COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS
HOW FAR ALONG AM I?
For women with monthly menstrual cycles, the age of the pregnancy is counted from
the first day of your last cycle; there are 40 weeks in the average egg cycle from
preparation in the ovary to the end of pregnancy. Assuming that you ovulated 2 weeks
after your last cycle started, conception occurred at week 2 of the egg cycle; your baby
should be born about 38 weeks later. If you have an irregular cycle, your due date will be
based on measurement from your first ultrasound.
SHOULD I BE ON A PRENATAL VITAMIN?
1000 mcg. Folic acid and 75 mg. Vitamin B-6 should be started the month prior to
pregnancy to help reduce the risk of spina bifida; more folic acid may be recommended if
you have a family history of spina bifida. Prenatal vitamins are multivitamins with folic
acid added and are important to take on a daily basis during pregnancy to ensure
nutritional balance.
Calcium may be drawn from your bones or teeth as baby’s skeletal system begins to
form around 12 weeks. To protect you health, we recommend 1200 mgs. calcium daily.
This equals 4-5 servings of milk, cheese or yogurt. If you do not enjoy dairy products or
you are lactose intolerant, a calcium supplement can be taken; 600 mg twice a day is
recommended to optimize absorption.
DHA supplements are important to add to your daily nutritional plan if your diet does
not include fish 3 times a week. DHA supplements contain Omega-3 and essential fatty
acids that help support good brain and eye development.
WHAT’S UP WITH FISH AND DELI MEATS?
Certain fish live in contaminated environments and consequently have higher levels of
mercury in their tissues. The FDA recommends avoiding consumption of fish with
higher levels of mercury, especially during pregnancy. For a list of what you can safely
consume, see the list provided below.
Deli meats and unpasteurized dairy products can contain listeria, a bacterium that has
been associated with miscarriage and fetal infection. Please be certain that your dairy
products have been pasteurized and heat all processed meats until they are steaming hot
to guard against infection. It is best to limit your intake of processed foods (fast food,
frozen entrées, canned goods as they contain added salt and preservative chemicals that
are not in the best interest of anyone’s health.
WHAT MEDICATIONS ARE SAFE TO TAKE?
Please see the medication list below for safe choices during pregnancy. If you need
something that is not on the list, contact your nurse for further assistance.
HOW MUCH WATER DO I NEED TO DRINK?
During pregnancy it is vital to stay hydrated. Dehydration can lead to early labor and
even to miscarriage in extreme cases. Plan to consume 6-8 glasses of fluids daily
including: water, milk, decaf tea or soda, fruit juices or soymilk. It is preferable to limit
caffeine intake while pregnancy. Common products containing caffeine are coffee, tea,
some sodas, and chocolate.
CAN I GET MY HAIR COLORED?
Highlights added to your hair with foils are considered safe in pregnancy as they do
not sit on your scalp and so are not absorbed into the bloodstream. There are no studies
that prove the safety of color products use during pregnancy and so our best advice is to
choose processing that does not sit on the scalp.
CAN I TAKE TUB BATHS?
Normal temperature baths (98-100 degrees) are safe during pregnancy. Avoid
exposure to higher temperature hot tubs or saunas, especially in the first trimester to
reduce risk of spina bifida. If you have frequent yeast infections or bacterial infections,
you may want to switch to showers.
CAN I TRAVEL?
As long as you have an uncomplicated pregnancy, feel free to take trips by car/plane
up to 30 weeks gestation; we do not recommend leaving the country unless it is
absolutely necessary. Be sure to have a contingency plan in place at your destination and
take time to stop and stretch along the way. You have an extra half-gallon of blood in
your body when you are pregnant and relaxed blood vessels to accommodate it;
consequently, you at greater risk for blood clot formation when you sit for long periods of
time. Plan to stand up and walk around for five minutes or so every 2 hours to avoid clot
formation and to encourage a rich oxygen supply to the placenta.
CAN I GO TO THE DENTIST?
PLEASE DO!! Routine dental care is especially important during pregnancy. If your
dentist needs a note from us, we will be glad to provide one; just ask at your next office
visit.
HOW DO I PRE-REGISTER WITH THE HOSPITAL?
St Elizabeth Hospital is where our doctors deliver. The Center for New Life is located
on the third floor of the hospital; that is where you want to go when you are in labor. All
the rooms on that floor are private rooms. Unless you deliver by C-section, you can plan
to labor and stay in the same room; having baby room in with you is optional. We
encourage you to pre-register for your delivery by the end of your fifth month by going to
www.christushospital.org. If you need to make financial arrangements with the hospital,
start early! There are discounts for cash deliveries if paid upfront. Prenatal educational
classes are offered at no charge to those who deliver at St Elizabeth; the topics range
from prepared childbirth to breastfeeding to infant/child CPR classes. Check out the
events calendar at their website for more info!
CAN I KEEP MY CAT????
Cats that go outside can be exposed to toxoplasmosis via wild food sources. You can
be exposed to this parasite if you change the litter box of an infected cat. Cats that never
go outside are at very low risk of contracting toxoplasmosis. Loving on your cat is
perfectly safe while you are pregnant, but to be on the safe side, have someone else
change the litter box!
CAN I PAINT THE BABY’S ROOM?
Water based paints are safe to use when you are pregnant. Make sure your room is
well ventilated and take frequent breaks to rest and stretch your muscles. As your baby
grows your center of gravity shifts making you a bit less stable on your feet; we
recommend letting someone else paint those hard to reach places!
DO I HAVE TO SLEEP ON MY LEFT SIDE?
By your third trimester, the weight of the pregnancy could possibly decrease the blood
flow in the large blood vessels that are close to your spine. While no evidence exists that
lying on your back is harmful to your baby, lying with your abdomen tilted to the left or
right would certainly optimize blood flow. Obviously, you are not in control of positions
once you fall asleep! Before your third trimester, fall asleep in any position you like! If
you have a pre-existing heart condition, please contact your nurse for further clarification.
WHY ARE MY BREASTS SO TENDER?
Elevated hormone levels in early pregnancy can cause your breast to enlarge rather
quickly and become very sensitive – even to the point of painful! While this condition is
uncomfortable, it won’t last forever. As the pregnancy progresses the tenderness usually
fades and breast size returns to normal about 6 weeks after delivery or 6-8 weeks after
you wean baby from breast-feeding.