Prenatal Information

During your pregnancy, you may have many questions that you want to ask us. Our advice is to write down your questions and bring them with you to each visit.  We will be sure to answer your questions at each appointment.  Also, we have compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions we receive regarding pregnancy.  By clicking on the link below, you will find answers to these questions.  We recommend you print out these pages and save them for future reference.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pregnancy

 

First Prenatal Information

 

Congratulations on becoming pregnant! Your first appointment should be scheduled around the time that you would be missing your second period. At this visit, you will have a complete physical exam and consultation regarding your pregnancy.

 

The average pregnancy will take 40 weeks. An average weight gain is 20-25 pounds. You should plan on gaining 0-5 pounds in the first 20 weeks (your baby will be one pound at this point), and 15-20 pounds in the second 20 weeks of pregnancy. There is no special diet (unless specified by your physician). Eating three to four healthy meals per day is ideal. Your minimal requirement is 1200 calories and should include vegetables, fruit, fish, chicken, and some beef. Try to avoid fried and fatty foods and sugar. You should also try to drink four, 8 oz. glasses of milk each day. (Skim milk is as good as whole milk but has less fat and calories.)

 

Exercise is also important. It may make you feel better during pregnancy and help strengthen muscles you may use in labor and delivery. The type of exercise depends on your pre-pregnancy condition. When you exercise, try to keep your pulse less than 140 beats per minute. If you go over this number, slow down and rest. Walking, swimming, bowling, non-impact or low impact aerobics, bicycling, and golfing are great ways to exercise. If you are used to a certain activity, you can usually continue. We prefer that you avoid water skiing, snowboarding, downhill skiing, jumping, horseback riding, and contact sports where you could easily injure yourself. You should also not lift more than 30 pounds during your pregnancy.

 

Be careful of excessive heat. Do NOT use saunas. A hot tub is fine if the temperature is below 100°F. When your temperature goes over 101°F, it can affect the baby’s neurological development.

 

With most women, traveling is fine until 32 weeks of pregnancy (two months before the due date). After that, stay within two hours (by car) of the hospital. Bathing and showering are safe during pregnancy. Intercourse is safe throughout pregnancy, as long as there is no bleeding or signs of other problems.

 

During pregnancy, your immune system is suppressed in order to maintain the pregnancy. Because of this, you tend to catch every cold and cough you are exposed to. Try to avoid sick people and get plenty of rest. If you do get sick, it is safe to take Tylenol for fever, aches and pains. Sudafed is safe for congestion and Robitussin is safe for a cough. If you have diarrhea, Imodium is safe. It will take longer than usual to recover. If you do not get relief from over-the-counter medication, your OB/GYN or primary care physician must evaluate you.  Tums is safe to take for heartburn, and is also a good source of calcium.

 

Routine office visits will be every four weeks until the seventh month of pregnancy. After that, you will have a three-week visit, and then you will be seen every two weeks in the eighth month. Finally, you will have weekly visits during your ninth month until you deliver. On average, expect to be seen 12-15 times. Questions will be answered at each visit. It may be helpful to keep an ongoing list of questions and bring it to your appointments.

 

A new screening test for Down Syndrome will be offered to you at your first prenatal visit. This is called the First Test and is scheduled usually around 12-13 weeks of pregnancy. This test involves an ultrasound of the baby and a blood test from the mother. It can provide women with information regarding their risk of having a baby with Down Syndrome early in the pregnancy. If the blood test comes back abnormal, an amniocentesis will be offered to confirm the findings. First Test results are usually available in 4-5 days.

 

A voluntary blood test called Quad Screen (formerly know as alpha-feto protein or AFP) is offered to you between 16-20 weeks. This test was developed to screen for Down Syndrome and neural tube defects like spina bifida in your baby. It is a screening test with false positive and false negative results. Genetic counseling along with amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (CVS) are available for those who need it.

 

At approximately 20 weeks (halfway point), you should feel the baby move. At this time, we will also add iron to your prenatal vitamin to prevent you from becoming anemic. Also at 20 weeks, the size of your uterus will be at the level of your belly button. At this time, we ask that you lay on either your right or left side and avoid lying on your back. The reason for this is that your uterus will lie on the aorta and can decrease blood flow to your baby. At this time, we will also give you a bottle of sugar water to drink before your next visit to test for diabetes. 

 

An ultrasound is usually performed between 18-20 weeks.  If you would like to keep a copy of your ultrasound, you may bring in a blank VHS tape and we will record it for you.

Once you enter the third trimester (about 26 weeks) you should start to look for a pediatrician to take care of your baby. Many pediatricians will meet with you before the baby is born to give you information about their practice. We will provide you a list of pediatricians that we recommend but you are free to use whomever you like. A list of these pediatricians is available for you to download by clicking on pediatrician list.

At 35 weeks into your pregnancy, we will perform a culture of the birth canal for bacteria called Group B Strep (GBS). This bacteria does not affect you, however if you carry it (20% of women do), we will treat you with an antibiotic during labor to protect the baby from acquiring it.

 

After your initial pelvic exam at the first visit, your remaining visits will consist of tummy checks until 38-39 weeks. After this point, we will do weekly pelvic exams to check for cervical changes.

 

Once labor begins or your bag of water breaks, the doctor on call will be responsible for delivering your baby.

 

We look forward to a healthy and successful pregnancy. 

 

Again, congratulations!