When you are preparing for your baby's, you need to figure out where he or she is going to sleep, obviously. It’s not as easy as it is for an adult where you choose a bed frame and suitable mattress and you’re done. For babies there are a lot more options for you to choose between. Some are used only for a short time, others can be use for many years to come.

Before discussing bedding options, please make sure you are aware of the SIDs & Kids recommendations for safe sleeping.

1. Sleep baby on the back from birth, not on the tummy or side
2. Sleep baby with face uncovered (no doonas, pillows, lambs wool, bumpers or soft toys)
3. Avoid exposing babies to tobacco smoke before birth and after
4. Provide a safe sleeping environment (safe cot, safe mattress, safe bedding)
5. Sleep baby in their own safe sleeping environment next to the parent’s bed for the first six to twelve months of life

Bassinets (or Cradles)

A bassinet is a small bed that the baby sleeps in from birth until about four months. The idea of the bassinet is to be small and cocoon like for the baby to try and replicate to the close quarters of the womb.

Bassinets generally come in two different styles. A Moses basket style which is literally like a small basket for the baby to sleep in or a more sturdy style, usually with wheels.

Bassinets tend to be portable so the parents can move the baby around the house during the day. This can be beneficial for a jaundiced baby so they can sleep in the sunlight or for people that live in large houses where the baby won’t be heard if they are too far away from where the family is at the time.

Hammocks

Baby hammocks are relatively new on the market compared with the other options available for your baby. The hammock is generally made as per an adult hammock, with a piece of fabric that hangs from a structure of some sort. Most of the hammocks you will find have a thin mattress for the baby to sleep on.

A lot of parents find that hammocks are very useful for babies that suffer from colic or reflux as the gentle motion of the swinging hammock can help sooth the baby’s pains.

Hammocks can be used for newborns up until around nine months old and like Bassinets, they are easily moved around the house as required.

Cot

The most common place for a baby to sleep is in a cot. This is a small bed that has vertical bars or slats around it to prevent the baby from falling out. They can be used from birth (or after graduating from a bassinet) up until the child is ready for a regular sized bed at around two to three years old.

Co-Sleeping

If you choose not to purchase some sort of baby bed you can try co-sleeping with you baby, which means that your baby sleeps in bed with you. This can be a perfectly safe option for you an your baby as long as you follow the safe co-sleeping guidelines.

1. Do not co-sleep with your baby if you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, including prescribed medications that may affect your awareness of your baby.
2. Co-Sleep only on a firm bed. It is dangerous to sleep with your baby on a lounge chair or waterbed.
3. Do not co-sleep if you are a smoker.
4. Tie long hair back and be aware of where you are in relation to your baby at all times.
5. Use mesh guardrails along the sides of the bed to prevent baby from falling, but ensure there is no space for baby to become stuck between the bed and the guards.

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The Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA), recommends breastfeeding mums need to eat an extra 2000kj a day on top of the recommended 8-10,000kj a day for a standard diet. Breastfeeding mums produce approximately 800ml of milk a day and the demands of producing that milk means that they need to keep an eye on their diet and make sure they are eating enough healthy foods to look after themselves as well as their baby.

The key to good nutrition for anyone is to eat foods from the five food groups every day. It is important for mum to keep up a good diet from these food groups:

• Fruit
• Vegetables
• Dairy (milk, cheese, yoghurt)
• Protein (meat, chicken, fish, nuts, eggs)
• Grains and cereals (bread, rice, pasta)

As well as eating a nutricious diet, a breastfeeding mother must make sure that her fluid intake is increased. As mentioned above, around 800ml of milk is made per day and baby drains that fluid from the mother’s body. She must replenish her breastmilk so therefore needs to increase her fluid intake to keep herself hydrated and her body producing milk for her baby. Whilst baby is breastfeeding mum is likely to become thirsty so it’s a good idea to have a glass of water with you whenever you are feeding your baby.

