Pregnancy Week by Week » FAQ

What is implantation bleeding?

Kate — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 10:09:02 +0000

Implantation bleeding also called implantation spotting is one of the typical pregnancy signs and symptoms. Implantation usually happens around 6-12 days after ovulation and fertilization.

Most women have no symptoms such as bleeding or cramps, at the time of implantation. However, some women report drops of blood and/or light cramping. A few days after conception, the fertilized egg starts attaching to the wall of your uterus and getting ready to grow. Since the uterine lining is rich with blood, some women spot a little at this point.

If you are trying to get pregnant, the good news is that early pregnancy symptoms feel very similar to the start of your period.

Implantation bleeding is fairly common with pregnancy. If you have some light spotting before your period would normally start this is not really something to worry about and may be a sign of pregnancy.

Remember, there’s no way to know whether your spotting is in fact a pregnancy. Only a test can tell.

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Do you need to test your MMR( Mumps, Measles and Rubella) before considering conceiving?

Kate — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 07:32:57 +0000

If you are considering trying for a baby, you should ask your doctor to check whether you are fully immune to rubella by using a simple blood test. Most women are immune and no further action is required.

Women with a low or uncertain immunity against rubella are offered the MMR vaccine to provide the immunity they need.

Rubella during pregnancy can cause serious problems in the developing baby. The effects on a fetus after a rubella infection during pregnancy can be severe. The effects of measles and mumps, while not as severe as rubella, can still cause complications during a pregnancy. Therefore, it is recommended that all women who wish to fall pregnant who do not have immunity to MMR receive the vaccine before pregnancy.

It is recommended that women avoid becoming pregnant for three months after having a rubella vaccination.

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What are the 5 things to know when picking a name for your baby?

Kate — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 06:53:58 +0000

1. What does the name mean?

Once you select a name that you and your spouse really like, go and find out what it means. Sometimes the nicest sounding name has the strangest or unpleasant meaning while other names may have no meaning at all. Some couples may be comfortable with this, others may not.

2. Is it Trendy and popular?

When naming your child you need to keep in mind whether your name choice is a popular or trendy one. While some parents-to-be prefer popular, trendy names, wanting their child to fit in, others want old fashioned names. Step away from the random name generators and draw inspiration from something special to your family. Just keep in mind that the child will endure your name choice a lot longer than some trends do.

3. Can teasing occur?

Take a moment and imagine yourself as your child’s name on the playground. Now, put that feeling to use as you’re putting together your list of potential names. Is the name you’re thinking of ripe for taunting in the eyes of a teasing child? Don’t forget to check initials too!

Kids are cruel and what you haven’t thought of, they certainly will. While you can’t avoid your child receiving unfortunate nicknames, you can anticipate what kids might think of.

4. Do you need a middle name?

Falling in love with more than one name isn’t necessarily something to stress about. Who says you can’t use one or more as a middle name? Middle names give you the option to use all the names you love, and as they grow, give children the option to be called by something other than their first names.

If you don’t have the long list of loved names, who says you have to choose a middle name at all? No-one.

5. Is it appropriate to the gender?

While unisex clothing and unisex everything has become popular, do you really want a unisex name?

Let your baby’s name reflect his or her gender. Having a boy’s name for your child or visa-versa can only make things difficult for your child in their early years.

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When should I tell my boss I’m pregnant?

Kate — Wed, 30 May 2012 10:02:44 +0000

When you’re expecting a baby, it’s a happy, exciting, but also nerve-wracking time. It’s a huge life change, and one of the areas that will be affected is your work. At some point, it’s important to sit down and have a conversation with your boss about your pregnancy.

The best time to tell your employer is when you need to and when the time is right for you. You have no obligation to tell your employer you’re expecting a baby as soon as you find out unless your job involves a lot of lifting heavy items, working with chemicals or standing most of the day.

