Self care (What can I do?)

• Moisturise your skin as often as possible, ideally at least 2-3 times each day. The most greasy, non-perfumed moisturiser tolerated is the best. This is the most important part of skin care. Smooth the moisturiser on in the direction of hair growth. Do not put your fingers back and forth into the pot of moisturiser, as it may become contaminated and be a source of infection. It is best to remove an adequate amount to cover the skin with a spoon or spatula and put this on a saucer or piece of kitchen roll.
• Wash with a moisturiser instead of soap (known as a soap substitute), and avoid soap, bubble baths, shower gels and detergents.
• Treat eczema early - the more severe it becomes, the more difficult it is to control.

What does hand dermatitis look like?

In hand dermatitis, the skin is inflamed, red and swollen, with a damaged dried-out or scaly surface which makes it look flaky. There may be cracked areas that bleed and ooze. Sometimes small water blisters can be seen on the palms or sides of the fingers. Different parts of the hand can be affected such as the finger webs, fleshy fingertips or centre of the palms.

There are several different patterns of hand dermatitis, but these do not usually tell us its cause and the pattern can change over time in one person. Hand dermatitis may get infected with bacteria called Staphylococcus or Streptococcus. This causes more redness, soreness, crusting, oozing and spots or pimples.

What causes acne?

Our sebaceous (oil-producing) glands are affected by our hormones. In people who have acne, the glands are particularly sensitive, even to normal blood levels of these hormones. This causes the glands to produce too much oil. At the same time, the lining of the pores (the small holes in the skin’s surface) becomes thickened and dead skin cells are not shed properly. A mixture of the oil (sebum) and dead skin cells builds up and plugs the pores producing blackheads and whiteheads. The plug of dead skin turns black from exposure to air and not due to dirt. The acne bacteria (now known as Cutibacterium acnes) live on everyone’s skin, usually causing no problems. In those with acne, the build-up of oil creates an ideal environment for the bacteria to multiply. This is accompanied by inflammation which leads to the formation of red, swollen or pus-filled spots.

one of the many bacteria that normally live in our bodies and which usually cause no harm.

If you carry GBS, most of the time your baby will be born safely and will not develop an infection. However, it can rarely cause serious infection such as sepsis, pneumonia or meningitis.

Most early-onset GBS infections are preventable.
If GBS is found in your urine, vagina or rectum (bowel) during your current pregnancy, or if you have previously had a baby affected by GBS infection, you should be offered antibiotics in labour to reduce the small risk of this infection to your baby.
The risk of your baby becoming unwell with GBS infection is increased if your baby is born preterm, if you have a temperature while you are in labour, or if your waters break before you go into labour.
If your newborn baby develops signs of GBS infection, they should be treated with antibiotics straight away.

• A cervical stitch may help to keep your cervix closed and may reduce the risk of you giving birth early.
• You may be offered a cervical stitch if you are at risk of giving birth early.
• A cervical stitch is usually put in between 12 and 24 weeks of pregnancy and then removed at 36–37 weeks unless you go into labour before this.

There are many possible causes for giving birth early. One possible cause is because your cervix shortens and opens too soon. A cervical stitch may help to prevent this. You should be referred to a specialist early in your pregnancy if:

• you have had a miscarriage after 16 weeks of pregnancy
• you have had a previous birth before 34 weeks of pregnancy
• your waters broke before 37 weeks in a previous pregnancy
• you have had certain types of treatment to your cervix (for example, cone biopsy for treatment of an abnormal smear) Your healthcare team may arrange for you to have transvaginal ultrasound scans to measure your cervix. If it is found to be short (less than 25mm long).

• Preterm prelabour rupture of membranes (PPROM) is when your waters break before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy but you haven’t gone into labour yet.
• If this happens, you have a higher chance of giving birth prematurely and there is an increased chance that both you and your baby may develop an infection that can make you both unwell.
• You will be offered a course of antibiotics to reduce the risk of an infection developing and to help the pregnancy to continue.
• If you are well with no signs of infection and your baby is growing well in your uterus (womb), then it may be better to allow your pregnancy to continue until 37 weeks. You will be monitored very closely for any signs of infection by your healthcare team, and your individual circumstances and preferences will be taken into account.
• If you or your baby show any signs of infection or develop other complications, you may need to give birth to your baby straight away.

What is PMB?

Any vaginal bleeding after the menopause.

What should I do if I have PMB?

‏You should arrange to see your Gynecologist urgently so that will be offered an examination and more investigations to have proper diagnoses .

9 in 10 women with PMB do not have cancer If cancer is found it is usually at an early stage and treatment can cure it.

• Gestational diabetes is diabetes that develops in pregnancy. Most women who have gestational diabetes have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies.
• You will be given advice about blood glucose monitoring, diet, exercise and weight management to help treat the condition. You may be offered tablets or insulin injections. You will have further support in your pregnancy by a specialist healthcare team.
• Occasionally gestational diabetes can lead to complications in pregnancy or during birth, especially if it goes unrecognized or is not well controlled.
•  Gestational diabetes usually goes away after the baby is born but you have a higher chance of developing gestational diabetes in a future pregnancy and type 2 diabetes in later life.