Author: reproscan

Most people start seeing a pregnancy from the mother’s point of view first. We start to review symptoms, talk about each phase of the pregnancy, vitamins and supplements, exercises and diet. Of course the dad-to-be is part of the equation, he doesn’t get the spotlight.

But becoming a father is also a rollercoaster of emotions, and getting ready for the journey is crucial. Here we share tips about how to be present and fully support your partner while getting ready to welcome your child. 

1. Stay informed — you’re pregnant too! If you’re both rookies, follow her on the path of discovery around vitamins, exercises, the countdown of weeks and all the other important information about the next nine months. (Our blog has a great selection of articles to help!). You can also enrol in childbirth classes with her, download apps to follow the pregnancy journey, attend consultations with doctors and much more. It’s important to both for you, for her and your child that you become part of the whole process early on. This will help her feel secure and less anxious, and you can share all the tiny changes she’s facing.
2. Listen, talk and don’t be afraid of your feelings: Pregnancy and parenting are a lot to handle. You are facing this together, so make it clear to her that you want to be there at all times. Sometimes she will want to vent to you about her thoughts and feelings. She’ll feel insecure and afraid. Don’t ever tell her she should stop worrying about things, even if her worries seem illogical. Instead, offer her your views, help and try to find information about whatever is on her mind, to assure her that you’re listening. Book some time off work for a relaxing afternoon together. And most importantly: share your fears and insecurities too. You’re a team, and she needs to feel you’re as involved as you can be. Things will go smoothly for you both if you’re open to talking about your feelings. 
3. Be present for the special moments: Try to be around her as much as possible, so you can share all the special moments on this incredible journey. The first kick, the first time she feels the baby moving in her womb, the first scan, the first medical consultation, the gender scan and review — all of these are vital moments that you will both want to remember together. We’re aware some clinics in Ireland aren’t allowing partners to join pregnancy scans during the pandemic. At ReproScan, we believe this is a precious moment for both parents, and we’re still allowing one adult to accompany the mom-to-be on all scans performed in our clinics. We’re following all HSE recommendations while we allow this to happen. One of our happy patients, The Regular Dad, has shared his thoughts on his first scan, and we’re proud that all our team’s efforts have paid off with a rewarding experience.
4. Be her hero before becoming your kid’s hero: Pregnancy is an emotional time for any mom-to-be. Her hormones are fighting her; she’s getting anxious, it’s a lot to go through. Get closer and be at her service. Try to help more with household chores, prepare or learn how to prepare her favourite meal someday, join her in exercises (if she’s up to it), and think of any way to brighten up her days when she’s not feeling the best. Maybe you both share an interest in games, movies or music — you could plan a special thematic date, or give her a “day off” from everything by booking her a spa day. Remember to be present, to say how beautiful she is and to pay attention to the smallest changes of her body with appreciative and supportive words. Massages, hugs, and extra time together will always be appreciated.  
5. Get ready to share the news when the baby arrives: You’ll probably be in charge of texting, posting on social media, calling or sending that beautiful email to your close friends and family announcing the baby’s arrival. Make sure you have your list ready in advance. Talk to your partner and make a must-contact list, so you don’t miss anyone. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even put together a message template, so you don’t need to think of the right words to say while all you want to do is look at your child in the first minutes of their life. Find out if she wants to share pictures of the labour or if she prefers a short text instead. If you plan ahead, you’ll have more time to enjoy the moment!
6. The famous hospital bag — pack for the three of you! Everybody talks about the hospital bag for the mom and the baby (or the babies), but have you ever considered that you will be there too? Yes, that’s right! You probably won’t need the bathrobe, comfy clothes and nursing pads, but both your phone chargers need to be on the list. Toiletries are valid for both of you, as well as going home outfits (mostly for the mom and the baby, but you may need one too). Snacks, a razor, magazines or books for you to read while you’re waiting are essential. Think of anything that can bring the mom-to-be some extra comfort (like her own pillow or a new set of towels and of course, chocolate) and add it to the bag. Remember to have this ready several weeks before the due date — babies have ways of surprising us!
   

Now you’ve got a few ideas about how to be more present in the pregnancy, why not surprise your partner with a scan to check on how your baby is doing? Contact us today if you have any questions, and maybe you can then visit us in one of our five clinics in the Republic and Northern Ireland.

