Miscarriage : In Depth - The Third Trimester
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Check your local hospital, and your health plan, for classes on childbirth and infant care.
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You may see signs that your body is getting ready for labor. Be patient. Within a few more weeks, your baby will be born.
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At Month 7, your baby is about 14 inches long. If born prematurely, your baby would likely survive with special care.
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You will likely visit your health care provider every 2 weeks. Then visits will increase to once a week in your last month.
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As your body prepares for labor, your health care provider may talk about "position and station." Position is your baby's placement in the uterus (facing left or right, head first, or feet first). Station refers to how far your baby has moved down (descended) into the pelvic cavity.
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How to reduce heartburn and treat constipation. Eat small, light meals throughout the day rather than 3 large ones.
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Pregnant women in their second or third trimester during influenza season should be immunized.
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Here are self-care steps for many common discomforts experienced during pregnancy
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A birth plan is an outline of your wishes for your labor and birth. This plan helps your healthcare providers know what you want and expect. Work with your provider to create a plan that leaves room for the unexpected.
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Labor need not take you by surprise. In the last weeks, you or your healthcare provider may notice changes that mean labor is near.
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Here's a list of some items you will want to have ready for the hospital. Don't forget a watch with a second hand.
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Circumcision is most often done just before a baby boy goes home from the hospital. You can also choose to have it done later,but when the child is older circumcision requires anesthesia and costs more.
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During the third trimester, your blood tests may be done again. You may also have glucose testing at this time.
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The procedure is painless and takes less than one-half hour. You may be able to see your baby, or you may even be given a copy of the sonogram to take home with you.
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In rare cases, a woman who has group B strep can infect her baby during the birth. Infection can cause serious illness in the newborn.
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Back Pain
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As your body changes during pregnancy, your back must work in new ways. This can be painful if your back isn't prepared.
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You likely position yourself differently now than you did before you were pregnant. Did you know that standing, sitting, or lying in certain ways can lead to back pain? To ease pain, use positions that support your body comfortably.
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Think through each move before you make it, so you'll use the right muscles for the job. If you practice these safe moves now, they may come naturally to you by the time your baby's born.
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With daily workouts, back exercises may bring an added bonus: you may stay more active. Practice the stretches in the morning to loosen tight muscles, and do the strengtheners throughout your day.
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About Gestational Diabetes
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If blood tests show that you have gestational diabetes, this doesn't mean that you're sick or that you did anything wrong. And it doesn't mean your baby will be born with diabetes.
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Eating the right foods is the main way to control your blood sugar. In fact, most women can keep their blood sugar within a normal range by diet alone.
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Exercise can help you keep your blood sugar within a normal range. That's because your body uses more blood sugar when you exercise.
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The only way to be sure your blood sugar stays within a normal range is to check it. You will most likely be asked to check your blood sugar at home one or more times a day. Your healthcare provider will teach you how.
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Taking insulin helps control your blood sugar without harming your baby. You will most likely be able to stop taking insulin after your baby is born.
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It's normal to worry about your baby's health. One way that you can know your baby's doing well is to record the baby's movements once a day. Your healthcare provider may also do tests to check on your baby's size and development.
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If your tests are normal, you can probably go into labor naturally. If your baby is large or your tests show a problem, your labor may be started early or you may get a cesarean.
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Insulin won't work if it's swallowed, so it must be given by injection. Your healthcare team will show you how to give yourself insulin injections.
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There are five types of insulin. Some kinds of insulin work fast and other kinds work slowly and last longer.
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During ultrasound, high-frequency sound waves pass through your body and your baby. You can't hear the sound waves, but the ultrasound equipment can.
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First, the fetus is located with ultrasound. A thin needle is then inserted into your belly. The doctor keeps the needle from touching the fetus by watching the screen.
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Nonstress and contraction stress testing checks whether your baby is getting enough oxygen and nutrients from your blood.
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Preeclampsia can occur in any pregnant woman. But if you've had it before, you have a greater chance of it recurring.
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Any pregnant woman can have preterm labor. It may start for no reason. But there are risj factors that can increase your chances of preterm labor.
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It's natural to feel strong emotions just after you've had a baby. You may feel elated, or you may feel sad. But for some women, feelings of sadness are much more intense. These intense feelings are called postpartum depression. Postpartum depression can be treated with medication and counseling.
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Test your knowledge of childhood health.
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