Many women like to wait until they reach the second trimester. By that time, you are sure that the pregnancy is viable and will continue. You will probably start to show at that time too. It is better to tell your employer that you are pregnant before she can see for herself. If you feel that your boss will be very supportive and excited for you, you may want to tell her even earlier.

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Is it safe to do pilates during pregnancy?

Kate — Wed, 09 May 2012 10:44:13 +0000

Not only is Pilates a safe exercise to do during pregnancy, it is also designed around eight core principles that benefit pregnant women in particular. Pilates is a non-impact workout that increases flexibility, strength, and muscle tone. Because it focuses on your core, practicing Pilates on a regular basis can improve posture, alleviate backaches, and ultimately help with labor and delivery. Plus, it will boost your mood and energy level. Choose a prenatal class if you can. Otherwise, let the instructor know you’re pregnant so she can help you modify or skip any risky moves.

If your abdominals, back, and pelvic floor/Kegel muscles are toned, they will support a more comfortable pregnancy and delivery. Pilates is also famous for helping new moms get their figures back after baby is born!

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Is there any gender link between a dark or light linea nigra?

Editor — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 05:11:21 +0000

Visible in many pregnant women, a linea nigra is a dark vertical line about one centimetre to half a centimetre in width extending from the belly button to the pubic bone. It due to the increased levels of oestrogen in the body and exhibited by 75% of all pregnant women, becoming more apparent as the foetus gets bigger. Some say that a darker line means that you’re having a boy and that a feint or absent line means that you’re having a girl. There is no research behind this and many mothers will tell you that they had a dark line but had a girl and vice versa.

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Will my second birth be easier than my first?

Editor — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 05:04:54 +0000

Whilst second and subsequent births are said to be easier than the first, it still depends on various factors such as the mental, emotional and physical state of the mother as well as the size of the baby and the birthing environment. Each pregnancy is different and while a second birth experience may have been relatively easy for some women, a third birth may be just as hard as the first. Some mothers have very easy first birth experiences whilst their second experiences have been difficult. Many factors can affect the perception of pain and the length of labour so rather prepare yourself for something a little more challenging than you expect, as opposed to the other way around.

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Once my waters break, how long is it safe to wait before contractions begin?

Editor — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:12 +0000

For some women who are full term (ie. 37 weeks and over) and whose waters break, contractions often don’t begin immediately – this is referred to as PROM (Premature Rupture of Membranes). In other words, the woman’s body isn’t ready to initiate labour and they must wait for contractions to begin. All hospital policies are different - some will allow a woman to wait 12 hours, 24 hours, 36 hours or even 48 hours to go into labour naturally, provided of course that the amniotic fluid is clear and that there are no other complications. Waiting at least 24 hours before inducing will help the moms to go into labour naturally. Once your waters break, you need to let your gynae know and keep her posted of your progress. She will then guide and advise you of when to leave for the hospital.

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How and where do I get a birth certificate?

Kate — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 09:57:44 +0000

All children born in South Africa must be registered within 30 days of their birth at the Department of Home Affairs (in terms of the Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1992.)

A parent, parents, guardian or any other person legally responsible for the child must complete the correct form (available at home affairs) and it must be submitted to the nearest office of the Department of Home Affairs if you are in South Africa, or the nearest South African embassy, mission or consulate if you are overseas.

Once the child’s birth has been registered, an abridged birth certificate is issued free of charge, usually a day or so after the registration application has been submitted.

You could also go through the following agencies to assist you with this process:

Passport Centre
Bunny hop

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When do you need to start antenatal classes?

Kate — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 07:53:00 +0000

Unfortunately most antenatal classes are not scheduled with just your pregnancy in mind. They are run in batches from time to time.

What we suggest is find out from your Gynae who he/she recommends and be in contact with that specific provider to find out when the next course starts. You would need to reserve a place so book early as these book up quickly. Try finding a course that finishes close to your estimated due date (EDD). They usually run for 6 -8 weeks, so a good time to start would be around 26 – 28 weeks.

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