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A.Hay fever is a common problem affecting many women. In pregnancy nasal congestion is more common and this can sometimes make the hay fever seem worse. Hay fever is usually well controlled by antihistamine tablets and steroid nasal sprays. Generally these are suitable for use in pregnancy. There is no evidence that antihistamines or steroid nasal sprays cause any problem for the developing baby, but you should check with your pharmacist or Doctor that the particular preparation you use is suitable in pregnancy.

Caesarean delivery for a breech baby in a first pregnancy: implications for future pregnancies.

It is known that caesarean section is the safest way to deliver a breech baby. But what are the implications for future deliveries?

Having a caesarean for a breech baby in your first pregnancy does not mean that all your deliveries have to be caesarean in the future. However, the chance of having a caesarean will be higher than it would be after a vaginal delivery. The need for a further caesarean will depend on many factors. For example if the baby were to be breech again then clearly a further caesarean would be best. Recent statistics from Dublin show that women who had a caesarean for a breech baby in their first pregnancy had a 1 in 10 chance of having a breech baby in their next pregnancy and therefore caesarean section again. Overall almost 44% of women who had had a caesarean for a breech baby in their first pregnancy delivered their next baby by caesarean section. In those who were allowed to have a labour, 84% had a successful vaginal delivery.

*Reference: Coughlan et al BJOG 2002;109:624-626.