Women usually need about 46gm of protein a day, but this amount increases to about 67g for women who are breastfeeding because a lot of protein goes into the breast milk. Examples of foods high in protein are roasted chicken breast, ham, almonds, cheddar cheese and boiled eggs. These are great additions to your diet when breastfeeding.

Breastmilk also drains zinc and iodine from the mother’s supply, so it is important for any breastfeeding mother to increase her intake of both of these vital nutrients. High protein foods are also high in zinc and milk is a good source as well. These days you can buy iodised salt and adding this to your regular meals should be sufficient for breastfeeding mums.

If you feel like you’re not getting enough vitamins and minerals you can always take a specialised multivitamin designed for breastfeeding. Most of the time, these will be the ones you have already been taking during pregnancy, some examples are Elevit and Blackmores Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Gold.

Most breastfeeding mums have the freedom to eat whatever foods they like without any problems. There are however a few guidelines that you might like to know about.

Caffeine becomes very diluted in the blood & is therefore not a problem by the time it gets into breastmilk. The recommendation is no more than four cups per day (this includes, tea, coffee and cola) as the cause for concern with caffeine is the fact that it is a diuretic and causes mum to lose fluid so you will need to drink a lot more non-caffeinated drinks if you choose to drink anything with caffeine during the day. Energy drinks are not recommended at all.

The most recent research says that one standard alcoholic drink is unlikely to harm your baby through breastmilk, any more than that passes through breastmilk in high quantities and can be dangerous to your baby. If you do choose to have a drink, it’s best to wait until baby is in bed for the night and is likely to have a longer stretch between feeds so the alcohol has time to diminish in your milk supply. It’s not all bad news though, if you want to go out for a night on the town and have a few drinks. You can till have a few drinks, all you need to do is “pump & dump”, i.e. express off the breastmilk and throw it away. All you need to remember is that the alcohol in your breastmilk will be similar to what’s in your blood, so if you are ready at 0.05 on a breath test, you will have a similar amount in your breastmilk.

Also, if you smoke, breastfeeding is a good reason to try to quit. Smoking can cause you to produce less milk and the chemicals in cigarettes is released through breastmilk.

Some mums find that there are certain foods that upset their baby’s stomachs. This doesn’t happen with all babies and it’s possible that you can eat all of your regular foods without any problems. However if you do notice that your baby is fussy or has an upset tummy you might need to think back to what you have been eating. Some of the following are known to cause problems for some babies:

• spicy foods
• chocolate
• broccoli
• cabbage
• brussels sprouts
• tomato
• oranges
• onions
• beans

One good thing to remember also is that the flavour of your breastmilk will change slightly with what you eat. It’s believed that babies who are breastfed will enjoy a more varied diet once they are weaned as they are used to a variety of flavours, where formula tastes the same every single time.

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After trying to conceive a baby for more than 12 months it is generally suggested that a couple consult their medical professional to perform a few tests to determine the cause of the couple not achieving a successful pregnancy. However, if the woman is over the age of 35, testing can be requested after six months, as fertility has begun it’s natural decline by this age.

The first step for you to take is for both partners to have some testing done to determine where the problem lies.

Generally the male partner is tested first as infertility testing for a man is less invasive than for a woman. Both a blood test and a semen analysis are performed. The semen analysis will tell you about the quantity and health of the male partner’s sperm while the blood test will show if there are any concerns with his hormone levels.

If there are any concerns with the male partner’s tests, it is likely that the female partner is not tested and the couple will work with the information they have already gained. There are times when sperm count and quality can be improved by diet and / or surgery and hormonal issues can be treated as well. However there are times when either the man’s body is not producing the quantity or quality of sperm required for no apparent reason. In these cases it is recommended that the couple look into assisted reproduction therapy (ART).

In the even of the male partner’s tests coming back all clear, the female partner will begin her testing, usually this will involve determining if she is ovulating. The doctor may request that the woman charts her cycle for a few months so she can see if she is ovulating that way. Alternatively, the doctor may request blood tests and ultrasounds at various times of the woman’s cycle to see if her hormones are working correctly and to see if her ovaries are working correctly.

