Refrain from eating: - soft or unpasteurized cheeses as they may contain harmful bacteria such as Listeria; cold cut-meats such as Salami; pate as it may contain Listeria; raw meats as they may potentially give you Toxoplasmosis; raw fish such as Sushi may contain parasitic worms; raw or partially cooked eggs as these may give you Salmonella food poisoning; liver or liver products as these contain too much Vitamin A.

Different cultures have foods that they consider unsafe to eat during pregnancy. You have to decide whether that makes sense to you!

Yes, provided that Dr Chang has not given you a reason not to, such as spotting or cramping etc. Carry on with sports that your body is used to doing, but don’t try and learn a new sport when you are pregnant. Learn to listen to your body, if it hurts stop and rest. If taking Yoga classes for example go to a registered pregnancy instructor. She will know the best way for you to exercise safely for you and your baby.

According to the CDC (Centre for Disease Control) seasonal flu injections are safe to give women in pregnancy. They don’t cause any pregnancy complications or adverse fetal outcomes. The pertussis (whooping cough) vaccination is recommended at 28-32 weeks of pregnancy.

The chemical formulas for hair dyes are constantly changing and are not evaluated for effects during pregnancy. When having a one off hair dye the skin would absorb minimal amounts of the hair dye. However ammonia fumes may be unpleasant. Therefore it is thought better to wait until you are not longer pregnant to have your hair dyed.

The average weight gain expected throughout your entire pregnancy is 10-12kg (22-27pounds). However, it will also depend on the weight you start at.

The best way to reduce nausea is to keep your stomach lined with dry crackers. Carry some in your handbag to nibble on all day long and drink plenty of water if you can. Moving slowly first thing in the morning and staying out of the heat can help as well.

If you are vomiting excessively and are unable to keep water down you may be getting dehydrated and need to see Dr Chang. There are tablets to reduce the nausea and occasionally 24 hours in hospital on an intravenous infusion will break the cycle of vomiting and make you feel better.

Both heartburn (acid reflux) and indigestion are common in pregnancy and tend to become more so as the pregnancy progresses. By the third trimester nearly three quarters of pregnant women will suffer from heartburn. This happens because the surge in the hormone progesterone causes muscles to relax; This includes the sphincter (ring of muscle) at the entrance to the stomach. When this relaxes, stomach acids are able to travel back up into the oesophagus (food pipe) causing heartburn. During the latter stages of pregnancy the baby physically putting pressure on your digestive tract can also cause symptoms. Not eating fatty or sugary foods and sitting upright after food will help. Taking Gaviscon liquid preparation as needed may also offer relief.

Leg cramps seem worse at night and can be relieved by doing leg-stretching exercises before getting into bed and during the attack.

The most effective way to prevent haemorrhoids is to avoid constipation. Eat high fibre foods, drink plenty of water, do your Kegel’s exercises and avoid sitting for long periods during the day. However, if you have haemorrhoids then try ice packs for relief. Dr Chang can also prescribe a cream that is effective.

If you have any symptoms that you feel are not normal for pregnancy or make you feel anxious or unwell then you should ring the clinic for advice immediately. For example:-

Abdominal pains or cramping: Reduced foetal movements after 28 weeks or a change in the baby’s regular pattern of movements: Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing: Fresh Bleeding in the 2nd and 3rd Trimesters: Signs of premature labour such as leak of liquid or regular cramping: Chest pain: Fainting or dizziness: Excessive Diarrhoea and Vomiting: Blurred vision or seeing spots before your eyes: Severe headaches: Severe swelling of hands and feet.

The first time you feel your baby moving inside you is called ‘quickening’ and is usually around 20 weeks gestation. These first movements might feel like butterflies’ or bubbles inside your uterus. With subsequent pregnancies mothers find they feel movements earlier than during their first pregnancy.

Thanks to ultrasound and other high-tech tools allowing a peek inside the womb, scientists have discovered a virtual sensory playground in which your baby is living. The fetus responds to your voice and other sounds in the room, reacts to light and dark shadows as you move from place to place, tumbles as you switch positions, even tastes sweet or spicy foods you've just eaten.

Classes that prepare couples for labour, birth and parenthood usually start at 30 weeks and run for 5 weeks. The aim is to make sure everyone is prepared by 37 weeks when your baby is ready to come into the world, (even though your EDD is for 40 weeks) and if born at 37 weeks is not considered premature.

Mother & Child Centre in Tanglin Shopping Mall (small groups of 8 couples in each class), ‘Parentcraft’ classes at Thomson Medical Centre and Mrs Wong Boh Boi’s birth preparation classes all offer a wide range of classes but it is best to book early as they get very full. Hypnobirthing classes are also available at the Mother and Child Centre and at TMC.

Generally in Singapore only your husband/partner is allowed with you in the delivery room on the labour ward in hospitals. However, TMC also allows you to have a Doula with you if you want to have one, but they must be registered with the Nursing Officer on the Labour Ward. Dr Chang has worked with Doulas assisting in the births at Thomson Medical Centre for the past 24 years.