Pregnancy For Dummies^®

by Joanne Stone; Keith Eddleman; Mary Murray

• ISBN13: 9780764550744
• ISBN10: 0764550748
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-05-01
• Publisher: For Dummies

Summary

Pregnancy is among life's greatest adventures, an experience that inspires prospective parents to seek out reliable resources to answer all their newfound questions. Preparing to host a baby for a full term begins with understanding the reproductive process and how the mother's body prepares for and then nurtures its guest. Getting from there through maternity involves looking forward to labor, delivery, and recovery - and taking care of baby as the newborn gets to know the world around him. Written by two practicing obstetricians who have cared for thousands of women and their families Pregnancy For Dummies organizes information so that you can enjoy the unfolding drama one trimester at a time. The informative and easy-to-read guide not only speaks to traditional husband-wife couples who are considering parenthood but also Single parents Same-sex couples Adoptive parents Surrogate parents Pregnancy For Dummies reassures readers with friendly - even fun - looks at fertility issues, signs and symptoms of pregnancy, and helpful advice on Choosing the right practitioner and birthing facility Preparing for physical changes and mood swings Taking a childbirth class that suits your delivery choice Having a baby from Dad's perspective Recognizing the differences between real and false labor Understanding the reasons for a cesarean delivery Dealing with complications before and after the birth Deciding between breast and bottle Coping with postpartum blues Designed as a companion to regular medical care, Pregnancy For Dummies delivers the kind of insight that can help you stay fit, active, and informed during your pregnancy - and excited about taking on the joyful job of bringing up baby!

Author Biography

Joanne Stone, MD, and Keith Eddleman, MD, practice and teach in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center Mary Duenwald is a veteran journalist

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(6)
Pregnancy Should Be a Joy, Not a Worry	2	(1)
How to Use This Book	2	(1)
Conventions Used in This Book	3	(1)
How This Book Is Organized	4	(1)
The Game Plan	4	(1)
Pregnancy: A Drama in Three Acts	4	(1)
The Big Event: Labor, Delivery, and Recovery	4	(1)
Special Concerns	5	(1)
The Part of Tens	5	(1)
Appendix	5	(1)
Icons Used in This Book	5	(1)
Where Do I Go from Here?	6	(1)
Part I: The Game Plan	7	(56)
From Here to Maternity	9	(12)
Before You Get Pregnant	9	(3)
Going over previous pregnancies and your gynecologic history	10	(1)
Remembering your family history	10	(1)
Looking at your ethnic roots	11	(1)
Considering your personal health	11	(1)
Answering the Most Commonly Asked Questions	12	(5)
Getting to your ideal body weight	13	(1)
Reviewing your medications	13	(2)
Recognizing the importance of vaccinations and immunity	15	(2)
Quitting birth control	17	(1)
The Easiest Way to Get Pregnant	17	(4)
I Think I'm Pregnant	21	(8)
Sign of the Times: Signals of Pregnancy	21	(2)
Honey, I'm late!	22	(1)
To eat or not to eat: Cravings and aversions	22	(1)
Breast tenderness	22	(1)
Testing, Testing, 1, 2, 3	23	(1)
Home tests	23	(1)
