FAQs

Yes, light to moderate exercises like walking or prenatal yoga are generally safe. However, always consult your healthcare provider, especially if you have a high-risk pregnancy.

Most women don’t even know that they are pregnant until 6 or 7 weeks into their pregnancy. Some women only know that they are pregnant when they feel too tired or lethargic to exercise. The body will protect against harm, so listen to it. Bottom line, you can continue to exercise unless you have unexplained vaginal bleeding or you are classified as a high-risk pregnancy. Good luck, because most women actually have to stop exercising for a few weeks early on.

The best time to see a health care provider is approximately 6 to 8 weeks after your last period or about 2 weeks after your missed period.  A pregnancy is dated from the last menstrual period, not from actual conception.  When you miss your first period, you are therefore 4 weeks pregnant, which can be quite confusing, but the period is an identifiable ‘starting point’.  A pregnancy test will show positive from about 10 to 14 days after conception, at about the time of the missed period.  An ultrasound will only convincingly show an embryo with a heartbeat at 7 weeks, 3 weeks after your missed period.  To reduce unnecessary stress, it is best to only have your first appointment from 7 weeks onwards.  If there is any bleeding during this time, then obviously you should seek medical advice.

A missed period is obviously the most common ‘symptom’ of pregnancy!  Other symptoms will include breast tenderness, fatigue, nausea, bloating and constipation. Some women will be very sensitive to smells and may have cravings and/or aversion to foods.  Frequent urination is common.  Headaches and dizziness can happen.  Feel quite emotional and tearful is often described.  Cramping in the lower abdomen and even vaginal spotting can occur when implantation takes place.  Bottom line, there are lots of possible symptoms and still some women experience almost none.

Tests are designed to assess the health of both the mother and the baby.  Some will be routine, whilst some will be optional.  A very comprehensive overview is available on the SASOG website.

Routine tests for Mum’s health include Blood Group and Rhesus, Haemoglobin (iron levels/anaemia), Glucose (Blood Sugar), Rubella (German Measles immunity), HIV, Syphilis, Hepatitis B, Urine, and BP.

Routine screening tests for baby wellbeing are offered to all women, but not all choose to have these tests.  As a screening test, they do not give a definitive diagnosis, but rather a ‘risk assessment’.  The most common is screening for Down Syndrome.  This will include an Ultrasound scan at 11 to 13 weeks and 6 days and/or a blood test performed on the mum at a pre-determined time in the pregnancy. NIPT (Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing performed on the mum as a blood test) is a screening test for Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21) as well as screening for Trisomy 13 and Trisomy 18.

Diagnostic tests for baby wellbeing are offered where a high risk is suspected. The two main diagnostic tests are CVS (Chorionic Villous Sampling performed on the foetus in utero by taking a sample from the umbilical cord) and Amniocentesis (performed on the foetus in utero by taking a sample from the fluid in the amniotic sac).

Other tests may be necessary, but your HCP will individualise what is required.

Yes!  Most mums-to-be will feel movement from between 18 and 22 weeks.  It is usually later in a first pregnancy simply because the mum-to-be doesn’t know what to expect.  The embryo can be seen moving on Ultrasound from as early as 9 weeks!  A partner may only feel movements from as late as 28 weeks when the foetus is strong enough to create vibrations that will be transmitted through the uterus to be felt on the outside.

Most women will begin to show around 16 to 20 weeks, but they can already feel ‘huge’ because the changes in size at this stage are quite rapid.  Obviously, how soon you ‘show’ will depend on body type and even if it is a first or a subsequent pregnancy.  You will hear many comments like “you look so big”, or “you look so small”, and that can be on the same day!  Remember that your HCP is the one to listen to and not all the other well-meaning masses who feel the need to give you their opinion.

Go when contractions are 5 minutes apart, lasting 1 minute each, for at least 1 hour (“5-1-1 rule”), or if your water breaks, if you have heavy bleeding or if you begin to have contractions and have planned to deliver by C/s

Basically, the answer is not simple but can be guided by discussion with your HCP.  There are three main ways to deliver – vaginal birth, Caesarian Section (C/S), and Vaginal Birth after C/S (VBAC).

Vaginal birth avoids a major surgical procedure and the WHO statistics suggest that 10% to 15% of births should be by C/S to maintain safety for both mum and baby.  In areas in South Africa the rate for C/S is a s high as 70%.  More on C/S later.

It really comes down to trust and individual circumstances.

Labour is classically broken down into 3 stages.  The second stage is the actual delivery process, and the third stage is delivery of the placenta.  It is the first stage that requires good pain management.

As contractions begin it is natural for a woman to start walking and pacing, rubbing her tummy and arching her back.  The baby’s head will be moving down in the pelvis and pressing on nerves which create pains different from the actual uterine contraction.  At this early stage, simple positioning, movement and gentle massage of the tummy and the lower back may provide significant pain control.

As contractions become longer and stronger the option of water immersion can be explored.  How this works is probably as much relaxation as well as the gentle heat that soothes.  The feeling of weightlessness is very soothing.

If there is insufficient pain control with these techniques, then a neuromodulator comb – see our shop or a TENS machine may be a good option.  The comb works similarly to the TENS machine (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator).  The comb is simply held in the palm and squeezed with contractions so that the teeth of the comb press into the palm and this ‘distracts’ the pain fibres.  A TENS machine with pads attached over the lower back will achieve the same through a light electrical impulse – except that, for obvious reasons, electrical stimulation whilst immersed in water is not possible.

