Many people think that during pregnancy everything has to change. Fortunately, this is not the case. There are a lot of things that you did prior to falling pregnant that you won’t have to change at all during pregnancy.

Some of the following are concerns for a lot of mothers when they first fall pregnant and wonder if they can continuing with their daily activities during pregnancy.

Exercise

It’s great for mum to continuing exercising during pregnancy as it helps to keep her fit and healthy and ready for the marathon that is labour and birth. Walking, jogging and cardio exercise are all fine to do during pregnancy, so long as you were already doing it prior to the pregnancy. If you decide to start exercising once pregnant, that’s fine, but check with your doctor first about where you should start.

Alternatively you might like to do some specific pregnancy exercise classes. The two main options are water aerobics and prenatal yoga. Both are great exercise programs to get into during pregnancy as they are low impact but great for keeping you fit. Just make sure that if you decide to join a yoga class, you check that it is pregnancy friendly and if it’s not, let the instructor know that you are pregnant as some of the exercises might need to me modified to suit you.

Going out with friends

Some people worry about going out with their friends during pregnancy, particularly as they get closer to their due date, but as long as you are comfortable it’s perfectly fine to go out with friends. Going to concerts is still great fun when you’re pregnant as long as you’re not in the mosh pit getting bumped about. Going shopping can be more fun with friends during pregnancy as there’s an extra little person for you to spoil!

One recommendation is that as you near your due date you don’t stray too far from the hospital just in case you go into labour. In saying that, there’s no reason why you can’t go for an hour’s long drive with your partner or a friend, as long as there is someone with you to drive you back home if contractions start.

Going to work

Unfortunately during pregnancy it’s still perfectly fine for you to go to work, as long as you’re not a deep sea diver or sky diving instructor! More often than not, the concern for most women working during pregnancy is tiredness. If you’re on your feet at work all day you will want to make sure you rest up when you get home of an evening. Whilst you might not want to and would prefer to put your feet up at home, working during pregnancy is quite alright.

Eating the foods you enjoy

During pregnancy you will hear lots of people telling you what you can and can’t eat. There are some foods that should be avoided during pregnancy (including but not limited to deli meats, soft cheeses and soft serve ice cream), most of your day to day foods are perfectly fine for you to eat. Left overs for lunch are even perfectly acceptable as long as they are stored in the fridge right away and heated until they are piping hot.

Having sex

There are very few reasons why sex should be avoided during pregnancy and unless your doctor specifically tells you otherwise, you can still enjoy sex with your partner for the whole time you are pregnant. Towards the end of the pregnancy when you are feeling very big and uncomfortable you may need to alter your positions, but there is no reason that you need to stop enjoying a full and happy sex life during pregnancy.

Looking gorgeous

Maternity fashions have come a long way since our mothers were pregnant with us. Gone are the days of huge flowery dresses that look like sacks. Most large ships like Target and Big W etc carry a nice range of maternity clothes at decent prices or you can look into more specialized maternity fashion boutiques in real life or online. Whichever way you go, during pregnancy you can still look and feel great.

You can also continue to have your manicures and acrylic nails done and your hair and eyebrows dyed. Both are perfectly safe during pregnancy, though you need to be aware that both your hair and nails are likely to grow much faster when you are pregnant so you might need to make your appointments closer together. One consideration you might need to think about though is the smell of the salon, sometimes the chemical smells will affect your morning sickness so make sure you are ok for a little while before sitting down to a two hour hair appointment.

There are however still a few things that are not recommended during pregnancy, the main two being smoking and drinking alcohol.

Smoking

We all know that smoking at any time is dangerous to your health, but smoking during pregnancy affects not only your health, but your baby’s health as well. Smoking during pregnancy reduces the amount of oxygen that can get to your baby and can cause miscarriage and brain damage. Your baby may be premature and have a small birth weight as well as being at risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).

