| Pregnancy
The more knowledge you have the better you will be able
to make wise choices for you and your baby. If you are having
trouble getting pregnant, click here to learn about our fertility services. We also specialize in high
risk pregnancy.
Information and help with your pregnancy
Choosing
a health care provider
Part of starting a family is choosing a health care provider. 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 filled 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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Nutrition
during pregnancy
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 second and third 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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Exercise
during pregnancy
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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Signs of labor
It's normal for labor
can begin anytime within two 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 the following signs:
- Contractions will come at regular intervals, will last about 30-40
seconds, and will get closer and 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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After childbirth
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
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
If you have the "baby blues" or feel you might be depressed, click
here to learn more.
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Breast feeding
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
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Medical
terms and definitions
Even experienced mothers can sometimes becomes overwhelmed with all
the new medical terminology. For a complete list of the terms
you might hear and what they mean, click here.
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