Getting to the third or final trimester of your pregnancy usually brings a mixed bag of emotions, tied up with a yearning to see your baby for the first time, and apprehension about labour — especially if it’s your first time. All of these feelings are absolutely normal. 

The third trimester also brings the joys of anticipation, deciding how you want to give birth and what to include in your baby’s layette, and lots more. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions, but let’s enjoy the ride. Are you ready to see what’s waiting for you? Let’s go! 

• More visits to your doctor and midwife, and antenatal classes: In your third trimester, you’ll most likely visit your doctor and midwife more often. The ideal number of visits is one every two weeks from your 28th week of pregnancy, increasing to one visit per week from the 36th week. This is to make sure you’re well adapted to new physical changes as your body prepares for the birth.
  
  You should also start thinking about adding antenatal classes to your schedule. These classes are useful in helping you to prepare for labour, the birth of your baby and becoming a parent if it’s your first time. The sessions will also cover relaxation techniques, the emotions you’ll face during the final trimester, developing a relationship with your baby, looking after your relationship with your partner and many other vital topics. Ask your doctor or midwife about antenatal classes and ask if your hospital or maternity service offers the classes free of charge. Also, check for online options in line with COVID guidelines.

• Stretch marks and the final body changes: These will probably be the fastest physical changes you’ll experience during the whole pregnancy. In the third trimester, you’ll start to notice stretch marks, heartburn and indigestion and varicose veins, among other things. These are all related to your body giving the baby more space to develop, with your uterus expanding and adding pressure to the stomach, and hormonal changes causing side effects. Use creams and oils for extra skin hydration, to reduce the prominence of stretch marks. To tackle indigestion, try eating smaller meals and avoid fried foods. And to reduce the swelling of your veins, avoid standing or sitting for long periods, sleep with your feet up and try compression tights, available in most pharmacies. 

• Wait… is it time already? The Braxton Hicks and how to deal with them: Following the physical changes in the third trimester, most women experience ‘Braxton Hicks’, or uterine contractions. Different to labour contractions, these are infrequent, irregular and short, and last for less than a minute. These contractions sometimes confuse women in their later days of pregnancy, so to make sure they are only Braxton Hicks contractions, walk around, relax and take deep breaths. If you experience more prolonged, persistent contractions, you should contact your GP.  

• Emotional and mental changes — you got this! One universal feeling at this stage of pregnancy is anxiety about labour and embracing parenthood. Luckily, you can count on various support groups to help you deal with these emotions. Whenever you feel anxious, try to talk to your partner, friends and family. Another way to deal with this is to keep your mind occupied — thinking about a name for your baby, organising their new room, preparing your hospital bag, among other things. If you feel prolonged symptoms, talk to your doctor or midwife.

• Big decision time — how do you want to give birth, and what are your options? The final moment is almost here, and you can’t wait to have your baby in your arms. This is the time to make decisions! Depending on your health conditions, yours and your partner’s wishes, and other factors, you can choose between a hospital birth, home birth or even a midwifery unit/birth centre. In some cases, you can also state a preference for a vaginal birth or Caesarean — but health conditions and risks to the mom and the baby can influence this decision.
• 3D/4D scans or ‘Just a Look Scan’ — take these pictures with you! If you already know your baby is doing great and possibly know the gender, you can still book some extra scans for a closer look at how she or he is doing.  3D or 4D scans are ideal for this stage of pregnancy, as an addition to your routine hospital scans. These scans are also recommended if you want to try and see baby’s features, movements and expressions, and keep images from the womb. When your baby is finally born, these images will be a fun, poignant memory of the expressions and movements of your little bundle of joy before they were even born.
• Prep, prep and prep! There’s nothing like “overpreparation” when you are planning to welcome your baby. From buying clothes to getting a feeding system, formula milk, toys, crib, travel system, baby bath, comforters, and loads more. Make sure you buy all this in advance. Given the current virus scare, it is important to sanitise everything you buy as your baby’s health and safety is your top priority.
• Rest and relax: Don’t forget to catch a break and focus on your overall wellbeing. Special yoga and meditation is recommended for expecting mothers. This helps in the overall development of not only your baby,  but it also helps to relax you when you most need it!

As you get closer to the final days of your third trimester, you may start feeling a certain sense of nostalgia and emotion when you think about all you’ve gone through — but there will be many bright days ahead!