If these tests come back showing that the female partner is ovulating, there are further investigations started. These will check on the health of the woman’s reproductive system and are quite invasive. A hysterosalpingography involves dye being injected into the woman’s uterus through her vagina, she is then given x-rays to determine whether there are any blockages in her fallopian tubes that are stopping the eggs from moving where they need to be. A laparoscopy looks at the health of the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus and can determine if there are any issues such as endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) or if there are any physical abnormalities in the organs investigated.

After testing is completed and an issue is found with either partner, the doctor will help to couple decide which direction to take next, usually this depends on the problem that has presented. Unfortunately though, up to 10% of couples that are tested for infertility in Australia will be diagnosed with “unexplained infertility” which means that they have not conceived a child within 12 months of having unprotected sex, but all of the tests rule out any of the usual problems.

There a variety of options available these days to overcome infertility, such as inter-uterine insemination, IVF, egg or sperm donations or even adoption. Once a diagnosis has been made these options are assessed until the most suitable one is found for your particular case.

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It’s always fun to celebrate an occasion with a cocktail. When you’re pregnant, you don’t have to miss out, you can still have a great time drinking mocktails.

Following are a few fun and easy mocktail recipes that you’re sure to enjoy when pregnant, breastfeeding or even when you’re not.

Lava Flow

• 100ml pineapple juice
• 100ml cream
• ½ banana
• Dash of cocnut cream
• ½ cup strawberries

Blend all ingredients (except strawberries) with ice until smooth.
Put the strawberries in the bottom of the glass and add blended mixture.

Black Widow

• Cola
• 8 scoops vanilla ice cream
• 6 tablespoons lime juice
• Lime slice for garnish

Blend ice cream and juice until smooth. Pour into glasses and top with cola.
Serves 4.

Virgin Appletini

• 100ml freshly pressed apple juice
• 30ml simple syrup
• 15ml lemon juice
• granulated sugar for rimming
• apple slice for garnish

Add apple juice, syrup and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker fill with ice & shake well.
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass rimmed with granulated sugar.
Garnish with an apple slice.

Virgin Blue Lagoon

• 1/2 cup ice
• 1/2 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)
• 1/2 cup milk or soy milk or yogurt
• 1 cup pineapple juice
• whipped cream
• fresh or canned pineapple slice

Place all but pineapple slices and whipped cream in blender and blend until smooth.
Pour into a tall glass and garnish with whipped cream and pineapple slice.

Virgin Pina Colada

• 1 cup pineapple juice
• 1 cup crushed pineapple
• 1/2 cup coconut milk
• juice from one lime
• ice to top of blender

Blend ingredients until ice is slushy.
Pour into frosted glasses and enjoy immediately.

Mock Champagne

• 2 litre bottle ginger ale, chilled
• 1 can pineapple juice, chilled
• 1 bottle white grape juice, chilled

Combine all ingredients in a large punchbowl.

Safe Sex on the Beach

• 50ml peach nectar
• 85ml cranberry juice
• 85ml orange juice

Mix all ingredients togather in a glass and add ice
Garnish with cherry

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This period of time can be very helpful for the new parents to get themselves settled into the routine of looking after their new baby. A babymoon isn’t only for a first child, a babymoon can be taken for a second, third, even seventh child, as it can be a time for older siblings to bond with the new baby as well.

In general terms the family unit stays in the home as much as possible so there are a few tips for what you can to do to make your babymoon a lovely time of bonding without having to worry about other day to day things.

• Stock up on freezer meals whilst you are still pregnant so you don’t have to worry about cooking.
• If you can afford one, hire a cleaner for a little while.
• Stock up on items that you know will be used, washing powder, toilet paper, soap etc
• Make a sign for the front door stating “Mother and baby asleep, please don’t knock” and use it.
• Have some special toys prepared for older children to play with while you are feeding the new baby.
• Book in a relaxation massage after about a week for when the sleep deprivation hits you.

