Breastfeeding-Dealing with Mastitis

Mastitis means inflammation of the breast. It can be caused by blocked milk ducts (non-infective mastitis) or a bacterial infection (infective mastitis). If a blocked milk duct is not cleared, flu-like symptoms such as fever, aches and pains will probably develop. Milk duct blockages cause milk to pool in the breast. This forms an ideal environment for bacteria growth and can lead to an infection. 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 »

Circumcision

Circumcision is the removal of the flap of skin which naturally covers the tip of the penis. Many people, including some doctors, have very strong feelings about circumcision. There are conflicting points of view about the risks and possible benefits of circumcision. Legal and ethical issues about circumcision are also being widely discussed.
Medical specialists in Australia have concluded that there is no medical reason for routine circumcisions of newborn male infants.
Read more »

Visiting hours at Kalgoorlie Hospital

MATERNITY WARD ONLY

11 am – 12 midday

3 pm – 5 pm 6 pm – 8 pm

Rest Period 12 midday – 3 pm

Fathers can visit as required.

Please adhere to these times.

MOTHERS NEED THEIR REST TOO!!

I’m Having a Caesarean Birth!!

What is a caesarean?

Caesarean Birth is the surgical technique whereby the baby and placenta are delivered through an incision in the uterus. The operation may be performed electively before the onset of labour or as an emergency once labour has commenced.
Types of incisions

There are 2 types, named in relation to where the uterine incision is made:
The lower uterine incision – the transverse or bikini line incision (most common)
The upper uterine incision or classical incision – the vertical incision.
Anaesthetic

This may be a General Anaesthetic or an Epidural Spinal Block.
Each type has its advantages and disadvantages; your doctor will discuss the type of anaesthetic suited for you. Read more »

Rh Negative

hen you first find out you are pregnant, your doctor/ obstetrician may prescribe some routine tests. If you don’t know your blood group or if you’re unsure whether the doctor is testing it or not, just ask and this can be easily done.
If you are rhesus negative and your partner is rhesus positive, then your unborn child may inherit negative or positive blood – you wont know until birth. However if the mother is negative and the fetus happens to be positive (positive being dominant, negative recessive), this may cause problems for the fetus as well as any future pregnancies the mother may have. Read more »

High blood pressure during pregnancy

High blood pressure during pregnancy is always of some concern. However, a woman’s blood pressure can fluctuate for many reasons and the occasional high reading does not always indicate there is a problem. The following is a brief overview of high blood pressure readings as well as an explanation of pre-eclampsia(the type of high blood pressure that is usually associated with health concerns during pregnancy). If you would like to have a better understanding of how the blood pressure is measured, why it usually increases and decreases during pregnancy and what this may indicate, you can read tests during pregnancy – blood pressure. For more in depth information on the health effects of pre-eclampsia and how this condition may be treated you can read blood pressure, pregnancy and pre-eclampsia. Read more »

Gestational Diabetes (GDM)

Diabetes is a common condition in which the body is unable to use the glucose in the blood for energy as effectively as usual. This is because the body isn’t making enough of the hormone insulin, or the insulin isn’t working properly. Insulin moves glucose from the blood into the body’s cells where it can be used by the body for energy.

Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy and usually goes away after the baby is born. From 3 to 8 % of pregnant women will develop gestational diabetes around the 24th to 28th week of pregnancy.

Who is at increased risk of gestational diabetes?
• Women over 30 years of age.
• Women with a family history of Type 2 diabetes.
• Women who are overweight.
• Indigenous Australians and Torres Strait Islanders.
• Certain ethnic groups are also at increased risk:
- Indian – Vietnamese
- Chinese – Middle Eastern
- Polynesian/Melanesian
• Women who have had gestational diabetes during previous pregnancies.
• Women who have had difficulty carrying a pregnancy to term. Read more »

The Amazing Journey of Pregnancy

Pregnancy is an amazing journey. While we often talk about it lasting for nine months, pregnancy is generally measured by weeks, lasting 40 weeks or 266 days from conception. Each month brings unique changes for your baby’s growth and development. Enjoy a tour through the entire length of pregnancy in ultrasound pictures and descriptions of how your baby is growing and changing at each stage of pregnancy.

These months are designed to be generic and may or may not specifically relate to your pregnancy. Please direct any questions you have about your baby’s growth or your progress to your doctor or midwife. Pregnancy is a normal process and questions are a natural part of that process. Read more »