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Video: Scheduling your first pregnancy visit
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Allergies
Constipation
Nausea / Vomiting
Headache, Pain, Cold Symptoms
Heartburn / Indigestion
Insomnia
Allergies
- Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
- Claritin
- Allegra
- Zyrtec
Constipation
Colace
Miralax
Meatmucil
Nausea / Vomiting
Vit B6 50 mg 3 times a day
Unisom 3 times a day
Ginger 1 mg
Peppermint
Dramamine
Topical Products:
Bacitracin
Neosporin
Polysporin
Benadryl Cream
Caladryl Lotion
Hydrocortisone Cream
Oatmeal Bath
Headache, Pain, Cold Symptoms
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) 1000 mg – every 6-8 hours
Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) use caution with high blood pressure
Guaifenesin (Robitussin or Musinex)
Steriod Nasal Sprays (Rhinocort, Nasocort, Flonase)
Cough Drops
Saline Nasal Spray
Heartburn / Indigestion
Tums
Zantac and Pepcid
Prilosec and Nexium
Mylanta
Gas X (Simethicone)
Insomnia
Unisom (Doxylamine Succinate)
Tylenol PM
Dramamine
Kristin Craig, M.D.
Learn about Dr. Craig →
Nathan Bertoldo, M.D.
Learn about Dr. Bertoldo →
What can we help you with?
Prenatal Care
Throughout your pregnancy, you should avoid activities like skiing, horseback riding, gymnastics, and contact sports because of the possibility of falling or getting injured. Other than that, basically all exercises are okay— running, swimming, yoga, aerobics, pilates, etc. –none of which are associated with miscarriage in a normal pregnancy.
The most important thing is to listen to your body’s needs. If an activity feels uncomfortable or hurts, stop doing it immediately. It’s also important to take breaks and drink plenty of water.
During pregnancy, you need more folic acid and iron than usual. Folic acid helps prevent neural tube defects, which are serious abnormalities of the fetal brain and spinal cord. Ideally, you’ll begin taking extra folic acid at least 3 months before you become pregnant. Iron supports the development of the placenta and fetus. Iron helps your body make blood to supply oxygen to the fetus. Iron also helps prevent anemia, a condition in which blood has a low number of healthy red blood cells.
Beyond checking for folic acid and iron, look for a prenatal vitamin that contains calcium and vitamin D. These help promote the development of the baby’s teeth and bones. It also might be beneficial to look for a prenatal vitamin that contains vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, B vitamins, zinc and iodine.
Prenatal vitamins are available over-the-counter in nearly any pharmacy. When you come in for your first visit, your health care provider might recommend a specific brand or leave the choice up to you. They might suggest higher doses of certain nutrients depending on the circumstances. In general, avoid taking extra prenatal vitamins or multivitamins with dosing in excess of what you need daily. High doses of some vitamins may be harmful to your baby and affect its growth.
During the second trimester of pregnancy, it’s common to experience a lot of changes with your body and your mood. You’ll start to notice your belly and breasts growing, and you may notice sensations such as dizziness and leg cramps. Prenatal appointments with your health care provider will focus on your baby’s growth and detecting any health problems. They might measure the size of your uterus or listen to your baby’s heartbeat. At this stage, your provider might also suggest an ultrasound or other screening test– and you might also find out your baby’s sex if you choose to!
Be sure to mention any signs, symptoms, or changes that concern you. Your OB/Gyn will help guide you through the pregnancy process and is likely to put your mind at ease.
Absolutely! Abstinence is only recommended in higher-risk cases such as threatened miscarriage, premature rupture of the membranes, placenta previa, threatened preterm labor, and preeclampsia.
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy has been linked to fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), which tends to result in a baby being born with higher likelihood of mental retardation, developmental delays, behavioral disturbances, and an atypical facial appearance. While the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG) hasn’t established a safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, the safest advice is to completely avoid alcohol throughout the duration of your pregnancy.
Ultrasounds & Testing
An obstetric (OB) ultrasound is a diagnostic examination performed during pregnancy by a physician or specialized technologist. They use high-frequency sound waves sent into the body through a transducer or scanner that is placed on the skin. These sound waves are reflected off the internal organs or structures inside the body and converted into an image on a TV screen in real time.
Most commonly, ultrasound examinations are performed during pregnancy to help your physician determine when your baby is due and to make sure your baby is developing as it should. If you choose to find out the sex of your baby, your health care provider will perform an ultrasound usually around the 18-20 week mark.
To date, there are no confirmed adverse effects in humans caused by exposure to diagnostic levels of ultrasound. However, it is recommended that ultrasound be used only where medical benefit is expected.
The sex of your baby can usually be determined at the 18-20 week ultrasound. We know that many families are eager to find out the sex of their baby, but others would rather wait for the surprise. No matter what your choice, your health care provider will use this ultrasound to evaluate the development of your baby’s heart, brain, organs, kidneys and limbs to make sure it’s healthy and growing normally.
Labor & Delivery
Your prenatal care provider will instruct you on when to call the office if you think you’re in labor. Most providers will suggest that you contact the office if you have been having contractions every five minutes for one hour, have broken your bag of water (this may be a huge gush or a constant trickle), or if you have heavy bleeding similar to that of a period. Please call your prenatal care provider if you have any questions regarding the safety of you or your baby.
