A Guide To Childbirth
The Age
Wednesday May 7, 2003
Want to have a baby? MPG may have found what you are looking for ...
It's Mother's Day on Sunday and the Royal Women's Hospital has released a booklet in time for the event to fill a void in the information market ... a guide on preparing for pregnancy.
Manager of the hospital's Women's Health Information Centre Rosemary Burrell says the free booklet is an ideal way to package strong, factual information with the practical aspects of childbirth.
"The original idea was from a midwife in the hospital who was being asked a lot of questions," says Mrs Burrell.
"We had women asking about a range of things and there was nothing in the one place. There were articles, brochures, but nothing that you could say, 'Here you are'."
The plan grew as staff from the information centre talked to hospital dieticians, pharmacists and other specialists.
"It was going to be a fact sheet but it grew into a book," Mrs Burrell says.
"There is a lot of information about as you go through pregnancy and a lot of information about pregnancy and birth, but little on the 'before'.
"It's the first of its kind that we have seen."
Mrs Burrell, a midwife of 15 years, says answering questions is part of a midwife's role.
The most common question?
"People always want to know about tests they should have," she says.
"Some of the information is out there and well known, such as avoiding smoking and alcohol. But constantly, people ask, 'Can I take Panadol?' or 'Can I take herbal medicines?'
(The answers: Panadol is safe, but consult your pharmacist or doctor about herbal medicines, as some can be dangerous).
"What we have tried to do is cover the material that is accurate and the material that is nice to know."
The book runs through various themes:
• Thinking it through; single parenting; support networks; and the simple, are you ready?
• Lifestyle changes, especially to career and income; offering information on workplace entitlements and government allowances; and what is essential for a new baby.
• The importance of diet, nutrition and exercise in pre-pregnancy; foods and drugs to avoid; supplements to take (such as folate); and medical and genetic tests.
• Avoiding potentially harmful chemicals, at work and at home.
• The medical options that are available during pregnancy and childbirth.
Preparing for Pregnancy is a free, 38-page booklet. It is available from the hospital's information centre in Grattan Street, Carlton. Phone 9344 2007.
• Tom Noble is the health and science editor for The Age.
© 2003 The Age