Tips on How to Make Your Visit To Your OB Worthwhile

1. Take not of the changes you are undergoing and ask your OB to explain what these are and what their implications are.

2. Know your Medical History so you can properly brief your doctor about your medical condition. This will help your OB prescribe the right medicine and treatment especially when you get sick during pregnancy. It would be helpful to take note of the following:

a. Allergies

b. Your blood type

c. Disease that run in the family

d. Previous diagnosis / any sickness that required hospitalization or treatment

e. Immunization shots taken

f. Recurring disease

3. Ask your doctor if there are certain foods you need to limit or increase. You can also request him/her to refer you to a Nutritionist-Dietitian to help you compute the amount of food that you need. Ensuring that you are supplied with the necessary micro and macro nutrients such as Folate, DHA, GA, Iron, Calcium, Vitamin D, Carbohydrates and Protein during pregnancy will help you feel assured that you are taken care of.

4. Know your ideal weight based on your physique every month.

5. Ask your doctor for thing to take note of per trimester (warning.danger signs). Each patient will have different pregnancy situations and it would be best to get advice specific to your pregnancy. Remember that each pregnancy is unique and it is not advisable to self diagnose and self medicate based on your friends experience.

Common Symptoms During Your First to Third Trimester

Your body will change dramatically during pregnancy, Some of these changes may be uncomfortable. Talk with your health care provider about the best ways to ease discomfort. You may have to try a few different methods before you discover ones that work best for you. While each woman's experience is different, the following symptoms are common during pregnancy.

FIRST TRIMESTER( 0 to12 weeks)

This is when most women experience morning sickness. You may need to urinate more often than usual, and you may feel tired and moody. Your breasts will begin to change now, and may be swollen and very tender. They may leak colostrum, a fluid the breasts produce as you prepare for lactation, although this is more common later in pregnancy. Any nipple discharge should be discussed with your provider.

SECOND TRIMESTER (13 to 28 weeks)

Many women experience a return to normal energy levels, and morning sickness will often disappear. Your breasts and belly will grow. You may experience leg cramps, constipation, and a faster heartbeat. During the fourth month of pregnancy, you may feel the baby movie for the first time.

THIRD TRIMESTER (29 to 40 weeks)

Since your baby is growing and your uterus is getting bigger, you may experience shortness of breath because the baby is crowding your lungs. You may have heartburn as your stomach is squeezed and hormones relax parts of your digestive system. Fatigue may return, mainly from the extra work your body is doing, carrying around a baby who is nearly full grown. You may also have backaches. Your legs and feet may swell, and you may have a difficult time sleeping.

Postponing having a Baby until in their 30s and 40s

Because of the economic crisis today, more and more woman are opting to delay their pregnancy until their 30s and 40s. While there are certainly financial and social advantages to such arrangement, the concern in a scenario like this is naturally the increased chance of pregnancy complications. Simply put, the older a woman gets, the poorer the quality of her eggs becomes, and the greater the possibility of problems related to conception and childbirth. Such problems are:

• Increased risk of miscarriage (up to 30 percent for pregnancies at age 40)

• Increased risk of fetal prematurity and low birth weight

• Increased risk of fetal chromosomal abnormalities, e.g., Down's Syndrome

• Increased risk of ectopic pregnancy (i.e., pregnancy outside the uterus)

• Increased risk of developing diabetes and hypertension during pregnancy

• Increased risk of difficult labor

• Increased risk of difficult conception
  

Post Delivery Facts

For soon to be mothers out there. Here's one article just for you:

1. Take a bath after delivery. Old wives tales would tell you not to do so, but being clean before you handle your baby is a must.

2. Whether you go through a normal or C- section delivery, you will experience bleeding six weeks after delivery. called lochia, this will gradually disappear over time. Maternity pads are a must during your two weeks after birth. Panty shields will do as the bleeding subsides.

3. It takes three weeks for the vagina to heal, and you will experience swelling after the first week of delivery. When cleaning yourself, opt for liquid soap for ease of use. Lukewarm water will also help in reducing the swelling.

4. An old wives tales no more: According to the Department of Health, bayabas leaves contain natural anti bacterial properties. The water used to boil the leaves may be used to wash the vaginal area.

5. Loose clothing will help, in providing comfort during the first week after delivery. The material of your undergarments should be cotton. Make sure they aren't too tight.

6. It might be tempting to do so, but using alcohol on your sutures os a definite no. It might provide a cool, refreshing feeling, but alcohol can actually lessen the strength of your stitches, causing a broken wound.