Welcome to Pregnancy articles
From the joy of discovering you’ve a baby on the way, through to managing morning sickness and working out your due date. Learn about pregnancy facts and myths, and ensure you remain informed as to what is best for you and your baby during your pregnancy.
Let Huggies give you a guiding hand through your 9 months of pregnancy with practical tools, articles, tips and advice to help you along your path to motherhood.
Pregnancy week by week
The 40 weeks of pregnancy are an exciting journey full of fascinating milestones, physical transformations that will amaze you, and a sense of anticipation that grows as the big day approaches. Your pregnancy could also bring you some stressful moments, especially if this is the first time you are expecting a baby. As you wait for the arrival of your baby, you may worry about all the things that could possibly go wrong between now and your baby’s birth. However, knowing what’s going on inside you and what to expect during the different stages of pregnancy is a big help in allaying fears and anxieties. This guide includes what to expect during each stage of pregnancy, and helpful tips to get you through any pregnancy difficulties.
Early pregnancy
The nervous 2-minute wait for the home pregnancy test result is over. It’s positive! The news is then confirmed by your doctor: you are pregnant. Congratulations!
The early pregnancy part of your baby’s gestation period can be an anxious time, especially for those of you who are experiencing pregnancy for the first time. Huggies is pleased to provide you with support and assistance. We can keep you informed and help guide you through your early pregnancy.
Pregnancy complications
By far the majority of pregnant women progress through their pregnancies without problems. Though some, for all sorts of reasons do not. Complications can arise at any stage of pregnancy and pose different grades of risk to the health and well-being of a mother and her baby. If managed carefully and well, these risks can often be reduced.
Some of the more common pregnancy complications will be included here, but this is not intended to be an exhaustive list. If you are particularly concerned, speak with your midwife or doctor. Feeling anxious about developing a pregnancy complication will not make you more vulnerable to experiencing one.
Pregnancy care
Nearly 1 in 3 women may experience some kind of complication during pregnancy. This is why it’s so important that you receive adequate pregnancy care from the earliest stage onwards. If you are still trying to fall pregnant, consider pre-natal vitamins and other supplements, but always remember to consult your doctor on these. Other considerations when pregnant include exercise, eating the right foods so that both you and your baby get the right nutrition throughout the pregnancy, and regular check ups like ultrasounds and pre-natal examinations to monitor your baby’s development and to check for any problems so they can be treated as early as possible.
Miscarriage
Miscarriage is when a pregnancy ends of its own accord within the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. It can be one of the most devastating and heart-breaking events that a woman can experience. Sadly, up to 25% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage. Most miscarriages happen within the first 13 weeks of pregnancy.
Having a miscarriage certainly doesn’t mean you can’t or shouldn’t get pregnant again. Find out more about the early warning signs of miscarriage and its possible causes. Also read the experiences shared by women who have been through a miscarriage.
Pregnancy Diet
Even if you’ve never given much thought to your diet before, becoming pregnant will inspire you when it comes to food and nutrition. There are certain vitamins and minerals that can really make a difference for baby’s growth and development, and steering clear of the bad stuff is important as whatever you eat and drink will eventually find its way to baby.
Pregnancy and work
Being pregnant doesn’t mean you are any less competent at your job. You’re a pregnant woman, not an invalid. So unless you’re a professional athlete, dancer, martial arts instructor or in any other highly physical role, there’s no reason why you can’t work through your pregnancy should you want to. When you give up work is up to you, how you feel, and, towards the end, your energy levels.
Working effectively while pregnant, and ensuring the comfort and safety of both you and your baby, sometimes needs a little preparation. Huggies can help you prepare by outlining your rights in the workplace, typical workplace hazards to avoid, and many other useful tips to use while you are pregnant and at work.
Maternity leave
Maternity leave (sometimes also known as parental or family leave) is the time you are legally entitled to take off from your job in order to have a baby. In Australia, your maternity rights are determined and upheld by the Federal Government. These rights can be difficult to understand, so Huggies has converted the maternity leave policies and laws into an easy-to-understand parenting resource so you can easily work out your maternity leave rights and entitlements. Find out more about the recent changes to maternity leave laws. You may be eligible for 18 weeks paid maternity leave from January 2011 (certain conditions apply).
Baby nursery
Your new baby will spend much of their early years in their baby nursery. The sooner your baby settles in and feels comfortable in their nursery the better off you and your baby will be. You will need a safe and comfortable cot for your baby to sleep in, a change table, and a comfortable chair where you can feed, sit and soothe your baby before bedtime. Neutral wall colour and soft lighting or a dimmer are also recommended. Above all, make sure the room is completely baby-safe to avoid any accidents. Get ideas and learn more practical tips on designing and decorating your baby nursery from Huggies.
Baby needs
Babies are vulnerable and completely dependent on their parents. They need you to be there for them every second. Providing for your baby’s needs may be a little daunting at first, but it’s also very satisfying. Fortunately for new parents, in the first few weeks your baby’s needs are relatively simple: love, milk, bedding, clothing, nappies, and medication (if it’s needed). Huggies describes the needs your baby will have, from the first few days at home, through to 6 months and later, so you are prepared and equipped for all your baby’s needs.
Baby Shower
Baby showers are a great event for new mum’s, her closest friends and family. Everyone gets together to celebrate the new arrival. Every baby deserves a warm welcome in to our world and needs special care and attention and a baby shower is a celebration that does just that. Very few things compare to the excitement of a new child, and the baby shower, in many ways, mirrors the trials and tribulations that every expecting mother is experiencing.
