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Is
prenatal care important?
Yes! You can
help make sure that you and your baby will be healthy by following some simple
guidelines and checking in throughout your pregnancy with your doctor.
What
will happen during prenatal visits?
Your doctor will
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 on every visit.
On your first
visit, you'll also probably have a pelvic exam to check the size and shape of
your uterus (womb), and if needed a Pap smear to check for signs of cancer of
the cervix (the opening of the uterus) and cultures to check for infections.
Urine and blood tests may be done on the first visit and again later. Urine
tests are done to check for bacteria in your urine, high sugar levels and high
protein levels (which can be a sign of can put you at risk for preeclampsia, a
type of high blood pressure in pregnancy). Blood tests are done to check for
low iron levels (anemia), certain infections including HIV and your blood type.
You may be offered screening tests called IPS (Integrated Prenatal Screening)
or MSS (Maternal Serum Screen). This is to assess the risk that your baby may
have for neural tube defect, Trisomy 18 or Down Syndrome. If you will be over
the age of 35 at the time of delivery of your baby, have some specific risk
factors, or have a positive MSS screen, you may also be offered an
amniocentesis or CVS.
Often an
ultrasound may be done around 18 weeks to help figure out when your baby is due
or to check on your baby's health and the position of the placenta in your
uterus. Sometimes ultrasounds are used to follow the baby's growth. Other tests
may be needed if you or your baby are at risk for any problems.
Warnings
"Don't do this, don't do that."
You've probably
heard every old wives' tales but 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, heroine, and marijuana
increase your risk of miscarriage, premature birth and birth defects and your
baby could be born addicted to the drug you've been taking.
· Don't drink alcohol. Drinking alcohol during
pregnancy is the major cause of birth defects that could be prevented,
including mental slowness.
· 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 the sauna or hot tub. This raises your
risk of miscarriage and birth defects by raising your body temperature.
· Don't douche which can cause risks while you're
pregnant.
· Avoid overuse of Vitamin A and D:
· Vitamin A – daily limit of 3000 IU or less
· Vitamin D – daily limit of 400 IU or less
How
much weight should I gain during pregnancy?
About 11 to 14
kilograms (25 to 30 pounds). If you don't weigh enough when you get pregnant,
you may need to gain more. If you're very heavy when you get pregnant, you may
need to gain only 7 to 11 kilograms (15 to 25 pounds).
Pregnancy isn't
the time to diet! It's best to gain about two to three pounds during the first
12 weeks and about a pound a week after that. Talk to your doctor about how
much weight to gain.
What
should I eat?
Pregnancy isn't
the time to diet. What you eat feeds your baby, so choose healthy foods and
skip the junk. You need about 300 extra calories each day. Be sure to include
the following in your daily diet:
· Three to four servings of milk or dairy products
· Five to ten servings of vegetables and fruit
· Five to twelve servings of breads, cereals, rice or
pasta
· Two to three servings of meat, fish, poultry, dried
beans, eggs or nuts
· At least six to eight glasses of liquids.
· Limit your daily caffeine intake to 2 cups of
coffee or 6 glasses of soda
You can get all
the nutrients you need through what you eat but your doctor may suggest taking
prenatal mineral and vitamin pills that include iron to help protect you
against anemia, calcium to help keep your bones strong and folic acid,
especially early in pregnancy (even before you get pregnant), to help prevent
your baby from having neural tube defects (serious problems with the brain and
spinal cord).
There are
programs to help women access financial help during pregnancy to ensure a good
diet. Talk to your family doctor about what's available in your area.
Is
it okay to take medicine?
Check with your
doctor before taking any medicine, including ASA (an example is aspirin). Even
medicine you can buy without a prescription can cause birth defects, especially
during the first three months of pregnancy. Many drugs can be taken safely when
you are pregnant but it is always wise to check with your doctor or pharmacist
first. For specific concerns you may want to contact Acetaminophen and many
other medicines are safe. If you take prescription medications talk to your
doctor before stopping them. It's just to keep medical problems well controlled
and you and your doctor can figure out what to keep taking and what can be
stopped.
How
long can I keep working?
This depends on
if 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 you.
Radiation, lead and other heavy metals, such as copper and mercury, could be
damaging. Working in front of a computer screen is thought to be safe for your
baby.
What
about exercise?
Unless you have
problems in your pregnancy, you can mostly do the exercise you did before you
got pregnant. You may feel better if you're active. Some women say staying fit
during pregnancy makes labor and delivery easier. Walking and swimming are
great choices. If you didn't exercise before pregnancy, start slowly. Avoid
anything that could injure you or your baby. Avoid getting too hot and drink
fluids to replace your body's losses from sweating.
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. 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.
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 small, frequent meals, and avoid greasy foods. Keep
crackers by your bed to eat before getting up. Other tips include eating cold
foods or to avoid smelling foods as they are cooked. Talk to your doctor if
morning sickness lasts past the first three months of pregnancy or causes you
to lose weight. On the positive side, women with lots of morning sickness
rarely miscarry.
Tiredness. Sometimes being tired in pregnancy is due to
anemia, so tell your doctor. Get enough rest. Take a daytime nap if possible.
Leg
cramps. Gently stretch the calf of your leg by pointing
your toes upward, toward your knee.
Constipation. Drink plenty of fluids. Eat foods with lots of
fibre, such as prunes and bran cereal. Don't take laxatives without talking to
your doctor first. Stool softeners are safe. Use only fibre laxatives such as
Metamucil and Prodiem.
Hemorrhoids. Don't strain during bowel movements. Try to avoid
becoming constipated. Take several warm soaks (sitz baths) a day and use
hemorrhoid ointment if needed.
Urinating
more. You may need to void ("pee") more often
as your baby grows because he or she will put pressure on your bladder. This
can't be helped and is normal. If it burns when you void, see your doctor.
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 hose.
Moodiness. Your hormones are on a roller coaster ride for
nine months. Plus, your life is going through a big change. Don't be too hard
on yourself. If you feel very sad or think about suicide, talk to your doctor.
Skin
changes. Stretch marks appear as red lines on your skin.
Lotion can help keep your skin moist and may help reduce the itchiness of dry
skin. Stretch marks really can't be prevented but they often fade after giving
birth. 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. They'll probably fade
after you have your baby.
Heartburn. Eat small meals often. Avoid spicy or greasy
foods. Don't lie down right after eating. Ask your doctor about taking other
treatments.
Yeast
infections. The amount of discharge from the vagina increases
during pregnancy. But yeast infections, which can also cause discharge and
itching, are more common during pregnancy so it's a good idea to talk with your
doctor about any discharge that doesn't get better after treatment.
Other
infections: Your doctor may offer to test you for germs
called group B streptococcus (GBS) when you are about 36 weeks. A sample is
taken from your vagina and rectal area for the test. Babies can catch GBS from
the birth canal and get very sick although it is quite rare. If you test
positive, you will be given antibiotics during labor.
If you or your
partner has genital herpes, talk to your doctor. The risk of passing herpes to
your baby is small. If you do not have herpes but your partner does, do not
have sex when your partner has a herpes sore. Use a condom during sex while you
are pregnant. Talk to your partner about taking medicine for herpes. Abstain
from oral sex if your partner has cold sores.
Bleeding
gums. Brush and floss regularly, and see your dentist
for cleanings. Don't put off dental visits because you're pregnant and 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. Avoid decongestants.
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).
See
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 abdomen
· Chills or fever
· A decrease in frequency of your baby’s movements
· Less urine or burning when you void
· Any illness or infection that doesn't go away
· If you are experiencing abuse
· Anything that bothers you
From CFPC website
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