Premaman advises.....
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PREGNANCY - What happens in your body?
You will begin to notice the first signs of change in your body starting from the first month of pregnancy: some tenderness in the breasts, sleepiness, fatigue, a growing waistline, and a changing sense of smell.
At the first month of pregnancy, the embryo measures between 4 and 5 mm and weighs barely 1 gram. Its brain is forming and its heart is already beating.
What medical exams should you have?
After your pregnancy is confirmed by a pregnancy test and a blood test, we recommend that you set up an appointment with your regular doctor or your gynaecologist.
You will have your blood and urine tested. The urine test will show the doctor that your kidneys are functioning properly and that you don’t have diabetes or any urinary tract infection. The blood test helps to assess your overall state of health. It also lets the doctor measure your level of protection against toxoplasmosis and rubella.
Premaman advises:
· To prevent toxoplasmosis: never eat raw, unwashed vegetables. Wash the vegetables, wear gloves when gardening, and don’t let a cat lick or scratch you.
· Avoid x-ray exams during pregnancy. If you must go to the dentist, make sure that he takes special precautions concerning x-rays.
· Don’t smoke, drink alcohol, or take unnecessary medicine.
· When should you call the doctor? It is strongly recommended that you contact your doctor at least once a month. If you have a fever above 38°C (100.4°F), if you experience vomiting, bleeding, significant pains, headaches, don’t hesitate to go see the doctor.
· Can you play sports? Yes, in moderation and if you were already practicing the sport before your pregnancy (avoid sports where there is a risk of falling). Don’t force yourself if you feel uncomfortable. Mild sports such as swimming and walking are recommended.
What happens in your body?
You may either gain or lose weight, depending on circumstances. At six weeks your uterus is about the size of a tangerine. You may feel some temporary discomfort, such as fatigue, nausea, excessive salivation, cramps, or tingling sensation.
As for your baby... Starting at two months, the embryo takes on human form: its head takes shape, facial features are outlined, the eyes, mouth and ears appear. You can barely distinguish the hands, arms, and legs. The skeleton is formed and the liver, stomach, and kidneys begin to function. The embryo measures 4.5 cm and weighs around 11 grams.
What medical exams will I HAVE?
The first ultrasound...
Your first contact with your baby... This exciting moment makes it possible for you to learn more about the baby’s health and the development of your pregnancy:
· You will know if the baby is thin or plump.
· You will know the baby’s age.
· The medical team will check the structure and functioning of vital organs, the development of the skeleton, and they will make sure the measurements correspond to the assumed age of the embryo; they will verify the position of the placenta, and check for multiple pregnancies.
The first ultrasound will establish the precise starting date of your pregnancy, and thereby the estimated due date.
What happens during an ultrasound? An ultrasound is done with the help of a probe placed on your belly or through the vaginal canal.
Where can the ultrasound test be done? As your gynaecologist recommends, either in their office or at the hospital.
Premaman advises:
Time to start thinking about baby care.
We at Prémaman recommend that you make plans for baby care as early as your fourth month of pregnancy, because spaces are often limited.
You have the choice between a nursery /day-care centre, or a nanny.
Before making the decision, ask yourself these questions:
· What is the Schedule?
· How much will it cost me?
· Do I have to provide the meals?
· What happens if my baby gets sick?
· What does my child do during the day?
· Are there educational games and activities planned
What happens in your body?
You’re gaining weight, so pay attention to your diet. What a relief! The nausea and vomiting are over. Only the fatigue continues, and your breasts are swelling a bit more. It is time to rest and pamper yourself.
As for your baby... At three months the embryo is called a fetus; it measures around 10 cm (4 in.) and weighs around 50 g. (2 oz). Its face is becoming more defined, and the vocal cords are forming. Your placenta is growing, playing a protective and nutritional role that is essential for the development of your future child. The little one is already moving about, turns in all directions, swallows amniotic fluid, and already sucks its thumb! The genital organs are being formed according to the baby’s gender.
What medical exams should you have?
You may be asked to have blood tests every four to six weeks in order to check for rubella and toxoplasmosis. At the third month, you will also take a triple test to measure hormone levels and assess the baby’s risk of trisomy, a chromosome disorder. If the test comes out positive, your doctor will recommend that you have an amniocentesis (a test of your amniotic fluid) during the fourth month of pregnancy.
