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Check your local hospital, and your health plan, for classes on childbirth and infant care. Here are some typical classes:
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As the baby grows, your body changes too. You may also see signs that your body is getting ready for labor. Be patient. Within a few more weeks, your baby will be born. You'll gain more weight from fluids, extra blood, and fat deposits.;Your breas...
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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. This is the time to ask questions about labor and childbirth. Also, learn the warning signs of preterm labor, and know when...
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Excitement builds as you enter your third trimester of pregnancy (weeks 29 to 40). Taking classes is a good way to learn about labor, delivery, and baby care. Like most women you will have decisions to make before labor begins. Talk to your partne...
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Eat small, light meals throughout the day rather than 3 large ones.;Sleep with your upper body raised six inches. Don't lie down until two hours after you eat.Eat foods high in fiber (whole-grain foods, fresh fruit and vegetables).;Drink plenty of...
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Pregnant women in their second or third trimester during influenza season shouldbe immunized. People who are have a severe allergy (I.e. anaphylactic allergic reaction) to hens' eggs;It is prudent to avoid vaccination in people who previously deve...
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You could have a very healthy pregnancy and still experience any number of discomforts. These discomforts are caused by the changes that pregnancy brings about in your body. Most don't require treatment, but in many cases there are a few simple th...
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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. But be aware that labor is a series of changing conditions. Work with your healthcare provider to create a...
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Labor is the series of uterine contractions that dilate (open) and efface (thin) your cervix for birth. Your due date is a guide to when labor will begin, but babies often come days or weeks before or after due dates. Even so, labor need not take ...
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Here are some items you may want to have ready for the hospital: A watch or clock with a second hand;Heavy socks or slippers and a robe;Clips for your hair, a brush, and lip balm;A cassette or CD player;A camera with film and batteries;Going-home ...
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A boy is born with a layer of skin (foreskin) that covers the head of the penis. At birth, the foreskin is fully attached to the head. The foreskin can be removed (circumcision), or it can be left on. If it is left on, the foreskin separates from ...
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During the third trimester, your blood tests may be done again. You may also have glucose testing at this time. If you are Rh negative, talk to your health care provider at 28 weeks about having a RhoGam injection. This medication prevents Rh anti...
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From exploring the underwater world of oceans to inspecting the inner world of the human body, sonar technology relies on sound waves to create images of what would otherwise be invisible to us. Your doctor can use sonar technology, too --in a for...
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Group B strep (streptococcus) is a common bacteria. It can grow in a woman's vagina, rectum, or urinary tract. It is almost always harmless in adults. But in rare cases, a woman who has group B strep can infect her baby during the birth. Infection...
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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. Back pain is due to many causes. Physical changes to your body can strain your back and its supporting muscles. Also, hormones...
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You likely position yourself differently now than you did before you were pregnant. To ease pain, use positions that support your body comfortably. Raise your chest and head. Try to keep your ears lined up over your shoulders.;Use your abdominal m...
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Moving two people is harder than moving just one -- and it puts extra stress on your back. Think through each move before you make it, so you'll use the right muscles for the job. Moving safely will help you maintain good posture, reduce back pain...
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Exercise helps reduce back pain by increasing the flexibility and strength of your back's supporting muscles. With daily workouts, back exercises may bring an added bonus: you may stay more active. Practice the stretches in the morning to loosen t...
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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. But it does mean you need to take special care of yourself, so you...
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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. You need to eat plenty of starch, protein, and vegetables, and some milk, fruit, and fat each d...
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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. Your healthcare provider may want you to exercise every day. Together you can decide on the best kind of 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. He or she may also ask you t...
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Your body may not be able to make enough insulin. If this happens, you'll need to take extra insulin. Taking insulin helps control your blood sugar without harming your baby. Insulin is a natural substance and is not addictive. You will most likel...
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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. These tests help...
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Your healthcare provider will work with you to plan your delivery. If you control your blood sugar, you are more likely to have a normal birth. Taking a childbirth education class can also help you prepare for labor and delivery. You and your baby...
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You can't take insulin by mouth because the acids in your stomach would destroy it. Most people take insulin by injection, or shots. (Some people may take it using an inhaler.) Your healthcare team will show you how to give yourself insulin inject...
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Most insulin is made in a laboratory and is called human insulin because it's just like the insulin that's made in the body. Some kinds of insulin work fast and other kinds work slowly and last longer. Injected.Insulin is most often taken by shot....
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Ultrasound is a common prenatal procedure used even in low-risk pregnancies to confirm your due date or assess your baby's health. If there are any concerns that your baby may be at risk, ultrasound can help provide the information your doctor nee...
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Amniocentesis is a prenatal test that helps you learn if a fetus has health problems. The test is most often done between weeks 15 and 18 of pregnancy. Discuss with your doctor whether amniocentesis is right for you. You're 35 or older.;There's a ...
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Be sure to discuss with your doctor any questions you have about these procedures. At your doctor's office or hospital, you lie down on your back or side in bed, or you recline in a chair.;A fetal heart monitor (a wide strap or cloth band holding ...
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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. Also, if you already had high blood pressure before getting pregnant, your risk for preeclampsia is higher. African Americans, te...
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Any pregnant woman can have preterm labor. It may start for no reason. But these risk factors can increase your chances: Past preterm labor or past early birth;Smoking and drug or alcohol use during pregnancy;Multiple fetuses (twins or more);Probl...
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