Here Is Everything You Need To Know About Pregnancy

Liya had never been happier than when she heard her ten-week-old baby’s first heartbeat. The health practitioner, who checked her through the fetal monitor, assured her that the baby is healthy. And, the next few months of Liya’s life were just filled with planning for the baby, nurturing herself and the baby in the womb. It was the loveliest time of a pregnant mom’s life. There may be a few hurdles too. But aren’t there hurdles everywhere?

MomJunction helps you navigate through the wonders and experiences which lie ahead in  pregnancy. There is a lot you need to know, especially if you are first time pregnant. Of course, you need to discuss quite a few things with your doctor as well. So, gear up for the wonderful journey ahead.

Things To Know About Pregnancy:

This is a quick list of what to know about pregnancy and what you can expect in this phase as an expectant mother.

1. Signs which confirm you are pregnant:

In the excitement of conceiving a baby, many times, false symptoms lead to confusion. Understand that there are some solid signs which indicate that you are pregnant. One way to confirm your pregnancy is to conduct a home-based urine test using the kits available in the market. You could also get a pregnancy test done by a doctor. Secondly, there are some typical first-time pregnancy symptoms, which can ratify your pregnancy. You could feel nauseous, have a back pain, have mood swings, suffer from tender or swollen breasts, have cravings for some particular food, and of course, you miss your periods (1).

Being sure that you are pregnant is vital. If the home pregnancy tests show vague results, you should go to the ob-gyn to confirm your pregnancy.

2. Visits to doctor for prenatal care are important:

Many couples visit a doctor even before planning a baby just to make sure that the pregnancy is healthy and devoid of complications. Once you confirm your pregnancy, it is important to visit your doctor regularly. Choose the best gynecologist and never skip monthly check-ups.  This helps in gauging both the mother’s and the baby’s health. Moreover, it is also necessary to curb any developmental disorders at an earlier stage itself (2).

[ Read: Precautions During First Month Of Pregnancy ]

3. Understanding the family medical history:

Once you conceive, it is a good idea to discuss your mother’s, grandmother’s, or aunts’ pregnancies. It helps you learn about any genetic disorders or birth abnormalities in the family line. Information like this will prepare you for any potential problems and take preventive actions if required. (3).

4. Vaccinations are important:

With every antenatal appointment, your doctor will inform you of the vaccination shots you will have to take next. Be it a regular tetanus or flu shot, take the shots without fail. Vaccinations will prevent you from falling sick. Remember, some illnesses in newly pregnant mothers can seriously impair the physical and mental health of the fetus. So, stay safe, stay sure.

There is a myth that vaccinating pregnant mothers can cause a health risk to the baby. There is, however, no evidence to prove this. Live attenuated virus and live bacterial vaccines are not suggested during pregnancy. The benefits of vaccinating pregnant women outride the potential risk (4).

5. Finding your gestational age:

Pregnancy is divided into three stages, each consisting of three months, called trimesters. With each passing stage, physiological changes occur in your body in the form of hormonal changes, blood pressure volatility, breathing, and metabolism. One should monitor such changes from the beginning of pregnancy to understand the other stages and your progress through them. It is also necessary to know your delivery due date, which is mostly determined from the date of your last menstrual cycle. A normal delivery can happen anywhere between 37 and 40 weeks (5).

6. Bleeding can occur during pregnancy:

Typically the first sign of pregnancy is considered to be missed periods. However, some women bleed in the initial stages of pregnancy, creating confusion if it menstrual bleeding.

This kind of bleeding occurs when the egg travels down the fallopian tube and into the uterus, where it implants into the uterine lining (implantation bleeding or spotting). The best way to recognize it is from its color. It is often in brown or pink color in contrast to the usual red color of the menstrual blood. Though it is not a disturbing factor, it is good to consult a doctor.

