Beating baby name anxiety

Donna Webeck For some parents, naming a baby is a challenging but fun process. For others, it just brings anxiety and stress. But there are ways to cope with the indecision and decide on a name you're happy with.

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A touchy subject: perineal massage

As your pregnancy nears its natural conclusion it’s normal to start thinking a lot about the birth. You’ll probably start wondering if there’s anything you can do to make it easier, and, well, not as painful as it could be. This is where perineal massage comes in.

Why am I experiencing more vaginal discharge?

No, it’s not your imagination – now that you’re a mum-to-be, you’re probably noticing more vaginal discharge than before. This is a common side effect of pregnancy, and is totally normal.

Is it postnatal depression or just the baby blues?

Melanie Mahoney Up to 80 percent of women will experience the 'baby blues' in the days following their child’s birth. But for some women, the feelings of sadness aren’t just about ‘feeling a bit down’ – they’re a sign of postnatal depression.

Bleeding after birth

Being a new mum is fantastic, but sometimes there are some not-so-glamourous things that come with the territory. One of these things is bleeding after birth. This can come in the form of lochia or your returning period – but it’s all completely normal.

Secrets to a strong pelvic floor

Amber Robinson One out of every three women who have had a baby wet themselves - that is, they experience bladder leakage. The good news is you can do something to try to avoid being one of them ... and it's never too late to start.

Things to look forward to in pregnancy

Melanie Mahoney Carrying a human being in your body for nine months is a pretty amazing experience. Here are a few of the things you can look forward to now you’re pregnant.

Bleeding in pregnancy

Brooke Tasovac Bleeding isn’t always a bad sign when you’re pregnant - in fact, for most women, it’s nothing to worry about. Learn more about spotting and when it becomes something to see your doctor about.

Back in the saddle: sex after baby

Whether your baby is a few weeks old or has been around for a while now, you may find the idea of sex creeping into your life again. Here’s what you need to know about having sex now you’re a mum.

Common (and not so common) pregnancy symptoms

So you think you might be pregnant… or just suffering from a random ailment you’ve never noticed before. Here are some ways your body can be trying to tell you you’re creating a new life.

Jessica Simpson's last minute pregnancy news

Jessica Simpson’s pregnancy must be one of the most talked-about pregnancies in the history of Hollywood. From early bump-spotting to celebs counting down to the birth at the end, there's been no shortage of things to talk about.

Couple film entire pregnancy in stop-motion

Staff writers Couple introduce baby daughter with 90-second video from conception to birth.

Great expectations

Not sure about the next nine months? Emily Dunn gives a rundown what to expect as new life looms.

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 4

When your egg is fertilised by your partner's sperm, the genes or chromosomes from each of you combine to create a cell. This cell then starts to divide, becoming a collection of cells, or blastocyst.

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 5

It is at this stage that you may become aware that you could be pregnant, particularly if your period hasn't arrived and your menstrual cycle is regular and usually appears every 28 days.

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 6

This week you may start to develop other more noticeable signs of pregnancy, such as nausea possibly accompanied by vomiting (especially in the morning), breast soreness or tenderness, the need to urinate more frequently, fatigue, and constipation.

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 7

It is essential to eat a nutritious diet during pregnancy. This will provide your growing baby with all the nutrients required for its development.

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 8

Your uterus is increasing in size, and while you may not have a definite or visible bulge, you will probably notice that your clothes have become tighter around the waist, breasts or thighs.

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 9

As your baby continues to grow, your uterus increases in size and you will probably find that your waist is beginning to thicken. Before pregnancy your uterus is about the size of your fist. After six weeks it will grow to about the size of a grapefruit.

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 10

Although your baby can now respond to touch, you won't yet be able to feel it move. Nutrients pass from your body into the placenta and umbilical cord to feed your baby and support his/her rapid growth.

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 11

You should be eating a healthy diet from all food groups. An extra serve of calcium per day is really the only extra intake that is needed during pregnancy.

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 12

From this week onwards your baby is recognisable as a human being and is now called a fetus as opposed to an embryo. Now, or close to this time, you should be able to hear your baby's heartbeat with a Doppler (a special listening device).

