Congratulations on your pregnancy! This is a significant life event that requires planning and preparation. Being pregnant is a beautiful and transformative experience, and it’s normal to have questions and concerns about what to do and expect.
I’m Pregnant—My First Time!
Is it your first time being pregnant? It’s all about mixed feelings. You’re excited about your baby’s arrival, becoming a mother, and all the future responsibilities and challenges of embarking on the journey of motherhood.
To feel at ease and fully enjoy the journey, you should keep informed about salient details, including childbirth. We want you to feel confident about being pregnant. So, let’s begin, We at Omega Pediatrics want the best right from the start.
The pointers outlined below encompass a wide range of essential aspects. We at Omega Pediatricians wish you a healthy and memorable pregnancy journey.
1. How Long is Pregnancy?
The length of pregnancy is 40 weeks or approximately nine months. It’s divided into three stages, each consisting of three months, called trimesters. Each stage brings physiological and hormonal changes to your body.
It’s essential to closely take note of your bodily changes from the beginning to understand the other changes and your progress through each stage.
2. Symptoms of Pregnancy—Morning Sickness
Once you miss your menstrual period, it’s most likely the first sign. You will then experience some symptoms such as nausea, mood swings, tender breasts, and cravings for certain foods. However, these symptoms may not always be conclusive.
Morning sickness is one solid sign that you’re pregnant, and fortunately, there are many ways to manage it.
3. Pregnancy Test
Many times, the symptoms can be false or confusing. One way to confirm your pregnancy is to do a home-based urine test. You can purchase a test kit at drugstores and supermarkets.
Another way to confirm whether you’re pregnant is to visit an OB-GYN or other medical professional to conduct a pregnancy test. Once ascertained, the doctor will schedule your prenatal care.
4. Prenatal Care
It’s a must to have prenatal care with your preferred healthcare provider. Don’t skip your monthly appointments to assess and closely monitor your and your baby’s health.
Pregnancy-related tests and ultrasounds are done during prenatal visits. And most importantly, fetal developmental disorders can be detected at an early stage. When it comes to prenatal care, it’s time to choose your preferred healthcare provider.
Your options include obstetricians (OB), obstetricians/gynecologists (OB/GYN), family practitioners, and certified nurse-midwives. Typically, OBs are the go-to choice because they specialize in pregnancy and childbirth.
5. Gestational Age
During your prenatal checkup, one of the first and most important records is your gestational age (AOG). This is necessary to determine your delivery due date, which is computed from the date of your last menstrual cycle.
The date of the first day of your last menstrual cycle is counted as Day 1 of Week 1 of your 40-week pregnancy. Hence, monitoring of fetal health is based on AOG.
A normal delivery—a full-term baby—can happen between the 37th and 40th weeks. Premature, preemies, or preterm births, from the 28th to 36th weeks of AOG.
6. Family Medical History
Understanding your family’s medical history—both the mother and father—is crucial to anticipate potential problems and take preventive action if needed. It helps to learn about genetic disorders or birth abnormalities in the family line.
7. Vaccinations
During a prenatal checkup, your doctor will inform you of the shots required. Since 2022, the CDC has prescribed flu, Tdap, and Covid-19 vaccines for pregnant women. Take these shots without fail. Vaccinations will prevent you from getting sick.
There’s a myth that vaccinating pregnant women causes a health risk to the baby. However, there’s no evidence to support this phenomenon. The benefits of vaccinating pregnant women outweigh the potential risks.
Some illnesses in newly pregnant mothers can seriously affect the physical and mental health of the fetus; hence, the importance of vaccination can’t be stressed enough.
8. Medications
Use caution when using over-the-counter or prescription medications when you’re pregnant. Some medicines aren’t safe to take during pregnancy.
9. Hormonal Changes
Pregnancy hormones can lead to various emotional and physical changes, including increased libido. It can make you out of your mind and lusty with your partner.
10. Physical Changes and Discomforts
There will be many significant bodily changes and it’s important to be aware of them. The changes can be readily noticed; hence, comments from friends and strangers aren’t surprising. It’s essential to handle them gracefully.
Along with the numerous physical changes, it’s normal to experience some physical discomforts, such as back pain, leg cramps, fatigue, and nausea. Reach out to your healthcare provider about ways to manage these symptoms.