7. How much weight gain is normal?

Most women are worried about weight gain during their pregnancy for the first time and are eager to lose it at the earliest post-pregnancy. Your weight gain depends on your BMI (body mass index) before pregnancy. If you are overweight when you conceive, then you are advised to put on fewer calories than someone who is of normal weight. The basic idea is that the fetus should get necessary nutrients to grow and have a healthy development. So eating the right meal and understanding the needs of the baby are a priority (6).

8. What to eat and what not to eat:

Along with the regular dose of vitamin and health supplements, you should have a nutritious, wholesome, and balanced diet. Doctors, usually, provide a proper diet chart as per your unique needs.
Also, you need to stay away from alcohol and caffeine products as they can increase the chances of premature delivery, congenital disabilities, and underweight in babies (7).

[ Read: Tips To Maintain Healthy Weight During Pregnancy ]

9. Physical activities are a must:

Your everyday exercise routine ensures the smooth functioning of your body. Remember, childbirth is a laborious process that demands a lot of energy. Only a healthy body can withstand the various stages of labor. Exercises also help in alleviating the usual discomforts one experiences in pregnancy. They strengthen your muscles to endure pregnancy pains. Results show, the right workout routine of a pregnant mom significantly supports the development of your baby’s entire system (8).

[ Read: Physical Activities To Avoid During Pregnancy ]

10. There can be discomforts during pregnancy:

Being pregnant is not easy. There will be discomforts throughout the period. Activities such as standing or sitting for long durations that you could indulge in earlier, would either be forbidden now or you find them too difficult to do. Issues such as constipation and vomiting could drain your energy. Eating healthy and getting the required amount of rest, can help you reduce the discomforts (9).

11. Have the right attitude:

Always be positive. The right approach will make you strong enough to face the challenges at every stage of pregnancy. Psychologists reinforce that sound mental decorum of the mother has a high impact on the fetus. Prepare ahead, as a well-informed mother can cope with the early laborious days after delivery.

12. Keep your career worries aside:

You might be worried about the status of your career once your baby arrives. Don’t try to push your existing career into the new role as a mother. A career that meshes better with motherhood is an ideal pick. You can rebuild your career once your kids grow older and are independent.

13. Allocate time for everything:

A study published in the Journal Of Labor Economics mentions that pregnant women who worked until their eighth month had babies half a pound lighter than those who stopped working earlier. Pregnancy could be a huge stress on your body, and therefore, you cannot stress yourself more with a job. If you cannot afford to take a break from work, take frequent breaks in between.

14. Travel during pregnancy:

Traveling is fine in the initial stages, but it could be risky as your due date approaches. Several airlines do not allow women travelers who are more than 36 weeks pregnant. If your travel is unavoidable, consult your doctor and take necessary precautions. There could be times when a doctor’s certificate is a prerequisite for travel (10).

[ Read: Tips To Plan Air Travel During Pregnancy ]

Here are some early pregnancy facts in which your doctor may advise you to avoid traveling:

• History of pre-term labor or miscarriage
• Multiple pregnancies (twins, triplets, or more)
• High blood pressure
• Placental abnormalities
• Gestational diabetes
• Incompetent cervix
• History of bleeding during pregnancy
• History of preeclampsia or ectopic pregnancy

If none of these complications exist, your doctor might allow you to travel. Most doctors permit travel in the second trimester but may ask you to avoid it during the first and third trimesters.

15. Choose your place of birthing

You should plan the place – hospital, nursing home, etc. – where you would like to give birth. It is important to choose a place that is best for you and suits the needs of your family. The hospital should be determined by the expertise of your doctors, their credibility, the visitation hours, hygiene, and other factors such as the distance from home and the surroundings of the birthing place. Selecting a place well in advance and making visits there should make you comfortable for your D-day (11).

16. What is labor pain?

When your due date comes closer, you will go into labor pain. It is necessary to consult the doctor and understand what ‘going to labor’ means. It is another must-to-know thing when pregnant and identifying it will make it easy for you to handle your labor with no difficulty. One quick sign of labor is frequent contractions which increase in duration as well as intensity. Many times, walking is recommended during early labor because it makes women feel more comfortable (12).