You might also want to schedule scans to check on your baby and get the full picture about their wellbeing. Feel free to contact our team to schedule an ultrasound or ask any questions about our services — we are always here for you!

After getting used to the first signs of pregnancy and the changes that come with the first trimester, you deserve a bit of a rest. We’re not saying it’s easy, but many moms-to-be say the second trimester is their favourite — usually because their energy levels get a boost and they stop feeling nauseous regularly. 

A big part of the second trimester is taking care of your body, paying attention to the changes you’re going through, and booking all your necessary exams and scans. Ready to see what’s waiting for you? Let’s go! 

• More physical changes and feeling your baby’s movements: In your second trimester, you’re expected to gain 1 to 1.5kg per week. A small bump will start showing quickly, as your abdomen expands to give the baby more space to grow. Your breasts will usually get bigger, and you’ll notice that your blood vessels are dilating, in response to pregnancy hormones. You can also expect some dizziness as your blood pressure drops. During this time you’ll be able to feel your baby’s first movements, which is an exhilarating experience!
  
  
• Focus on your diet — and your cravings! During this trimester you’ll feel your appetite change. Make sure you drink plenty of water and include different sources of vitamins and minerals in your meals. Beans and lentils, leafy green vegetables, whole grains and nuts, fortified cereals, mushrooms, eggs, fatty fish, flaxseeds and chia seeds are excellent sources of proteins, calcium and folate (folic acid). More importantly: don’t ignore your cravings. A series of studies have linked pregnancy cravings with moms-to-be reacting to a lack of nutrients. So if you’re craving a big sandwich with ice cream and strawberries, your body might be telling you that you need some calcium. The research isn’t fully comprehensive yet, but in the meantime just embrace it!
• Blood tests and disease scanning: Following your first trimester check-ups, prepare yourself for more blood tests and medical consultations. Now it’s time to check your blood sugar and pressure, and thyroid function, check for anaemia,  and infectious diseases, among others. One of the most important blood tests you’ll have during this trimester is on your blood group and antibodies. This exam tests the Rhesus (Rh) Factor, an inherited protein found on the surface of red blood cells. If your blood has the protein, you are Rhesus positive, and if it lacks the protein, you’re negative. If you and your baby have different Rhesus types, your body can produce antibodies against Rhesus,  which could affect future pregnancies, or cause anaemia and jaundice in your child. While these complications have become less common, it’s essential to have a good prenatal plan and take all possible tests, to make sure you and your baby are healthy. You can learn more on the HSE website.
  

• Include extra exercise time in your routine: One downside of the second trimester is that you’ll probably feel some physical discomfort. Back and abdominal pain and leg cramps are the most common symptoms, all related to the gradual physical changes you’re experiencing. The best way to deal with this is to include some moderate exercise in your routine. If you already exercised before pregnancy, it’s safe and healthy to maintain your regular pace — as your bump starts to grow,  you will slow down naturally. If you’re not a big fan of exercising, this is a great time to start! Go for short walks around your neighbourhood and try to be more active every day. Dancing, jogging and even taking some online yoga, aerobics and stretch classes can really enhance your wellbeing, reduce stress and boost your energy levels.
• Gender scans —  hooraaay!  From your 18th week onwards, you’ll be able to book your first gender scan. While some parents like to keep their baby’s gender a surprise until they’re born, it’s becoming increasingly common to book these scans as soon as possible. Knowing the baby’s gender will allow parents, relatives and friends time to organise gender reveal parties and start to plan the baby’s layette. Our Gender scans provide the mom-to-be with a 2D image of their baby and verifies the foetal heartbeat, showing its position and determining its gender. Our team of sonographers guarantee 95% of accuracy.  

As you advance in the second semester of your pregnancy, you might want to schedule other types of scans to check on your baby and get more accurate information about their wellbeing. 

Feel free to contact our team to schedule an ultrasound or ask any questions about our services — and keep an eye on this page for the third and final part of the series!

If you’ve just found out you’re pregnant, you’re filled with hope and a desire to do everything you can to protect and nurture your baby. You might have started noticing some of the physical first signs of pregnancy, and if you are a first-time mom, you could be spending all your spare time researching books and websites, and having chats with friends and family, trying to prepare yourself for the journey ahead.  

