Pregnancy Q & A
Answers to Common Pregnancy-Related Questions
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Why do I have a dark line from my belly
to my naval?
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.
How much 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.
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.