Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the arteries as it travels through your body. If the force gets higher, it leads to hypertension (high blood pressure) which can cause damage to the arteries, resulting in pregnancy complications for you and your baby; other life-threatening issues include stroke, aneurysm and heart attack.
The different types of childbirth methods
Childbirth is possibly the most personal experience for women. Today, there are more childbirth options for expectant mothers than ever before including: vaginal births, home births, elective Cesarean section and even water births which can be performed at home – let’s explore the different options for you to decide which one suits you best.
Dangers of drinking alcohol when you’re pregnant
Your doctor has told you that you’re pregnant. Congratulations! Celebrate with friends and family into the early hours of the morning…but don’t drink any alcohol; consumption of alcohol can cause irreparable damage to your unborn baby.
High-risk pregnancy – what you need to know
Generally, pregnancies follow their natural process and a healthy baby is born. However, sometimes there are factors that can cause risks to the mother and unborn baby. Doctors refer to this as ‘high-risk pregnancy.’ Are you at risk? Here’s what you need to know.
Home pregnancy tests – what you need to know
Have you missed your period and think you may be pregnant? A home pregnancy test will help determine whether you’re pregnant or not. According to Cleveland Clinic, ‘most tests are 99 percent effective if taken after a missed period.’
If you’ve never used a home pregnancy test before and have no idea what to do, don’t worry. We’ll explain the steps in this article.
Am I ovulating? Understanding your menstrual cycle
While safe abortions are legal in South Africa, understanding your menstrual cycle will help you determine when you’re ovulating. In this article, we outline everything that you need to know about menstruation.
Safe Abortion Methods: Which is Best for Me?
Choosing what to do about an unplanned pregnancy takes its emotional toll. If you decide to terminate the pregnancy, ensure that you opt for a safe abortion procedure. ‘Backstreet’ abortions are not only illegal, but they are also often ineffective and can even be fatal. In this article, we discuss the differences between the two safe abortion methods that are available, so that you have the information you need in order to decide which one is best for you.
ADVICE: What to look out for when using internet/mobile dating sites
The festive season is a time of merriment and creating wonderful memories with friends and family. If you’re single, watching your married/engaged friends having a wonderful time with each other may cause you to use online/mobile dating sites to find a potential ‘friend’ with whom you can enjoy the season.
Addiction and pregnancy: Is your baby at risk?
The life-threatening risks of abusing any type of drugs e.g. heroin, painkillers such as oxycodone, cocaine, methamphetamines (crystal meth, ecstasy) and marijuana are well documented. However, if you abuse these drugs while pregnant, you’re risking your baby’s health too.
What age is ‘too late’ to have a baby?
Every woman’s fertility timeline is different, but the short answer, according to experts, is that the ability for a woman to become pregnant decreases quite dramatically after the age of 35 – but that doesn’t mean it’s too late to have a baby.
16 and pregnant: the proudly South African version now on MTV Base
Last month MTV Base (SA) debuted the courageous documentary entitled MTV Shuga Presents 16 and Pregnant, a show designed to shed light on the reality of teen pregnancy in South Africa.… Read More
Pregnancy Tests That Calculate Gestation: How Accurate Are They?
If you’re in the habit of watching YouTube videos (who isn’t?), you’ve probably seen the advert where a woman discusses her pregnancy with a friend. She says the test not only confirmed her pregnancy, but also told her how far along she was.… Read More