Pregnancy
The more you know the better you will be able to make wise choices for you and your baby. If you are having trouble getting pregnant, learn about our
fertility services. We also specialize in high risk pregnancy.
To learn about our Perinatal Assessment Centers:
Tools to help you
Information and help with your pregnancy
Part of starting a family is choosing a health care provider. The different
types of providers who can care for you during your pregnancy are:
-
Certified Nurse Midwife: A registered nurse who has graduated from
a midwifery program and has passed an exam. Certified nurse midwifes are
licensed by the state to attend in-hospital births. They care for women
during normal pregnancy, labor and birth and perform routine yearly exams.
They consult with physicians as needed.
-
Family Practice Physicians: A doctor who is trained in
obstetrics as well as other areas. These doctors usually refer high risk
pregnancies to a specialist. In addition to caring for you during
pregnancy, these doctors care for the whole family.
-
Obstetrician: A doctor who specializes in the care of women
during their childbearing years. Obstetricians care for women with normal
and high risk pregnancies and births.
During pregnancy you may wish to tour the hospital or birth center where your
baby will be born to decide on the type of birth you want.
Questions to ask:
- What are the billing procedures? Will fees be filed with insurance or must they be
paid at the time of service?
- What are the office hours? Do they have hours in the evenings or on
weekend?
- How can they be reached in an emergency?
- Do they practice alone or in a group? How does the group cover for
each other?
- Do you see the same care provider each visit or might you
see a different provider each time?
- How likely is it that your primary care provider will be there when you
deliver?
- Are there pharmacy, lab and x-ray services available at or near the office
or clinic?
- How long does it take to get an appointment for a routine visit? For
a problem?
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Remember that everything you eat, drink or take into your body will reach
your baby. If you smoke, please stop.
Normal weight gain is 25-35 pounds, but each pregnancy is different. Women
generally gain 2-4 pounds in the first trimester and 1 pound a week during the
2nd and 3rd trimesters. Weight gain patterns vary, but pregnancy is not the
time to lose weight. If you are expecting more than one baby you should try to
gain at least an additional 10 pounds. If you suddenly gain or lose a lot of
weight call your care provider.
What you eat during pregnancy will affect the growth and development of your
baby. With a good diet and exercise, you should return to your pre-pregnancy
weight within a few months after delivery.
Planning your daily meals and snacks:
- Take your prenatal vitamins as directed
- Drink 6 to 8 cups of water each day
- Limit salt intake only if your doctor advises you to
- Reduce caffeine intake
- Avoid alcoholic beverages
- Follow the food pyramid with most of your calories coming from the grain
group
- You'll need 4 to 5 servings of calcium each day
- Pregnant women need twice as much iron as non-pregnant women
- Eat foods rich in folic acid
- Avoid raw or rare meat, fish or sushi, seafood and eggs
- Limit products containing NutraSweet to 2-3 servings a day.
- Avoid Saccharin
- Avoid uncooked or unpasteurized cheeses such as feta, brie, camembert and
blue-veined or Mexican-style cheeses
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Most pregnant women may exercise throughout their pregnancy if there are no
medical complications. Talk to your health care provider about what kind of
exercise is right for you.
Guidelines for exercise:
- Exercise 3-5 times a week
- Choose activities such as swimming, stationary biking or brisk walking
- Include a warm-up and cool down period
- Avoid exercises that have jumping or jarring motions
- Avoid exercises that require you to lie flat on your back
- Do not exercise in hot, humid weather
- Your heart rate at peak exercise activity should not exceed 140 beats per
minute
- Your body temperature should not go above 100.4 F
- Get up from the floor slowly
- Drink plenty of fluids to remain hydrated
Stop exercising and call your health care provider if you experience any of
these warning signs:
- Pain
- Dizziness, shortness of breath, faintness
- Pounding, racing heart rate
- Pubic pain
- Uterine contractions
- Vaginal bleeding, fluid loss
- Decreased fetal movements
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It's normal for labor can begin
anytime within 2 weeks before or after your due date. Labor will begin with
the opening and thinning of your cervix, when your uterus begins regular
contractions. When your body is preparing for labor, you will experience the
following signs:
Baby dropping
This happens when your baby's head settles deeper into your pelvis. Baby
dropping occurs a few weeks to a few hours before labor begins.
Loss of mucus plug
You will pass a thick plug of mucus or have an increase of vaginal discharge
that may look clear, slightly bloody or pink. This may occur several days before
labor begins or during the onset of labor.
Your water
"breaks"
You will feel a continuous trickle or a gush of fluid from your vagina. This is
caused when the amniotic sac breaks and there's a release of the fluid that
surrounded your baby during pregnancy.
Regular contractions
When regular contractions occur, you may actually be going into labor. The
contractions may feel like menstrual cramps or a back ache.
When you actually go into
labor, you will experience these signs:
- Contractions will come at regular intervals, will last about 30-40
seconds, and will get closer together
- The contractions will not go away when you move around
- You will probably feel the pain of the contractions in the back and the
front
False labor pains, also known
as Braxton-Hicks contractions, often occur in the last few weeks of pregnancy.
It can be difficult to tell the difference between false and true labor. False
labor may be characterized by:
- Irregular cramps that do not get consistently closer
- Contractions that stop when you walk, rest or change position
- Contractions that are felt in the abdomen
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It is natural to feel anxious in your new role as a mother. You will have
less time for yourself. As your body heals, you will be learning how to
take care of your baby, adjusting to life at home, or planning to return to
work.
There are many things you can do to make the transition easier:
- Set time aside for your partner and family to relax and talk about the
changes in your lives
- Let others know how you feel and what you need
- Discuss questions and concerns, no matter how small, with your health care
provider
- Ask a friend or relative to help with childcare or housework
- Take time to nap, exercise or enjoy a favorite hobby
- Nurse frequently, relax and enjoy this time with your baby
- Rest when the baby sleeps
- Involve your partner, family and friends in caring for the baby
- Take time for your other children and involve them in caring for the baby
- Have realistic expectations for the new changes in your life
- Get fresh air, it's good for you and the baby
- Ask for help if you think you need it
Learn more about the
"baby blues" or feelings
of depression.
There are many benefits of breastfeeding:
- Breast milk has all of the nutrients babies needs
- Breast milk can help protect babies from infections
- Breast milk is easier for babies to digest
- Breast fed babies may be less prone to allergies
- Breast feeding is easier and more convenient that preparing formula
Learn about
breast feeding ahead of time
to be more successful.
Even experienced mothers can sometimes becomes overwhelmed with all the new
medical terminology. Read a complete list of
pregnancy terms you might hear and what they mean.
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Nutrition during pregnancy