Fertility can be a bit of a grey area – we all know it won't last forever, but what can we do to maximise it? Do we have any influence at all? Bumps & Babes asked three experts for their opinions on how to boost your chances of fertility and conception: Dr Livingston, a TCM specialist, Dr Nichole Mahnert, an Ob/Gyn, and Dr Missy Chua, a Naturopath.

Having a baby in Shanghai can be a scary time for you, whether you are a first, second, or third time parent! First you have to decide at which hospital to give birth, balancing out cost, cultural, and practical considerations. The hospital you choose might not make you feel as safe as you would like, which is why some women choose to have a Doula present at their birth, for the extra support they can provide. Louise Roy (Birth Doula, Childbirth Educator, and Newborn and Baby Care Consultant with Shanghai Doula) joined Bumps & Babes on March 23rd to tell us all about what a Doula can and cannot do. 

Having a baby in Shanghai and unsure what to expect? What support can you expect from your medical team, and what preferences can you express in terms of how you are cared for during labour and birth? On February 22nd Dr Ian Mahady joined Bumps & Babes Puxi to talk about natural childbirth and what happens during a normal delivery in Shanghai.

Babies born early have their own set of challenges to face. And if you are planning to give birth in Shanghai,you need to know about what is available, and what is not, in terms of services for preemies in this city.

At Bumps & Babes we invited Dr. Laishuan Wang from Fudan Children's Hospital, Ms. Chen Wang, the head nurse of the neontal unit at Shanghai United Hospital, Alexandra and Thibault Demoures and Quynh Chow, from Olivia's Place -- Pediatric Therapy Clinic, to talk to us about the challenges of having a premature baby. The panel was moderated by Dr. Fiona Reilly. Below are some of the key questions addressed and the answers that our panelists shared with the group.

Your body experiences a lot of changes during pregnancy and it is not rare to feel back and pelvic pain during and after pregnancy. Dr. Ben Tay from the Institute of Western Surgery joined Bumps & Babes on July 13, 2011 to talk to us about the causes and what steps to take to relieve the pain.

On June 27, 2011, Dr. Yvette Kong MD Ob/Gyn joined Bumps & Babes Talk in Puxi to share with us her knowledge and experience about labor and delivery. Dr. Kong talked about the signs and stages of labor, offered pain management techniques and gave some tips about when and how to push.

If you are giving birth in Shanghai (or anywhere else in China, for that matter) you need to be well informed about your medical insurance plan. On January 26, Anna Bailey from the Abacare Group joined Bumps & Babes Talks to discuss some of the key issues to be aware of when evaluating pre- and post natal insurance plans.

While we all hope for an problem-less childbirth, it is important to be well informed about potential complications, what happens and what needs to be done. For the Bumps & Babes Talk on August 25, 2010 we invited Dr. Jenny Zhang from WorldPath Clinic International to talk to us about common labor and birth complications and measures for action. Dr. Zhang identified the following complications and steps to take in the event these occur:

On June 9, 2010 Dr. Greg Livingston, Chinese Medicine Physician from Shanghai East International Medical Center joined Bumps & Babes Talks to introduce the basic tenants of traditional chinese medicine for women and children. Below are some of the key points he made during his talk.

On May 24, 2010 Bumps & Babes invited Mary Rizkalla PPT from Shanghai United Family Hospital to talk to us about our bodies after giving birth. Below we offer a short summary of the main topics covered as well as some of the most important Q&As.

Banking your baby's umbilical cord blood means having it saved and stored for future use. Cord blood can be used for stem cell transplants to grow new bone marrow and other tissues. Storing your baby's cord blood is a personal decision that only you can make.