MY PREGNANCY
You are pregnant or you want to become pregnant? Congratulations! This is a unique experience in a woman’s life, but it might bring a lot of new questions. In this section, Incognito has gathered information to answer most of them.
Ovulation and fertility
Q. : What is the purpose of me knowing when my ovulation is?
R. : Knowing when your ovulation is will either help you plan a pregnancy or avoid one.
Q. : During my cycle, when is my fertile window?
R. : During the 4 or 5 days around ovulation, this happens between day 12 and 16 before the first day of your next period.
Q. : What happens if the egg is not fertilized?
R. : The uterus lining will start to break down and will be shed during your period that will shortly follow.
Your body during pregnancy
Q. : What changes should I expect during pregnancy?
R. : You might feel tired, have mood swings or see a change in your sexual desire. This is absolutely normal. A pregnancy is a time when your body goes through a lot of changes.
Q. : Why am I so tired since I got pregnant?
R. : While developing, your baby takes up most of your nutrients which can weaken you.
Q. : Since I found out I am pregnant, I just don’t feel like having sex. Is it normal?
R. : With fatigue, morning sickness, it is completely normal and understandable that your sex life came to a screeching halt. While some women report that they just can’t get enough, some others feel the complete opposite during pregnancy. Don’t worry, it will go back to normal.
Q. : Why do I have small urine leaks since my pregnancy?
R. : It is normal towards the end of the pregnancy, even afterwards to have urine leaks. These are caused by the weight of the uterus on the bladder.
Menstruations after childbirth
Q. : Since I gave birth, I have been having contractions that are somewhat painful. What are these?
R. : It is your uterus contracting to slowly reduce in size. It will take about one month for the uterus to go back to its before-the-pregnancy shape. During the first few days after childbirth, the contractions of the uterus might be painful especially when it is the second child, and when the mom is breastfeeding. It is also important to know that breastfeeding triggers contractions of the uterus and helps it go back to its original shape faster.
Q. : How long will I bleed after I give birth?
R. : Bleeding after childbirth, also called lochia, can last about 1 week. In order to prevent leaks and to make sure you have the right protection, INCOGNITO suggests you a product especially designed for the after birth: MaxiMom®.
Q. : Can I use tampons after I give birth?
R. : In order to avoid any infections, it is really not recommended to use tampons during that time.
Q. : How long will it take to have my period after I give birth?
R. : Women who do not breastfeed will have their period 30 to 40 days after they give birth. For the women who do breastfeed, they will have their period much later, in the days following the end of breastfeeding.
Q. : Can I become pregnant again, even if I don’t have my period just yet?
R. : Yes, you can. Not having your period, does not mean you are not fertile! In fact, ovulation can occur even if you have not gotten your period back yet.
Thus, in spite of what was once believed, breastfeeding will not prevent you from getting pregnant again.
In order to avoid an unplanned pregnancy, you should use contraception when having sexual intercourse. There are low dose pills that you can take in order to avoid a pregnancy. Ask your gynaecologist who will be able to inform you on the appropriate contraception methods.