It is advisable to quit smoking prior to falling pregnant, but if you find yourself unexpectedly pregnant before you have quit, you can still do so during pregnancy. Recent research has found that using a nicotine patch during pregnancy is safer as only one of the chemicals (ie nicotine) are getting into your blood stream, as compared with a multitude of others whilst actually smoking a cigarette. Please see your doctor if you are pregnant and want to quit smoking for some advice on how to proceed.

Drinking

Depending on which article you read, research is pretty divided about what is a safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy. We all know that in excess alcohol is very dangerous to the baby, but most women will wonder at some point during their pregnancy if they are able to safely have a glass or wine, especially if they are pregnant over the festive period.

You might like to abstain completely or you might choose to have a glass of wine here or there, just remember that drinking excessive amounts of alcohol during pregnancy is dangerous to your growing baby.

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Most people think that pregnancy signs are unmistakable and many women ‘just know’ when they are pregnant. But other times, pregnancy can come as quite a shock and those who have ‘symptoms’ were not even aware. There are a few common symptoms you could have to show you are pregnant.

The most obvious sign is if you miss your menstrual period. Although this is a common sign something is not as normal, it is not the only sign to say that you may be pregnant. Women can skip their cycle for a number of reasons and it may not be that you are pregnant.

Nausea is another common symptom women get whilst pregnant. Morning sickness is common among half of pregnant women and can occur at any time of the day. The sickness is usually brought on suddenly and can last for the first few weeks.

Another early sign of pregnancy is tender nipples and breasts. This tender felling usually disappears once your hormone levels have become accustomed to your body and the baby begins to grow.

If you have frequent urination and a high body temperature, it could also mean you are pregnant. Women often experience more urination as the changes in hormone levels produce the need to go. Body temperature may be high due to an increase at ovulation and may stay high for the first few weeks of pregnancy.

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As the season changes and your bump gets bigger your wardrobe will need some urgent additions. Looking lovely through your pregnancy doesn’t have to cost much if you stick to buying just a few maternity wear basics.

Listed below are suggested basics to buy for cooler weather. These are all about bottoms – pants, skirts, and leggings. It is easy to find stretch cotton tops and roomy jackets in ordinary clothes shops that won’t have a maternity wear price tag.

Long leggings: With a banded waist to stretch with your bump, a pair of maternity leggings will be essential for winter.

Stretch denim skirt: A basic maternity denim skirt with a banded waist will be great is all sorts of casual situations, especially when worn with your leggings on cooler days.

Basic black A-line skirt: For a work basic buy a maternity A-line skirt with a folding stretch waist in a basic colour. Team it too with your leggings when you feel the cold.

Basic black pant: Buy a pair of maternity black pants in an easy care stretch fabric that you can wear in just about any situation: work, play and when out in the evening. A folding waist band will allow for a medium or low rise fit.

Cargo Pants: A pair of versatile maternity cargo pants with a comfortable waist band and legs that button up for different lengths will get lots of wear in various weather conditions.

Maternity Pajamas: A great buy for your hospital bag, get a pair of maternity pajamas with a crossover bodice for easy breastfeeding.

When buying these basics make sure you shop around; you’ll be surprised how many online maternity wear shops there are. Look for an online store that offers free shipping when you order over a certain amount. Also, make sure you can return items with a full refund, just incase it isn’t the right size.

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Looking further into each state government’s lists of popular baby boy name trends found on the web the following are some insights gained from the 2010 figures.

Oliver is popular across the country except in NT. It is in the top three in ACT, NSW, TAS and WA, and midway in QLD, SA and VIC.

Conversely, Cooper is only popular in QLD where it has been in first position for the last two years. It is not on the top ten lists in ACT, NT, SA, TAS and WA, and is low down the lists in VIC and NSW.

Likewise, Jacob is only popular in NT where it is ranked second. No other state has it on their top ten lists except WA where it is at the bottom.

