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Whether you’re booked in for a caesarean section birth or you just want to prepare yourself for delivery day, read on for everything you need to know about C-sections and what you can expect on surgery day. The C-section rate in South Africa is among the highest in the world - Around 77% of babies...

What is a vaginal birth? A vaginal delivery is when a person gives birth through the vagina, usually between 37 and 42 weeks of pregnancy. About 2 in 3 women deliver vaginally, whereas another 1 in 3 deliver via cesarean section (C-section): a surgical delivery of the baby through incisions in the a...

Your breasts seem to be getting larger during your pregnancy, which means they're also probably extremely sensitive and tender. Breast tenderness is one of the first (and most common) symptoms of pregnancy, starting as early as 4 - 7 weeks and lasting through the first trimester. What does the disco...

Congratulations, kudos, and woo hoo! – you're pregnant! Here are the most important things to do as you wait to meet your baby. The first trimester (week 1 - 13) is the most important period of your baby's development. This is when baby's structure and organs develop. Here is a First Trimester ess...

South Africa has one of the highest rates globally, with 1 in 4 girls under 20 years of age falling pregnant. An unplanned teenage pregnancy can be challenging for young parents experiencing it and for the families connected to the young parents. Without the proper support and help, a teen mother is...

Were you expecting that "pregnancy glow"? Few expectant moms get that lucky. Many experience at least a few skin changes, while others are hit with just about every skin problem in the book. When do skin changes during pregnancy start? It is different for everyone. Many women experience the varied c...

Just when you thought you'd reached the finish line of pregnancy, you discover there’s one more "trimester" to get through. We’re talking about the "4th trimester" — that hazy period where you’re recovering from pregnancy and delivery while simultaneously learning how to be a mom as your bab...

There is a lack of continuous care during the postpartum period in South Africa; many women birth in a clinic or hospital and are sent home with their new baby with little idea of how to recover and take care of a newborn. In the Western Cape, postnatal services and care become available after the [...

If you are newly pregnant and asking yourself what to do in the first trimester, you’ve come to the right place. Whether you are pregnant for the first time or have been pregnant before, a first trimester checklist is an important tool in starting your pregnancy right. Arrange your first prenatal ...

World Health Orginazation urges quality care for women and newborns in critical first weeks after childbirth with newly released Guidelines. The first six weeks after birth is a critical time for ensuring newborn and maternal survival and for supporting healthy development of the baby as well as the...