The best things you can do to prepare for your babymoon are things that are going to mean that you can relax at home without worrying about making dinner or cleaning up after the visitors have left. Prepare whatever you think is going to make your first few weeks with your new baby as blissful as can be.

The more recent definition of a babymoon actually refers to a holiday that the expectant parents take prior to the baby arriving, it’s likened to having a honeymoon after getting married. Generally a babymoon of this sort will only be done with a first pregnancy, unless of course the older siblings can be looked after for a few days.

There are a lot of different options for your babymoon, ranging from going to a resort with a specific babymoon package (including prenatal massage, health classes etc) or you can do it all yourself with a focus on relaxing with your partner.

There are some tips that you might like to consider if you plan a babymoon prior to your baby arriving:

• The second trimester is the best time to travel as morning sickness should have subsided and the tiredness of third trimester has yet to kick in.
• Limit you travel time to 5-6 hours as any longer can become uncomfortable for the mum to be.
• Remember to stay hydrated while travelling.
• Ensure that where you are staying (or the airline if you are flying) has pregnancy friendly foods readily available.
• Consult your doctor before any travel during pregnancy.

At the end of the day whether you choose a holiday babymoon prior to baby’s arrival or a stay at home babymoon after baby arrives, or even if you’re lucky enough to have both, a babymoon is a great way to prepare for your life as a parent.

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When you are pregnant, as with any other time of your life, there is the possibility that you might become sick, you might catch a simple cold or become ill with an infection or some other condition. Ordinarily you could take medications to make you feel better or to heal the infection, however during pregnancy it’s not as simple.

You may also take a regular medication for an ongoing health concern, prior to falling pregnant. It’s advised that you let your health care provider know that you are trying to conceive a baby so you can work out alternatives for your medications should they be contraindicated in pregnancy. For example, it is recommended that the mother wean slowly off anti-depression medications prior to falling pregnant as the medications can be dangerous to the growing foetus.

There are some illnesses however (such as epilepsy and diabetes) which require the mother to continue taking their medications during pregnancy. This is because the health risks to the mother not taking the medications outweigh the risks of taking the medication. For example, a pregnant woman having a seizure is considered far riskier than the possibility of her medications causing birth defects to her baby. In fact, up to 95% of babies born to epileptic mothers who take medication throughout their pregnancy are born normal and healthy even though the medications are known to cause birth defects.

The question then is, how do you make the decision which medications you can take during pregnancy?

There is a worldwide standard pregnancy rating for all medications and most prescribing medication books will provide your health care provider with this rating. If you are being prescribed a medication during pregnancy, you can ask your doctor what category the medication falls into, so you can be sure it is safe for your growing baby.

Category A - Controlled studies show no risk.

Adequate and well-controlled human studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the foetus in the first trimester of pregnancy (and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters).

Category B - No evidence of risk in humans.

Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the foetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women OR Animal studies have shown an adverse effect, but adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women have failed to demonstrate a risk to the foetus in any trimester.

Category C - Risk cannot be ruled out.

Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the foetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use of the drug in pregnant women despite potential risks.

Category D - Positive evidence of risk.

There is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use of the drug in pregnant women despite potential risks.

Category X - Contraindicated in pregnancy.

Studies in animals or humans have demonstrated fetal abnormalities and/or there is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience, and the risks involved in use of the drug in pregnant women clearly outweigh potential benefits.

You will find that most doctors will try to limit their prescribing to categories A and B. Drugs in category C will only be prescribed after careful consideration and drugs from categories D and X are generally avoided altogether.

Please be aware that all drugs should be avoided unless absolutely essential in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy as this is the most risky time for fetal abnormalities to develop. Although Category A medications are deemed safe during pregnancy, they should be avoided as well during this time.

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Every pregnant mother hopes for an easy birth with no complications, but things don’t always turn out the way the we plan. Sometimes mothers will need a caesarean section to birth their baby (30% of births were caesareans in Australia in 2009).

