation. Try to relax on the toilet and not strain. Undertake regular exercise and pelvic floor exercisesto help blood flow around your anus.If you do get piles, your doctor, midwife or pharmacist will beable 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. Ifyou want another baby soon (within one year), then short-termmeasures such as the cap or, pregnancy cushion, condom, ideally with the use of aspermicide, are probably the best contraception. Long term, methods such as contraceptive injection, hormoneimplant and ‘the pill’ may be your best options.

Q7. How soon can I have sex after birth?It, pregnancy cushion, is advisable to wait a few weeks after a normal delivery, andup to three months after a caesarean, as healing may take thislength of time. It is important however that, pregnancy cushion, both you and yourpartner agree: neither should feel pressured into it.Be aware that you may feel, pregnancy cushion, dry; though by using water-basedlubricants there is no reason why sex should not be as enjoyableas before.

Q8. How will the midwife measure cervical dilation?The midwife will measure how dilated (or open) the cervix is bygently inserting two fingers into the vagina. She assesses howopen the cervix is by opening her fingers and feeling around itsperimeter. She will also be feeling the position of the cervixand how soft it is. She will always, pregnancy cushion, try to be gentle but sometimes the process canbe slightly uncomfortable.

Try to stay as relaxed as possible:the tenser, pregnancy cushion, you are, the more uncomfortable the procedure willbe. Hold your partner’s hand while the midwife examines you andask 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 watersbreaking. Remember though, if you are not comfortable with thisyou can decline.

If you fully understand the need to have yourwaters broken, and are happy to go ahead, the midwife or doctorwill perform a normal vaginal examination then insert a longthin plastic hook that is a little bit like a crochet hook. Thehook will be brushed over the bag of waters, which will usuallybe enough pressure to break it. The cervix does, however, haveto be sufficiently open for this to be carried out.

Q10. If I have an episiotomy or perineal tear, how will it berepaired?It is not always the case that your perineum (the area betweenthe vaginal entrance and the rectum) will tear or need to becut. Moreover, if it is, there is no way of knowing if you willrequire stitches. Some studies have shown that perineal massagecan help prevent trauma. Your midwife will be able to advise youon this. Sometimes if a small tear has been sustained, it willbe left to heal naturally.

If the area does require stitches, the midwife who has beenlooking after you will usually do it. You will be given localanaesthetic to numb the area before the midwife starts and shewill check that you are unable to feel any pain beforecommencing. These days, stitches are almost always dissolvableand will not need to be removed. Want to know more?If you do want to know more about pregnancy, from conception tolabour, you should take a look at ‘Pregnancy for Beginners’ – acomprehensive, pregnancy cushion, guide for the new mother-to-Be.

Source: articleage.com