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 13

You may notice slight weight gain as the baby and its support system grows rapidly. Your uterus now fills your pelvis and future growth will mean that your uterus expands up into your abdomen. Your fluctuating hormones may also start to settle down, allowing you to feel less emotionally unbalanced and sensitive.

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 14

By the end of this week, your baby is fully formed. From here, he/she needs to mature. When provoked (eg by prodding of your abdomen), your baby will respond with active movements, however you still can't feel your baby moving yet.

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 15

It is important to maintain a regular, daily exercise routine during pregnancy. Walking, swimming and yoga are particularly recommended.

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 16

You may start to feel the baby move from now (termed quickening), although this is more common in women who have had previous children. The majority of women will start to feel movements some time between Week 16 and Week 20.

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 17

By the start of week 17 you will be noticing an increase in the size of your abdomen. Some people may still be able to get by wearing looser clothing, while others will be wearing maternity clothes.

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 18

Backache can occur at any time during pregnancy but it is more likely to happen later. Try to get rest when you need it, and use heat to alleviate pain. Good posture is essential and lessens the strain on your back. Try to stand up straight.

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 19

Backache can occur at any time during pregnancy but it is more likely to happen later. Try to get rest when you need it, and use heat to alleviate pain. Good posture is essential and lessens the strain on your back. Try to stand up straight.

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 20

You have now reached the half way mark in your pregnancy!

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 21

Your baby has been growing rapidly, but over the last week and during this week, growth slows down and your baby continues to develop and mature in other ways while continuing to gain weight.

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 22

This is a comfortable point in your pregnancy. You are visibly pregnant, but you will not yet be as uncomfortable as you might become later in your pregnancy. So right now (and over the next few weeks) is a good time to start all your shopping for the baby, and finalise any hard work on that nursery!

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 23

Your abdomen is looking rounder this week! Normal weight gain for the weeks up to and including Week 23 is between 4 and 7 kg (10 and 15 pounds).

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 24

Feeling your baby move - you first becomes aware of your baby's movements some time between Weeks 16 and 20. Initially the movements feel like little "flutters", as your baby is small and floats in the amniotic fluid. As your baby grows, the movements become stronger and more pronounced.

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 25

Your baby continues to develop and mature. Its brain begins to form connections between the nerve cells and fibre ends. This process continues for a few weeks, while a basis is created for the relay of the sensory messages that signal consciousness in adults.

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 26

Your baby's body has started to grow faster than its head. This new sense of proportion makes your baby look more like a newborn. Arms and legs are stronger and bones are hardening. Eyebrows and eyelashes are present and hair on the head is growing longer.

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 27

Your baby more easily hears lower and deeper tones, however your own voice is more easily heard than your partners. When you and your partner talk, your baby can hear the rhythm and patterns of your speech.

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 28

This week the amount of tissue in your baby's brain increases, and the surface of your baby's brain starts to change from being smooth, to forming grooves, ridges and indentations. Your baby continues to fill out, becoming plumper and rounder in appearance.

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 29

Over the last 5 weeks your baby has doubled its weight. Your baby grows so quickly that even a few weeks growth will have a big effect on your baby's size.

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 30

Your baby has increased in size and won't be able to somersault for much longer. Your baby keeps gaining weight and maturing, and you will feel him/her actively wriggling and kicking. These movements allow you to start to relate to your baby before it is born.

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 31

You will probably be visiting your health care professional more frequently (about every 2 weeks) from this week on. During your last 4 weeks, you may start weekly visits.

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 32

Your baby has continued to grow, and his/her lungs and digestive system have also continued to mature. Your baby's senses are functioning, and by week 32 the mind may even have started to function. Your baby still needs more time in the womb to continue maturation, and the build-up of fat stores.

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 33

As you become more uncomfortable, it's only natural to wonder about the comfort of your baby. Your baby will let you know if it is uncomfortable in the womb, probably by moving about and elbowing and kicking you!

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 34

Your baby is now perfectly formed and has the proportions of a newborn. Now it's simply a matter of your baby gaining some weight and doing some further maturing before he/she is ready to be born.

Weekly Guide to Pregnancy: Week 35

Fingernails are developed on the fingers, but may still be growing on the toes. Eyelids can be opened and closed and blinking is possible. The irises are also now light sensitive, and will dilate and contract depending on exposure to light.