It can be very frightening when you find out that you have to give birth by caesarean section, whether it is in advance (due to medical issues such as placenta previa etc) or during labour when you are taken to theatre for an emergency caesarean section. Either way, it’s a good idea to read up on giving birth by caesarean section beforehand so you know what happens in the event of needing to go to theatre to birth your baby.

Please note that in an emergency situation, the procedure explained below may be slightly different as things may be rushed to save the life of either mother or baby.

A birth by caesarean section is where the baby is removed from the uterus, by an obstetrician, through an incision in the mother's abdomen. There are two types of incisions that can be made. The first is a classical incision, which is a vertical incision from the top to the bottom of the uterus. These are rarely done these days as they can cause more complications and take longer to heal. The most common nowadays is a lower segment caesarean section (LSCS) which is where the uterus is cut across the abdomen, just above the pubic bone, it is much easier to repair and lends itself much better to future vaginal births (VBAC).

Prior to your caesarean surgery you will need to remove all jewellery (or have it taped) and remove any nail polish so your vital signs can be checked. You will be given a small drink to neutralise the acids in your stomach before entering the theatre. A catheter will be inserted and you will also be given a drip, usually this will contain fluids and oxytocin, which will help your uterus contract after your baby is born. You will have heart monitors placed on your chest and a blood pressure cuff on your arm to make sure you are doing ok during the surgery.

To start the surgery, you will be given some sort of anesthetic, there are two options. You may have a general anesthetic, where you will be asleep during the caesarean section and wake up after your baby is born. Alternatively you can be awake during the surgery and be given local anesthesia through an epidural or spinal block. With a local anesthetic you will not feel anything from your chest down and as a result will not be able to move much for several hours after your surgery.

Once you are in the theatre, a screen will be raised at your chest so you cannot see any of the surgery taking place. The anesthetist will run ice across your stomach to ensure that you have no sensation and that the anesthetic is working properly. If you are having your caesarean section under local anesthetic your partner may join you once the first incision is made. He or she will sit by your head with the anesthetist.

To start the surgery, you will be swabbed with antiseptic and a small incision is made right above your pubic bone. The doctor then cuts through the underlying tissue and fat working down to your uterus. Once your doctor reaches the muscles, they will be separated manually to expose your uterus.

During this time you will feel some tugging and movement. The sensation is very strange & I liken it to having dental work done, in that you can feel the movement but there is no pain or skin sensation. It can be a little bit scary, but as long as you are feeling no pain then it is perfectly normal. If you do feel any pain, tell your anesthetist immediately and he or she will top up your anesthesia.

At this point, if you would like to view the birth of your baby, you may request to have the screen lowered. Your partner may also choose to take photos of the birth at this time.

A final incision is made, in your uterus, and your baby is pulled out, sometimes this needs the assistance of forceps. The baby’s umbilical cord will be cut and she or he will be held up over the screen for you to see. If you partner would like to cut the umbilical cord, let the midwives know in advance and it will be left long enough for him or her to cut on the warming table after the birth.

Depending on your hospital, you may be able to have your baby placed on your chest immediately after birth and checked later. Sometimes though your baby will need to be checked straightaway depending on his or her Apgar scores.

At this point, your surgery has been going for only about ten minutes.

While you snuggle with baby or the checks are being made, your caesarean section is being completed by all the layers being sutured back together. You may have staples, stitches or internal stitches, depending on the doctor performing your surgery.

This part of surgery will take up to two hours as the doctors work at stitching everything back together. It may sound like a long time, but it goes very quickly. If you are tired after a long labour you may fall asleep as they finish the surgery.

Once the surgery is finished you will go to recovery for a period of time, this is dependent on how you are doing after the surgery and how much blood loss you have had. You may be there for half an hour if all is well or up to several hours if there are any concerns about your health. If you baby is well he or she may stay in recovery with you and you can use this opportunity to breastfeed if you’d like to.

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If you choose to tell people that you are planning a pregnancy you will hear many old wives tales to help you conceive. Over my six years trying to conceive our children I think I have tried every single one of these old wives tales, even the really obscure ones!

