You have missed a period and think you may be pregnant, what now?

Probably the easiest thing to do would be to get a home pregnancy test, available from most Pharmacy’s and supermarkets but that’s where the fun begins……so many to choose from, which one is best? 

A home pregnancy test will measure the presence of the hormone human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) in your urine. A pregnancy test of 20 IU/L will be more sensitive than one with 50 IU/L, you can check this information on the box. Normally a more sensitive testing kit will be more expensive, some are so sensitive they can detect this hormone up to 4 days prior to your expected period! 

How do I use the test?

How to test can vary depending on which brand you use so it is important to read the instructions very carefully. You can test anytime of the day, however, urine is more concentrated first thing in the morning! 

Now for the fun bit……testing your wee!

Some will tell you to wee directly onto a stick (such fun!) and others will ask you to pee into a pot and then place a sample strip into the urine. Basically they will all measure the amount of hCG in your body and then give you the result. Some will spell it out for you by writing ‘pregnant’ or ‘not pregnant’ in a window( nice and simple) others will tell you to look for a coloured line usually blue or pink. 

How long do I wait?

You can usually check the results within a few minutes, however, these minutes will seem like hours! 

Missed your period but have a negative test result? 

If this has happened but you think you still may be pregnant, wait a few days and test again. The levels of hCG in your urine may not have reached a level where they can be detected. Drinking large quantities before testing could also dilute the hormone.

Get the time right!There is little chance of you getting pregnant if you are not having intercourse when you are ovulating. It’s a good idea to get to know your cycle to be sure of when the time is right, basically, ovulation happens 14 days before your next menstrual period. Sperm can live in your body for approximately 4-5 days and your egg, once released, can live for up to 48 hours. If you have intercourse around this time then you have a 25% chance of becoming pregnant! Doesn’t seem much of a chance does it really, especially if you are really feeling desperate for a child. The good news is that 75-85% of women will get pregnant within a year!

Morning, afternoon or night?Make love first thing in the morning as his semen will have a higher sperm count! A friend of mine also swears by elevating her hips on a pillow directly after making love, it worked for her, she has three little ones.

Get your position right!What position is best for conception…..it’s the missionary! Apparently if the man is on top you get deeper penetration which will allow his sperm to be closer to the cervix. Try to enjoy your love making and not just be thinking about conceiving, studies have proven that women who are relaxed and more aroused will give the sperm a higher chance of reaching her egg. Feeling anxious and depressed can have an adverse effect, a good excuse to buy yourself something sexy and take up yoga to feel your best mentally and physically.

Can your man help?Of course he plays a major role in conception but ensure he is fit, healthy, not smoking or drinking too much. Get rid of all his tight fitting pants and get him into some loose boxers. A man’s testes can overheat if a man’s pants are too tight which will mean he will be unable to produce sufficient sperm. Keep him out of saunas and hot tubs too! Finally…..Good Luck but if you are having trouble conceiving after one year of unprotected intercourse then see your G.P for some expert help.

Stopping contraception is probably the first thing you will think about when you have decided the time is right to try for a baby. If you have been taking the contraceptive pill then the time it will take for your fertility to return to normal will depend on the type you have been using. It can return to normal fairly quickly if you have been using the combined oral contraceptive pill, progestagen only pill or implants.

Progestagen injections can take longer for your ovulation to return to normal, sometimes as long as eighteen months.

Obviously if you have been using barrier methods then as soon as you stop using them you can become pregnant straight away depending on which stage of your cycle you are in.

Did you know that to fall pregnant, you will need to have intercourse around the time of ovulation. This is when an egg is released into the fallopian tube ready to be fertilized by a sperm. You can work this out by getting to know your menstrual cycle. A regular menstrual cycle is generally every 28 days which means ovulation would take place around day 14. At the time of ovulation your vaginal discharge becomes thinner and stretchy helping to allow sperm to pass through your cervix ready to fertilize your egg.

Don’t worry if it you don’t conceive straight away

·         60% of couples take six months

·         80% will take twelve months 

It isn’t always an easy decision to make but once you have decided to start trying for a family, it’s an ideal time to make some life changes that will benefit you and your chances of conception.

Your diet

We all know that eating fruit and vegetables is good for us but it can be beneficial to you and your baby to try to eat as healthily as possible so you can improve fertility and have a healthy pregnancy.

·         Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.

·         Eat a varied diet to ensure you are getting all nutrients your body needs.

·         Try to limit ‘fast food’ which is often high in salt and cut back on tea and coffee.

·         Take folic acid prior to conceiving and up to the 12^th week of pregnancy, this can significantly reduce the risk of spina bifida.

·         If you feel you may be lacking in nutrients then take a supplement designed especially for pregnancy or ask your G.P for advice.

Healthy Weight
Try to get to a healthy weight before conceiving, being under-weight or over-weight has an effect on your fertility.

• If you are over-weight you will be at increased risk of high blood pressure or you could even develop diabetes.

• Being under-weight can increase the pressure put on your body during pregnancy and giving birth

• Have a health check up with your G.P who will advise you of a healthy weight and B.M.I for optimum chances of conception

Smoking
Smoking affects fertility in both women and men.

·         Male smokers generally have a lower sperm count, it also affects their sperm quality and mobility.

·         Woman smokers will have higher oestrogen levels than non-smokers which can result in irregular ovulation.

·         Stopping smoking will increase your chances of conceiving and will be beneficial to your health and that of your baby.

·         Babies born to smokers often have a lower birth weight.

Alcohol          
We all know that drinking vast amounts of alcohol has an effect on our health.

• Drinking small amounts of alcohol regularly can affect a man’s sperm count or make the sperm produced abnormal or low in mobility.

