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Exploring this new reality together, supporting each other through the difficult moments, and sharing in the joys and sorrows that come with the birth of a child isn’t always easy.
- Photo : Cynthia Ladouceur Parents have complementary strengths and preferences. That’s why it’s good to work as a team! To be a good team, it’s important to recognize each other’s needs and strengths. The birth of a child can bring new meaning to a couple’s life. In addition to your…
- Photo: iStockphoto Stripping the membranes Inducing labour Stimulating labour Monitoring the baby’s health Pain medication Episiotomy Caesarean
- Toward the end of your pregnancy, your healthcare provider may suggest stripping your membranes (also called a membrane sweep). The procedure can trigger uterine contractions within a few days so you don’t have to be artificially induced after 41 weeks (see Inducing labour ). A membrane sweep…
- Once labour has begun naturally, your care provider may suggest stimulating labour if your cervix is not opening (dilating) and your contractions are too far apart or not strong enough. The frequency and strength of contractions are increased using oxytocin , which is intravenously administered on…
- During monitoring, two sensors are strapped to your abdomen and connected to a machine that produces a monitoring strip. Photo: iStockphoto Throughout the active phase of labour, the care team will regularly check on the baby’s well being by listening to his heart with an ultrasound machine. During…
- An episiotomy is a cut (incision) in the perineum that is made just as the baby is about to be delivered. It may occasionally be used in situations where the baby needs help to exit more quickly. The cut is then sutured under local anaesthesia. Episiotomies are no longer done routinely because they…
One of the first things you’ll want to know on learning you are pregnant is when the baby is due. When will the big day be?
Your body changes throughout your pregnancy. These changes sometimes cause discomforts that are generally harmless, but can sometimes be hard to bear. The tables that follow outline some common discomforts of pregnancy as well as tips for relieving them.
- Photo: iStockphoto Eating well Nutritional needs of pregnant women Eating regularly Appetite, cravings, and aversions On the menu: variety, colours, and flavours Essential nutrients Drinks Special needs Diets Preventing allergies Preventing food-borne infections Resources