Top 10 Questions Recent Pregnant Women Might Ask

1.     How can I relieve my morning sickness?

According to Beth Hering from babycenter.com, possible relief for morning sickness is that if you can eat something small an hour before actually getting up and sleeping off the nausea tend to help or drinking Sprite helped keep the nausea down. Another suggestion was to go get a prescription from your doctor for Zofran. However, each pregnancy is different and so each method cannot work for everyone. (Hering, 2009)

According to YOU: Having a Baby, there are plenty of remedies to relieve nausea, they suggest that eating 100% whole-grain crackers, eating high diet of protein and complex carbohydrates, sipping chicken broth, eating cold foods, taking vitamin B6, eating leafy greens, eating brown rice, drinking ginger root with tea, and getting light exercise (YOU Docs).

2.     What should I be eating or not eating?

According to YOU Docs, it is better to eat foods that are organic and that will generally follow the food pyramid. They suggest having nine or more servings of fruits and vegetables three or more servings of whole-grain products, lean protein, and calcium-rich foods, and five or more servings of fat in the form of omega-3s (YOU Docs).  According to an answer reviewed by Dr. Mikio NIhira, she says to avoid fish with lots of mercury, raw fish, unpasteurized soft cheeses, unpasteurized milk, cold ready-to-eat meats, uncooked or cured eggs and meats, alcohol, and caffeine (Nihira, 2009). 

The BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board goes on to explain why some of these foods should be avoided. Eating raw seafood, unpasteurized milk and cheese, and undercooked meat and poultry could harbor bacteria that can harm the unborn child. “Nearly all fish contain traces of methylmercury, a metal believed to be harmful in high doses to the growing brains of fetuses and young children” (The Baby Center Medical Advisory Board, 2009) The BabyCenter goes on to explain how women who consume caffeine are twice as likely to miscarry as women who consume no caffeine. “Large amounts of caffeine have also been linked to slightly lower birth weight and even stillbirth” (The Baby Center Medical Advisory Board, 2009).

3.     Should I start taking prenatal vitamins? What vitamins are necessary during pregnancy?

WebMD explains how multivitamins are extremely important for proper fetus growth and development (PharmD, 2010). According to BabyCenter, “most women can benefit from taking a prenatal vitamin and a mineral supplement” (Baby Center Medical Advisory Board, 2005).  They go on to explain that in most diets, it is hard to get the appropriate amount of folic acid and iron necessary during pregnancy. “Folic acid reduces the chance of a baby having a neural tube defect, like spina bifida, in which the spine or brain does not form the right way” (HHS, 2008) The iron is necessary so that one does not develop iron-deficiency anemia during pregnancy.

4.     Can I still have sex during pregnancy? Is it safe for the baby?

Sex during pregnancy is safe for those women who are considered low-risk for complications.  If you are having a normal pregnancy, then you can have sex. Your baby is safely cushioned in the amniotic sac and protected by uterine muscles, and walled off by a mucus plug in the cervix and therefore, will not feel or know if you were having sex (Kellicker, 2010).  Sex during the last few weeks of pregnancy should be avoided because it can induce labor (Hoffman, 2008).  It is also unsafe to participate in oral sex because if air is forced or blown into your vagina, it can cause an air embolism, which blocks blood vessels and can be life threatening to the baby and the mother (BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board, 2010).

5.     When should I start prenatal visits? What should I expect from these visits?

You should schedule an appointment with your obstetrician as soon as you think you’re pregnant. Usually the first prenatal visit is scheduled until the sixth to eighth week of pregnancy, unless there are some complications with the pregnancy (BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board, 2010). According to BabyCenter, the first visit will most likely be the longest under normal circumstances and all future prenatal checkups should be easier (BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board, 2010).

