Short messages on Pregnancy from Respect Yourself, the guidance site for young people to help make good decisions in life.
When pregnant, what goes into your mouth goes into your bloodstream, and what goes into your bloodstream goes into your baby. Think of the effect smoking and drinking alcohol would have.
Drinking alcohol when pregnant can harm your pregnancy and your baby. During the first twelve weeks, drinking alcohol can cause miscarriage or abnormalities in your baby.
It’s likely that your partner’s bearing the brunt of your mood swings. Letting him know you still love and cherish him may help him to take your outbursts less personally. In your calmer moments, try to spend some quality time together. It will help to strengthen your bond before your baby arrives.
From today, if you are between 28 and 38 weeks pregnant you will be offered a Whooping Cough vaccine through your GP surgery. Your immune system will make antibodies that will be passed onto your baby in the womb, protecting them until they can be vaccinated at two months of age.
Mood swings are common during pregnancy due to the increased level of hormones in your blood. Letting your partner/friends/family know it isn’t personal helps them support you better.
The contraceptive implant is more than 99% effective in preventing pregnancy, but does not protect you from getting Sexually Transmitted Infections.
The contraceptive implant (LARC) is a small flexible tube that’s inserted under the skin of your upper arm. It releases the hormone progestogen to prevent pregnancy. It is also known as “LARC”, or long-acting reversible contraception.
One of the keys to remaining ‘in control’ and happy while bringing up young children is finding other mothers in a similar situation. Parent and Toddler groups are a very important part of our community and very often the first place for mothers to meet other mothers with children the same age.
The Healthy Start Scheme is available to parents of children under 4, and pregnant mums if they meet certain income and benefit criteria or are under 18. You can find out more by calling 0845 607 6823.
If you are planning to become pregnant you should take folic acid supplements – even if you are healthy and have a good diet. Once pregnant, continue to take the supplements for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. If you take folic acid supplements it reduces the risk of having a baby born with a defect of their spinal cord, such as spina bifida.