Beyond these ‘drug-free’ methods there is the option of an epidural if the facilities exist and the labour is suitable.  A trained anaesthetist will inject local anaesthetic into the lower back into the epidural space – an area just outside the nerves of the spinal cord.  An epidural requires an intravenous drip for the mum and an infusion of the local anaesthetic until delivery is completed.  The numbness that it can achieve is profound.  The idea is that the contractions are no longer felt as painful and this brings relief to the labouring mum and often to her partner as well!  It does mean, however, that walking is no longer possible because it leads to complete numbness from the waist downwards.

Less commonly used these days are the opiate injections like morphine.  These tend to have side effects for the mum of nausea and sleepiness and are in part transmitted into the foetal circulation.

Nitrous Oxide gas is used as an inhalational agent almost as  a ‘stand in’ for short spells when moving from one pain management option to another or just before the actual delivery.All labours will be different, but options are many and varied and the first prize is a labour which is safe for baby and mum and leaves mum feeling in control and content that it was a worthwhile experience.

Natural coping mechanisms included breathing techniques, massage, exercise, and water immersion. Additional options include neuromodulation/TENs approaches, epidurals, spinal blocks, nitrous oxide or IV medication.

Most women can begin light exercises, like walking, after their 6-week postpartum checkup, but recovery time varies depending on their delivery type. The first 6 weeks are essentially a time for your body to adjust back to a non-pregnant state and move into a moterly state. Your energy levels and desire for exercise may well have changed from your pre-pregnancy lifestyle.

Hormonal changes are immense, and with that can come “Baby Blues”. Sleep deprivation is a major factor at play in emotional well-being. If extreme sadness persists beyond two weeks, it could indicate postpartum depression – we advise you to consult your healthcare practitioner.

Known as lochia, the bleeding changes over 4 to 6 weeks from red to brown to straw-coloured. It should never have an offensive smell, and medical attention is required if this is the case. Most doctors would recommend abstinence from bathing, swimming and sex for 6 weeks after birth as the uterus is still a ‘Raw Wound’.

Join support groups, connect with other new mothers that you meet at antenatal classes or at the baby clinic. Talk openly with your healthcare provider. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed, and seeking help is a sign of strength.

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this. Generally, in the early months, on-demand feeding is recommended—usually every 2–3 hours. Gradually, your baby will settle into a more predictable schedule.

Some of the products we list contain allergens and other sensitive ingredients. Take a moment to inspect the Individual Product Page details where we clearly list the allergen information alongside a full ingredient breakdown wherever applicable.

We will sell any product which is helpful to women, and especially mothers. Many of the products we stock are naturally derived or organic, but not all. We make sure to clearly highlight these details in the product description, so you always know what you’re choosing.

Not all products are certified or medically approved, but where necessary products with unique claims are supported with certificates. These are reflected on the individual product page and appear in details like: “dermatologically tested,” “BPA-free,” “CE marked,” or “hypoallergenic.”We only include these claims if they’re clinically supported or legally approved in South Africa.

Yes, absolutely. Our products are an aid to mothers. Our panel of advisors reviews our products for appropriate health and safety to ensure that they are practical and helpful to you. If it’s on our site, it’s been chosen with care.

No, unfortunately we are not an emergency service or diagnostic platform. If you are self diagnosing and want some motherly advice, we can help with primary healthcare insights but a full diagnosis should be handled by a medical professional.

We’re here to help. Our support team is trained to guide you through your options and help you make a confident choice — and if your concern feels medical, we’ll always suggest connecting with a professional.

Yes, whether a product is listed with us or not, we assist with product advice for women. Reach out to us and we will respond to you with as much advice as we can share – free of charge. Our product vetting process ensures that anything on our site meets your expressed needs, solves real problems, and supports mothers with quality and intention.

No, we unfortunately are not partnered with Medical practitioners to provide medical advice to you. Our platform offers product guidance backed by our panel of medical professionals, together with specialists in product development and selection, and pharmaceutical experience.

We track every order to its destination. If your order is delayed or missing, please reach out to us via telephone: +27 21 879 5544, or email hello@mothersaid.co.za, and we will follow up and revert to you. 

Alternatively, connect to the courier supplier with the tracking number we send to you once the order is shipped

Please refer to our returns and exchange policy here, for the details of our Customer policy. In brief, if a new product is returned to our offices within 7 days of delivery, and in good order, we will refund the order. Unused damaged products will be refunded, but T’s & C’s apply. Exchanges for new items are permissible as long as the goods are received in the same state that they were dispatched. It is important to consider the Terms and Conditions before purchasing. 

(P.S. Due to the nature of some of our intimate products, we might not be able to accept returns for hygiene reasons — but we’ll always do our best to support you.)

The goal of Mothersaid is to be an aid to mothers. Through our interaction, product selection, panel discussion, advice, and insights we want to be the reliable partner in your journey through motherhood.

Our online store and social platforms are developed from responding to the conversations. Formed from the expressed needs of women – especially mothers – in their personal journey. Through interaction with healthcare professionals, product manufacturers and interaction with moms. We are able to curate a range of quality products to meet your needs. Our continued conversation, investigation, review and testing means that we make life easier, less overwhelming.