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Guide for a Healthy Pregnancy

TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF AND BABYpregnant woman reading

You may wonder how pregnancy will affect your day-to-day life. If you are healthy and your pregnancy is uncomplicated, you probably will make few changes.

Emotions and Relationships

Early pregnancy may bring some mood swings. Usually this lessens during the second trimester, but you may feel emotionally unsettled at any time during pregnancy. Concerns about labor and birth or what life will be like after the baby is born are typical. Toward the end of pregnancy, expectant mothers often feel increasingly vulnerable. You may worry much more about the safety of the baby. Expectant fathers often feel anxious too.

Do what you can to help yourself feel prepared. Take classes on pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and parenting, or read about these subjects. Talk about your worries with other parents-to-be or experienced moms and dads. Sharing information and feelings can be very reassuring. But remember that other people’s experiences may not be like yours. If a particular person makes you feel more anxious, try to get support elsewhere.

Even the most wanted and well-planned pregnancies can upset your emotional balance at times. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, talk to your clinician. He or she may be able to address your concerns or help you find ways to deal with your feelings.

If you or other family members often struggle with depression or anxiety, these feelings may be strong after your baby’s birth. Your clinician may suggest you talk to a mental health clinician once or twice while you are pregnant, so you will have someone to turn to after the baby is born, if need be. If you have thoughts of harming yourself or someone else tell someone who can help you immediately, call our office, go to the emergency room, or call one of these hotlines for help:

Sometimes the stresses of pregnancy trigger violence. Being slapped, kicked or beaten is never right. When you are pregnant, it puts your baby in danger too. If this ever happens to you, tell someone who can help you, like your clinician or religious leader, or a social worker, or call one of these hotlines for help:

Infections in Pregnancy

Pregnant women, especially mothers of young children, get sick at times. Infections are caused by tiny organisms that invade your body. As your immune system fights these organisms, you may have symptoms of infection like rash, pain, fever, and swelling. An infection can be harmless or harmful depending on the kind that it is. Colds and coughs are harmless, while some infections may pose special risks during pregnancy.

Some ways to avoid infections and cope with illness are:

Call your clinician if you think you have an illness or infection. Your health care team will recommend treatment as needed. If you have a rash, please be sure to call before coming in, so that you won’t expose other pregnant women while you are contagious.

Traveling During Pregnancy

Most women can travel safely during pregnancy, but talk to your clinician first. If you have a choice, the second trimester may be the best time to travel. By this time, your body has adjusted to pregnancy. Any morning sickness is probably gone, and you have more energy. Complications are not likely now. Toward the end of pregnancy, your size may make it harder to move around or sit and stand for long periods.

When you’re in a car, always wear your seatbelt. If you don’t wear a seatbelt, you and your baby are much more likely to get hurt if there is an accident. Combination shoulder straps and lap belts are safest. Wear the belt securely over your shoulders and low on your hips, under your belly. Never put the lap belt across your belly. Stop often while driving to walk around, have a drink of water, and empty your bladder.

Some airlines require a letter from your clinician saying it is safe for you to travel by plane. Most airlines allow pregnant women to fly until about 36 weeks of pregnancy. Wear support hose while flying, walk around often, and drink lots of water.

If you plan to travel in a foreign country, carry a copy of your prenatal medical record. Learn the location of medical sites in the countries you will be visiting. Some vaccines are not safe during pregnancy, so check with your clinician before getting any immunizations for travel.

Check your benefits to see what to do if you need unexpected, non-routine obstetrical care while traveling. Benefits vary by insurance company. If your pregnancy is high-risk, there may be other restrictions on coverage during travel; so check with your clinician and insurance company before making travel plans – especially just before your due date.

Sex During Pregnancy

Parents-to-be often wonder if sexual activity during pregnancy is harmful. If your pregnancy is normal, sexual intercourse will not hurt you or your baby. Oral sex is safe, too. However, air should not be forced into the vagina. This can cause serious problems for mother and baby.

Your interest in sex can vary during pregnancy. During low points in sexual desire, both partners can enjoy cuddling, caressing, and touching. You and your partner can find ways to express physical intimacy without having sexual intercourse.

Do not have intercourse (or put anything into your vagina) if you are bleeding or leaking amniotic fluid. If you have a history of premature labor or an incompetent cervix (a cervix that is not properly closed), your clinician may advise you to avoid intercourse or orgasm. If you are not sure what activities are safe and what to avoid, talk to your clinician.

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