You must work closely with your psychiatrist and obstetrician. This risk of injury to the fetus due to medications must be weighed against the risk of a relapse in the illness. Tough judgment calls will be required regarding these risks.
Health & Pregnancy
One common myth is that when you are pregnant, you should be eating for two people. The truth is that you should be eating a healthy amount of fruit, vegetables, and meat high is omega-3s. If you up your caloric intake by 300 a day, you will be eating plenty of food for both you and your baby. Along with taking prenatal vitamins, you should also continue you exercise and remain active during your pregnancy. Consult with your doctor for pregnancy approved exercising.
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Dr. Peter T. Nassar, MD , OBGYN (Obstetrics & Gynecology), answered on behalf of Saint Agnes Medical CenterSee All 2 AnswersDefinitely for most pregnancies. If your physician has already told you that you are a high-risk pregnancy or your doctor has told you not to have intercourse, then it may not be safe for you. But, sex during the last part of the pregnancy is usually very safe. The baby is being cushioned by the amniotic fluid and the cervix, which are positioned between the vagina and the baby.
Although intercourse won’t hurt the baby, a woman shouldn’t lay flat on her back for long periods of time, because that position can actually compress the large blood vessels that travel behind your uterus. Being in that position for long periods can make you a little lightheaded, or decrease the amount of blood going to your baby.
Your doctor may recommend abstaining from intercourse if you have active preterm labor, if your water bag is broken or if you are experiencing a strange discharge or unexplained bleeding from the vagina.
Some people have a condition called placenta previa, where the placenta actually covers the cervix. In that case, there should be no intercourse throughout the entire pregnancy. Intercourse with this condition may cause the placenta to bleed, which could be dangerous to mom and baby.
Most patients without any complications can have intercourse late into the pregnancy.
Trinity Health is a Catholic health care organization that acts in accordance with the Catholic tradition and does not condone or support all practices covered in this site. In case of emergency call 911. This site is educational and not a substitute for professional medical advice, always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider.
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Dr. David A. McKay, MD , OBGYN (Obstetrics & Gynecology), answered on behalf of Mercy Medical CenterSee All 3 AnswersHow often you should see your doctor or midwife when you are pregnant depends on a number of factors. Pregnant women between the ages of 18 and 35 who are otherwise healthy are considered low-risk and typically have prenatal visits:
- every four to six weeks for the first 28 weeks of pregnancy
- every two to three weeks from week 28 to week 36
- once a week during the ninth month
Women with certain pre-existing conditions or who develop conditions during pregnancy, teens who are pregnant or first-time mothers older than 35 are considered high-risk and may need more intense medical care. This is part of why it’s so important to see your doctor right away—the earlier a risk factor is identified, the sooner your doctor can help you manage it for a safer pregnancy and delivery.
Trinity Health is a Catholic health care organization that acts in accordance with the Catholic tradition and does not condone or support all practices covered in this site. In case of emergency call 911. This site is educational and not a substitute for professional medical advice, always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider.
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Riverside Women's Health answeredSee All 4 AnswersDuring the first prenatal visit, you can expect your doctor to:
- Ask about your health history including diseases, operations or prior pregnancies.
- Ask about your family's health history.
- Do a complete physical exam, including a pelvic exam and Pap test.
- Take your blood and urine for lab work.
- Check your blood pressure, height and weight.
- Calculate your due date.
- Answer your questions.
- At the first visit, you should ask questions and discuss any issues related to your pregnancy. Find out all you can about how to stay healthy.
Later prenatal visits will probably be shorter. Your doctor will check on your health and make sure the baby is growing as expected. Most prenatal visits will include:
- Checking your blood pressure
- Measuring your weight gain
- Measuring your abdomen to check your baby's growth (once you begin to show)
- Checking the baby's heart rate
While you're pregnant, you also will have some routine tests. Some tests are suggested for all women, such as blood work to check for anemia, your blood type, HIV and other factors. Other tests might be offered based on your age, personal or family health history, your ethnic background or the results of routine tests you have had. Visit the Healthy Pregnancy section of our web site for more details on prenatal care and tests.
This answer is based on source information from the National Women's Health Information Center.
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Mercy Health answeredPrenatal visits with your healthcare provider may include:
- review of medical history
- completion of various blood tests, urine analysis, and lab work
- taking your blood pressure and listening to the baby's heartbeat
- suggestions for a nutritional plan, including prenatal vitamins
- developing an exercise strategy
Trinity Health is a Catholic health care organization that acts in accordance with the Catholic tradition and does not condone or support all practices covered in this site. In case of emergency call 911. This site is educational and not a substitute for professional medical advice, always seek the advice of a qualified health care provider.
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Intermountain Healthcare answeredPregnancy is an excellent time to concentrate on making healthy lifestyle choices. As far as exercise goes, it's definitely important to continue your exercise regimen. You may need to back off a little bit in the first trimester when you are a little bit nauseated, but it is really important to continue that. If you are not exercising already, you're welcome to start an exercise regimen, but start small and slowly increase your intensity levels.
Additionally, what you ingest is also important, because you are obviously what you eat, and your baby is being made out of what you are eating. You want to avoid any alcohol ingestion during pregnancy. If you are a smoker, it's an excellent time to quit smoking. As far as what you're actually taking in for food, really concentrate on a healthy and balanced diet, good proteins, and making sure that you are cutting back on the sugars and the fats, because weight gain does become a concern. As far as specific foods go, we need to avoid any undercooked meats or unpasteurized dairy products.
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See All 3 AnswersIt is safe for women to receive routine vaccines immediately after giving birth, even while breastfeeding. This is also an important time to begin educating yourself on childhood vaccination schedules for your new addition. If you haven’t received your Tdap vaccine for tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis during pregnancy, you should have it administered right after delivery. Also, women should receive the pertussis (whooping cough), measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) and varicella vaccines to reduce risks to both her and her infant.
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Chippenham Hospital - HCA Virginia answeredWomen should try to avoid anything you don't absolutely need during pregnancy. There are safe drugs to take during pregnancy, including Tylenol and some anti-nausea medications, but it's very important to follow instructions for taking these medications and not take too much. Be sure to consult this with your doctor.
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Chippenham Hospital - HCA Virginia answered
Caffeine may be ingested in moderation during pregnancy, however, alcohol should be avoided.