Premaman Advises:
Remain attractive
Live out this magical moment in all your beauty. Wear comfortable clothes: pants, jeans with adjustable belts, dresses or coordinates - choose from our Prémaman CATALOGUE or visit our Prémaman STORES that specialise in clothing for mothers-to-be
4TH MONTH
You are dealing better and better with your pregnancy. The nausea and fatigue are going away. Your belly grows rounder. Your appetite returns and you are full of energy. Your body is changing. Consider having massages and applying lotions to prevent stretch marks.
On your baby’s side...At four months, your baby’s senses develop. It becomes more and more sensitive to touch and enjoys caresses on your belly. Its hair system is developing, and its body is covered with fine downy hair called "lunago" which will disappear later.
What medical exams should you have?
Amniocentesis
You will need to have this test done if:
· You are over 35 years old
· There have been cases of birth defects in your family
· Your triple test done during the third month resulted positive
A sample of the amniotic fluid that surrounds the baby is extracted with a syringe.
The ultrasound and the Doppler Effect
In order to make sure that the pregnancy is going well, another ultrasound is done. Based on the Doppler Effect, it measures the flow rate of blood through the blood vessels of the baby and the placenta. This test is mainly used for detecting and monitoring vascular diseases with the risk of foetal distress.
The test is done in the third quarter.
Premaman Advises:
Think about your birthing options
It is time to think about where you will give birth. Where does your gynaecologist perform deliveries? When will he or she be on holiday? Is there always someone on call? What services are provided by the maternity ward? When and how do you reserve a place? How much will it cost?
How to deliver?
Preparations for birth are underway. More and more techniques are practiced:
· Sophrology: a method which allows one to concentrate, to relax and to be in harmony with your body and your psyche.
· Haptonomy: " to touch is to feel and to speak ", is the motto of those who practice this technique. Haptonomy allows true communication between mom, dad and baby - a technique which helps you touch the baby in your belly and, after its birth, to connect more easily with it.
· Yoga and mild exercises are among the other methods that will help you gently prepare for delivery.
What happens in your body?
Avoid putting on too much weight, because from now on the baby itself begins to gain weight. If you are subject to circulatory problems, this is when they are likely to occur; the legs start to swell and varicose veins may appear. Dress lightly to allow your body to breath.
As for the baby... At five months little hairs start to grow and the skin thickens. The baby becomes sensitive to sounds, taste, and your physical activity. At the end of its fifth month, the baby measures around 30 cm (12 in.).
What medical exams should you have?
A second ultrasound is necessary to make sure the pregnancy continues to go well. In addition, you will finally know if it will be a girl or a boy; the gender is now determined and visible!
Premaman advises:
· Go swimming to relieve and relax your back
· Avoid carrying heavy objects
· Don't wear high heels
· Keep your upper body straight when sitting
What happens in your body?
You will gain more weight; about 400 grams (1 lb.) per week. Your skin stretches more and more. Be sure to moisturise it properly to prevent stretch marks. You might feel some pains in your lower belly due to the stretching of certain ligaments.
As for your baby... Starting from 6 months, you are at a turning point in your pregnancy. Your baby moves a lot and sleeps around 20 hours a day. All of its muscles and its nervous system are developing. It swallows the amniotic fluid and likes the taste. It reacts to external stimuli, and is soothed by caresses, music, and the voices of mom and dad. Sensitive to sounds and more and more to touch, your pregnant belly becomes noisy; you can hear the sounds of digestion and heartbeats. By the end of the 6th month of pregnancy, the baby measures around 37cm (15 in.) and weights almost 1 kg (2 lbs).
Premaman advises:
Prepare for baby’s arrival
Start to assemble its wardrobe and its first suitcase that you will bring with you to the maternity ward. The suitcase should contain at least the following, all available at the Prémaman Stores:
- 4 to 6 Bodysuits,
- 4 to 6 Pyjamas,
- 2 to 3 Newborn Sets
- 2 sets of Booties and 4 pairs of socks,
- 6 sets of Bibs,
- 1 comfortable blanket,
- Newborn Diapers (if the maternity ward doesn’t provide them).
- 6 Baby bottles, (if the maternity ward doesn’t provide them).
- Toiletry kit, (Scissors /Nail clippers, Hair brush, Nose vacuum).
- 2 to 3
Little by little, you should also be preparing the bedroom where baby will be growing up. Look in at Prémaman for your bedding collection.
7TH MONTH
What happens in your body?
Your heart beats faster and increases in volume in order to supply the placenta with maternal blood. Therefore you should avoid strenuous physical activity and rest as much as possible. You may experience difficulty sleeping.