11. Physical Activities
Staying active and exercising brings many benefits. It helps you maintain a healthy weight and alleviates discomfort. It helps strengthen the muscles to endure pregnancy pains. Daily exercise ensures the smooth functioning of your body.
And more importantly, engaging in physical activities minimizes the risk of pregnancy-related health issues such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and postpartum depression. Check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program.
12. Nutrition
When you’re pregnant, a nutritious and balanced diet, as well as vitamins and supplements, are crucial for fetal growth and maternal health. Your doctor may provide a diet chart according to your unique nutrition needs.
Take small and frequent meals to avert the feeling of fullness. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and other fluids to prevent dehydration. Include supplements such as folic acid to help prevent certain birth defects.
Also, some fruits may not be safe. Unripe papaya, for example, since the latex content can trigger uterine contractions. Consuming pineapple, especially in the last trimester, can soften the cervix due to the enzyme bromelain in it.
Avoid smoking, alcohol, and caffeine products. These substances are detrimental to the baby’s development and increase the risk of complications such as premature delivery, congenital disabilities, and underweight babies.
13. Clothing and Footwear
Especially during the second and third trimesters, wear properly fitting clothes. Don’t worry about the baby bump. It looks beautiful—a matter of self-perception and confidence in being pregnant. The important thing is that you should be comfortable.
Your clothing should adjust to your growing belly. Apart from the belly, many body measurements also increase, such as the bust and chest sizes, including foot size. Clothes shouldn’t be too tight and should adjust to the increasing measurements.
Due to the numerous discomforts and, in some cases, reduced mobility, your clothing should not compromise your comfort or interfere with your body movements.
Avoid shoes with laces since they may become difficult to tie as your belly grows. Slip-ons and flats are recommended for walking comfort and arch support, as well as to prevent accidents due to mobility restrictions.
14. Maternal Mortality
Maternal mortality is on the rise, and early and regular prenatal care can improve the chances of a healthy pregnancy and reduce maternal mortality. It’s essential to start prenatal care as soon as you know you’re pregnant.
15. Preparation for Childbirth
You can help make your delivery process smoother by taking childbirth education classes. You’ll learn about labor and pain management during childbirth. Create a birth plan to state your preferences for labor, delivery, and postpartum care.
Consider your options for pain management during labor, such as epidural anesthesia or natural pain relief techniques. Be prepared for the possibility of a c-section, as this is a common procedure that may be necessary for the health of you or your baby.
Select a healthcare provider and delivery location where you‘re at ease and confident. It’s recommended that your delivery location be near your home. Know the signs of preterm labor, and call your healthcare provider if you experience any of them.
Nevertheless, all these are also covered during prenatal checkups, especially during the last trimester. Your healthcare provider will discuss what to expect during childbirth and what to do when you experience labor pains.
16. Postpartum
The journey of being pregnant doesn’t end when you give birth to your baby. There’s postpartum that you and your doctor need to be concerned about. Be ready for any physical and mental changes during this period.
Take care of yourself after giving birth to help your body heal and recover from the rigors of childbirth. Bond with your baby and get to know their individual needs and cues. Find out about the advantages of breastfeeding for both you and your child.
Never hesitate to ask for support. You don’t have to do everything by yourself. You have to take care of your child and yourself.
Be watchful of the symptoms of postpartum depression if you’re experiencing them. This can balloon into a serious mental health issue if not treated promptly.
Wear that Baby Bump With Confidence and Ease
The road to motherhood is a roller coaster ride full of joy and expectations, yet it brings along lots of responsibilities. It’s a mix of emotions—being cautious and anxious. Hence, it’s crucial to be prepared and know what to expect and what to do.
Remember that each pregnancy is different, so your experience might not be the same as someone else’s. Trust your instincts and be open to seeking guidance and support from your healthcare provider and loved ones.
We at Omega Pediatrics aim to help you, especially those who are pregnant for the first time, through the essential information presented above. We know that there’s an absolute need to boost your awareness for a safe and comfortable pregnancy.
Being the mothers of our young patients, we care for your maternal health as much as we care for your little ones. After all, we are one family! As your experienced and compassionate provider, rest easy and you’ll receive top-notch holistic care.
We at Omega Pediatrics wish you a beautiful and memorable phase of being pregnant! Don’t hesitate to reach out, as we are with you on this life-changing journey of becoming a new mother.
