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What can I expect??
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Anonymous
Hi  I just got took my 3rd positive pregnancy test, but wasn't able to get a dr's appointment until the beginning of Feburary...
I calculate that i'm about 4-5 weeks along... Totally not planned, so i'm a little anxious  ... I'm just wondering what I can expect- this is my first pregnancy and I really have no one to go to or talk to and get advice from. My boyfriend currently lives out of state, and my Mom passed away 18 months ago.
So far I have some nausea and I feel more tired than usual... What else can I expect in terms of how i'm feeling or symptoms? I'm only 24, and until recently haven' had insurance- so i've never even been to an gyno (just for the record, my current boyfriend is the only man i've had sex with, and that only happened a year ago). So, what can I expect from an ob visit? Thank you so much for any and all advice! |
Anonymous
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Congratulations on your pregnancy! And sorry to hear about your mom and that your boyfriend isn't nearby.
Things are so early with the pregnancy now - I think the only things you need to be doing are: 1. Look into what medical practice you want to use (OB or midwife? What docs are covered by your insurance? Where will be a convenient place to go for your prenatal appointments and for the birth) 2. Tell your boyfriend, if you haven't already. 3. Take good care of yourself and follow the lead of how you're feeling - by which I basically mean: get extra rest if you're tired and learn how to manage morning sickness if you're having that. You can search the history of this forum for lots of info and advice on this whole pregnancy thing. |
Anonymous
| Ditto PP, plus be sure to get some prenatal vitamins. They're available at most drugstores and even some grocery stores. |
Anonymous
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Congrats! Definitely talk to your OB about how you've never seen one before. That's unusual, especially in this area.
At your first appointment they'll likely do both a transvaginal ultrasound and a pap smear. The pap smear is more uncomfortable - they basically insert a speculum and scrape cells from your cervix. Eventually (can't remember at what point I had this) they run a full blood panel for various antibodies, STD's, etc. In terms of prenatal appointments (as opposed to OB) it totally depends on your provider. They'll probably do the transvaginal (internal as opposed to the over belly ones you see on TV) ultrasound to check for fetal pole, heartbeat etc. If all looks good they'll talk to you about appointments (usually monthly until 3rd tri but there are also various screenings you do that aren't on the regular appointment schedule like the nuchal and 20 week ultrasound - you can look for more info on those in these forums). Just ask questions, look to your BF for support and good luck! |
Anonymous
| 1413 here - meant as opposed to gyno (OB=prenatal) |
Anonymous
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Congratulations, OP! If you want to do some reading, I recommend the Mayo Clinic's Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy. In the meantime, both the Mayo Clinic and the March of Dimes have good info on their websites.
Good luck! |
Anonymous
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I second the Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy. It's got great week-by-week info, and each month has a handy chart showing when you should call your doctor if something is wrong. I had spotting on and off for my first 15 weeks, and it helped me to know when to worry.
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Anonymous
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Nausea is normal. Lots of people don't throw up, but have constant nausea all the time; but lots of people also throw up all the time. You can take B6 (my doc said 50 mg., some websites I found on Google said 10 mg. 3 times a day) if you have a lot of nausea. Most women find that eating helps keep the nausea at bay (saltines or other carbs); some can't eat anything and nothing helps. Some people recommend ginger, or peppermint.
