Philippa Kaye - Your Pregnancy Week by Week: Practical and reassuring advice from conception to birth

Week by Week

Dr Philippa Kaye

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Published in 2010 by Vermilion, an imprint of Ebury Publishing

Ebury Publishing is a Random House Group company

Copyright Philippa Kaye 2010

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The information in this book has been compiled by way of general guidance in relation to the specific subjects addressed, but is not a substitute and not to be relied on for medical, healthcare, pharmaceutical or other professional advice on specific circumstances and in specific locations. Please consult your GP before changing, stopping or starting any medical treatment. So far as the author is aware the information given is correct and up to date as at April 2010. Practice, laws and regulations all change, and the reader should obtain up-to-date professional advice on any such issues. The author and publishers disclaim, as far as the law allows, any liability arising directly or indirectly from the use, or misuse, of the information contained in this book.

To my husband Ben, for holding my hand and
heart throughout my pregnancy and beyond,
and our wonderful son Harrison who makes
me happier than I ever thought possible.

Week 8

Week 15

Week 23

Week 30

Week 37

The Hours Immediately after Birth

Dr Philippa Kaye MBBS (Hons), MA (Hons) (Cantab), MRCGP, DCH, DRCOG, DFSRH is a young GP who trained at Downing College, Cambridge, followed by Guys, Kings & St Thomas medical school. She is the author of The Fertility Handbook and Coping with Diabetes in Childhood & Adolescence and has a regular column in Junior magazine. She lives in London with her husband and son.

I would like to thank Vibha Ruparelia, consultant obstetrician at the Whittington Hospital, for her help and guidance regarding obstetrics and checking the book for errors!

Thanks to Becky Mallison for checking the yoga sections in the book.

Thanks must also be given to Julia Kellaway, my editor at Vermilion, for her direction and valuable comments on the manuscript, and to my agent, Jane Graham Maw, for her support and for seeing my potential.

Although I have been taught by many fantastic doctors and teachers, I owe a debt of gratitude to my GP trainer, Dr Amanda Sutton, for her wise teaching, counsel and friendship.

Thanks, too, as always, to my family: my husband, parents, siblings and more, for their steadfast support and assistance in all I do. Without all of them I would be lost.

P regnancy is an extremely exciting time. As your body changes and your baby grows and develops inside you, you will already be on the path to becoming a parent. You are likely to have lots of questions, not only about what is happening to your body and your baby but also about planning for the future, for labour itself and for life with a baby afterwards. When I was pregnant, every twinge or symptom sent me running for my medical textbooks until my husband threatened to confiscate them!

I feel that the best way to enjoy your pregnancy and prepare for labour and the challenges and joys of parenthood is to be informed about your options. This will help you make educated choices for yourself and your baby. Some women, like me, want to know as much as possible, while others find that too much information can make them unnecessarily anxious. Most women will probably pick a middle course, finding out as much as they feel comfortable with, and you will choose what is right for you. Each pregnancy can be different and raise new questions, so whether this is your first pregnancy or second, third, fourth or more, I hope you will find the answers in this book. Remember, though, you should always talk to your antenatal team if you have any concerns.

This book takes you through your pregnancy week by week, explaining what is happening to your baby and body. The exact times of a babys development are not yet known, so you may find that certain times in this book are different from those mentioned in others. Your baby, whether it will be a girl or a boy, is referred to as he throughout the book to make it easy to differentiate from you, as a she. The changes occurring to your body have been separated out into individual weeks, though in reality the changes are more fluid and can occur concurrently. Each week also describes and explains a common symptom of pregnancy, such as morning sickness or indigestion, and gives advice on how to help relieve it, if possible, and when to see your doctor. Again, though, there is no hard-and-fast rule as to when these symptoms will present themselves; you can get the symptoms or conditions described either earlier or later than mentioned in the book. The book focuses on a normal pregnancy, and any common symptoms or issues that arise. If there are any complications in your pregnancy, your antenatal team will be able to discuss them in more detail with you, though remember the majority of pregnancies are uncomplicated and healthy!