Urine tests	23	(1)
Blood tests	23	(1)
Choosing a Practitioner Who's Right for You	24	(2)
Calculating Your Due Date	26	(3)
Preparing for Life during Pregnancy	29	(18)
Prenatal Visits	30	(2)
Looking at the Effects of Medications, Alcohol, and Drugs on Your Baby	32	(5)
Taking medications	32	(2)
Smoking	34	(1)
Drinking alcohol	34	(1)
Using recreational/illicit drugs	35	(2)
Figuring Out How Your Lifestyle Will Change during Pregnancy	37	(6)
Pampering yourself with beauty treatments	37	(2)
Going into hot tubs, whirlpools, saunas, or steam rooms	39	(1)
Traveling	39	(2)
Considering occupational hazards	41	(1)
Getting dental care	41	(1)
Having sex	42	(1)
Preparing for Physical Changes	43	(4)
Dealing with mood swings	43	(1)
Living through leg cramps	44	(1)
Noticing vaginal discharge	44	(1)
Putting up with backaches	45	(1)
Handling stress	45	(2)
Diet and Exercise for the Expectant Mother	47	(16)
Choosing the Proper Diet	47	(11)
Your growing body	48	(2)
Choosing the best foods	50	(6)
Special considerations	56	(2)
Getting Enough Exercise	58	(5)
Adapting to changes in your body	58	(2)
Workout guide	60	(1)
Comparing forms of exercise	61	(2)
Part II: Pregnancy: A Drama in Three Acts	63	(78)
The First Trimester	65	(24)
A New Life Takes Shape	65	(3)
Your Body Adapts to Pregnancy	68	(5)
Breast changes	68	(1)
Fatigue	69	(1)
Any-time-of-day sickness	69	(2)
Bloating	71	(1)
Frequent urination	71	(1)
Headaches	72	(1)
Constipation	72	(1)
Cramps	73	(1)
Prenatal Visits	73	(8)
Your first prenatal visit	74	(7)
Routine prenatal visits	81	(1)
Tests for Prenatal Diagnosis	81	(4)
Chorionic villus sampling	83	(2)
Early amniocentesis	85	(1)
Causes for Concern	85	(4)
Bleeding	85	(2)
Miscarriage	87	(1)
Ectopic pregnancy	88	(1)
Ovarian torsion	88	(1)
The Second Trimester	89	(22)
Discovering How Your Baby Is Developing	90	(1)
Fetal movements	91	(1)
Understanding Your Changing Body	91	(5)
Forgetfulness and clumsiness	92	(1)
Gas	92	(1)
Hair and nail growth	93	(1)
Heartburn	93	(2)
Lower abdominal/groin pain	95	(1)
Nasal congestion	95	(1)
Nosebleeds and bleeding gums	95	(1)
Skin changes	96	(1)
Prenatal Visits	96	(12)
Second trimester blood tests	97	(4)
Ultrasound	101	(3)
Amniocentesis	104	(3)
Other prenatal tests and procedures	107	(1)
Causes for Concern	108	(3)
Bleeding	109	(1)
Fetal abnormality	109	(1)
Incompetent cervix	109	(2)
The Third Trimester	111	(30)
Your Baby Gets Ready for Birth	111	(3)
Patterns of fetal growth	112	(1)
Fetal movements	113	(1)
Breathing movements	114	(1)
Fetal hiccups	114	(1)
Keeping Up with Your Changing Body	114	(11)
Accidents and falls	115	(1)
Braxton-Hicks contractions	116	(1)
Carpal tunnel syndrome	117	(1)
Fatigue	117	(1)
Hemorrhoids	118	(1)
Insomnia	118	(1)
I think I've dropped	119	(1)
Pregnancy rashes and itches	120	(1)
Preparing for breastfeeding	121	(1)
Sciatica	122	(1)
Shortness of breath	122	(1)
Stretch marks	122	(1)
Swelling	123	(1)
Urinary stress incontinence	123	(1)
Varicose veins	124	(1)
Thinking about Labor	125	(1)
Timing labor	125	(1)
Using perineal massage	126	(1)
Working during Pregnancy	126	(1)
The Home Stretch: Prenatal Visits in the Third Trimester	127	(1)
Group B strep cultures	127	(1)
Amniocentesis for lung maturity	128	(1)
Assessing the Fetus	128	(3)
Non-stress test (NST)	128	(1)
Contraction stress test (CST)	129	(1)
