The 8 week check is part of the well-baby visits during your baby’s first year of life. Your baby needs to go to the doctor 6 times during this period. Each appointment will include an overview of how your child is developing, a physical examination, and a chance for the parents to express any concerns they may be having and for your doctor to address them and give health promotion advice.  Usually, the mother has a postnatal check around the same time as the baby's 8 week check. 

A Caesarean section, or C-section, is a surgery used to deliver a baby by making cuts in the mother’s belly and uterus. It’s a common procedure: about one in four births in the US happen this way. Sometimes, a C-section is planned ahead of time, but it can also be done quickly if problems come up during labor. It’s normal to feel nervous about having a C-section, especially if it wasn’t your first choice. Many mothers worry about surgery, recovery, and their baby’s health. The good news is that C-sections are generally safe, and doctors and nurses work hard to take care of both you and your baby. This guide explains why you might need a C-section, how to get ready, and what to expect before, during, and after the operation.

Age is an important factor in fertility for both men and women. As people get older, it usually becomes harder to have a baby. Knowing how fertility changes in your 20s, 30s, and 40s can help you make better choices about starting a family. Other things like your health, lifestyle, and genetics also matter, but age is a big part of the picture.

Many things can affect how easy it is for someone to have a baby, and the choices we make every day can play a big part. What you eat, how much you move, and how you take care of yourself can all help your body work better and make it easier to get pregnant. Making small, healthy changes can really help if you’re trying to have a baby.

What Is Ovulation? Ovulation is when a mature egg is released from a woman’s ovary during her menstrual cycle. The egg travels down the fallopian tube, where it might meet sperm and become fertilized. This is the only time during the cycle when pregnancy can happen, because an egg must be present for conception to occur. Why Is Ovulation Important for Pregnancy? Knowing when ovulation happens is important if you’re trying to get pregnant. Every person’s cycle is different, so understanding your own cycle can help you time intercourse for the best chance of conception. This means learning how to track ovulation and spot your most fertile days.

Conception is when a sperm cell from a man joins with an egg cell from a woman. This starts the process of pregnancy. Even though it sounds simple, many things need to happen for conception to work. Sometimes, it can take a while, and each person’s experience is different. For conception to happen, you need: A healthy egg Healthy sperm Good timing The right conditions inside the body Even when everything seems right, it might still take time to get pregnant. Everyone’s body, health, and lifestyle can make a difference.

Baby blues can affect 4 out of 5 women after they give birth and is a term used to describe mild mood changes and the feelings of exhaustion, anxiety and unhappiness that can occur in the first 2 weeks after having a baby. Because it’s so tiring looking after a baby 24 hours a day, it’s entirely normal to feel shattered and a little flat after giving birth! This usually happens within the first week and is likely due to the rapid change in hormones and other biochemicals that occur once pregnancy has ended. Symptoms include low mood, feeling irritable and on edge, and feeling emotional or tearful for no obvious reason.

Pregnancy can be a minefield of new health concerns – eating the right foods, avoiding the wrong ones, taking essential supplements, keeping up with health checks. You want the best for you and your baby and the COVID-19 pandemic has added a whole new heap of stress to your journey through pregnancy. The vaccine is one such consideration. Whether you have not been vaccinated yet, have received only one dose, or are due for the booster dose, there’s conflicting information out there and it can be tough to work out what’s best. The doctors here at Healthwords follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in advising you that getting fully vaccinated offers the best protection for you and your baby. Real-world data suggests that pregnant women that are unvaccinated are significantly more likely to end up seriously unwell or needing hospital care than those who are vaccinated. Your baby may also risk being born prematurely if you contract COVID-19.

An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants and begins to grow outside the womb. The most common place that this occurs is in the Fallopian tubes, which connect the ovaries to the womb. Unfortunately, ectopic pregnancies can’t survive, and they can’t be saved. They pose a danger to the mother until they are removed, and this is via medication or surgery. An ectopic pregnancy may cause you no symptoms, but symptoms usually develop between the 4th and 12th week of pregnancy. These include signs of pregnancy, like a missed period, but also lower tummy pain, often to only one side, bleeding or abnormal brown discharge from the vagina, or pain at the tip of your shoulder (relating to pain transferred from the tummy).

The best way to increase your production of breast milk is to ensure that baby is nursing frequently and effectively. As milk is drawn down from the breasts, your brain stimulates them to produce more milk to meet the high demand, and your baby will meet this supply, demand more, and so the cycle continues. At some times, it might mean that you will need to nurse every one and a half to two hours in the day, and every three hours at night, in order to re-stimulate your milk supply. It’s just as important that you position baby for an effective latch, so that they are drawing down well from the breast.

Every individual has a different blood type, which is described by the ABO system. There are four main blood types, which have antibodies and antigens. In addition to that, each blood type has another surface antigen, which means they can be either rhesus D positive or rhesus D negative (Rh factor). This is important to know if, for example, you need a blood transfusion in the case of an operation or an accident. Certain blood types may be incompatible with being transfused with other blood types. Similarly, it’s very important in pregnancy if a woman is one particular blood type and her unborn baby is another. It can result in severe complications unless treatment is given.

Pregnancy can bring a torrent of changes both inside and out, with hormones often changing the look and feel of your hair, nails, and skin. Some find that pregnancy brings them luscious, shiny locks, while others notice their hair is drier, frizzier, or oilier. Some may even experience hair loss during pregnancy or in the first few weeks after birth. You may experience more hair growth in unexpected or different parts of your body and face, or it may be darker or thicker. These changes are in response to pregnancy hormones or, in the case of hair loss, possibly stress if you are unwell at the end of pregnancy or during childbirth. Therefore, your usual hair type and condition will likely revert back to their pre-pregnancy state about 6 to 8 months after delivery.