If this is your first pregnancy, you probably feel like jumping into this new world and learning all the buzzwords and jargon. But it’s better to take your time. Remember, you’ve got nine months to learn all of this!. 

To steer you through each phase of your pregnancy, we’ve prepared this three-piece guide on the most important things to focus on in each trimester. Are you ready? Let’s go! 

1. Learn how to count in weeks: It might seem very confusing at first, but counting in weeks makes a lot of sense when you’re pregnant, as each week represents a stage in the baby’s development. Knowing the exact number of weeks you’ve been pregnant will help you assess how long you’ll have to wait to see your baby’s face for the first time, understand how your body feels as your baby develops, when to book your scans and how to calculate your due date — which leads us to the next topic…
2. Calculate your due date: As soon as you find out you’re pregnant, you should consult a reliable due date calculator. To be as precise as possible, most due date calculators use the date of your last menstrual period and count 40 weeks from that point. This is based on the fact that women typically ovulate about two weeks after their period starts, and that pregnancy usually lasts about 38 weeks. Our due date calculator uses this method — you can check it here.
3. Talk to your midwife and GP as soon as you can and take your flu vaccine: your GP and midwife will be able to assess your health condition and recommend the best approach to your pregnancy. They can also administer the two essential vaccines you’ll need during your pregnancy: the whooping cough (pertussis) and the flu vaccine. These vaccines not only give you immunity, but also protect your child while they’re in your womb, and for the first few months of their life.
   
4. Be the healthiest you can be: During the 12 first weeks of your pregnancy, the vital tissues and organs of your baby are developing, so you’ll need to give both of you a significant boost through lots of healthy foods and nutrients. You must also make sure you’re taking all your essential vitamins and folic acid , a vital supplement that supports your baby’s spine and brain development.
   Exercising during pregnancy is also highly recommended and it’s highly recommended that you start to exercise frequently during the first trimester of pregnancy. Walking in the neighbourhood or with your dog, getting off the bus a stop before your destination and morning stretches are some activities you can include in your daily routine to stay active.
5. No smoke, no booze, no stress: If you are a smoker, this is the time to stop, and taking a break from alcohol is also vital — the chemicals in cigarettes and alcohol can harm your baby development. You should also try to avoid stressful situations. If it’s possible, book some time off work during your first trimester pregnant and focus on you.
6. Be ready for the strongest changes that come with pregnancy: Even though your bump won’t necessarily start showing in the first trimester, during this time you’ll face a variety of symptoms, including nausea, fatigue, breast tenderness and frequent urination. These are all common pregnancy symptoms, but every woman has a different experience. You may also experience an increase in your energy levels, a more sentimental feeling around everyday life events and pain in your legs and back. This is all related to the most crucial part of your baby’s development, a period in which your baby’s body structure and organ systems start to develop.
7. Book your first scan: This is the happiest part of all — taking a close look at your child in their first days of development. In this first trimester of your pregnancy, you’ll be able to book an Early Pregnancy Scan and check your baby’s heartbeat, establish your gestational age and get some measures and reassurance from our professional sonographers. 

We hope we’ve given you enough information to help you through this early stage of your pregnancy. Feel free to contact our team to schedule an ultrasound or ask any questions about our services. See you for the second part of the series!

Being pregnant is one of the most unique experiences of a woman’s life. When a woman discovers she is pregnant, she’ll start to research all best ways she can aim to be the best version of herself, while keeping the baby safe, nurtured and healthy. If you are pregnant right now, you might be wondering: Is my diet healthy enough? Do I need to change? If you are wondering what you need to do and how you will get all the nutrients you and your baby need to guarantee a healthy pregnancy, look no further. We have a list of all you need to know.

At ReproScan, part of the ReproMed Ireland Group, we always recommend you source all your vitamins and minerals naturally. That said, you’ll be happy to know that most vitamins and minerals you need to sustain a healthy pregnancy are available and more efficiently absorbed from food. The exception is folic acid, which you can buy over the counter at a pharmacy. See below a list of essential vitamins you should include in your diet during pregnancy and where to find them.

