Desert Storks

Cannabis use in Pregnancy

Cannabis is a drug that comes from the cannabis sativa plant. The active chemical is THC (Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol). Cannabis is a depressant which slows the messages going to and from the brain to the body. Cannabis can also have mild hallucinogenic effects. The main The main form of cannabis used in Australia is marijuana. Long term use of cannabis has been linked to anxiety and depression . Heavy cannabis use can affect your memory and how clearly you think. It may also increase the risk of paranoia and hallucinations.

Cannabis use during pregnancy is harmful to your baby, however it is not associated with birth abnormalities. The effects of cannabis on your pregnancy are similar to that of tobacco smoking. Reduced oxygen and nutrition to your baby via the placenta may occur and result in reduced growth and development of your baby during pregnancy.
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Benzodiazepines in Pregnancy

Benzodiazepines belong to a group of drugs known as minor tranquillisers. Benzodiazepines are depressants and slows the messages going to and from the brain to the body, including physical, mental and emotional responses.desert

Drugs in this group include: Diazepam (Valium, Ducene), Oxazepam (Serepax, Murelax), Temazepam (Normison, Euhypnos)and Clonazepam (Rivotril).

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Hepatitis during Pregnancy

The word ‘hepatitis’ means an infection or inflammation of the liver. If the liver becomes inflamed due to an infection with a virus it is called ‘viral hepatitis’. However, the liver can also become inflamed through excessive alcohol intake or by taking certain medications or being exposed to certain chemicals.

Some viral hepatitis infections only cause a temporary dysfunction of the liver, while others can cause permanent liver damage (called ‘cirrhosis’). In some cases, a small number of people with cirrhosis may eventually experience liver failure or liver cancer later in life. However, this will depend on the type of hepatitis involved.
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Common Fears of Fathers-To-Be

Emotions

As soon as you are told of your partner’s pregnancy, you will enter a new world. And unless you’re a qualified medical professional there will be a stack to learn as your involvement in the pregnancy and birthing process begins. For many men this is a time of great excitement but also a time of fear. Many fathers-to-be say they sometimes feel confused, sad, anxious and angry – which is perfectly natural.

Below are seven common fears expressed by fathers-to-be:

Financial fear   Mortality fears

Fear for your partner or child’s health

Relationship fears

Fears of ‘pregnancy medicine’
Performance fears
Paternity fears / Am I the real father?

WHEN TO COME TO HOSPITAL

If you have any of the following symptoms contact your doctor or the Maternity Ward as soon as possible!

- BLEEDING
- CONTRACTIONS when LESS THAN 37 WEEKS
- RUPTURE of MEMBRANES
- SEVERE HEADACHE
- INCREASING OEDEMA or SWELLING of ANKLES which doesn’t go away with rest
- VISUAL DISTURBANCES
- LESS THAN 10 BABY MOVEMENTS in a day

INDUCTION OF LABOUR

Is for pregnant women, their partners and their families

• Gives information to help you make choices about induction of labour
• Provides information on the main reasons for induction of labour
• Provides information on the best methods for induction of labour
• Is based on a national evidence based clinical guideline on induction of labour

About clinical guidelines

Clinical guidelines are recommendations for good practice and exist to help patients and their healthcare team make the right decisions about health care. The guidelines are developed by teams of healthcare professionals, patients and scientists who look at the best evidence about care for a particular condition.

Everyone has the right to be fully informed and to share in decision-making about health care. Health care staff should respect and take into account the wishes of the people in their care. Guidelines are recommendations for good practice. There may be good reasons why your treatment differs from the recommendations in this booklet, depending on your individual circumstances and wishes. Read more »

Back Pain in Pregnancy

Unfortunately back pain during pregnancy is a common problem. There are a number of physical reasons for back pain in pregnancy, some of which include:

Pregnancy hormones soften ligaments causing joints to move more than usual. In some cases the ligaments can be strained.
 
 Postural problems caused by the growing uterus.
 
 Position of baby (particularly towards the end of pregnancy) can compress nerves and cause back pain.
 

You need not put up with back pain. There are a number of positive steps you can do to help reduce and sometimes eliminate the problem. Firstly it’s important to understand your body’s changes during pregnancy. Then you can implement some simple strategies to manage the problem. Read more »

GROUP B STREPTOCOCCUS AND PREGNANCY

Group B streptococcus (group B strep or GBS) is a common bacterium that is found in the body. It is usually harmless in adults. Up to 30 per cent of pregnant women carry the bacterium in their vagina or rectum. Sometimes, a woman who has group B strep can infect her baby during birth. This can cause serious illness in the newborn. The mother may also become very ill from the infection after the birth.

Even if you have group B strep, your baby will not necessarily be infected or develop serious illness. Read more »

Placenta Previa

During pregnancy, the placenta provides the growing baby with oxygen and nutrients from the mother’s bloodstream. Placenta previa means the placenta has implanted at the bottom of the uterus, covering the cervix.

When a baby is ready to be born, the cervix (neck of the womb) dilates (opens) to allow the baby to move out of the uterus and into the vagina. When a woman has placenta previa (the placenta has implanted at the bottom of the uterus, over the cervix or close by), the baby can’t be born vaginally. ‘Partial placenta previa’ means the cervix is partly blocked, while ‘complete placenta previa’ means the entire cervix is obstructed.

Some of the causes include scarring of the uterine lining (endometrium) and abnormalities of the placenta. Around one in every 200 pregnancies is affected. Read more »

Folate for women

Folate (also known as folic acid) is a B-group vitamin. Women of childbearing age should take extra folate daily because this vitamin is crucial to the healthy development of babies in early pregnancy. Folate taken before conception and during the first few weeks of pregnancy can prevent seven out of ten cases of neural tube defects, such as spina bifida. Over 600 pregnancies in Australia every year are affected by neural tube defects. Read more »