Why do I pick up weight as I get older? We all lose muscle mass as we age and this lowers the body’s resting metabolism, therefore increasing the risk of weight gain and accumulating body fat around the waist. Many women also become less physically active during their 40s and 50s because life is busy; […]

The transfer of bacteria from the mother to the baby at birth is very topical at the moment. It is critical to understand the background as to why this issue is important as well as the huge gaps that exist in our knowledge of this topic, before jumping to conclusions. Background Microorganisms living in and […]

Why are immunisations in pregnancy important? Vaccines work by stimulating your immune system to produce antibodies, which can fight infections and prevent you from becoming ill. Even if you are healthy, when you are pregnant, your body has a harder time fighting infections than when you are not pregnant. Healthy, pregnant women are able to […]

Background The time interval between pregnancies may affect the risks of the subsequent pregnancy. Research showed that both short and long inter pregnancy intervals has been associated with adverse or suboptimal outcomes. There are many other confounding factors or isolated unrelated factors that could play a role in the outcome of a pregnancy and one […]

Is it safe to exercise in pregnancy? Current recommendations advise physical activity for most women.  Exercise has minimal risk and will benefit most women.  Researchers like Dr James Clapp have over the last few years provided reassuring data of countless studies done on pregnant women and have not been able to show identifiable maternal ill […]

Background At birth there is a transition and adaptation phase that a newborn baby goes through and this process can take minutes to complete. Some babies need help and support during this phase, while the majority adapt spontaneously. The mother may also need monitoring and support during this phase at the end of the birthing […]

Is it safe to travel during pregnancy? Traveling during pregnancy is generally safe for most women. As long as there are no identified complications or concerns with your pregnancy, it is generally safe to travel at all times during pregnancy. A general guideline is that it is safe to travel till you are about 35 […]

What is the HPV vaccine? The HPV vaccines protect against certain cancers caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) infection. There are currently three HPV vaccines available. In South Africa we are expecting the vaccine that will protect against 9 HPV types to be available soon. Who should be vaccinated? 1. The target age for […]

Background Each year 7735 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in South Africa. Cervical cancer is the number one ranked cancer in women aged 15 to 44 in Southern Africa and one of the leading female cancer death causes in South Africa. HPV (Human Papillomavirus) is directly linked with causing cervical cancer and is a […]