Pregnancy can be an apprehensive time for any mother – especially if this is
your first baby. There will be legions of people who will give you advice,
whether you want it or not. Of course, the best person to answer your questions
is your health care provider, but here are the answers to some of the more
common questions you’ll undoubtedly ask.
1. Will it hurt to give birth? In a word, yes. How painful it will be
varies greatly from one woman to another. However, there are a few decisions
that YOU can make, including your delivery method, that can impact this
greatly. The good news is: the better prepared you are, the easier it is going
to be to deal with the pain. Also, if you want an idea of how your pregnancy
and delivery may go, talk to your closest female relatives and ask them about
their birthing experience . chances are that you'll have a similar one. And
above all, remember this . the pain of childbirth is manageable. You will have
several options when it comes to pain management and it is important you
discuss them with your physician to find out which is best for you. You can be
without any anesthesia at all (tough it out!) or have different levels of
anesthesia (for example, from your mid-chest down). Also, if this is not your
first pregnancy, each delivery is usually easier than the one before!
2. How will I know my baby is healthy? This is where your choice of a
health care provider comes into play. Not only do they have access to all those
wonderful diagnostic tools, you'll also have access to the best tool of all .
their professional judgment. You can ask them about any of the symptoms you may
be experiencing and they can reassure you it is part of normal pregnancy or
figure out the cause. You can also ask them about which medications to take.
And lastly, do not forget your judgment is your last and best asset. Women have
been having babies for thousands of years and both have gotten through
pregnancy and delivery just fine!
3. How much weight will I and should I gain? Unfortunately, it is not
one-size-fits-all. There is not a magic number that you should expect. There
are many variables including your pre-pregnancy weight, your health, the health
of your baby, and whether or not you have twins. However, there is a good
rule-of-thumb for how much weight you should gain based on your weight:
- Underweight: 28 - 40
Pounds
- Normal Weight: 25 - 35
Pounds
- Overweight: 15 - 25
Pounds
- Obese: 11 - 20 Pounds
Also, it is important that you not try to shed the weight and hit the gym as
soon as you get home from the hospital! To have a healthy baby, you need to
keep your calorie count up high in order to breast feed. Also, a special
weight-loss hint you probably did not know about! Adequate breastfeeding makes
your uterus shrink down faster (and lose that extra weight!) and is also
nature's form of birth control! A win-win!
4. Do I need to change my diet during pregnancy? The answer is yes.
There are certain foods and drinks that you should avoid during your pregnancy.
Many women like to wake up and have a cup of coffee with breakfast or a cup of
tea in the afternoon - as far as caffeine goes, it is recommended that pregnant
women avoid consuming more than 200 milligrams of caffeine (equal to a 12-ounce
cup of coffee). As far as which foods to avoid, it is recommended that pregnant
women avoid all uncooked seafood (sushi, shellfish), undercooked meats
and poultry, and unpasteurized dairy products (brie, feta, blue cheese, and
Mexican-style cheeses). As far as which seafood is considered okay...the FDA
and EPA say pregnant women can safely eat up 12 ounces a week (or two
average-sized portions) of salmon, catfish, cod, and canned light tuna.
5. Will using a seat belt hurt me or the baby? If worn properly, a
seat belt will not only not hurt, but will be one of the best protections the
two of you can have in the case of an automobile accident. When you’re
pregnant, it’s especially essential to wear your seat belt low across your hip
bones and under your baby bump. As your tummy gets larger, you may need a seat
belt extender to be comfortable. And always see your health care provider after
any automobile accident, even just a minor fender bender.
6. Is it safe to have sex while I am pregnant? This is a question
that a lot of pregnant women want answered but may feel uncomfortable asking
their physician or friends/family. That is why we are here to answer the
question for you...and the answer may surprise you. YES you can. Sex will not
harm your baby. Early miscarriages are due to problems with the baby's DNA (and
NOTHING you did!). Also, your baby has very special protection called the
amniotic sac that is inside your uterus - sexual activity will not affect it.
There is a caveat, however. During your first trimester, your hormones will be
fluctuating and it may actually decrease your desire. You may also have less
desire during the third trimester as you may be experiencing back pain or other
symptoms associated with your weight gain.
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