Put on a clean maxi pad and lie down for 30 minutes. When you stand up you should notice a small puddle on the maxi pad if you have ruptured your membranes because the water will collect in the vagina and leak out when you stand. If you have broken your water, you should note the time, amount, color, and odor and call your physician or midwife.
“False labor” refers to irregular contractions that sometimes happen before true labor begins. These contractions are also called Braxton Hicks contractions. It can be hard to tell the difference between Braxton Hicks contractions and true labor contractions.
The following chart from the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, shows some ways that Braxton Hicks contractions differ from true labor contractions.
| False Labor | True Labor |
|---|---|
| Contractions do not come regularly and do not get closer together. | Contractions come at regular times and get closer together over time. Each lasts about 30 to 70 seconds. |
| Contractions may stop when the woman walks or rests, or they may stop when the woman changes position. | Contractions continue despite movement. |
| Contractions are usually weak and do not get much stronger or they may start strong and get weaker. | Contractions get steadily stronger. |
| The woman usually feels pain only in the front. | Pain usually starts in the back and moves to the front. |
We recommend that you eat light and keep yourself well hydrated while in labor. You may want to avoid acidic and dairy beverages such as some juices and milk as you may find that these products upset your stomach in labor. Check with your hospital of choice as they may provide food & drink for your hospital stay.
When women carry multiple fetuses―twins, triplets, or quadruplets, for example―labor and delivery proceed through the same stages as with a single baby. But labor and delivery with multiples has some important differences: for example, women having multiples are more likely to have certain complications such as preterm labor and preterm birth. Preterm babies can have problems with breathing and eating and may have to stay in the hospital longer than other infants. Also, multiples are about 2.5 times more likely to be delivered by C-section than single babies are.
Postpartum Care
It is recommended that you slowly increase your activity level every day during the first few weeks after your baby is born. Avoid taking lengthy baths, going swimming, or having sex, and don’t do any strenuous activity or exercise until after you see your health care provider for your six-week postpartum appointment. Don’t lift anything heavier than your baby until your bleeding has completely stopped.
The area between the vagina and rectum (perineum) stretches during childbirth. It’s common to experience perineal discomfort or soreness after a vaginal delivery or after a difficult labor prior to having a cesarean birth. To care for the perineal area:
– Apply ice compresses, witch hazel pads, or Tucks pads to your perineum to relieve swelling and pain.
– Rinse your perineal area with warm water each time you go to the bathroom. Before you leave the hospital, we give you a peri-bottle to rinse the area. Gently pat the area dry from front to back.
– Take a “sitz bath” for 20 minutes several times each day. This is a warm-water bath taken in the sitting position where only your hips and buttocks are covered with water.
– Always wash your hands before and after caring for your perineal area.
The timing of the return of your menstrual cycle depends on whether or not you are breastfeeding. Nursing mothers usually start their period anywhere from 2 to 12 months after delivery. Non-nursing mothers often begin their cycles in about 6 to 8 weeks. Your first period might be heavier or longer than your usual period or it may be intermittent or irregular.
You can get pregnant after childbirth whether or not you have a period. It is important to use birth control every time you have sexual intercourse if you don’t want to get pregnant.
Most mothers experience the “baby blues” for a few weeks after childbirth. You may experience mood swings, restlessness, or feel sad, lonely, or anxious. You may also get irritable, angry, or cry for no reason. However, a condition called “postpartum depression” is more serious. It could cause stronger feelings and more intense sadness. Or you may have excessive anxiety or worry, an inability to sleep, extreme exhaustion, or both. You may feel overwhelmed, inadequate, guilty, or worthless. You may have thoughts or worries that are difficult to control or a fear of harming the baby or yourself. If you have any of these symptoms, call us right away.
Hospitals will usually provide a discharge booklet with additional instructions that addresses many of the common concerns new parents have. You should seek advice from your health care provider if you are having any of the following symptoms:
– Excessive bleeding (needing to change pads more than once per hour)
– Body temperature over 100.4 degrees, chills, nausea, vomiting or increased pain
– Redness, swelling, separation of the skin or drainage around a cesarean incision
– Severe headache or blurry vision
– Hot, red and tender breasts accompanied by flu-like symptoms
Be sure to call your baby’s doctor if your baby has any of the following symptoms:
– Jaundice or yellow skin (yellow color is usually noticeable in the face, but not always in the chest area)
– Eating poorly or refusing to eat
– No stool in 48 hours or less than six wet diapers in a day
– Rectal temperature over 100.4 degrees
– Redness, drainage or foul odor from umbilical cord
– Listlessness or excessive crying for no known cause
If you have a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. An emergency medical condition is one of the following: (1) a medical condition manifested by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) that the lack of prompt medical attention could reasonably be harmful to your health. or body functions or organs; (2) active labor if there is not enough time for a safe transfer to a planned hospital (or a specific hospital) prior to delivery or if the transfer endangers your health and safety (or that of your unborn child)), or (3) a mental disorder that is manifested by acute symptoms of sufficient severity that you pose an imminent danger to yourself or others, or are unable to provide or use food, shelter or clothing immediately due to the mental disorder.
This information is not intended to diagnose health problems or to replace specific medical advice or treatment given to you by your doctor or other healthcare professional. If you have ongoing health problems or have additional questions, ask your doctor. If you have any questions about your medicine or need more information, ask your pharmacist.