Taking Care of You and Your Baby While You're Pregnant ┆ pregnancy
Is prenatal care important?
Prenatal care is very important. To help make sure that you and your
baby will be as healthy as possible, follow some simple guidelines and
check in regularly with your doctor.
What will happen during prenatal visits?
After you find out you are pregnant, you should make an appointment
with your doctor. Your first prenatal visit will likely be when you are 6
to 8 weeks pregnant. Your doctor will probably start by talking to you
about your medical history and how you've been feeling. You'll be
weighed and have your blood pressure taken. These measurements will most
likely be taken during each doctor's visit.
On your first visit, you'll also have a pelvic exam to check the size
and shape of your uterus (womb) and a Pap smear to check for
abnormalities of the cervix (the opening of the uterus).
Urine and blood tests samples will be taken on the first visit and
again at later visits. Other tests are performed, such as urine tests to
check for bacteria in your urine, high sugar levels (which can be a
sign of diabetes) and high protein levels (which can put you at risk for
preeclampsia, a type of high blood pressure during pregnancy). Blood
tests to check for low iron levels (anemia), blood cell count,
infectious diseases (such as syphilis and hepatitis) and blood type are
also performed.
Sometimes, an ultrasound may be done to help figure out when your
baby is due or to check on your baby's growth and position in your
uterus. An ultrasound uses sound waves to create an image of your baby
on a video screen.
Other tests may be needed if you or your baby are at risk for any problems.
How much weight should I gain during pregnancy?
Talk to your doctor about how much weight you should gain. It's
different for everyone, but most women gain about 25 to 30 pounds. If
you don't weigh enough when you get pregnant, you may need to gain more.
If you're overweight when you get pregnant, you may need to gain less.
What should I eat?
Eating a balanced diet is one of the most important things you can do
for yourself and your baby. There are a few foods that you should be
more careful about eating while you are pregnant. Meat, eggs and fish
that are not fully cooked could put you at risk for an infection. Do not
eat more than 2 or 3 servings of fish per week (including canned fish).
Do not eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel or tilefish. These fish
sometimes have high levels of mercury, which could hurt your baby. If
you eat tuna, make sure it is light tuna and eat no more than 6 ounces
per week of albacore tuna and tuna steaks. It is safe to have 12 ounces
per week of canned light tuna.
Wash all fruit and vegetables. Keep cutting boards and dishes clean.
Eat 4 or more servings of dairy foods each day. This will give you
enough calcium for you and your baby. Do not drink unpasteurized milk or
eat unpasteurized milk products. Soft cheeses such as Brie, feta,
Camembert, blue cheese and Mexican-style cheeses such as queso fresco
may have bacteria that can cause infections.
If you drink coffee or other drinks with caffeine, do not have more than 1 or 2 cups each day.
It is okay to use artificial sweeteners such as aspartame (some brand
names: Equal, NutraSweet) and sucralose (brand name: Splenda) while you
are pregnant, but you should use them in moderation. If you have a
genetic disease called phenylketonuria, or PKU, you shouldn't use
aspartame at all.
Should I take vitamins?
You should take 1,000 mcg (1 mg) of folic acid every day during your
pregnancy. Folic acid can help prevent problems with your baby's brain
and spinal cord. It is best to start taking folic acid before you get
pregnant.
Your doctor might want you to take a prenatal vitamin. If you do take
a prenatal supplement, make sure you're not taking any other vitamin or
mineral supplement along with it unless your doctor recommends it.
Is it okay to take medicine?
Check with your doctor before taking any medicine, including pain
relievers or other over-the-counter medicines. Even medicine you can buy
without a prescription may cause birth defects, especially if it's
taken during the first 3 months of pregnancy.
How long can I keep working?
This depends on whether you have any problems with your pregnancy,
what kind of work you do and if you're exposed to anything at work that
could harm your baby. For instance, lifting heavy objects or standing
for long periods can be hard on your body. Radiation, lead and other
heavy metals, such as copper and mercury, could be damaging to the baby.
However, working in front of a computer screen is not thought to cause
harm to an unborn baby. Talk with your doctor about your work
environment.
What about exercise?
Unless you have problems in your pregnancy, you can probably do
whatever exercise you did before you got pregnant. Exercise can help
ease discomfort during pregnancy. Try to get at least 30 minutes of
exercise each day. Talk to your doctor about any special conditions that
you may have.
Some women say exercising during pregnancy makes labor and delivery
easier. Walking and swimming are great choices. If you didn't exercise
before pregnancy, start slowly. Don't overdo exercise. Listen to your
body. Call your doctor if you have symptoms such as blurred vision,
dizziness, chest pain or abdominal pain while you are exercising. Don't
get overheated. Be sure to drink plenty of water so that you don't get
dehydrated. It's best to avoid anything that could cause you to fall,
such as water skiing or rock climbing. It's also best to avoid contact
sports such as basketball or soccer.
