Pregnancy/Newborn

Beginners guide to nappies

You'll be surprised how far things have come since the days when our mothers and grandmothers wrestled with squares of terry towelling, folded them into impossible origami shapes, secured them with a frightening pin, then rendered them waterproof with crunchy plastic pants...

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Pregnancy problems

Some pregnancies go smoothly. But in the nine months before their baby arrives, most mums-to-be will suffer an irritating minor health glitch or two - from morning sickness to back pain and bleeding gums. Follow our guide to some of the most common pregnancy problems and find out how to beat them.

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First month from dad's perspective

Probably the biggest gulf that exists between the theory and practice of any 'profession' is that of parenting. Yes, I'd expected sleepless nights, crying and the rest, but I'd never experienced them before and when it happened, they came as a huge shock.

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Feeling depressed & anxious during pregnancy

For most people, the overriding emotion felt when they find out that they are going to become a parent is happiness. However, along with this happiness come a number of other emotions. Even if the pregnancy has been long awaited for, you are likely to feel anxious and uncertain about the future. Your body, lifestyle, home and work life and relationships are all going to change after the birth of your baby.

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Toys 0-6 months

Newborn babies spend a lot of their time sleeping, but once they start being a bit more alert, you'll be eager to get to know them better, play simple games with them and introduce them to some toys. Play comes naturally to babies and children, but you can make it even more enjoyable by encouraging your baby to play with a variety of toys and giving out heaps of praise when they learn new things.

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Recovering from birth

Nothing – but nothing – can prepare you for the mind-blowing impact of having a baby. Your nether regions will be very sore, your breasts will be tender, huge and unfamiliar, and you're likely to be hormonal. The next few weeks will be a strange, dreamlike twilight zone, where night and day merge into one, and you wander around in an exhausted but (hopefully) euphoric haze. You'll never know tiredness like this again, but there will be days when you'll be so bursting with love for your baby, you'll cry.

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Six Week Check Up

All babies are invited for a check up at about 6-8 weeks of age. This may be done by your GP at the same time as your post-natal examination, or in a clinic by another doctor who is trained in child-health promotion. If you do not receive an appointment, check with your GP practice or health visitor.

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Preparation For Birth

It's a good idea to get yourself prepared for the first days at home with your baby, as it will make adapting to life as a parent less stressful and give you more time to enjoy the new arrival. Bear in mind that some babies arrive early, so don't leave everything to the last minute.

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Baby Showers

The purpose of a baby shower is to 'shower' the mother-to-be with advice, support and gifts.

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Newbirth Examination

All babies receive a thorough medical examination within the first couple of days of life to check for any abnormalities. This is usually done by a paediatrician before hospital discharge, but if you have a home delivery your GP will check the baby instead.

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Guide to Preparing for Your Newborn Baby

Waiting nine months to meet your baby can seem like a century away and for lots of us, the eagerness and longing to meet our babies when we're pregnant is pretty overwhelming. However, once you start investigating what it will be like to be a parent, you'll find that having a few months to prepare and get used to the idea can help you to feel more relaxed when the day finally arrives.

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How To Cope With Twin Babies

Giving birth to twins and more can be riskier than with one baby, so it's worth being prepared for things not going according to your birth plan. Maybe you wanted a natural birth, but now you're booked in for an elective caesarean.

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Birth Faqs

Midwife claire friars, manager of baby charity tommy's* pregnancy information line, says: 'often i find the same questions come up again and again, so it's great to be able to answer them, and i hope to provide, not just information but reassurance too.'

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Keeping Sane During The Hormonal Rollercoaster

Pregnancy can be a real roller-coaster ride of the emotions - highs and lows and everything in between. some women appear to 'bloom' during pregnancy; they appear full of life, happiness and vitality whereas other women are tearful and apprehensive.

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Conception Difficulties & Your Relationship

Couples may feel surprise that they cannot conceive, and may for a long time deny that they are having any problems. Either partner may feel isolated from the other and from their friends who may, apparently effortlessly, be having babies. Couples may become angry and feel guilty and unworthy, and there may be feelings of depression and grief. Talking with other infertile couples or with a counsellor can help you cope with these feelings.

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Pregnancy Problems

Every mum-to-be hopes that her pregnancy will pass with little more than a bout of morning sickness, but it's not always plain sailing. The good news is, even some of the most serious antenatal conditions can be controlled successfully as long as they're spotted early. If you're in any doubt at all, ask your gp or midwife for a check-up.

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