According to the editorial staff of Family Doctor, the first visit is usually a pelvic exam to check the size and shape of the uterus and a Pap smear to check any abnormalities of the cervix. This is followed by, “urine tests to check for bacteria in your urine, high sugar levels (which can be a sign of diabetes) and high protein levels (which can put you at risk for preeclampsia, a type of high blood pressure during pregnancy). Blood tests to check for low iron levels (anemia), blood cell count, infectious diseases (such as syphilis and hepatitis) and blood type are also performed” (Family Doctor Editorial Staff, 2000).  The doctor will also check for your weight gain, blood pressure, baby’s heart rate, and stomach growth and will perform routine tests to screen your baby for abnormalities or take a glucose tolerance test to ensure your blood sugars are normal (Davis, 2010)

6.     Can the baby hear me if I start talking or reading to him?

Research shows that a baby can respond to familiar sounds that he heard while he was in the womb. According to the BabyCenter Editorial Team, “Heartbeat and breathing slow down when you play soft music and speed up with fast tunes” (BabyCenter Editorial Team, 2009 ). According to YOU Docs, fetuses can recognize their mothers’ voices by week 24; they listen to the rhythm and melody of the voices they hear, this generally serves as their foundation for language (YOU Docs). YOU Docs also say that exposure to different sounds and senses is what helps establish connections in the brain (YOU Docs).

7.     Is there a proper way to sleep while being pregnant without hurting the baby?

The best way to sleep is the position that is comfortable for you. If you are a back sleeper, this can be a problem later in the pregnancy. As your uterus grows it becomes heavier, putting pressure on a large blood vessel that takes your blood from your legs to your heart (Atlas, 2010).  If there is pressure on this blood vessel, then there’s a decreased blood flow to the heart making you sweat and slowing down the flow of oxygen and nutrients to your baby (Turk, 2007).

YOU Docs have a few suggestions on getting comfortable while pregnant. They suggest that you have multiple pillows, if you are having difficulty breathing; not to drink water after 6 p.m. as this will reduce the need to use the restroom; if you have aches and pains, take Tylenol to quiet the pain, this will help get restorative sleep; small glass of warm milk has a sugar that stimulates insulin which helps people fall asleep; and turn the air condition up, this keeps the environment cooler (YOU Docs). Lying on your left side is better than lying on your right side, as this allows more blood flow to the uterus (YOU Docs).

8.     Will I lose the weight I gain during pregnancy? Will I be able to have my body back?

It took nine long months for you to gain all the weight during pregnancy; it will take time for you to lose the weight. It is always different for everyone; most women gain about 25 to 30 pounds during pregnancy. Doctors say that if you don’t weigh enough, you need to gain more and if you are overweight, you need to gain less (Davis, 2010). 

Debi Pillarella, a fitness expert, says that your body will change “Your hips may be broader, your bottom slightly rounder, or your waist just thick enough to require one size larger in fitted pants and skirts. (Pillarella).  She also says that the two essentials for shedding pounds is eating sensibly and exercising regularly. A suggestion she made was to go to a health club or YMCA and join their post natal fitness classes where you can struggle with other new moms and even have workouts with your baby (Pillarella).

YOU Docs also suggest that tightening your abdominal wall can also help reawaken the abs to help achieve that flat stomach (YOU Docs). Another tidbit that YOU Docs explain is that breastfeeding will speed up the process of shedding pounds and that most women hang out to the last few pounds until they wean their babies (YOU Docs).

9.     What is the appropriate birthing method I should have?

Birthing methods are often up to the mother and depends on how she prefers it. According to babyzone, there are many ways to give birth: home birth, natural birth, medicated birth, cesarean section, water birth (hydrotherapy), hypno-birthing, reflexology, acupuncture and acupressure, and herbal therapy (BabyZone Editors).  

Many people choose the option of having a natural home birth with the assistance of a midwife when the circumstances of the pregnancy have been normal and are safe for the mother and the baby (DiLeo).  Couples want to be in the comforts of their own home when bringing in their child into a new world; it makes them less anxious and helps them relax.  Natural birth has different options such as the Lamaze method or the Bradley method.

The Lamaze method of childbirth is basically the focus of controlled breathing during labor. This method is to help the mother gain confidence in giving a natural birth without medications (BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board, 2008).  The Lamaze method also gives the women the confidence when interventions are needed, that it is okay to want pain relief medications.

The Bradley method of childbirth is a method that embraces natural process. About 85% of Bradley-trained couples have had spontaneous, unmedicated vaginal births (BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board, 2008). With a Bradley course, one can learn the importance of exercise and nutrition, common pregnancy symptoms and complaints, techniques for relaxation during labor and birth, methods to help your partner be an active participant, stages of labor, medical interventions, how to reduce risk of C-section, making a birth plan, and breastfeeding (BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board, 2008).