Biophysical profile (BPP)	130	(1)
Vibracoustic stimulation	130	(1)
Doppler velocimetry	130	(1)
Fetal kick counts	130	(1)
Going Back to School: Taking a Childbirth Class	131	(2)
Lamaze	132	(1)
Bradley method	132	(1)
Grantly Dick-Read	133	(1)
Causes for Concern	133	(8)
Bleeding	133	(1)
Breech presentation	134	(1)
Decreased amniotic fluid volume	135	(1)
Decreased fetal movement	136	(1)
Fetal growth problems	136	(1)
Leaking amniotic fluid	137	(1)
Macrosomia	138	(1)
Preeclampsia	138	(1)
Preterm labor	139	(1)
When the baby is late	139	(2)
Part III: The Big Event: Labor, Delivery, and Recovery	141	(118)
Honey, I Think I'm in Labor!	143	(28)
Packing Your Suitcase	144	(1)
Knowing When Labor Is Real --- and When It Isn't	145	(5)
Noticing changes before labor begins	145	(2)
Recognizing the differences between false labor and true labor	147	(1)
Checking the situation with an internal exam	148	(1)
When to call your practitioner	149	(1)
Getting Admitted to the Hospital	150	(2)
Settling into your hospital room	150	(1)
Checking out the accommodations	151	(1)
Testing, Testing	152	(4)
Fetal heart monitoring	153	(2)
Other tests of fetal health	155	(1)
Inducing Labor	156	(3)
Elective induction	156	(1)
Indicated induction	157	(1)
Inducing labor	158	(1)
Augmenting labor	159	(1)
The Stages of Labor	159	(5)
The first stage	160	(4)
The second stage	164	(1)
The third stage	164	(1)
Other Concerns, Worries, and Labor-Related Questions You May Have	164	(1)
Managing the Pain of Labor	165	(6)
Systemic medications	166	(1)
Regional anesthetics	167	(2)
General anesthesia	169	(1)
Alternative forms of labor-pain management	170	(1)
Special Delivery!	171	(20)
Having a Vaginal Delivery	172	(10)
Pushing the baby out	173	(3)
Getting an episiotomy	176	(1)
Prolonged second stage	176	(1)
Delivery at last!	177	(2)
Your baby's first cry	179	(1)
Cutting the cord	179	(1)
Appearance of the baby	179	(1)
Delivering the placenta	180	(1)
Shaking after delivery	180	(2)
Having an Operative Vaginal Delivery	182	(1)
Having a Cesarean Delivery	183	(5)
Anesthesia for a cesarean delivery	184	(1)
Reasons for a cesarean delivery	185	(2)
Recovery from a cesarean delivery	187	(1)
Congratulations! You Did It!	188	(1)
Causes for Concern	188	(3)
Lacerations to the birth canal	189	(1)
Postpartum bleeding	189	(1)
Shoulder dystocia	189	(2)
Hello, World! The Newborn	191	(22)
Love at First Sight	191	(7)
Vernix caseosa	192	(1)
Caput and molding	193	(1)
Black and blue marks	194	(1)
Blotches, patches and other skin-deep characteristics	194	(1)
Baby hair	195	(1)
Newborn extremities	196	(1)
Newborn eyes and ears	196	(1)
Newborn external genitalia and breasts	196	(1)
Umbilical cord	197	(1)
Newborn size	197	(1)
Baby's first cry	197	(1)
Baby's First Test	198	(1)
Newborn Care in the Hospital	199	(5)
Keeping the baby warm and dry	199	(1)
Eye care	199	(1)
Vitamin K	199	(1)
ID bracelets for Baby, Mom, and Dad	200	(1)
Footprints	200	(1)
Hepatitis B vaccine	200	(1)
Baby's first doctor visit	200	(2)
Circumcision	202	(1)
Newborn jaundice	203	(1)
Bringing baby home	204	(1)
Neonatal Intensive Care Units	204	(1)
Newborn Care at Home	205	(7)
Bathing	205	(1)
Burping	206	(1)
Sleeping	206	(2)
Crying	208	(1)
C is for colic	208	(2)
Hiccups	210	(1)
Shopping for the baby	210	(2)
Causes for Concern	212	(1)