Most are just for fun, while others may have some actually effect on your ability to conceive. Either way here is a list of some of the old wives tales I’ve come across to help you conceive.

Herbs / Flowers / Food

• Carry a bag full of hazelnuts. Whilst they are a great food for regulating blood sugar and insulin, in ancient times it was believed that hazelnuts were so effective that as well as eating them, carrying them in your pockets was enough to increase your chances of conceptions dramatically.
• Have a close friend give you a parsley plant & nurture. This comes from centuries ago when the belief was that sowing, picking or eating parsley would increase a woman’s chance of falling pregnant.
• Eat Honey. Ancient Egyptians offered honey to the god of fertility and it is known as the ultimate food of love.
• Put a pouch of fresh rosemary under your bed. This comes from an ancient witches spell to aid in conception. It also recommends wearing the pouch around your neck each time you have intercourse & then placing the pouch under the bed when you are in labour to help ease labour pains.
• Put 6 grains of rice just inside the doorway of the bedroom. This is an odd one I heard from a friend but I can’t find any reason for it! Perhaps it has something to do with the common reference of a newly conceived baby being the size of a grain of rice.
• Carry Jasmine Flower. Jasmine flower has an aphrodisiac effect, so carrying it with you can help get you in the mood. Perhaps burning jasmine flower oil in the bedroom would help as well.
• Put a "Lucky Bamboo" plant in the bedroom, for luck of course.
• Burn patchouli incense/oil when making love. Essential oils that have calming influence such as patchouli and sandalwood are likely to have beneficial effects on the reproductive system through their influence on the hypothalamus and the autonomic nervous system.

Crystals / Stones

Places the stones in your bedroom or under your pillow overnight. During the day carry the stones with you. Most women chose to keep them in their bra, close to their hearts.

• Moonstone is said to have powers that aid in nurturing receptivity and balancing of the emotions.
• Rose quartz are the beads of love and fertility. They are said to help promote pregnancy and to protect the mother and unborn fetus from miscarriage.
• Smokey Quartz increases fertility & balances sexual energy.
• Jade increases longevitiy & fertility
• Unakite can be used in treatment of reproductive systems & stimulate healthy pregnancies.

Fertility Symbols

These fertility symbols can be warn as a pendant on a charm or bracelet or used as a statue of some kind in the bedroom or around the house.

• Turtle – sea turtles lay between 50-150 eggs at a time so the hope is she will bestow her good fertility on the wearer
• Unicorn - promotes fertility & sexual magnetism
• Fish - increases fertility & virility
• Bull - increases fertility
• Ankh - physical and eternal life

Others

• Don't dust or move anything underneath your bed, because that's where the baby dust is gathered!
• Place a pair of mandarin ducks in the bedroom as they are a feng shui love symbol.
• Let a pregnant woman comb your hair.
• Hang lead crystal in the double drop cut in a sunny window.
• Have a statue of prosperity in your bedroom, again from a feng shui point of view
• Rub the belly of a Buddha or a fertility Goddess
• Place a pair of yellow booties under your pillow
• Mythology also calls for a female statue to be stood in the bedroom somewhere visible

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Having a new baby is one of the most stressful things that will happen in our life. There are so many things to worry about and you might start to feel as though you aren’t coping as well as you think you should. You may have the “baby blues” for a few days or you may have more severe feelings of depression.

It is said that there are roughly 10-20 percent of mother in Australia that suffer from postnatal depression. It is also estimated that 10 percent of first time fathers suffer from postnatal depression. Although they don't have the hormonal changes normally associated with postnatal depression, you must remember that father's lives are turned upside down when a baby arrives as well.

Postnatal depression is a serious mental illness that a lot of mothers (and fathers) suffer from, many silently, as they don’t want to admit that there is a problem.

After giving birth at your six week checkup, your doctor or early childhood nurse may give you a “test” to see how you’re going, this questionnaire is called the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. It was developed for the British Journal of Psychiatry in 1987 and is still used today as a guide to whether a mother may need some help for postnatal depression.

