Pregnancy is such an exciting and scary time for a woman. When that plus sign shows up on the stick, a woman's life will be forever changed. Get the facts you need to stay calm and happy throughout your pregnancy, so you'll feel confident that you're going to be a great mom.
Yipee, I'm Pregnant! Now What?
- > Am I Really Pregnant? Normal Symptoms
- > Common Pregnancy Check-ups and Tests
- > Healthy Pregnancy Exercises
- > Feeling Icky? Sooth that Morning Sickness
- > Special Section for Mothers Over 35
- > Typical Pregnancy Discomforts
Fun Pregnancy Moments
- > Fun Myths: Predicting a Baby's Gender
- > Tips for Picking a Baby Name
- > Top 10 Baby Boy Names
- > Top 10 Baby Girl Names
- > Top 10 Pregnancy Myths
- > Sex During Pregnancy
Pregnancy "No No's" & Warning Signs
- > Activities to Avoid During Pregnancy
- > Food During Pregnancy - List of No No's
- > These Medicines and Pregnancy Don't Mix
- > Should I Call a Doctor? Warning Signs
- > Signs and Risk Factors for Miscarriages
- > Signs and Treatment of Gestational Diabetes
Getting Prepared for Baby's Arrival
Common Pregnancy Check-ups and Tests
Hopefully you like your Doctor because you're going to see him or her a lot during the next 9 months. Mandatory doctor visits might vary from doc to doc, but we've put together a good list to give you an idea of what to expect. So clear your schedule and make room for monthly visits and get ready to pee in a cup and get your finger pricked more often then you care to. The good thing is, at the end of it all you'll have a gorgeous baby and those doctor's visits will be a faded memory.
- First Visit - Your doctor will insist on giving you a pregnancy test. (Docs don't always trust those home tests for accuracy.) Your doctor will probably discuss any habits you have that could potentially harm the baby such as: drinking alcohol, smoking or doing drugs. Luckily all that info is kept confidential. Doc will examine you and use a lab test to determine your due date. You'll probably get a prenatal vitamin and you'll have to provide your full medical history. Tests will involve giving blood and urine and completing a physical exam. This will be your longest visit.
- Month 2 Second Visit - You'll get your blood pressure checked, give a urine sample, get weighed (yuck!) and be checked for swelling in the hands and feet. Doc will also answer any questions you have so remember to bring your huge list!
- Month 3 Third Visit - The good thing is, at the end of month three your risk for early miscarriage is over. You'll get to hear your "little one's" heartbeat for the first time, yes…you'll get weighed again, get your abdomen measured and your doc will check for swelling in hands and feet.
- Month 4 Fourth Visit - This is a quick and easy visit where you'll get your blood pressure checked, hear your baby's heartbeat and your doc will check for swelling in your hands and feet.
- Month 5 Fifth Visit - This is the visit or all visits! You'll get to see your baby today! Well, it's actually an image of a small black and white speck that the technician will say is your baby, but you can trust her, she's a professional. This is the day of your first ultrasound. You'll also hear baby's heartbeat, get blood pressure taken, fetus will be measured, the size of your uterus will be checked and you'll be checked for swelling.
- Month 6 Sixth Visit- Yet another standard check up where you'll hear baby's heartbeat, get your blood pressure checked, have baby's height checked, get uterus measured, doc will check baby's position, check your hands and feet for swelling and finally doc will check your legs for vericose veins.
- Month 7 Seventh Visit - You'll get the standard tests like blood pressure, baby's heartbeat, baby height, uterus size and position of baby, swelling of hands and feet, legs checked for vericose veins and an extra test called the glucose tolerance test to check for diabetes. You'll also get a blood test for anemia and antibodies.
- Month 8 Eighth Visit - At this stage you'll be happy to know you get to start seeing the doctor on a bi-weekly basis, yipeeee! Again, hope you like your doc. At this visit you'll get your blood pressure checked, swelling checked, get uterus and baby measured, hear your wee one's heartbeat and the doc will check baby's position.
- Month 9 Ninth Visit - Now your visits will really start to pick up and you'll go to the doctor's once a week. While there, you'll get some or all of the following tests. Baby's heartbeat, your blood pressure, Group B Stress Test, your doc will check your cervix to see if it's thinning or to check to see if the opening has started, doc will check to see if baby's head is down and if the presenting part is engaged. (Ask doctor what that means) Now's the time to ask lots of questions and listen up when the doctor gives you your labor instructions.
- Congratulations! Baby is Born!