Taking Care of Yourself after Delivery	213	(26)
Postpartum: In the Hospital	214	(5)
Bleeding	214	(1)
Perineal pain	215	(1)
Swelling	215	(2)
Battle scars	217	(1)
Afterpains	217	(1)
Your bladder function postpartum	217	(1)
The hemorrhoid blues	218	(1)
Postpartum bowel function	219	(1)
In-Hospital Recuperation after a Cesarean Delivery	219	(4)
Going to the recovery room	219	(1)
The day of delivery	220	(1)
Day one after delivery	220	(1)
Dealing with post-op pain	221	(1)
Your final days in the hospital	221	(2)
Postpartum: At Home	223	(6)
Recovering from a vaginal birth	224	(1)
Recovering from a cesarean birth	225	(1)
Concerning all new moms	226	(3)
Getting Back to Exercise	229	(3)
Kegel exercises	229	(1)
Abdominal exercises	230	(2)
Pondering Your Postpartum Diet	232	(1)
Losing the weight	232	(1)
Taking your vitamins	233	(1)
Having Sex Again	233	(2)
Giving your body time to heal	234	(1)
Choosing contraception	234	(1)
Postpartum Doctor Visits	235	(1)
The Baby Blues	236	(3)
Coping with the blues	236	(1)
Postpartum depression	237	(2)
Feeding the Baby	239	(20)
Deciding between Breast and Bottle	239	(3)
The Basics of Lactation	242	(1)
All You Ever Wanted to Know about Breast-Feeding	243	(12)
Breast-feeding positions	244	(2)
Getting the baby to latch on	246	(1)
Breast-feeding diet	247	(2)
Birth control for nursing mothers	249	(1)
Medications and breast-feeding	249	(1)
Problems that breast-feeding mothers may face	250	(3)
Breast-feeding twins	253	(2)
Bottle-Feeding for Beginners	255	(3)
Stopping milk production	255	(1)
Choosing the best bottles and nipples	256	(1)
Bottle-feeding basics	257	(1)
Spitting Up	258	(1)
Part IV: Special Concerns	259	(66)
Pregnancies with Special Considerations	261	(22)
Age Matters	261	(4)
The over-30 (or older) mom	262	(1)
The not-so-young dad	263	(1)
The very young mom	264	(1)
Having Twins or More	265	(10)
Types of multiples	265	(1)
Determining whether multiples are identical or fraternal	266	(2)
Genetic testing in pregnancies with twins or more	268	(1)
Keeping track of which baby is which	269	(1)
Day-to-day life during a multiple pregnancy	269	(2)
Labor and delivery in twin births	271	(1)
Special issues for moms with multiples	272	(3)
Having Another Baby	275	(4)
How each pregnancy may be different	276	(1)
Birth after a prior cesarean delivery	277	(2)
Single Moms and Nontraditional Families	279	(1)
Preparing Your Child (or Children) for a New Arrival	280	(3)
Explaining pregnancy	280	(1)
Making baby-sitting arrangements for your delivery	281	(1)
Coming home	281	(2)
When Things Get Complicated	283	(16)
Dealing with Preterm Labor	284	(3)
Checking for signs of preterm labor	285	(1)
Stopping preterm labor	286	(1)
Delivering the baby early	286	(1)
Preeclampsia	287	(1)
Placental Conditions	288	(3)
Placenta previa	288	(2)
Placental abruption	290	(1)
Problems with the Amniotic Fluid and Sac	291	(2)
Too much amniotic fluid	291	(1)
Too little amniotic fluid	291	(1)
Rupture of the amniotic sac	292	(1)
Problems with Fetal Growth	293	(2)
Blood Incompatibilities	295	(2)
The Rh factor	295	(2)
Other blood mismatches	297	(1)
Post-Date Pregnancy	297	(2)
Pregnancy in Sickness and in Health	299	(20)
Getting an Infection during Pregnancy	299	(12)
Bladder and kidney infections	299	(2)
Chicken pox	301	(1)
Colds and flu	302	(2)