[ Read: Ways To Induce Labor Naturally ]

17. Fearing childbirth could delay the labor:

Women who fear childbirth will spend about one and a half hour longer than women who do not fear about giving birth. Fear and anxiety would increase the blood concentrations of the hormones known as catecholamines, which will weaken the ability of the uterus to contract (13). Poor communication between you and your doctor may also prolong the labor. It is advisable to go for prenatal breathing classes and a doula to guide you through the labor.

18. Do baby shopping beforehand:

Another thing you need to know about pregnancy is to avoid last minute rush, keep all things required post delivery, ready. A few clothes, baby mats, blankets, warm clothes (depending upon the season), and feeding equipment should be bought in advance. Moreover, you enjoy such shopping, and it enhances your connect with the baby.

19. Learning and understanding childcare and parenting:

After delivery, a sudden responsibility of childcare and parenting can be difficult for many people. Therefore, talk to your doctors, friends, relatives, or read various books to equip yourself with some knowledge on pregnancy and childcare.

20. Pregnancy can boost your memory:

Canadian researchers from the University of Western Ontario say that pregnancy supercharges the brain’s gray matter rather than turning it into mush, to face the challenges of motherhood. A study found pregnant moms do well on memory tests than other women who don’t have babies.

[ Read: Nutritional Foods To Eat During Pregnancy ]

More Important Things To Know During Pregnancy:

• Find a good doctor or midwife to make the delivery safe.

• Take proper naps so that your baby can turn out to be a good napper.

• Boy or girl? You can have some fun with the old wives’ tales to determine the gender.

• Wear properly fitting clothes. Do not worry about the bump, it looks beautiful, and you look cuter.

• You will start snoring, as your nose membranes could swell up.

• Avoid wearing underwire bras as they can restrict the breast changes.  Use bras with thickened flat straps, which can cover your breasts completely.

• Fluid retention would be one big issue. Try sleeping with your feet elevated and make sure to drink more water.

• Do not worry if you observe vaginal discharge. Unless it turns thick, smelly, and green, or stained with blood, it is a regular thing during pregnancy.

• The pregnancy hormones speed up the metabolic processes causing you to flush and sweat more.

• Your skin stretches during pregnancy, which makes your tummy itchy.

• You would smell different. The chemical changes in your body will give you a new, alluring, and warm odor.

• Do not miss a single prenatal checkup. Every checkup is important as a few complications, if any, could show only at the later pregnancy stages. The sooner you find, the quicker you can go for treatment.

• Your libido would change significantly. It can be more or less. It is normal, and these changes are temporary.

• Your voice would be the best thing your baby hears when she is in the womb. Tell her stories and sing her songs. She would definitely respond to them once she is born.

• You may have strange mood swings. You can expect anger, sadness, and fear. It doesn’t mean you are mad, it is just your hormones at play.

• If it is your second pregnancy, make your first child feel responsible for the sibling who is on the way. Also if you have pets, keep them clean and instruct them to behave properly when the newborn comes home. Arrange for a pet sitter or dog walker when you are away from home. Your pet shouldn’t be ignored.

• You have to arrange for help beforehand so that there is someone to take care of the baby when you are at work or taking your postpartum rest. It is best to have a close relative but if that is not possible arrange for a night nanny or a baby sitter.

• Ask for a clear set of guidelines from your doctor or midwife before you go into labor.

• Decide beforehand who would be with you when you are giving birth. Some women prefer people around while some others would want privacy.

• You should talk to the doctor about how your spouse can help you with labor. He might be your emotional support when you are giving birth.

• Do not panic when you are in labor. Just calm down and let no story affect you in any way. Everyone’s experience is different. Pack your bag for the hospital if you know you are having a C-section.

It is only you who can decide what is best for you during pregnancy. Just give a healthy start by scheduling the prenatal checkups with the right doctor.
Have anything more important to say about first time pregnancy? Feel free to share your thoughts below.

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