Conceiving a baby - tips
A couple is only fertile for a limited time during a woman's cycle. Having sex on the days when mucus is present, before ovulation, and during ovulation itself increases the chance of pregnancy. Factors that can interfere with female fertility ... [... more]
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Twins - identical and fraternal
Twins account for over 90 per cent of multiple births. Identical twins form when a single fertilised egg (ovum) splits in two. Fraternal twins develop from two eggs fertilised by two sperm, and are no more alike than individual brothers or ... [... more]
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Abortion procedures
Abortion is a safe surgical procedure. Undergoing an abortion is 10 times safer than childbirth. However, all surgery carries risk, and complications of abortion can include infection and excessive bleeding. Suction aspiration is the most common ... [... more]
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Abortion - emotional issues
Most women who have an abortion don't suffer any subsequent psychological or emotional problems, as long as the decision was theirs. It's not true that all women who undergo abortion experience guilt, grief and shame. The genuine experiences of ... [... more]
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Bottle feeding with expressed breast milk
It is quite common for mothers to bottle feed their baby using their expressed breast milk. Breast milk can be expressed by hand, or with a manual or electric breast pump. Breast milk must be collected and stored correctly to prevent the risk of ... [... more]
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Foetal alcohol syndrome
Alcohol consumed by pregnant women can harm their unborn babies. Foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) refers to a range of features that affect some babies exposed to alcohol before birth. Alcohol consumed by pregnant women can harm their unborn babies. ... [... more]
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Contraception - female sterilisation
Female sterilisation is a permanent form of contraception. The most common method is tubal occlusion, which is the surgical blocking of the fallopian tubes. Female sterilisation is also called tubal ligation (tying) or more commonly, 'getting the ... [... more]
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Births in Victoria 2003-2004
The Victorian Perinatal Data Collection Unit (VPDCU) creates and maintains a database on perinatal (birth) outcomes and birth defects to improve the health of mothers and babies in Victoria. Until 1978, the only sources of information on birth ... [... more]
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Newborn screening
Every newborn in Australia is given a blood test to check for the presence of particular genetic or metabolic disorders, including phenylketonuria (PKU), hypothyroidism and cystic fibrosis. The few drops of blood needed for the test are taken by ... [... more]
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Maternal serum screening
The maternal serum screening test (MSS) is a blood test offered to pregnant women. The test helps to determine the risk of certain abnormalities that may affect the unborn child, including chromosomal abnormalities like Down syndrome and Edward ... [... more]
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Childbirth - help for women from overseas
Improving your English skills may help you during your pregnancy and childbirth. A better understanding of the English language will help you to communicate with health caregivers. The Council of Adult Education (CAE) offers a childbirth course ... [... more]
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Postnatal depression
One in eight mothers develops postnatal depression in the days or weeks after giving birth. The exact causes are unknown; however, the enormous physical, emotional and social changes that happen at childbirth are thought to play a significant ... [... more]
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