Below is the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale for you to use on your own. Please remember that scores provide only a rough guide as to whether a woman has postnatal depression. For a full diagnosis, it is important to see your doctor.

To complete the questionnaire, circle the response that answers most accurately how you have been feeling in the past seven days.

1. I have been able to laugh and see the funny side of things.
• 0 As much as I always could
• 1 Not quite so much now
• 2 Definitely not so much now
• 3 Not at all

2. I have looked forward with enjoyment to things.
• 0 As much as I ever did
• 1 Rather less than I used to
• 2 Definitely less than I used to
• 3 Hardly at all

3. I have blamed myself unnecessarily when things went wrong.
• 3 Yes, most of the time
• 2 Yes, some of the time
• 1 Not very often
• 0 No, never

4. I have been anxious or worried for no good reason.
• 0 No, not at all
• 1 Hardly ever
• 2 Yes, sometimes
• 3 Yes, very often

5. I have felt scared or panicky for no very good reason.
• 3 Yes, quite a lot
• 2 Yes, sometimes
• 1 No, not much
• 0 No, not at all

6. Things have been getting on top of me.
• 3 Yes, most of the time I haven't been able to cope at all
• 2 Yes, sometimes I haven't been coping as well as usual
• 1 No, most of the time I have coped quite well
• 0 No, I have been coping as well as ever

7. I have been so unhappy that I have had difficulty sleeping.
• 3 Yes, most of the time
• 2 Yes, sometimes
• 1 Not very often
• 0 No, not at all

8. I have felt sad or miserable.
• 3 Yes, most of the time
• 2 Yes, quite often
• 1 Not very often
• 0 No, not at all

9. I have been so unhappy that I have been crying.
• 3 Yes, most of the time
• 2 Yes, quite often
• 1 Only occasionally
• 0 No, never

10. The thought of harming myself has occurred to me.
• 3 Yes, quite often
• 2 Sometimes
• 1 Hardly ever
• 0 Never

Add up the numbers or your circled answers. The higher your score, the more likely it is that you are distressed and may be suffering from postnatal depression. If you score is high, or even if it is low but you feel depressed, please consult your doctor as soon as possible.

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Now winter is in full swing treat your bump and yourself to some in-season vegetables that are so much more fresh and nutritious than those that have been sitting in storage for months.

Here are two chicken recipe that make the best use of vegetables in season now.

Brown Rice Salad with in-season spring onions, capsicum, lemons, garlic and ginger

1 ½ cups brown rice, cooked
3 spring onions, finely chopped
1 red capsicum, seeded and chopped
½ cup raisins or sultanas
60g cashews, roasted and chopped
2 tablesspoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
1 chicken breast, cooked then cooled then sliced.
Soy Sauce Dressing (see below)

Place all ingredients in a bowl and toss thoroughly before serving.

Soy Sauce Dressing

¼ cup of olive oil
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 clove of garlic, crushed
1 cm piece of ginger, finely chopped
Pepper to taste

Place in a jar and shake well.

Curry Chicken Soup with in-season brown onion, carrot and turnip

4 tablespoons butter or oil
2 large chicken Maryland
1 brown onion, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
1 turnip, chopped
1 tablespoon curry powder
4 cloves
6 black peppercorns, lightly crushed
¼ cup lentils
3 ¾ chicken stock
¼ cup raisins or sultanas

1. Melt the butter or heat the oil in a large saucepan. Add the chicken and brown. Transfer chicken to a plate and set aside.

2. Add the onion, carrot, and turnip to the saucepan and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly coloured.

3. Stir in the curry powder, cloves, and crushed peper and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the lentils.

4. Pour the stock into the pan and bring to the boil. Add the raisins or sultanas, chicken and any juices from the plate. Cover and simmer for about 1 ¼ hours.

5. Remove the chicken from the saucepan and discard the skin and bones. Chop the meat, return to the soup, and reheat. Check the seasoning before serving the soup piping hot.

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