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections	304	(1)
Hepatitis	305	(1)
German measles (rubella)	306	(1)
Herpes infections	306	(1)
HIV	307	(1)
Lyme disease	307	(1)
Parvovirus infection (Fifth disease)	307	(1)
Stomach viruses (Gastroenteritis)	308	(1)
Toxoplasmosis	308	(2)
Vaginal infections	310	(1)
Handling Prepregnancy Conditions	311	(8)
Asthma	311	(1)
Chronic hypertension	311	(1)
Deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolus	312	(1)
Diabetes	313	(1)
Fibroids	314	(1)
Immunological problems	315	(2)
Inflammatory bowel disease	317	(1)
Seizure disorders (Epilepsy)	317	(1)
Thyroid problems	318	(1)
When the Unexpected Happens	319	(6)
Surviving Recurrent Miscarriages	320	(1)
Coping with Late-Pregnancy Loss	321	(1)
Dealing with Fetal Abnormalities	321	(1)
Finding Help	322	(1)
Beginning to Heal	323	(2)
Part V: The Part of Tens	325	(28)
Ten Things Nobody Tells You	327	(4)
Pregnancy Lasts Longer than Nine Months	327	(1)
Other People Can Drive You Crazy	328	(1)
Feeling Exhausted in the First Trimester	328	(1)
Round Ligament Pain Really Hurts	328	(1)
Your Belly Becomes a Hand Magnet	329	(1)
Hemorrhoids Are a Royal Pain in the Butt	329	(1)
Sometimes Women Poop While Pushing	329	(1)
Don't Weigh Yourself the Day After You Deliver	330	(1)
Bring a Box of Modern Pads to the Hospital	330	(1)
Breast Engorgement Really Sucks	330	(1)
Ten Myths about Predicting Your Baby's Sex	331	(4)
Ultrasound Can Always Tell the Baby's Sex	331	(1)
The Only Way to Tell the Sex by Ultrasound Is to See the Penis	332	(1)
If the Woman Initiates the Sex That Leads to Conception, the Baby Is a Girl	332	(1)
If a Pregnant Woman Gains Weight in Her Face, the Baby Is a Girl	332	(1)
If a Pregnant Woman's Belly Is Round, the Baby Is a Girl	332	(1)
If a Woman Is Moody during Pregnancy, the Baby Is a Girl	333	(1)
If the Fetal Heart Rate Is Fast, the Baby Is a Girl	333	(1)
If the Locket Swings Back and Forth, the Baby Is a Boy	333	(1)
The Old Spoon-and-Fork Myth	333	(1)
The Great Drano Hoax	333	(2)
Ten Old Wives' Tales	335	(2)
The Old Heartburn Myth	335	(1)
The You-Can't-Be-Too-Careful Myth	335	(1)
The Curse Myth	335	(1)
The Ugly Stick Myth	335	(1)
The Java Myth	336	(1)
The Myth of International Cuisine	336	(1)
The Great Sex Myth	336	(1)
The Moon Maid Myth	336	(1)
No Good Pregnancy Books	336	(1)
Pregnancy Is for Dummies	336	(1)
Ten Landmarks in Fetal Development	337	(4)
The Baby Is Conceived	337	(1)
The Embryo Implants Itself	338	(1)
The Heart Begins Beating	338	(1)
The Neural Tube Closes	338	(1)
The Face Develops	338	(1)
The Embryonic Period Ends	338	(1)
The Sexual Organs Appear	339	(1)
Quickening Occurs	339	(1)
The Lungs Reach Maturity	339	(1)
A Baby Is Born	339	(2)
Ten Key Things You Can See on Ultrasound	341	(12)
Measurement of Crown-Rump Length	342	(1)
The Face	343	(1)
The Spine	344	(1)
The Heart	345	(1)
The Hands	346	(1)
The Foot	347	(1)
The Fetal Profile	348	(1)
The Stomach	349	(1)
It's a Boy!	350	(1)
It's a Girl!	351	(2)
Appendix: The Pregnant Man: Having a Baby from a Dad's Perspective	353	(6)
Reacting to the news	353	(1)
Dad's first trimester	354	(1)
Watching mom grow --- the second trimester	355	(1)
Down to the wire --- the third trimester	355	(1)
Dad in the delivery room	356	(1)
Home at last --- with the new family	357	(2)
Index	359