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Single Post Influenza and Pregnancy Influenza or the “flu” is an infectious viral illness spread by coughs and sneezes. It’s not the same as a cold. The flu is caused by a different group of viruses. Symptoms tend to be more severe and last longer. You can catch the flu all year-round, but it is especially common in winter and as we are coming into the colder months, it is imperative to be mindful especially during pregnancy. The flu is serious for pregnant women, and those who get the flu are at higher risk of hospitalisation and complications such as premature labour and delivery. So how does the flu impact on women during pregnancy? After you have been infected with the flu virus, you will usually start feeling the symptoms between one and three days later. Symptoms can include: fever chills cough sore throat headaches muscle aches severe tiredness loss of appetite. If you develop flu-like symptoms your GP can assess you to make sure that you and your baby are otherwise well. If your GP suspects that you have the flu, they may prescribe antiviral medications. These should be commenced in the first two days of the illness to have the greatest benefit. GPs do not routinely test everyone with flu-like symptoms. However, because you are pregnant your doctor may decide to test you for the virus by collecting a nose and throat swab. Women who are near term (more than 38 weeks’ gestation) or those with pregnancy complications may need to be admitted to hospital. Similar procedures that we have advised for COVID-19 are to be adhered to for the flu as well. To avoid influenza, pregnant women should also be advised to take sensible precautions including: avoiding close contact with people who have symptoms, if possible washing hands with soap and running water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser after contact with symptomatic people or their secretions encourage symptomatic people in the household to keep at least 1 metre away and follow cough etiquette and good hand hygiene avoid large, crowded gatherings during the influenza season. Influenza vaccination during pregnancy should be routine: safety is well established for both mother and baby, and maternal antibody continues to protect the newborn in the critical first few months of life. If you have questions or concerns regarding the flu or COVID19 during pregnancy, please feel free to contact our friendly staff on 1300 523 937.

Pregnancy and Mental Health Pregnancy and Mental Health Depression and anxiety are the most common mental health problems in pregnancy and affects approximately 15% of all expectant mothers. It is expected that your emotions are heightened during pregnancy. There are many external and internal factors which can cause an increase in your emotional state during pregnancy, and it does not mean you are “moody” or “crazy”. Pregnancy emotions are a normal part of development. Changing emotions are, for many women, one of the most common side effects during pregnancy. It can be frustrating and exhausting to shift from one emotion to another and be unable to explain what emotion you are feeling and why. During pregnancy, women experience an increase in the production of hormones, such as progesterone and estrogen, depending on how far along they are in their pregnancy. This increase in hormones can have an impact on your emotions and your brain’s ability to monitor those emotions. This is quite common and should not be a cause of concern unless you find yourself in a state of intense emotional instability and distress. Pregnancy changes your body in all sorts of ways. Morning sickness, backache, headache, leg cramps, varicose veins, itchiness, constipation, haemorrhoids, indigestion, and vaginal discharge are some of the realities of pregnancy. And not surprisingly, they can affect how you feel about being pregnant. These are all common worries and you may feel some or all these things during your pregnancy. But if these feelings of sadness, worry or anxiety start to affect your life, it may be something more serious, like perinatal depression or anxiety. According to PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia), up to one in ten women experience depression during their pregnancy. It is important to treat mental health concerns during pregnancy. Mothers who are depressed, anxious, or have another issue might not get the medical care they need. They might not take care of themselves, or they may use drugs and alcohol during the pregnancy. All these things can harm a growing baby. If you have a mental health issue, talk with your doctor so you can get the help you need during and after your pregnancy. How Can I Get Help? If you feel anxious or depressed, talk to a doctor, counsellor, or therapist, and get help right away. The sooner treatment starts, the sooner you will feel better. For more information, please visit: https://www.panda.org.au https://birthline.org.au/services

So, you are thinking of having a baby? So, you are thinking of having a baby? So, you are thinking about getting pregnant and have a baby! That’s great news and can be an exciting and apprehensive time as well. Trying to conceive can be a time filled with hope, but it can also be stressful and overwhelming. Many women spend years using some form of birth control trying to avoid pregnancy, but when the time comes and they are ready to fall pregnant, it doesn’t happen as easily as expected. Fertility can vary widely from one couple to the next and while some couples fall pregnant quickly and easily it can take a little bit longer for others. The average time it will take to fall pregnant is about four months and for 85%of women within 12 months. There are various reasons for this, but the important thing is not to be alarmed if it doesn’t happen in the first month or two. This is quite normal. Most women will usually begin to ovulate normally and have menstrual periods a month or two after they stop using the pill or most forms of birth control. However, for others it may take longer. In most instances this is just the normal delays in the process of conception. There is a common misconception that there are problems conceiving post contraception, or even possible negative side effects. The truth of the matter is that your body needs a bit of time to adjust and in most cases, pregnancy will happen when your body is ready to conceive. An important factor is making sure you take care of yourself both mentally and physically during this time. A well-balanced diet and exercise can contribute to your conception success as well as reducing alcohol intake and ceasing smoking. You may want to talk to your GP about lifestyle factors such as smoking and drinking, or get a referral to see Dr Samina if you have very irregular periods, have been trying for a year or longer or if you are in your mid-30’s or older and have been trying to fall pregnant for six months without success.

Men’s Health Month – Male Infertility Men’s Health Month – Male Infertility This blog post is focused on Men, as November is Men’s Health Month. Did you know that about 1 in 100 couples cannot fall pregnant due to male infertility and about 10 – 15% of males have low sperm or no sperm at all? Male fertility problems include poor quality sperm, low sperm count or blockages in the tubes of the reproductive system. Infertility is defined clinically in women and men who cannot achieve pregnancy after 1 year of having intercourse without using birth control. Many factors and medical conditions can contribute to infertility. Overall, one-third of infertility cases are caused by male reproductive issues, one-third by female reproductive issues, and one-third by both male and female reproductive issues or by unknown factors The major causes of male infertility are: Obstructions to the passage of sperm (varicocele) Problems with sperm (such as low sperm count) Functional problems (such as impotence) Hormonal problems Lifestyle factors Age related problems Infertility can have multiple causes and may depend on genetics, general health, fitness, diseases, and dietary contaminants. These are all treatable causes, and in most cases, there are medical and non-medical treatments. Additionally, there are things you can do at home. A healthy lifestyle and diet, cessation of smoking, reduction of alcohol and adequate sleep are important lifestyle factors and can help improve fertility. If you think that you are experiencing any of these issues or problems, please see your GP.