Noticeboard

FLU AND PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINATIONS: If you are over 65 or have a chronic medical illness you should have an annual flu vaccine and possibly also the pneumoccal vaccine.

ASTHMA season is upon us. With the change of weather in September, children and adults often find that their asthma symptoms flare around this time of the year. Those of you who have stopped your preventative inhalers may need to restart them to prevent a flare. Please make an appointment with us if your asthma has not been reviewed in the last 6-12 months. Of note any child under 6 qualifies for free review of their asthma and is asked to come in for an asthma review every 6 months.

FREE GP CARE TO UNDER 6s AND TO OVER 70s
Skreen Family Practice has signed up to the new scheme to provide free GP care to people aged under 6 and over 70.
If you have a child aged under 6 or if you are aged over 70 and do not have a medical or doctor visit card, you can register them for free care with the practice by visiting www.gpvisitcard.ie.

Pregnancy Care

Maternity Care Services

pregnancy Every woman who is pregnant and ordinarily resident in Ireland is entitled to maternity care under the Maternity and Infant Scheme. Ordinarily resident means you are living here, or you intend to remain living here for at least one year. Ireland provides very high quality Maternity care, to both mothers and infants

Preparing For Pregnancy

If you are hoping to become pregnant there are a few things you can and should do to improve your general health and so help your pregnancy to progress smoothly. Most pregnancies are not planned, however, and still progress normally, resulting in a healthy mother and baby.

Rollercoaster.ie has a very useful article on pre-conception health

Stages of pregnancy

The first trimester (weeks 0-13):

The baby's development is greatest during this stage. By the end of week 13, it will be fully formed.
Some of the common discomforts of pregnancy, such as nausea, fatigue and breast tenderness, will be most pronounced during these early weeks.

The second trimester (weeks 14-26):

During this time, the baby continues to grow and develop and the mother starts to gain some weight as extra fat is laid down as energy reserves.
The baby's movements in the womb can be felt and they may begin to develop patterns of activity.

The third trimester (weeks 27-birth):

The baby will start to lay down its own fat stores, going through rapid growth phases in preparation for birth.
The baby's lungs will mature and senses such as hearing, taste and sight will develop.
You may find it more difficult to get comfortable at night and you will need to urinate more often.
Practice contractions, known as Braxton Hicks, can be a regular feature.