First Time Moms: FAQs
Pregnancy is an exciting time, but along with the thrilling knowledge that you've created a new life come a variety of symptoms that may take a little getting used to. As ob-gyns, here are the questions we often hear from patients—and the answers that can help them have a healthy pregnancy.
1. What can I do for morning sickness?
Nausea with or without vomiting is a very common pregnancy symptom. Despite this condition’s most popular name, “morning sickness,” these symptoms can arise at any time of the day. In addition, while nausea and vomiting most often correlate with the first trimester, women can experience these symptoms throughout the entirety of their pregnancies.
BEST PRACTICES FOR SYMPTOM RELIEF
Meals/snacks in small portions every 2-3 hours to avoid an empty or full stomach
Avoid coffee and spicy or high-fat foods; Incorporate bland, dry, salty and protein-rich foods (soda crackers, dry toast)
Fluids in small quantities and through a straw (cold/clear/carbonated)
Avoid iron-containing supplements until nausea has improved; You may want to ask your doctor about switching or stopping your prenatal vitamins if they’re difficult to tolerate and take a folic acid supplement (400 micrograms) daily
Acupressure wristbands
Ginger lollipops, ginger tea, or ginger supplements to combat mild nausea
Read more about nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.
2. Are there any foods I should avoid during pregnancy?
Food safety is important for everyone, but it’s especially important to pregnant women due to changes in your immune system that make you more susceptible to food-borne illnesses. Here, we highlight our most common recommendations but feel free to ask us specific questions relating to your diet during your visit.
AVOID
Soft cheese, unless it clearly states the cheeses are made from pasteurized milk
Uncooked meats, like refrigerated pâtés or meat spreads
Raw or undercooked meats (including beef, poultry and pork)
Deli meats and hot dogs, unless they are heated until steaming hot just before serving
Raw eggs
Raw cookie dough that contains eggs
Raw fish
Fish with high levels of mercury: Some types of fish have higher levels of mercury than others. Mercury is a metal that has been linked to birth defects. Do not eat bigeye tuna, king mackerel, marlin, orange roughy, shark, swordfish, or tilefish. Limit white (albacore) tuna to only 6 oz a week. You also should check advisories about fish caught in local waters.
Smoked seafood
Raw sprouts
Raw unpasteurized fruit juice or unpasteurized dairy products
Beverages containing added sugar should be discontinued in pregnancy or consumed very sparingly, including sweet tea, soda, and energy drinks with sugar. These provide zero nutrition, can cause significant weight gain in pregnant women and fetuses, and can increase the chance of diabetes in pregnancy.
Read more about food safety while pregnant.
3. Can I keep drinking coffee?
The answer is yes, but in moderation: It is generally advised that women drink less than 200 mg (8-12 oz.) of caffeine per day while pregnant. However, the amount of caffeine can vary greatly in a "cup of coffee."
Here are some interesting facts to keep in mind:
Lighter roasts have MORE caffeine than darker roasts
Starbucks Coffee has more caffeine than the average cup (95mg for an 8 oz cup): A short (8 oz) of Medium Roast Pike's Place has 155mg and a Tall (12 oz) has 235mg!
A tall espresso drink with two shots of espresso has less caffeine than a tall cup of medium-brewed coffee.
If purchasing coffee at a store, we recommend checking their nutrition labels before consuming.
4. Can I keep exercising? Or can I start a new exercise routine?
If you are healthy and your pregnancy is normal, it is safe to continue or start regular physical activity. However, discussing exercise with your obstetrician or another healthcare team member during your early prenatal visits is important. If your healthcare professional gives you the OK to exercise, you can discuss what activities you can do safely.
Remember to drink plenty of water before, during, and after your workout. Signs of dehydration include dizziness, a racing or pounding heart, urinating only small amounts, or having dark yellow urine. Also, avoid standing still or lying flat on your back as much as possible. When you lie on your back, your uterus presses on a large vein that returns blood to the heart. Standing motionless can cause blood to pool in your legs and feet. These positions may cause your blood pressure to decrease for a short time.
Read more about exercise during pregnancy.
You can also read about staying active while pregnant from OneFit Mother and truPILATES on our blog.
5. How much kicking should I feel? When should I be concerned?
Most first-time moms won’t feel any movement (kicking) until about five months of pregnancy. With a second pregnancy, you typically feel movement earlier because you’re more familiar with what it feels like.
During the third trimester, you should feel the baby moving regularly. If you have a decrease in movement, do a fetal kick count. This is a test where you time how long it takes to feel ten movements. Do the counts after your biggest meal of the day because that’s typically when there is the most movement.
6. Do I really need to sleep on my left side? Can I sleep on my belly?
Sleep plays a crucial role in overall health, including during pregnancy. In fact, not getting enough sleep may increase a woman's chances of developing certain pregnancy complications. However, some positions are better than others!
You can sleep on your belly, but you’ll get to a point where it’s just not possible. During your second and third trimesters, it is best to sleep on your side with one or both legs bent. Many women find body pillows or pillows placed between the legs and under the belly for support to be helpful when sleeping in this position.
A note of caution: Sleeping on your back puts the weight of your uterus on your spine and back muscles. In the second and third trimesters, lying on your back may compress a major blood vessel that takes blood to your uterus, making you feel dizzy and possibly reducing blood flow to your fetus.
See our blog post with an interview with Allison Egidi, a local mom and sleep coach for some additional sleep tips.
7. Do I need to take a prenatal vitamin?
We recommend taking a prenatal vitamin, ideally starting before pregnancy, and continuing to take it while pregnant.
Prenatal vitamins contain all of the recommended daily vitamins and minerals you will need before and during your pregnancy, including folic acid and iron, calcium, vitamin D, choline, omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, and vitamin C. Learn more on our blog post dedicated to prenatal vitamins.
If you have any questions during your pregnancy and need to speak to a physician or a member of our staff, please call us or bring them up at your next appointment.