Medicated births are for those mothers who want to go through labor with very minimal pain using analgesics. However, there are many medications which alleviate certain factors, but can also complicate things. Nina DuBois explains how medicated births can cause complications, “As a result of analgesics, newborns may require oxygen because of breathing difficulties, or be born sleepy and unable to suck“ (DuBois, 2010) She also explains how forceps are required to in deliveries of women under general anesthesia because they cannot assist in the birthing process; vomiting under general anesthesia can cause breathing complications or death; general anesthesia crosses the placenta and enters fetal circulation causing grogginess in newborns (DuBois, 2010).

Cesarean births, both planned and unplanned, are happening more commonly now. Unplanned Cesarean sections occur when complications arise during labor and surgery may be the safest option at the time. Planned Cesarean section are usually a medical necessity, but otherwise women who have busy schedules or have the need to know when their baby will actually be born tend to have a planned C-section (Chin).

Water birth, also known as hydrotherapy, is generally where you would sit in a tub of warm water and have a natural birth. The warm water tends to help transition the baby into the world, since it is the same temperature and environment as the mothers’ womb; the water also tends to help mothers relax and alleviate the pain (Chin). “There are concerns that a baby can develop an infection if he or she begins breathing while underwater and inhales the soiled birthing water” (Ehmann, 2009).  Ehmann also goes on to say that according to American College of Nurse Midwives, “healthy babies do not gasp upon delivery, rather they do not take a breath until they are removed from the water and reach the air” (Ehmann, 2009).  

A new form of natural childbirth is hypnobirthing. According to Dr. Chin, “HypnoBirthing is a form of self-hypnosis that reduces pain and stress during labor through guided imagery, affirmations, and special breathing techniques. It teaches the mom-to-be how to calm, control, and relax her body (without being in a trance), allowing endorphins to replace the hormones that cause pain” (Chin).

What to Expect says, “Reflexology is a therapy based on the notion that areas on the hands and feet are linked to other areas and organs of the body” (Complementary and Alternative Medicine During Pregnancy). It basically soothes the aches and pains in your back and joints; reflexologists believe that it can also help morning sickness, heartburn, swelling in your legs, constipation, high blood pressure, insomnia, bladder problems, mild cramping, and hemorrhoids (Complementary and Alternative Medicine During Pregnancy).

Acupuncture and acupressure is the act of putting pressure with needles or massage in certain locations on your body. It has been an old method of relieving certain bodily imbalances. With pregnancy, it is said that it can help relieve morning sickness; it can also induce labor when over stimulated (Complementary and Alternative Medicine During Pregnancy).

What to Expect writes, “Herbal therapy is a form of holistic medicine that uses natural herbs for their healing powers (Complementary and Alternative Medicine During Pregnancy). With pregnancy, some herbs can be beneficial and some can be lethal. All herbs should be okay-ed with your physician. Much of herbal therapy is generally for the actual pregnancy and not the birthing process (Complementary and Alternative Medicine During Pregnancy).

10.  Who can be in the labor room with me?

Usually, it is your decision whether to have additional family members, friends, or labor coaches in the birthing room with you. Commonly, women prefer to have their partner and medical staff in the birthing room; some have also had an additional relative or friend present (BabyCenter Editorial Staff). When you bring your partners into the room, make sure that they understand their role in the birthing process. Mothers or mothers-in-law may put more pressure on you during labor; if necessary; notify the hospital staff whether or not you want them present (BabyCenter Editorial Staff).

RESOURCES:

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BabyCenter Editorial Team. (2009 , July 14). Is it worth trying to stimulate my baby's development in utero? Retrieved October 7, 2010, from babycenter: http://www.babycenter.com/404_is-it-worth-trying-to-stimulate-my-babys-development-in-uter_6715.bc

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BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board. (2010, February). Sex during pregnancy: An overview. Retrieved October 6, 2010, from BabyCenter: http://www.babycenter.com/sex-during-pregnancy-overview?showAll=true

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