Is it okay to have sex?
Yes, unless your doctor believes you're at risk for problems. Don't
be surprised if you're less or more interested in sex while you are
pregnant. As you get larger, you may find you need to try different
positions, such as lying on your side or being on top. If you have oral
sex, tell your partner not to blow air into your vagina. This could
force air inside you, which could cause an air embolism. Air embolisms
can cause permanent brain damage and even death to a pregnant woman and
her baby.
What can I do to feel better?
Here are the most common discomforts of pregnancy and some tips for handling them:
Morning sickness. Nausea or vomiting may strike anytime during
the day (or night). Try eating frequent, small meals and avoid greasy
foods. Keep crackers by your bed to eat before getting up.
Talk to your doctor if morning sickness lasts past the first 3 months of pregnancy or causes you to lose weight.
Tiredness. Sometimes tiredness in pregnancy is caused by anemia, so tell your doctor. Get enough rest. Take a daytime nap if possible.
Leg cramps. Gently stretch the calf of your leg by curlingyour toes upward, toward your knee.
Constipation. Drink plenty of fluids. Eat foods with lots of
fiber, such as fruits, vegetables and bran cereal. Don't take laxatives
without talking to your doctor first. Stool softeners may be safer than
laxatives.
Hemorrhoids. Don't strain during bowel movements. Try to avoid
becoming constipated. Clean yourself well after a bowel movement (wet
wipes may be less irritating than toilet paper). Take several warm soaks
(sitz baths) a day if necessary.
Urinating more often. You may need to urinate more often as
your baby grows because he or she will put pressure on your bladder.
This can't be helped.
Varicose veins. Avoid clothing that fits tightly around your
legs or waist. Rest and put your feet up as much as you can. Move around
if you must stand for long periods. Ask your doctor about support or
compression hose, which may help ease or prevent varicose veins.
Moodiness. Your hormones are on a roller coaster ride during
pregnancy. Plus, your life is undergoing a big change. Don't be too hard
on yourself. If you feel very sad or think about suicide, talk to your
doctor.
Heartburn. Eat frequent, small meals. Avoid spicy or greasy
foods. Don't lie down right after eating. Ask your doctor about taking
antacids.
Yeast infections. The amount of discharge from the vagina
increases during pregnancy. Yeast infections, which can also cause
discharge, are more common during pregnancy. It's a good idea to talk
with your doctor about any unusual discharge.
Bleeding gums. Brush and floss regularly, and see your dentist
for cleanings. Don't put off dental visits because you're pregnant, but
be sure to tell your dentist you're pregnant.
Stuffy nose. This is related to changes in the levels of the female hormone estrogen. You may also have nosebleeds.
Edema (retaining fluid). Rest with your legs up. Lie on your
left side while sleeping so blood flows from your legs back to your
heart better. Don't use diuretics (water pills). If you're thinking
about cutting down on salt to reduce swelling, talk with your doctor
first. Your body needs enough salt to maintain the balance of fluid and
cutting back on salt may not be the best way to manage your swelling.
Skin changes. Stretch marks appear as red marks on your skin.
Lotion with shea butter can help keep your skin moist and may help
reduce the itchiness of dry skin. Stretch marks often can't be
prevented, but they often fade after pregnancy.
Other skin changes may include darkening of the skin on your face and
around your nipples, and a dark line below your belly button. Staying
out of the sun or using a sunscreen may help lessen these marks. Most
marks will probably fade after pregnancy.
Call your doctor if you have:
- Blood or fluid coming from your vagina
- Sudden or extreme swelling of your face or fingers
- Headaches that are severe or won't go away
- Nausea and vomiting that won't go away
- Dizziness
- Dim or blurry vision
- Pain or cramps in your lower abdomen
- Chills or fever
- A change in your baby's movements
- Less urine or burning when you urinate
- Any illness or infection
- Anything that bothers you
Warnings
"Don't do this, don't do that." You've probably heard every old wives' tale. Here are some warnings worth heeding:
- Don't smoke. Smoking raises your risk for miscarriage, premature birth, low birth weight and many other problems.
- Don't use drugs. Cocaine, heroin, marijuana and other drugs increase your risk of miscarriage, premature birth and birth defects. Your baby could also be born addicted to the drug you've been abusing, which can cause serious health problems.
- Don't drink alcohol. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy is the major cause of preventable birth defects, including fetal alcohol syndrome.
- Don't clean your cat's litter box or eat raw or undercooked red meat. You could get toxoplasmosis, a disease that can cause birth defects.
- Don't sit in a sauna or hot tub. The high heat raises your risk of miscarriage and birth defects.
- Don't douche. Douching could force air into the vagina, which can cause an air embolism. The vagina doesn't require cleansing in addition to normal bathing. Douching disrupts the helpful bacteria that keep the vagina clean.
Family Doctor
Category: pregnancy
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