I'm
two months pregnant and constantly exhausted. Will
it be this way until I deliver?
How much weight
should I gain?
I'm over 35.
Is my pregnancy high risk?
Is it safe
to exercise during pregnancy?
What signs
or symptoms should cause me to call my doctor or
midwife?
Is it safe
to have sex while I'm pregnant?
Should I sleep
in a certain position?
Is it alright
for me to perm or dye my hair?
Is
there any food I should not eat?
Should
I be eating for two?
Can
I still have my morning cup of coffee?
Should
I stop all my prescription medications?
What
is safe to take if I get a cold?
Do
I have to get rid of my cat if I'm pregnant?
What
prenatal vitamin is best?
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I’m two months pregnant and constantly exhausted.
Will it be this way until I deliver?
Fatigue is a very
common sign of pregnancy in the first trimester,
but it usually resolves after that. If you have
continuing or extreme fatigue, check with your doctor—it
may be a sign of a problem such as anemia. Toward
the end of pregnancy, women may be fatigued because
they are uncomfortable or not sleeping well.
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How much weight should I gain?
Poor weight gain is a risk factor for problems
with pregnancy. Don’t skip meals and always
eat a well-balanced breakfast with proteins and
carbohydrates. With an average size baby, women
gain about 25-35 pounds total. Doctors may recommend
that women who are overweight gain less weight during
their pregnancy, perhaps 15 pounds.
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I’m over 35. Is my pregnancy
high-risk?
If you are in good health, your pregnancy
should not be high risk, although there is a greater
chance for some problems, including maternal diabetes
and chromosomal (genetic) abnormalities. You should
talk with your doctor or midwife about whether you
wish to be screened for chromosomal abnormalities
in your baby. Several screening options are available.
These include ultrasound at 10 to 14 weeks to evaluate
the nuchal transparency (neck fold) of your baby.
Blood tests, such as multiple marker screens, are
done at 10-13 weeks or 15-20 weeks to evaluate the
risk of spinal defects and some chromosomal abnormalities.
Some centers offer a combined nuchal transparency
ultrasound together with serum markers (blood tests
for BHCG and PAPP-A). This combination of testing
yields an 80% detection rate for Down Syndrome and
must be performed late in the first trimester.
The gold standard for evaluating your baby for chromosomal
abnormalities is done through invasive genetic tests
such as chorionic villus sampling (CVS) or amniocentesis.
In CVS, done at 101⁄2 to 121⁄2 weeks,
the doctor takes a tiny tissue sample from the placenta.
In amniocentesis, usually performed at the 15th
week, the doctor takes a sample of the amniotic
fluid surrounding the baby and examines fetal skin
cells in the fluid. There may be a small risk of
miscarriage and other complications with invasive
tests.
Beyond age 40, there begins to be a higher risk
for other pregnancy complications, but your doctor
or midwife can evaluate and advise you.
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Is it safe to exercise during
pregnancy?
If your pregnancy is uncomplicated, you
can continue physical activity at your accustomed
level. Talk with your doctor or midwife before starting
new activity and start slowly. If you have any medical
complications such as high blood pressure, check
with your practitioner about exercise. Use common
sense about your level of activity. It is okay to
get moderately overheated as long as you can sweat
freely and stay well hydrated. However, avoid hot
tubs and other places where you are immersed or
can’t sweat freely—this is dangerous
for your baby.
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What signs or symptoms should
cause me to call my doctor or midwife?
You should feel free to call with any question
or concern. However, you should call immediately
with any of these symptoms:
• Bleeding from the vagina
• Severe, lasting abdominal pain
• Persistent back pain
• Severe headache
• Severe nausea and vomiting
• Pain or burning with urination
• Blurred vision
• Swelling of the hands or face
• Fever over 100º F
• Baby moving less or not moving, or greatly
increased activity
• Water breaking or a gush of fluid from the
vagina
• Regular contractions
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Is it safe to have sex while
I’m pregnant?
It is safe to have sex during pregnancy
as long as there are no serious complications of
pregnancy, including bleeding, premature labor,
or ruptured membranes, and as long as it is physically
comfortable. However, you should not have sex with
multiple partners during pregnancy.
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Should I sleep in a certain
position?
It is fine to sleep in whatever position
you are comfortable in until the 24th week. After
that, don’t sleep on your back, because your
uterus may compress arteries and affect your blood
pressure.
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Is it all right for me to
perm or dye my hair?
It is fine to dye or highlight your hair
after the first trimester. Exposure to the baby
from the solutions used for perms or dying is not
significant. However, hair may not take to the perm
solution during pregnancy.
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Is there any food I should
not eat?
Most foods are OK in moderation. Some fish
such as shark, swordfish and marlin that are high
in mercury should be avoided. Tuna consumption should
be limited to one serving per week. Sushi should
be avoided, and shellfish should be thoroughly cooked
to avoid exposure to harmful bacteria. Soft cheeses,
such as Brie, Camembert, and blue-veined cheeses
should be avoided unless the product label indicates
that they are pasteurized. There have been a few
sporadic cases of Listeria outbreaks following ingestion
of cold meat sold at delis. Although Listeria could
pose a hazard during pregnancy, these outbreaks
have been very rare and thus cold cuts are generally
considered safe.
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Should I be eating for two?
During pregnancy your total caloric requirement
increases by about 300 kcal per day. That is the
amount of energy in a pint of low-fat milk or a
peanut butter and jelly sandwich (or only ten French
fries!!). More important is that you eat a well-rounded
diet including a variety of fruits and vegetables.
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Can I still have my morning
cup of coffee?
Consumption of large amounts of caffeine has been
linked to increased risk of miscarriage during the
first trimester. You should, therefore, minimize
your intake of caffeine from coffee, chocolate,
tea and soft drinks. Of course, an occasional treat
will do no harm.
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Should I stop all
my prescription medications?
If you have not done so prior to your pregnancy,
it is important that you speak with your physician
as soon as possible to determine which medications
you should continue. Do not stop any of your current
medications without consulting with your physician.
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What is safe to take
if I get a cold?
During the first trimester you should minimize
any medications that are not essential. The best
cure for a cold may be lots of rest and warm fluids,
but if you need some relief from the symptoms, it
is safe to take most over-the-counter remedies such
as Tylenol Cold, Sudafed and Benadryl. During pregnancy,
it is best to stay away from medications containing
ibuprofen, aspirin, or any other pain medications
other than acetaminophen (Tylenol) unless specifically
prescribed by your physician.
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Do I have to get rid
of my cat if I’m pregnant?
Outdoor cats often harbor Toxoplasma. Many women
are already immune to this parasite, which poses
no threat to healthy adults; however, if you are
not immune to the disease, transmission of the parasite
from your cat to you during pregnancy can pose a
serious threat to the fetus. Wash your hands thoroughly
after each contact and avoid cleaning the litter
box if at all possible. Indoor cats do not usually
harbor the parasite.
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Which prenatal vitamin
is best?
Dozens of different prenatal vitamins are available.
They all have the necessary amount of folic acid
and iron to accommodate for your body's increased
needs during pregnancy.
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