When
is my due date?
When will
I feel baby kick?
My friend
told me not to stoop or reach for things because
this will cause the umblical cord to wrap around
the baby. Is this true?
When should
I see a doctor?
Can we have
sex?
Why do I have
a dark line from my belly to my navel?
How much weight
should I gain?
What is the
most comfortable sleeping position?
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When is my due date?
Your due date, called
the estimated date of delivery (EDD), is calculated
from the date of your last normal menstrual period.
To calculate your EDD, subtract three months from
the first day of your last period and add seven
days. For example, if your last menstrual period
was April 4, 2005, then the EDD will be January
11, 2006. Your due date is an estimate. Most women
have their babies within either two weeks before
or two weeks after the date.
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When will I feel baby kick?
Most women will perceive fetal activity
between the 18th and 22nd week of gestation. First
movements may feel like a light tapping or fluttering
sensation. Many describe the feeling like “a
little butterfly” in the lower part of the
abdomen. This initial sensation of motion is called
“quickening”. As the baby grows, the
movements become more distinct and can sometimes,
when abrupt, feel uncomfortable. Regardless, fetal
movement is not only exciting, it makes the baby
a reality.
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My friend told me not to stoop
or reach for things because this will cause the
umbilical cord to wrap around the baby. Is this
true?
No, this is not true. The baby is attached
to the umbilical cord which is attached to the placenta.
The baby, cord and placenta are covered by amniotic
fluid and all are contained inside the uterus. It
is like a thick rubber balloon filled with water
with the baby attached to a tether, which is attached
to the wall of the balloon. The baby can move in
any direction and as he/she moves, the cord moves
too. The baby can spin of his/her own volition wrapping
and unwrapping the cord around itself. This can
be seen on ultrasound. It does not matter what position
you are in or how you move. The baby’s movement
is independent of yours.
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When should I see a doctor?
Assuming that you begin your prenatal care
early, the first visits are done monthly until you
are 28 or 32 weeks. After 28 weeks, visits are every
two weeks until you are 36 weeks pregnant. From
then until the onset of labor, visits are weekly.
If you are pregnant with a medical problem (for
example, heart disease, diabetes, mellitus, etc.),
or if your pregnancy becomes complicated, then you
will be seen more often by your health care provider.
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Can we have sex?
Pregnancy is a normal physiologic process;
thus, it does not preclude a couple from engaging
in sexual intercourse. What must be taken into account
is each partner’s desire for sexual intercourse.
Many women may find that in the first trimester
their desire for sex may be diminished. This can
be due to changing hormones, physiologic changes
in their bodies, and normal discomforts of the pregnancy
such as increased urination, nausea and vomiting,
and easy fatigability. Partners must be able to
communicate with each other in order to express
their sexual needs and desires. Patience and understanding
is necessary. As the pregnancy progresses into the
second and third trimester, desire may return only
to be hampered by the enlarging uterus. Experiment
with different sexual positions (i.e.: side-lying,
kneeling, and woman-on-top). Maintaining a good
sense of humor through these various maneuvers is
key. For couples who engage in oral sex, there is
a word of caution: do not force or blow air into
the vagina. This can cause air embolism (air bubbles
that can enter the blood stream) which can result
in serious complications and even death of the woman.
There are certain conditions which may preclude
sexual intercourse during pregnancy. Pregnant women
who are at risk for preterm labor, those with premature
rupture of membranes, those diagnosed with incompetent
cervix (a cervix which dilates without signs or
symptoms of labor), those who have had a cerclage
(a stitch placed around the cervix to close it),
those who are diagnosed with placenta previa, and
women with a history of miscarriages should talk
with their health care providers about sexual intercourse.
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Why do I have a dark line
from my belly to my navel?
As pregnancy progresses, your hormone levels
greatly increase. This results in increased pigmentation
in certain areas of the body. Women will notice
that their nipples and areolas (the area around
the nipples) get darker and that the linea nigra
(dark line) forms from the naval to the pubic bone.
Some women also notice darkening of the skin of
the forehead around the nose and eyes, which is
called chloasma or the “mask of pregnancy”.
All of this resolves after the birth of the baby.
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How much weight should I gain?
Weight gain during pregnancy depends on
several factors: your pre-pregnancy weight and stature,
the size of your baby and placenta, the quality
of your diet before and during pregnancy, your genetic
background, and the number of previous pregnancies.
A woman of average size with an average size baby
eating a well balanced diet will gain anywhere between
20-35 pounds. Do not worry about the amount of weight
gained. If you are underweight you will gain more
weight than expected; if you are overweight, you
may gain less. Weight gain is always appropriate
for you if you eat well balanced meals consistently.
What is most important is that you do not attempt
to diet during your pregnancy.
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What is the most comfortable
sleeping position?
Only you can determine what is comfortable.
Initially, you will probably maintain your normal
sleeping position until you are no longer comfortable
because of the enlargement of your uterus and abdomen.
Women who routinely sleep on their abdomen may find
this occurs by 16-18 weeks of pregnancy and may
revert to sleeping on either their right or left
side. Women who sleep on their backs may continue
to do so until 26-28 weeks at which point they may
revert to sleeping on their side because of the
weight of the uterus on their back. Regardless,
many women by 34-36 weeks sleep on either side with
a pillow propped under the knee and leg for support.
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