Many women choose to keep the news of the pregnancy quiet until they reach 12 or 13 weeks, when the risk of miscarriage greatly decreases. You may want to tell one or two close friends or family, just so that on days when you don’t want to bottle up your emotions any more, you’ve got someone to confide in. 

When you drink, so does your baby. Alcohol in your blood is carried through the placenta to your baby. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can affect the development of your baby as well as increase the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth. The Health Promotion Agency (HPA) and the Ministry of Health advise that women should stop drinking alcohol when pregnant or when planning a pregnancy. There is no safe level of alcohol use at any stage of pregnancy. This includes the time around conception. 

Drinking alcohol at any time during pregnancy can cause harm to the baby including developmental delay, physical, emotional and behavioural problems and learning disabilities. The range of effects caused by alcohol is known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). They last a lifetime. The more you drink, the greater the risk that your baby will have these kinds of problems. Cutting out alcohol altogether avoids any possible harm. 

If you are struggling to stop drinking, talk to your doctor or midwife or call the Alcohol Drug Helpline for advice and support. 

Alcohol Drug Helpline 0800 787 797 

An HPA pamphlet about alcohol and pregnancy and other information about stopping drinking is available by phoning 0508 258 258 or at www.alcohol.org.nz. 

Your partner, other family members and friends can also help to support you to stop drinking during while you are pregnant. 

Using illegal drugs of any kind is dangerous for your baby. They increase the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth. The risk is even higher if drugs are combined with alcohol. 

Don’t be afraid to talk to your LMC or GP about this. There is plenty of support to help you. Your health professionals want you to be well physically and emotionally, and grow a healthy baby. They will work with you and other organizations to make it happen and support you into parenthood. 

Hormone changes in your body as the baby begins to develop may cause side effects, such as sickness or tiredness. There’s plenty you can do to keep yourself comfortable… 

Paracetamol is safe in pregnancy to provide pain relief and may assist to lower high temperatures if you are unwell with a fever. Take no more than 4 grams in 24 hours. NSAIDS (non steroidal anti inflammatory) such as Ibuprofen/Nurofen should not be taken unless under the advice of a doctor. 

Discuss all medications you take during pregnancy with your LMC/GP, particularly if you have pre existing medical conditions which involve regular medications as some may require dose adjustments or changing. 

Antihistamines/Cold or Flu relief 

Discuss this with your LMC/GP or pharmacist to ensure you receive the correct medication for your condition. 

Queasiness can start before you even realise you’re pregnant and go on for several weeks. It may strike at any time of day. It may be mild queasiness, or you can’t eat because you feel so sick. Either way, it’s miserable… it is mainly due to hormonal changes. Refer to page 28 for some tips. This settles down for most women at around 12-14 weeks and for the majority by 16-20 weeks, when the sickness usually disappears. Some women continue to feel sick throughout their pregnancy. 

Read more here

Pregnancy is exhausting. You may feel silly being tired when you’ve got nothing to show for it, but your body is working hard, putting energy into nourishing your growing baby. Eat regularly to keep up your energy levels, get plenty of sleep, and rest whenever you can. 

Many women worry that sex could harm their baby or cause a miscarriage. If you have any bleeding in pregnancy, you may be advised not to have sex. Otherwise, put your mind at rest. There is no physical reason why you cannot have sex throughout your pregnancy. You may not feel like sex. That’s normal, especially if you’re feeling sick and tired. This feeling may lift as pregnancy progresses. 

Your baby’s sex is decided at the moment the egg and sperm join. The egg always contains an X chromosome. A sperm can carry either an X or a Y. If it’s another X, the baby will be a girl, if it ’s a Y, a boy. 

You could feel light-headed, or actually faint, especially when you stand up suddenly. This is due to the direct effect of the hormones of pregnancy. Your body is using up extra energy too, and this can also cause the lightheaded feeling, ensure you are drinking enough water. Don’t go for too long without eating. Try a cheese sandwich, a piece of fruit, or a glass of milk, but steer clear of sugary foods which could make the problem worse. 

Some slight bleeding is not unusual in the early weeks of pregnancy… but it is very frightening. You may see a slight staining of a pink or brown colour, and feel some cramps. This is sometimes caused by the embryo implanting in the uterus. You might also see some spotting around the time you expect your period. If the bleeding is painless, that’s a good sign. If the bleeding is accompanied by cramps, that’s not so good. Call your LMC straight away, even if the bleeding stops. Stay calm and rest. 

Try not to do any heavy lifting while you are pregnant. The pregnancy hormone ‘relaxin’ makes your ligaments more pliable, they are more prone to strains. If you have to lift something: 

• keep your back straight 
• bend your hips and knees