William is still in the top three, where it has been for years, in ACT, NSW, SA, TAS, QLD, and VIC. However, it is at the bottom of the list in WA and eighth in NT.

Joshua’s popularity is varied. It is ranked third in SA, midway in VIC, NT and NSW, towards the end of WA, and not ranked in QLD.

ACT Top Ten Boy’s Names 2010

1. Oliver
2. William
3. Lachlan
4. Jack
5. Alexander
6. Ethan
7. James
8. Liam & Thomas
10. Lucas

NSW Top Ten Boy’s Names 2010

1. William
2. Jack
3. Oliver
4. Joshua
5. Thomas
6. Lachlan
7. Cooper
8. Noah
9. Ethan
10. Lucas

NT Top Ten Boy’s Names 2010

1. Jack
2. Jacob
3. Lachlan & Thomas
5. Charlie, James & Joshua
8. William
9. Ethan & Noah

QLD Top Ten Boy’s Names 2010

1. Cooper
2. William
3. Jack
4. Noah
5. Lachlan
6. Oliver
7. Riley
8. Thomas
9. Samuel
10. Ethan

SA Top Ten Boy’s Names 2010

1. Jack
2. William
3. Joshua
4. Oliver
5. Lachlan
6. Ethan
7. Lucas
8. Riley
9. James
10. Max

TAS Top Ten Boy's Names 2010

1. Oliver
2. Thomas
3. Jack & William
5. Noah
6. Charlie
7. Lucas & Riley
9. Tyler

10. James

VIC Top Ten Boy’s Names 2010

1. Jack
2. William
3. Thomas
4. Oliver
5. Joshua
6. James
7. Ethan
8. Noah
9. Cooper
10. Max

WA Top Ten Boy’s Names in 2010

1. Jack
2. Oliver
3. Lucas
4. James
5. Noah
6. Thomas
7. Ethan & Riley
9. Joshua
10. Jacob

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Ruby has charged to the top, or near to it, of the ten most popular girls names everywhere except NT where it is at the bottom of the list. Only in VIC did it enjoy such a high position in 2009, in the other states it was at the low end of the top ten or not on it at all.

Chloe remains popular being in the top three in NSW, QLD and WA and mid way in ACT, SA, TAS and VIC. However it didn’t rank in the top ten in NT.

Mia is a name with variation in popularity across the states. It has remained in the top three, as it has for the previous year, in QLD and VIC. It didn’t rank in WA and is at the bottom of the ten in NT and ACT. It is midway in NSW, SA and TAS.

Likewise, Isabella is at the top of the charts in NSW and NT, forth in QLD, TAS and WA but towards the low end in SA and VIC.

Charlotte is widely popular. It is ranked second in SA, TAS and VIC and midway in NSW, NT and QLD. However, it is at the bottom of WA’s list.

Olivia more popular in NT. Although it is fourth in NSW and VIC and sixth in WA, it is at the end of the list in SA and has no rank in QLD.

The NT continues to set their own trends with Ava being high on the list, at equal third, where it does not rank anywhere else except in VIC in seventh place. Likewise with Hannah, also in third place in NT, it doesn’t rank anywhere else.