As for your baby... At 7 months your baby is already quite chubby. Its skin softens and thickens. The eyelashes appear. The baby needs a lot of nutrients; the calcium, iron, and proteins that you ingest will be beneficial since they all contribute to its growth.
By the end of the 7th month, start thinking about the baby registry / Birth List. Try to anticipate everything that your little one may need from the very first moments of its life (pyjamas, bottles, bottle warmers, pushchair, pram, bouncer, furniture...). Ask our sales Staff about the Prémaman Birth List.
8TH MONTH
What happens in your body?
You are dreaming of the arrival of your baby. Your body gets heavier. You perspire a lot so we recommend that you drink a lot too. Your baby consumes large quantities of calcium. Be sure to give it enough so that it doesn’t take away yours - by gathering it from your bones and teeth!
Your body is getting ready; you may feel some gnawing pain in the lower belly because the bones of your pelvic basin are gradually moving apart to make the passage of the baby easier.
As for the baby... At 8 months it measures around 40 cm (16 in.) and weighs about 2.4 kg (5.3 lbs). Its digestive system is functioning better and better and it is consuming more food. Its hair and nails have grown. The "vernix caseosa", a kind of whitish, viscous coating, covers its whole body. The baby plays by catching its toes and its thumb, and this gives it sensations. All of its limbs become mature. It is slowly getting into position for birth.
What medical exams should you have?
Sometimes a third ultrasound is done to make sure that everything is going well. It serves to verify the position of the baby and the placenta, and to estimate the weight of the baby at birth. It shows whether the baby’s head is facing down or if the baby is in a breach position - that is, with its head facing up. But this can be just temporary, because everything can still change before the birth!
Premaman advises:
Breastfeed or bottle-feed your baby?
Whatever you decide, feeding your baby will be the first intimate exchange between you and your baby. You can speak tenderly to it and smile... For some women, breastfeeding follows naturally after their pregnancy. For others, it is more of a problem. We recommend that you consult your doctor, physical therapist, midwife, and other mothers before making your decision.
If you wish to breastfeed
For the baby
· Mother’s milk carries all of the vitamins necessary for baby’s development and good health.
· Mother’s milk provides protection against infection and stimulates the development of the child’s immune system.
· If breastfeeding is maintained exclusively for at least 6 months, it is an excellent means of preventing allergies.
For you:
· Breastfeeding is beneficial.
· It allows you to prolong the joy of your pregnancy.
· It helps to naturally bring your body back to normal.
· It consumes the body fat that was stored during pregnancy.
9TH MONTH
Also think about...baby’s first suitcase
and your suitcase for the maternity ward (breastfeeding bras, cushions, nightgowns, toiletry kit...)all available at Prémaman. Think about what you will name your baby, and choose its future pediatrician.
What happens in your body?
The wait seems long. You will still gain a bit more weight. Your visits to the doctor are now once a week. As for your baby... It should now be ready for its first meeting with life. It has acquired its own breathing capacity. It continues to grow, gaining between 20 and 30 grams (1 oz.) each day.
By now it reacts to your voice and its father’s voice. It feels everything that is happening in your body (digestion, respiration, emotion). It weighs between 3 and 3.5 kg (6.6-7.7 lbs) and is about 50 cm (20 in.) long.
What medical exams should you have?
Your last doctor visits will tell you:
· How your baby will be delivered and if you will need to undergo a Cesarean section (when the baby is in the breach position)?
· How is your baby's heartbeat?
· If you are already having contractions.
You may possibly undergo either of two kinds of anaesthesia: epidural anaesthesia or, in case of emergency (emergency Cesarean or use of forceps), a general anaesthesia. The anaesthesiologist will perform a blood test and will explain the different techniques for administering anaesthesia.
Premaman Advises:
When to go to the maternity ward?
Go to the maternity ward without delay if:
· Your water breaks or there is bleeding.
· You feel painful, regular contractions (each lasting a minute, every 5 to 10 minutes).
· You no longer feel your baby moving.
· You have reached your due date and nothing has happened yet.
Plan for a stay of 3 to 5 days in the maternity ward if the delivery is normal, and a week if there is a Cesarean section.
A few words about the epidural
The epidural consists of anaesthesia applied directly to the area where the expectant mother feels the painful contractions. Anaesthesia is injected into your back with a hollow needle. The anaesthesiologist attaches a small tube in order to add progressively more anaesthetic. The entire lower half of the body is numb for the duration of labour and delivery. All epidural anesthesias are not identical: it all depends on the quantity and the location where the substance is injected, as well as on the duration of labour.
The cesarean section