An ultrasound scan is a medical procedure that’s used to examine unborn babies while they’re still in the womb.

Ultrasound can also be used to diagnose a range of health conditions and to guide surgeons during certain procedures.

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Food cravings are something that almost every pregnant woman will experience. From takeaways to sweets to dairy products, there will always be something that they need to satisfy a sudden urge.

There are many questions about this topic, such as what causes pregnancy cravings, how can you control them, and when do pregnancy cravings start? All of which will be revealed right here, so if you’re experiencing any pregnancy food cravings or know someone who is and wants to get the low-down, carry on reading!

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One thing that almost every expectant mother thinks about at some point before or throughout their pregnancy is their weight.

Common questions include: how much weight should I gain during pregnancy? How will my post-baby body look? Can my pregnancy weight be easily lost?

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When it comes to pregnancy, many questions are asked about what you can and can’t have, especially when it comes to food and drink. One of the most popular questions asked, however, is concerned with coffee intake. Can pregnant women drink coffee? How much caffeine can you have while pregnant? Is too much caffeine bad? So, let’s find out!

How much caffeine is in coffee?

With increased levels of fatigue experienced by many pregnant women, coffee may always seem like the easy go-to in order to keep energy levels up, whether it’s to complete day-to-day tasks or manage other children and toddlers. But is it okay to drink coffee when pregnant?

Can Pregnant Women Drink Coffee?

Well, the simple answer is yes, pregnant women can drink coffee, but in small amounts over the course of the day.

Is One Coffee A Day OK When Pregnant?

Experts recommend that pregnant women take in no more than 200mg daily, approximately 2 cups of coffee.

However, it is very important to note that not all coffee is caffeinated in equal measures. Caffeine content varies on the method of production and type. Drip coffee contains the highest levels (approximately 140-240mg per 240ml/8 oz) followed by brewed and then instant.

So, as a general guideline, mothers-to-be can have two small cups of brewed coffee a day, but it is important to note other sources of caffeine contribute to this amount, such as fizzy/energy drinks and chocolate.

How Does Caffeine Affect A Foetus?

Exposure to high amount of caffeine could have the potential to unsettle their stress hormones which can lead to heart disease, diabetes, rapid weight gain and later life obesity.

How to Reduce Your Caffeine Intake When Pregnant

If you are conscious about the levels of caffeine that you consume when pregnant and want to lower these, or if you think you’ve hit your daily amount and are in search for an alternative to help satisfy your cravings, try these drinks instead:

• Water

• Squash

• Fruit juice

• Caffeine-free herbal tea

• Decaf coffee

These may not be the coffee that you know and love, but they will definitely go a long way when cravings start to kick in while giving you peace of mind that you are doing no harm to you or your baby!

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For further information on what’s safe to eat or drink while pregnant, be sure to contact your doctor or midwife – for further advice on pregnancy cravings and how to curb them, click below!

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Getting the right amount of sleep or finding a way to fall to sleep can be a real struggle for any person, let alone if you’re an expecting mother. Methods that you may have used to help you get a better quality of sleep may no longer work now that you’re pregnant, so what are you to do now? Read on to find out the things you need to do and the things you need to avoid when it comes to sleeping whilst pregnant!

When you fall pregnant, your body experiences a number of changes, which tend to affect the way in which you sleep. These changes lead to several reasons to why you may start to feel discomfort, including:

• Shortness of breath
• Back pain
• Heartburn

The good news about sleeping while pregnant is that there is no need to change the way you sleep until you reach your second trimester. So, with these things in mind, we take a look at the most common sleeping positions throughout the course of a pregnancy.

Sleeping on your back

Between 15 and 20 weeks gestation, the uterus grows big enough to start interfering with the flow of blood when sleeping on your back. The uterus can begin to compress the inferior vena cava (IVC), as well as tightening the aorta, which blocks the main blood supply to your body and placenta. Therefore, sleeping on your back during this stage of your pregnancy can decrease the amount of blood returned to the heart, resulting in shortness of breath or an increased heart rate when waking up.

Sleeping on your stomach

During the early stages of pregnancy, sleeping on your stomach is fine, but there will come a time where you will have to turn over, usually when the bump begins to show around 16/18 weeks. Once your bump starts to show, sleeping on your stomach can become uncomfortable and also have safety implications, similar to sleeping flat on your back. Sleeping on your stomach can cause your bump to move inside the stomach and again press against the IVC and aorta.

Sleeping on your side

The best and most commonly used sleeping position among pregnant women is referred to as ‘SOS’, which stands for sleep on side. More specifically sleeping on your left side, as this will help increase the number of nutrients and blood that reach both the placenta and baby. Sleeping on your right side can also compress the IVC, however, using pillows to prop up the uterus to prevent it sliding to the right can be helpful. It is not uncommon to fall asleep on your left side and wake up in a completely different position, on your back for example. If this does happen, there’s no need to worry as you probably weren’t in that position for very long. If you lay on your back during your third trimester, your blood flow will become compressed which will cause you to feel uncomfortable quite quickly, making you wake up. If you continue to wake up in a position other than your left side, ask your partner to check on you and move you back to your left side.

For further information on how to sleep when pregnant, or if you are experiencing troubles sleeping, get in touch with a doctor as soon as possible. If you require a baby scan during any point of your pregnancy, be sure to browse from our range below!

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