ACT Top Ten Girl's Names 2010

1. Emily
2. Sophie
3. Lily & Ruby
5. Olivia
6. Chloe
7. Charlotte & Grace
9. Ella & Mia

NSW Top Ten Girl's Names 2010

1. Isabella
2. Ruby
3. Chloe
4. Olivia
5. Charlotte
6. Mia
7. Lily
8. Emily
9. Ella
10. Sienna

NT Top Ten Girl's Names 2010

1. Isabella & Olivia
3. Ava & Hannah
5. Grace
6. Charlotte
7. Ella
8. Matilda & Mia
10. Ruby

QLD Top Ten Girl's Names 2010

1. Ruby
2. Mia
3. Chloe
4. Isabella
5. Charlotte
6. Ella
7. Emily
8. Sophie
9. Lily
10. Sienna

SA Top Ten Girl's Names 2010

1. Ella
2. Charlotte
3. Ruby
4. Chloe
5. Mia
6. Lily
7. Emily
8. Isabella
9. Sophie
10. Olivia

TAS Top Ten Girl's Names 2010

1. Ruby
2. Charlotte
3. Ella
4. Isabella & Chloe
6. Mia
7. Grace
8. Matilda
9. Lily
10. Sophie

VIC Top Ten Girl's Names 2010

1. Ruby
2. Charlotte
3. Mia
4. Olivia
5. Chloe
6. Lily
7. Ava
8. Isabella
9. Ella
10. Emily

WA Top Ten Girl's Names 2010

1. Ruby
2. Chloe
3. Emily
4. Isabella
5. Ella
6. Olivia
7. Sophie
8. Lily
9. Sienna
10. Charlotte

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Researchers say angry behaviour even things such as door slamming, shouting loudly and even binge-eating whilst pregnant can affect the development of babies’ hearts.

Infants born to mothers more prone to these impulsive and aggressive acts had less variation in their heart rates after birth, the research found. Variation in heart rate is thought to be healthy because it indicates the body is flexible and adaptable to change. For example, different breathing patterns should affect the heart rate.

But if the heart does not adapt to change it is more at risk of disease and infection. It is already known that adults who have a lower variation in heart rate are more likely to develop heart problems.

Researchers also say the hormonal changes in the body which trigger aggressive behaviour may pass through the placenta to the unborn baby, and could have an influence on the way cells develop. And so staying relaxed and calm whilst pregnant is important – what a better excuse for a spa day!!

The study, led by researchers from the University of Sussex, recruited 49 pregnant women aged between 22 and 39 from childbirth classes. The volunteers were tested to see how likely they were to develop ‘impulsive, uncontrollable bouts of temper’. The women were asked in interviews to describe how they normally dealt with anger and their brain activity was monitored to see how they responded to certain sounds and images designed to prompt a negative reaction. They found 22 women fitted into the ‘angry’ category, nearly half of the volunteer group.

The researchers said this was a higher proportion than would be expected in the general population,  attributing this to the fact that the study had been advertised as investigating the effects of temper on foetal hearts and attracted volunteers concerned about their anger.

After the women gave birth, the electrical activity of the babies’ hearts was measured using an electrocardiogram, or ECG. They found newborns whose mothers were in the angry group had a lower variation in their heart rate.

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Stem cells have had a lot of bad and good press lately, but not many people are aware of what they actually are and what they can do. They are commonly described as the building blocks fo all the other cells in the body. They have the ability to divide themselves many times to make new stem cells and can also transform into any of 300 different types of cells in the human body. They are found in cord blood, peripheral blood and bone marrow.

The reason why collecting and storing the cord blood for the use of stem cells is that these clever cells can be used to replace diseased cells in an individual with healthy blood stem cells to rebuild their blood or immune system. Cord blood is currently used in the treatment of blood-related disorders such as leukaemia, sickle cell anaemia and thalassaemia, some immune system disorders, and metabolic storage disorders such as Hurler syndrome (an inherited condition caused by an enzyme deficiency). And so, If there is a known genetic condition in your family or you already have a child with leukaemia or a blood-related disorder, your doctor may recommend that you consider banking your baby's cord blood. Or you can store it in case, one day in the future, cord blood stem cells may be useful - if someone in your family develops a disease that can be treated by stem cell therapy. It's a bit like an insurance policy - you may or may not need to, or indeed be able to, cash in on
it in the future.

Only a few places do it around the country but it is getting more and more popular. For more information and for a list of places that do cord blood storage visit http://parentsguidecordblood.org/content/usa/banklists/listaustralia.shtml

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Missed Period

A missed menstrual period is usually the first sign of pregnancy for many women. Sometimes a small amount of implantation bleeding occurs and can be mistaken as a period and pregnancy is not suspected or confirmed until a second period is missed.
It is unusual for pregnant women to continue menstrual periods though it has been known to happen. For mothers who already have given birth, leaking breast milk may signal subsequent conception.