Migraines and headaches are also normal. Don't take anything but Tylenol. A little caffeine helps, too, especially if it's a migraine. You can have some caffeine (a cup of coffe, or a couple cups of tea, each day, are fine). Some people experience a little cramping, some people experience a little spotting, but if you have either it's a good idea to call your doctor and see if you can come in. Both together is generally regarded as a bad sign, although I had both together and it was fine. They did do an ultrasound to confirm everything was okay, though. You know not to have alchohol or smoke. There aren't a lot of hard and fast food restrictions, mainly don't overdo anything and you'll be fine. Your doc will tell you about deli meats and hot dogs and raw eggs, but until then don't stress about it. You can also take most medications, but avoid pain killers other than Tylenol and most cold medications. Lack of nausea is not necessarily a bad sign, so don't let it freak you out. First appt is a good chance to ask lots of questions. You'll forget them all, so write them down now as they occur to you and keep a running list in your purse/wallet. You might end up meeting with a NP or PA the first time, but he/she can answer all your questions. They might not do an ultrasound -- my first appt at RH they just told me my due date based on my last period without any tests at all, but my first appt with 2nd pregnancy, at CWC, they did a transvaginal ultrasound, which was AWESOME. It was so amazing to be able to see the baby so early in the pregnancy (I was 9 1/2 weeks at that point). Appts will generally be once a month until the last 2-3 months, then twice a month until the last month, then once a week until you deliver. In addition to those appts you'll have a 12 week ultrasound (nuchal translucency or something, to check for Downs Syndrome), a 20-week ultrasound (to be sure everything developed normally -- you can find out the gender at this appt), and a gestational diabetes test (sometimes done at a normal appt -- you drink a bunch of sugar water and they check your glucose levels). First trimester symptoms will probably appear between 6-8 weeks, and hopefully will be gone by 11-12 weeks. Sometimes nausea hangs on a few more weeks, for some people, but if it gets bad, know that it will get better! And if it gets really bad, there are anti-nausea medications you can take; ask your doctor. Good luck! And Congratulations! |
Anonymous
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OB probably won't want to see you for a few more weeks, fyi, though you should definitely mention it when making the appointment. Pick up a copy of What to Expect When You're Expecting (you can find copies at library book sales or used online) and read about what you should and shouldn't be doing. There really aren't any hard-and-fast restrictions, and not everyone has the same symptoms. For example, I had no morning sickness whatsoever. If I didn't have such regular periods (I got my period every 4th wednesday between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m., no joke), I wouldn't have known I was pregnant. My sister had bad morning sickness every day, all day for months.
Start taking prenatal vitamins now, and probably some extra calcium. (the viactiv chews are good - I took two a day.) Go easy on the caffeine - you can have some, but maybe not as much as you've used in the past. Obviously go easy on the alcohol and if you smoke, stop doing it. (and try to avoid secondhand smoke if you can.) You can keep exercising; just try to avoid doing things that involve twisting the belly, like certain yoga moves and a couple of weights stations I can think of. If you feel like you're overdoing it and your BP is getting way high, go easy. Oh, and try to resist eating for 2 - you need about 300 extra calories a day if you're of normal weight. It can be hard to lose post-baby weight, which is why they suggest you gain no more than 25-35 lbs. (I gained 54. it was hard to lose!) Expect that the second trimester will probably be when you feel the best. I felt pretty damn awesome in my second trimester. By the third, I was getting really big and retaining a lot of water (common), so I felt less awesome and more "ready to be done." Second trimester is also when you'll get a detailed ultrasound and the baby will start moving more noticeably, so that's part of the awesomeness as well. If you feel like the skin on your belly and the muscles beneath are tightening up - later in the pregnancy - that is probably a Braxton Hicks contraction. it's the uterus practicing for the big day. Totally freaked me out the first time, then I got used to it. I had a bunch of them but went full-term, so they don't mean you're likely to have the baby early. good luck! |
Anonymous
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Congrats on your news! In addition to the What to Expect book, they also have a website (www.whattoexpect.com). If you get yourself a free account on there, you can join a message board specifically for women due the same month as you. That's what I did, and I instantly had an online support group of moms-to-be going through exactly the same things at exactly the same - very helpful!
I agree with PPs, it's very unusual to get in to see an OB before the 8 week confirmation appt. Also, don't be surprised if you receive fewer ultrasounds than expected throughout your pregnancy. Although there are some exceptions in this area, many doctors do the 8 week confirmation ultrasound and then another one at around 20 weeks (when you can find out the gender if you want!). The third is an optional N/T scan at 12 weeks, where you can decide if you want them to screen you for Downs Syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities. Chances are, these are the only ultrasounds you will receive. Don't worry if you suddenly find yourself very exhausted. I had always associated fatigue with a growing belly, but it's also a really common symptom in the first trimester. If you think about it, it makes sense - your body is literally making something out of nothing! My advice would be to give in to it - take naps if necessary, put off chores that don't absolutely need to be done, etc. If you're like me, you'll get a nice second wind in the second trimester. Until then, enjoy the opportunity to take time for yourself, because that "me time" will be pretty hard to come by 8 months from now. Congrats and good luck! |
Anonymous
| Thank you all for your advice! |
Shopmom
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| It looks like you've got some great advice here, so I will not be repetitive. Im so sorry about the loss of your mom and the absence of your boyfriend right now. I recently lost my mom this past year and I also know how scary it can be to have your very first pregnancy....especially when unexpected. If you'd like I'd be more than open to helping you as a friendly ear/advice giver. If you have facebook you can private message me your info |