Q:My friend said it's fine to drink alcohol as long as it's not in the first few weeks of pregnancy.Is this true?

A:The Department of Health's current guidelines state that pregnant women should avoid drinking alcohol at any stage.If you do drink,the guidelines say you shouldn't be getting drunk.We do know that some alcohol will go through the placenta and reach your baby.In the first three months,drinking alcohol can increase the risk of miscarriage,so the best thing is to avoid a tipple altogether.
   Lots of women panic,as they've already been drinking before they realised they were pregnant.If that's the case with you,then the best thing you can do is concentrate on eating and drinking as healthily as you can from now on to give your baby the best start possible.

Q:I'm six months pregnant and my hips and pubic bone have started to hurt when I walk.Why is this?

A:You may have a common pregnancy condition called pelvic girdle pain,previously known as symphysis pubic dysfunction (SPD).Pregnancy hormones cause the ligaments to stretch,which loosens the pelvic joints so there's more flexibility during labour.But these changes can lead to pain.
   Your midwife might prefer you to a physiotherapist who can give you exercises or suggest you wear a properly fitted support belt around the pelvis.Try to keep your knees together,swinging both legs round when you get out of a car or bed.
   Good birthing positions are on all fours,or laying on your side.Also measure how far you can open your knees comfortably,then if you're numbed with an epidural,you won't cause any further damage.

Q:Will I be made to go home from hospital soon after I've had my baby,or can I stay in there for a few extra nights?

A:Nobody should make you do anything you don't feel happy doing,but you'll be advised on what's thought best for you and your baby.If you're both well,you may get more rest at home and,as long as you have support from your community midwife,this could be a better option for you.If you prefer to stay overnight,then that should be accommodated,but it's rare for women to stay longer if everything's been straightforward.You may need to stay longer if you've had a c-section,lost a lot of blood,have high blood pressure or if your baby isn't feeding very well or is showing signs of an infection.See how you feel after the birth.Your midwife should ask you what your plans are and whether or not you'd prefer to stay in hospital.Many women are keen to get home where they have support from their partner or family members - as well as their own bathroom and loo!

Q:I'm nervous about getting rid of my 2 year old's dummy,as neither of us could cope.What should I do?

A:Changing any habit is always a bit daunting,but having a good plan in place will make it a little easier.Start by working out the key times when dummy feels essential.It's often bedtime or when one of you feels tired,so make these last areas to tackle.For other times,put the dummy out of reach and introduce fun activities to distract her,such as singing.Start with a clear boundary,such as no dummy outside.Once you're sticking to this,move on to less dummy time during the day and then tackle the sleep times.The first few days may be difficult,so pick a time when you have lots of energy and there are no other changes happening in the family.Getting out to some playgroups may also help as socialising with new friends will keep your tot distracted.

Q:I'm worried my 3 year old is hyperactive as he's always on the go and has poor concentration.Is it a phase?

A:It's hard to say if a toddler is hyperactive at this stage of his development,as the range of what's considered normal is wide.Most tots calm down naturally,but some may need extra support.Talk to his nursery so they can monitor his progress.Sharing what works will give you a picture of what helps or challenges him.Busy kids need lots of running around outdoors,but limit TV time to 30 minutes a day.Keep morning,mealtimes and bedtime routines the same.Clear,consistent boundaries will help him feel safe,as toddlers love predictability and play is the best tool to increase concentration.Try having short 2-10 minute slots where you play together and he has your full attention.It'll take persistence from you,but keep at it.

Q:My 3-year-old daughter has picked up threadworms at nursery.What should I do?

A:Threadworms are small parasites that live in the gut.At night,they lay tiny eggs around the bottom area,causing itchiness.As your tot scratches,eggs get under her fingernails and can quickly transfer to her mouth,clothing and anything else she touches.This continues the cycle and threadworms can quickly spread to the rest of the family.This means everyone will need to be treated,whether they have symptoms or not.Your doctor can prescribe medication,or speak to your pharmacist.Then the whole household needs to follow strict hygiene rules for two weeks.These include washing hands regularly,washing the bottom area carefully each morning to get rid of eggs laid at night,and keeping fingernails short and clean.Wash all sleepwear,bed linen,towels and soft toys,and wipe down all surfaces regularly to remove any eggs.If you don't opt for medication,stick to the hygiene rules for six weeks,as this is the average lifespan of threadworms.

Q:My baby has started bringing milk back up and now his feeding is all out of sync.Is this normal?

Regurgitating small amounts of milk after each feed is called posseting.The difficulty is that babies then get hungry soon after and you can find yourself in a vicious cycle.Your baby's tummy is about the size of his fist,so it's easy to see why he'll bring milk back up if he feeds too quickly or has too much.You can try slowing down the rate of his feed by extra winding and slower flow teats if you're bottle-feeding.After a feed,sit your little one up for a while to let gravity do its job.When you put him down to sleep,raise the head of the whole cot slightly (rather than raising the mattress) so he is at a 30 degrees upward tilt to encourage the milk to stay down.Keep an eye on your baby's growth,too.If he's gaining weight,there's often nothing to worry about.Posseting generally gets better in time,especially as your baby starts to sit up more and the muscles at top of the stomach strengthen.In the meantime,keep muslins at hand and give extra cuddles.