Frequent Urination

As the levels of progesterone increase, your bladder muscles relax.

Nausia

Can often begin about the same time as a missed period. Although it’s known as morning sickness, the sensation can occur at any time of day, all day, or night.

Increase in Blood Supply

This will occur throughout your body. You may notice tiny blood vessels in your face or a reddening of your palms. You may also have less sensitivity to hot and cold.

Sinus Congestion

The mucus membranes in your nose may swell, causing difficult breathing and snoring.

Tender & Swollen Breasts

Breasts become fuller, more tender and may tingle or throb.

Fatigue

It is common to feel tired during the day with constant yawning. You may also have trouble motivating yourself.

Bloating

As the levels of progesterone rise softening muscles in your womb and intestine, bloating and constipation are likely.

Pelvic Sensations

Some women experience sensations in the pelvic area.

Darkening of Areola

A darkening of the areola, the area around the nipple, is common. Women who have been pregnant before may notice a drop or two of milk at the nipple.

Metallic Taste

A metallic taste in the mouth is caused by hormonal changes.

Emotions

You may feel emotional or tearful for reasons that seem unexplained.

Instincts

Many women say that they know instinctively when they have conceived

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Oxytocin

Oxytocin is the hormone that triggers uterine contractions during labour, as well as the practice contractions known as Braxton Hicks. Produced by the pituitary gland in the brain, oxytocin also stimulates the milk glands in the breasts to produce milk.

Melanocyte

In the latter stages of pregnancy high levels of (MSH) cause the darkening of the nipples, the dark patches on the face called chloasma, and the dark vertical line down the stomach called the Linea Nigra (translates as black line). These changes in pigmentation are temporary and fade following childbirth.

Progesterone

Progesterone affects every aspect of pregnancy. The ovaries usually produce progesterone, but during pregnancy, the placenta produces it. Progesterone relaxes the smooth muscle in the womb to prevent muscle contraction that could otherwise trigger miscarriage. It also increases body temperature, helps in the production of breastmilk, dilates blood vessels and relaxes muscle in the bladder, bowel and veins so that they are more flexible.

Oestrogen

Similar to progesterone, oestrogen is usually produced by the ovaries, but is produced by the placenta during pregnancy. It strengthens and prepares the womb for implantation of the fertilised egg and prepares the breasts for breastfeeding by enlarging the nipples and encouraging the development of milk glands. The high level of oestrogen falls immediately after the birth.

Endorphins

Otherwise known as the happy hormones, these help numb the sensations of pain and stress. The brain throughout pregnancy and during childbirth produces endorphins. After the birth, the levels drop sharply.
Human Chorionic Gonadtrophin (HCG)
HCG passes into your urine and can be detected by a pregnancy test 12-16 days after fertilisation. At this stage the primitive placenta produces it. A high level of this hormone in the first three months is thought to be responsible for morning sickness. HCG stimulates the ovaries to produce more progesterone, which in turn halts the menstrual cycle during pregnancy.

Human Placental Lactogen

HPL is a group of hormones that includes prolactin, oestrogen and progesterone. HPL is responsible for enlarging the breasts and the secretion of the first milk called colostrum.

Relaxin

This is the hormone that softens ligaments and tissues during pregnancy. The elasticity provides increased flexibility in the joints of the lower back and pelvis in preparation for childbirth.

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How to use this Graph

Can help lower back pain, infertility, neck pain, sciatica, arthritis, headaches, muscle tension, sluggish digestion, poor posture, repetitive strain injury, chronic fatigue and poor circulation. If you suffer from chronic back pain, a combination of deep tissue massage and osteopathy can alleviate pain and depending on how severe the problem, can often correct the cause.

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