• Iron: some great sources of iron are dark green leafy vegetables, wholemeal bread, fortified cereals, chickpeas, beans, peas, lentils, eggs and dried fruits such as apricots.
• Calcium: most sources of calcium include those foods that are rich in iron, but also milk, soya milk, rice and oat drinks, tofu, sesame seeds, tahini and pulses, among others.
• Folic acid: the most widely recommended of all vitamins related to pregnancy, folic acid can be found in leafy green vegetables, asparagus, citrus fruits, beans, bread, pasta, rice, bananas and cereals.
• Omega-3 fatty acids: most people rely on fish, like salmon and sardines, to supply their omega-3 fatty acid needs. Other foods you can include in your diet to boost this vitamin intake are chia seeds, flax-seeds, walnuts, soybeans, fortified soy drinks and plant oils (canola, flaxseed and others).
• Vitamin A: to increase your intake of Vitamin A, include items such as sweet potatoes, carrots, kale, sweet red peppers, broccoli, tomatoes, spinach, mango, grapefruit, papaya, watermelon and butter in your diet.
• Iodine: some popular sources of iodine are seaweed, wakame, prunes, tuna, cod, baked potato with skin and boiled eggs.

Now that you know what vitamins and supplements you need during your pregnancy, why not schedule an appointment with us to check how your baby is doing? Call us today if you have any questions and check with our team what are the best options for you to schedule a scan with us, in one of our five clinics in the Republic and Northern Ireland.

How to identify the early signs of pregnancy

Can you ‘feel’ pregnant even before it’s been confirmed?  While pregnancy tests or ultrasounds are the most secure way of finding out, your body has many ways of dropping you hints — even before you miss a period. If you’re in tune with the changes in your body, you may be able to follow these signs and make an informed decision before taking a test — hopefully with a joyful result!

Pregnancy signs vary greatly between women. Many women experience symptoms within a few days, others after a few weeks, and some don’t have very noticeable symptoms at all. But most will experience some, if not all, of the following major early signs of pregnancy.

Listen to your body: 10 signs that you might be pregnant

1. Tender breasts: This is often one of the first signs that you’re pregnant — and unfortunately it’s one of the most uncomfortable. Your breasts may be tingly, painful or feel heavy just days after conception, as oestrogen levels in the body rise.

1. Fatigue: If you’re feeling more tired than usual, it could be an early sign that you’re pregnant, and feeling the effects of hormonal changes. It’s also an overriding signal from the body to take it easy.

1.  Nausea and vomiting: Just because it’s one of the more obvious and expected signs, it doesn’t make morning sickness any easier. In fact, it can strike in the afternoon or the evening, and it can arrive in the first week of conception.

1. Higher basal body temperature: If you’ve been tracking your temperature while trying to conceive, you’ll know your temperature rises during ovulation then drops after your period. If your temperature stays elevated for over two weeks, you may be taking a trip to the pharmacy for that kit.

1. More trips to the loo: If you’re pregnant your uterus swells immediately to accommodate the growing foetus, which puts pressure on your bladder, and more toilet breaks. This occurs within one or two weeks.

1. Light spotting: Sometimes a small amount of light spotting — or implantation bleeding — is one of the first signs of pregnancy, and happens around 10 to 14 days after conception.

1.  Heightened sense of smell: Many women in the first few weeks of pregnancy report an increased sensitivity to smells. A double-edged sword, as bad smells may overpower the good, especially when combined with #3 above.

1. Food cravings and aversions: Another classic sign of pregnancy, brought on by hormonal changes. If you’re suddenly bingeing on a random snack or you’ve been turned off your go-to comfort food, your body may have bigger news for you.
2. Heartburn: When the uterus swells it starts to push upwards, and as HCG hormone levels increase, this slows down digestion, which in turn increases stomach acid.

10. Moodiness: With an influx of hormones as well as some — or all — of the above, there’s no surprise women often suffer mood swings during the first stages of pregnancy — which may begin within the first two weeks.

If you’ve missed a period and you’ve noticed some of the above signs, it might be time to take a pregnancy test — if it’s positive, it’s important to begin prenatal care.

Early pregnancy scan

If you are pregnant, and you’ve had your first consultation with your doctor, here at ReproScan we offer an Early Pregnancy Scan, usually performed between 8 and 14 weeks after conception. At this time, you can see their baby for the first time, check their heartbeat, verify if you’re expecting one little one or more, and have an idea of your due date.

If you’ve just found out you’re pregnant:

Even before you visit us for your first Early Pregnancy Scan, you can estimate your baby’s arrival date with our Due Date Calculator. Click here to find out more.