Q1. Can I get pregnant following oral sex or heavy petting?

No. You can only get pregnant from full sexual intercourse.

Q2. How will I know if I am pregnant?

If you have had sexual intercourse since your last period and you are late for your current period, you may be pregnant. Following implantation of the fertilised egg menstruation should not occur, hence for women who have been sexually active and who have previously menstruated regularly, the absence of a period should be put down to pregnancy.

The most common way to confirm a pregnancy is to purchase and undertake a home test. These are relatively cheap and can be done in the privacy of your home. The manufacturers claim they are over 95% accurate.

If the home test has a positive result, you should make an appointment to see your doctor.

Q3. Is it safe to have sex during pregnancy?

For most couples it is normal for them to enjoy an active sex life throughout the pregnancy. Sexual intercourse will not harm the development of your baby as it is cushioned by a bag of fluid in your uterus.

Sex during your pregnancy may also help you both unwind and should help you maintain a strong bond with your partner, ready for the months ahead.

Q4. Does vaginal discharge increases during this time?

Yes, unfortunately it does. Vaginal discharge may well increase during all stages of your pregnancy and should be similar to the discharge you have previously had before a period. It is only if the discharge becomes very thick, smelly or blood stained that you need to seek medical assistance. If the cause is an infection, it can be easily treated with creams or tablets.

Q5. Will I get piles/haemorrhoids?

You may. Although people laugh and joke about piles, they are no laughing matter.

During pregnancy the walls and veins in your anus swell and blood flow becomes sluggish, causing the affected veins to throb and become painful.

There are precautions you can take to help reduce the chances of developing piles, such as:

 Eat a high fibre diet and drink lots of fluid to avoid constipation.

 Try to relax on the toilet and not strain.

 Undertake regular exercise and pelvic floor exercises to help blood flow around your anus.

If you do get piles, your doctor, midwife or pharmacist will be able to suggest a suitable cream to ease the pain.

Q6. What is the best contraception to use after birth?

This will depend on how soon you wish to have another baby. If you want another baby soon (within one year), then short-term measures such as the cap or condom, ideally with the use of a spermicide, are probably the best contraception.

Long term, methods such as contraceptive injection, hormone implant and