• To increase your chances of conception and to improve sperm quality you should try to give up alcohol for three months before trying for a baby.

• It’s a good idea for women to give up too, as alcohol can increase the chances of miscarriage.

Finally don’t forget to try to exercise at least three times a week to get your heart pumping and get you fit and ready for coping with a new born.

We’ve all heard the ‘breast is best’ information all about the benefits of breast feeding your baby but what if you cannot breast feed or simply don’t want to? 

There are certainly a lot of positive things about breast feeding but if it makes you un-easy or unhappy then bottle feeding your baby can make you both relax.  

Getting well organised for bottle feeding is important so you can enjoy it. In time you’ll find your own routine for preparing feeds and sterilising. 

What you’ll need 

• At least six bottles and teats- there are different kind of bottles and teats. Ask your mid-wife, health visitor or other mothers if you need advice on what to buy.

• A supply of baby milk-there are lots of different brands of baby milk (infant formula) all marketed in different ways. It may well get a bit confusing when you are confronted with the wide choice. Your health visitor or mid-wife can help you choose the right brand for your baby.

• Sterilising equipment-chemical sterilising, sterilising by boiling, steam sterilisers or microwave steam units can all be used, as you must sterilise bottles and teats until your baby is at least six months old to avoid infection. 

The advantages of bottle feeding 

• You can get your partner or family member involved more by sharing feeding times, it’s great for them and will give you some free time.

• If it is possible, get some help with the night feeds, a great chance for you to get more sleep! 

Don’t let people make you feel like you’re not a good parent because you bottle-feed your baby, the most important thing is that you and your baby are happy!

Your child is dry all day and out of nappies yet, seems to be struggling with staying dry at night. It can be irritating, with lots more washing and interrupted sleep, however, bedwetting up to the age of five is considered normal.

1. Try not to get upset with your child even if it is happening in the middle of the night and you are desperate for a decent sleep.

2. Your child may be afraid to get up to go to the toilet in the dark, maybe a night light could help or simply putting a potty in their room.

3. Get a good mattress cover if it is happening regularly.

4. Although cutting back on the amount of fluids they drink may seem like a good solution, the bladder will adjust to the amount of fluid drunk, so in the long term it will adjust to holding less and could cause you more problems.

5. Avoid fizzy drinks and drinks with caffeine before bedtime as these can stimulate the kidneys to produce more fluid.

6. Check to see if something is upsetting your child.

Relax, and try not to get too stressed as this will only make matters worse. Most children simply grow out of wetting. If this does not happening by the time your child starts school, talk to your GP or health visitor who will enable you to get expert help.

You think your child is showing all signs that they are ready for the potty……what now? It can be a really nerve racking time, finally removing the nappy. It can make you anxious but try as hard as you can to remain calm or you will just make your child anxious too! Relax, be prepared for a few accidents and try to spend time at home where you have the potty within easy reach and a spare change of clothes.  

• Leave the potty around where your child can see it and get to know what it is for.

• It’s a great example if you let your child see you using the toilet and explain what you are doing.

• If your child regularly opens his or her bowels at the same time each day, take off the nappy and suggest they use the potty instead.

• As soon as you see your child knows when he or she is going to pee, try the same thing.

• If your child does manage to use the potty successfully, give them praise, but don’t try to make it a big deal.

You will probably be brimming with excitement if they do use the potty but try to be calm and save the celebrations until they are in bed! If your child gets upset at the idea of having to use the potty, pop their nappy back on and try again in a few weeks time, they may need a little more time. 

Your child will know when their time is right for using the potty, just offer plenty of support and encouragement!

No more nappies to change, may be a great thought but it’s also a little daunting….just when is it the right time to put them in pants and get out the potty? Children get bladder control when they are physically ready for it and want to be dry and clean. The age varies greatly so don’t compare your child with others.

·         By the age of around two children are dry during the day.

·         Most children can control their bowels before their bladdersThe good news is that .

·         By the age of three, nine out of ten children will be dry most days All child have the odd accident, it can happen when they are busy and simply forget because they are too engrossed in whatever they doing! Excitement or being upset can also bring on the odd accident.  Just remember that when your mother-in-law keeps telling you that all her children were in pants by 18 months of age, don’t feel like you are failing! It was a long time ago that her children were small and time distorts our memories and don’t forget all children are different. You shouldn’t force your child to use a potty, just give plenty of encouragement when you feel the time is right and you can see that they want to use it.  Some signs of being ready for the potty are.

·         They are aware that their nappy is wet or dirty

·         They tell you when they are doing a wee!

·         They may even  tell you they are about to do a wee

Just how do you find the right name for your child? For some it is easy, there is no contest, they will continue with the family name that has been handed down from generation to generation.  

If there are no family traditions or you simply want to break the mould, where do you start…….It can be a fun time, getting a book of baby names and writing down your favourites, watching films to see if any names excite you or maybe you could go with the celebrity craze of naming your child after a memorable place or flower?Unusual names likeBrooklyn, Romeo or Cruz can be great if you are rich and famous but if you are neither, rich or famous, is it setting your child up for teasing in the playground when they are older or will they stand out from the crowd and be more popular?

 Traditional, Original or popular, the choice is all yours….here are the most popular names of 2007 

I have lived with a normal and run of the mill name all my life, I wanted to break away from the conventional names when naming my child. I wanted something different….  In fact though, my little girl has ended up being not so different, as many of her school friends have individual names too. She plays ‘tag’ in the playground with the names Trinity, Etterlie, Lachland, Hermione, Scarlett, Fred, Bleu, and kye ringing out! A big change from my childhood and hearing Tracy, David and John!