New Beginnings: Pregnancy Guides - Mission Health

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Gestation: The age of your unborn baby measured in weeks. This is from 0-42 weeks. Miscarriage: The delivery of a baby before 20 weeks in pregnancy. A baby before 20 weeks cannot live. Placenta: The organ that develops inside the uterus where the fertilized egg starts off. This organ brings the growing baby food and oxygen. It also protects the baby and the inside of the uterus from harmful things. Prenatal: The time from conception to the birth of your baby. Trimester: A block of time during pregnancy measured in weeks. Pregnancy is divided into 3 trimesters: First: 0-14 weeks Second: 15-28 weeks Third: 29-42 weeks Umbilical Cord: The cord connecting the fetus to the placenta. Uterus: The hollow organ made of muscle in a woman’s abdomen. This is where a fertilized egg will start growing. The egg will bury itself into the lining of the uterus. In the first 8 weeks the growing baby is called an embryo. C HECK- UPS In your first trimester you will begin regular visits to your doctor or midwife’s office. The first visit will usually be between 6 and 10 weeks of the pregnancy. Prenatal visits give you the chance to ask questions and learn about your pregnancy. Here are some things that you may want to talk about: • How does the office work What are the hours How do I make appointments What do I do when the office is closed and I need to talk to my care provider • What foods should I be eating • What things could harm me or the baby • What activities and exercise can I do during pregnancy • Is intercourse/sexual activity during pregnancy OK • What tests will be done in the first trimester and what do they mean W HAT W ILL H APPEN AT M Y C HECK- UPS Pregnancy lasts 40 weeks. It starts with the date of your last menstrual period (LMP). It is divided into 3 “trimesters.” Your prenatal visits to your doctor or midwife will be scheduled once a month until about 28 weeks. From 28 to 36 weeks you may be seen every 2-3 weeks. After 36 weeks they will want to see you once a week or more. At your first prenatal visit you will: • Set your due date (the date your baby might be born). Your care provider may suggest an ultrasound to help set the due date. Your due date does not mean that your baby will be born on that day. You might deliver two weeks before that date or two weeks after that date. • Have lab tests such as checking your urine and blood. Your care provider will do an HIV test. • Be asked questions about your health, your partner’s health and your family’s health (mostly your mother and father’s health). • Be weighed and have your blood pressure checked. • Have a vaginal exam to feel your uterus to see how your baby is growing and have a pap smear. 2 Your visits after the first check-up will take less time. You will: • Be weighed to make sure you are gaining weight. • Have your urine and blood pressure checked. • Have the baby’s heart beat checked (after 12 weeks). • Have time with your doctor, midwife or nurse practitioner to talk about your health during the last month. • Have time to ask questions. T EST D ONE IN THE F IRST T RIMESTER Pregnancy tests A blood or urine pregnancy test may be done even if you did a pregnancy test at home. Urine check A urine check to see how your kidneys are working and for signs of infection. Blood tests Many things can be checked from the blood that is drawn from your arm: • Sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV • Hepatitis (a disease of the liver) • Your blood type (A, B, AB, or O) and the Rh factor (positive or negative) • Anemia (low red blood cells) • A rubella (measles) test will show if you have had rubella or if you have come in contact with someone who had rubella. • Other testing: Ask your care provider about testing for genetic conditions such as diabetes, sickle cell anemia and cystic fibrosis. Pap smear Your cervix is the opening to your uterus/womb. This test looks for signs of cancer cells in the area of your cervix.
Ultrasound The ultrasound machine uses sound waves to make pictures of the baby. Ultrasound can help set your due date when it is done in the first trimester. It can look at your baby’s growth and the placenta. It can also see how many babies are in your uterus. There is no radiation used with ultrasound. WARNING S IGNS Call your doctor or midwife if any of these things happen: • Bright red vaginal bleeding like a menstrual period (You might have spotting after a vaginal exam, vaginal ultrasound or intercourse. A small amount of blood after these events is normal.) • Sharp abdominal pain with your uterus becoming very hard (Talk with your care provider about sharp pain low in your belly that might be tightening of ligaments that hold your uterus. This is not a warning sign.) • Leaking or gushing of fluid from your vagina • Sudden swelling of hands and face • Changes in vision (blurred or dark spots in front of your eyes) • Severe headache • Being very dizzy • Swollen, red, painful area on the leg (especially the calf area) • Pain or burning when you urinate • Itching, burning, or pain in the vaginal area • Vaginal discharge with a strong odor • Fever higher than 100.4 (taken by mouth) • Vomiting for 24 hours or urine that is dark yellow or orange B ABY At the end of the first month your baby is smaller than a grain of rice. In the next two weeks many of the baby’s organs (brain, spinal cord, heart, intestines, and stomach) begin to form. The head and body begin to form. The heart begins to beat about the 25th day after conception. By the end of the second month, the baby begins to look more like a human. From the top of the head to the bottom of the buttocks your baby is about 1 1 /4 inch long. Your baby weighs the same as an aspirin tablet. Arms, hands, fingers, and legs are forming. Most of the internal organs are completely formed. Eyelids are formed and sealed shut. The middle ear is forming for both hearing and balance. The head is large compared to the rest of the body. The baby is beginning to move. At the end of the third month, your baby is 2 1 /2 to 3 inches long and weighs about 1 /2 ounce. The body organs are starting to work. Blood is flowing through veins and urine is being formed in the kidneys. Muscles are growing and movements of the arms and legs are more frequent. Sex organs are formed but it is still hard to tell the sex of the baby. FATHER/PARTNER It is normal for you to have many feelings at this time, just like mom. Feeling excited, nervous, and afraid all at once is normal. Mom will be getting a lot of attention and you may feel “left out.” A very good way to feel involved and important is to go to prenatal visits with mom. Read about pregnancy with her. Ask her about how she’s feeling and what’s happening to her body. Mom will need and want to “lean on you” for support and encouragement. Sometimes the best way to support is to “just listen.” Women cope with change and stress by talking about it. You won’t always have to fix the stress by doing something. Listening may give her what she needs. You might see mom acting a little strange at times. One minute she is laughing and joking, the next minute she is crying and afraid. One minute she is feeling sick and the next minute she’s eating a full meal. This is normal in pregnancy even though it might not make any sense to you. Our weekly e-newsletter is part of the educational offerings here at Mission. These emails include research findings about pregnancy, health and wellness, as well as newborn care, child development and breastfeeding. You can also email questions or comments to a staff person here at Mission. Visit theparentreview.com/missionhealth to sign up. • A change in the kicks and movements of your baby 3
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Page 33 and 34: 36 to 40 weeks An average pregnancy
Page 35 and 36: After the birth supplies: • Night
Page 37 and 38: Exclusive breastfeeding recommended
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