[1.22] Stef asks about travel during pregnancy.

[1.55] Dr Pat talks about a few things to take into consideration if you are thinking of taking a longer trip during pregnancy, such as airline rules and getting a safe to fly letter if you are flying during pregnancy. Dr Pat also talks about travelling during the last 10 weeks during your pregnancy specifically a woman’s first pregnancy, can be a good idea to get all travel done by around 32 weeks. Brigid talks about how it can be uncomfortable to travel at anything more than 30 to 32 weeks pregnant. Both Dr Pat and Brigid talk about making sure you have your travel insurance sorted if you are travelling international and Dr Pat also touches on the importance of keeping in touch with your care provider if you are travelling oversea or to somewhere remote.

[5.55] Anonymous asks about doulas.

[6.15] Dr Pat talks about how doulas are support people during pregnancy care and labour and how the concept of doulas has been around for centuries. Dr Pat discussed the role of doulas in modern day pregnancy care, and how they are mainly there for emotional support and to help a woman get the outcome of labour and birth that she was hoping for. Dr Pat talks about how he feels it would be most beneficial to have a doula during pregnancy if you are going through the public system, he also touches on how it is important to remember that it is an added expense and is not included in the cost of birthing in the public system. Dr Pat then talks about doulas and the private system.

[10.46] Brigid talks about the reason as to why people may feel like doulas are gaining popularity and how it may be due to doulas having more of a presence on social media in comparison to obstetricians.

[11.24] Dragana asks about what periods look like post-birth and whether it changes depending on whether the birth was a vaginal birth or caesarean.

[12.16] Dr Pat talks about how in the first 6 weeks post-birth, there will be some irregular bleeding that will occur, this is normal regardless of the method of delivery. Dr Pat talks about the things to look out for over that first 6 weeks and the signs that the bleeding may actually be abnormal.

[12.54] Dr Pat talks about a period starting again and a return to ovulation, Dr Pat discussed how a return to ovulation is depended on a few factors such as breastfeeding and artificial contraception. Dr Pat talks about how if a woman is not breastfeeding their period should return around 6 weeks post-birth and it may be temporarily heavier at the start but should then return to how the period was prior to pregnancy.

[13.33] Brigid asks how many cycles it normally takes for the period to return to return to how it was prior to pregnancy.

[14.39] Dr Pat talks about how it is important to remember that you will only return to the menstrual pattern that you use to have.

[15.00] Annabel asks about why some people choose not to have a planned caesarean if they have the opportunity and are in the position to do so.

[16.56] Dr Pat talks about whether it is actually safer to have a planned caesarean instead of a vaginal birth. Dr Pat discusses how a planned caesarean with no medical indication is not safer than a well conducted and appropriately monitored vaginal birth. Brigid asks Dr Pat whether this is because of the risk associated with the surgery or the recovery, Dr Pat talks about how there a few risks associated with the surgery which would not apply in a vaginal birth.

[18.11] Dr Pat talks about how 2/3 of women who set out to have a vaginal birth in their first pregnancy have a successful vaginal birth and how the success rate increases for the following pregnancies.

[19.25] Brigid talks about how it would be good to listen to episode 70. Should I have a vaginal birth or caesarean section?

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/70-should-i-have-a-vaginal-birth-or-caesarean-section/id1469497070?i=1000621434801

[19.39] “If it’s right for me, can I have a planned section if it is what I want?”

[21.27] Brigid talks about the pressure that she felt to have her babies via vaginal births.

[22.19] Anonymous asks about genetic testing and what to do if you are surprised by the findings on the tests.

[23.01] Dr Pat and Brigid talk about why genetic testing is close to their hearts, and how it is heartbreaking when somebody has a baby with a serious genetic issue, and they had no idea that they were a carrier for that condition.

[23.28] Dr Pat talks about the tests that are available, which can be done prior to conception that are able to tell you whether you are a carrier for any genetic conditions, and it is then possible if you are at risk to have an IVF pregnancy and only use the embryos that are not affected by the genetic condition.

[24.58] Dr Pat talks how with some broader genetic screening tests some of the genetic conditions that you may be a carrier for are extremely rare, Dr Pat also talks about seeing a genetic counsellor after you have the results of your genetic tests and how they can talk to you about further testing and the percentage changes of you having a baby with the genetic condition in question. Dr Pat and Brigid also talk about increase anxiety vs. increased certainty.

[27.37] Brigid and Dr Pat talk about how successful IVF is when it is used to get around genetic conditions and not due to infertility.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0FquHVbbJysO9wid7YeQIB