First of all, congratulations! We hope that this is good news for you; please talk with us if you are having difficulty with the discovery that you are pregnant. We look forward to helping you get through your pregnancy in an informative, supportive and confidence-inspiring way…thank you for choosing us! If you have non-emergency questions, please give us a call at 608-729-6300 or message us via MyChart.
While the information is still fresh please jot down the following:
- when your last menstrual period started
- how many days it usually is between periods (start of one to the start of another)
- when you feel you may have conceived
- when you first had a positive pregnancy test.
- Home pregnancy tests are generally very reliable; this does not need to be repeated in our office.
Below are links to information about general guidelines and other different topic areas regarding pregnancy that you will find helpful throughout the full course of your pregnancy. Please take some time prior to your first OB appointment to review the information. If you have any additional questions, bring these to your first OB visit.
Guidelines for Obstetrical Patients
Testing for Birth Defects and Genetic Disorders
Madison Women’s Health has a genetic counselor who can provide education for testing options for birth defects and genetic disorders. Prior to your first OB visit, we encourage you to complete the online secured HIPAA compliant questionnaire. You can also download the form and bring it to your first OB visit.
GENETIC SCREENING QUESTIONNAIRE
Be prepared!
At your first OB visit, you will be given a lot of information about pregnancy. Prior to your appointment, make a list of the questions or concerns you have and your physician or nurse will be able to help you. It may also be a good time to verify your insurance benefits to determine if you might have any financial responsibility.
Here are some frequent questions that come up after learning you are pregnant:
How and when should I schedule my first appointment?
Please call our office at (608) 729-6300 as soon as possible to schedule your “First OB” visit. We generally try to see you around 8 weeks from the start of your last period. (Obstetrics tradition is odd, in that everything is calculated from the start of your last menstrual period, even though you generally don’t conceive until 2 weeks after that; you get credit for two weeks when you’re not even pregnant yet!) Your due date will be calculated and confirmed after reviewing your history and performing an ultrasound using an internal (vaginal) probe that will get a very good picture of your developing baby. Ultrasounds done very early in pregnancy are extremely accurate in determining or confirming the age of the pregnancy, and we feel it is very important to try to clarify this at your first visit. A normal due date is 40 weeks from the first day of the last menstrual period (or, 38 weeks after conception.) To calculate an estimated due date visit http://www.perinatology.com/calculators/Due-Date.htm.
When you call to schedule your First OB appointment, the receptionist will gather some information and send it to your provider’s nurse. The nurse will review your medical history and call you to review some basic information and answer any immediate questions. We will direct you to our website on information about healthy habits during pregnancy, testing options, medication questions that you might have. We will try and schedule consistent care with your primary provider, but due to call schedules you may be asked to see a different provider. However, since we all share coverage at Meriter Hospital, this will give you the opportunity to meet the other providers in case they participate in your labor or birth care.
What are common early pregnancy symptoms?
Common early pregnancy symptoms may include: breast tenderness and enlargement; nausea/queasiness or dislike of certain foods or smells; vomiting; fatigue, sleepiness and need for more sleep; urinary frequency; slight odd pelvic sensations such as “twinges,” dull aches or other feelings. If nausea and vomiting are severe, there may be a medication that we can prescribe for you. Constipation may be noticeable for some. Some women will have some minimal pink vaginal discharge or slight spotting in early pregnancy. Severe pain or cramping, bleeding as heavy as a menstrual period, and severe dizziness or lightheadedness are not normal early pregnancy signs; you should contact us at 729-6300 if you are experiencing any of these symptoms.
What should I avoid during pregnancy?
We ask that you avoid exposure to as soon as you suspect that you might be pregnant:
- alcohol
- cigarettes
- recreational drugs
If you smoke cigarettes, please try to stop or at least cut down significantly. See below for what foods to avoid.
Your prescription and non-prescription medications will be reviewed with you, and suggestions made if any medications need to be stopped or altered.
How should my nutrition and diet change during pregnancy?
As far as nutritional intake and pregnancy weight gain, this is the time to “make what you eat count.” A balanced and varied diet that includes fruits and vegetables, calcium sources, protein and whole grains is the best. In early pregnancy, some foods may not be appetizing. Foods with strong odors may not be well-tolerated by some women; meat and vegetables also seem to be difficult for early pregnancy sometimes. Choosing blander versions, foods that are cold, or non-traditional meals (cereal for lunch!) may be the easiest way to go. Many women do better with several small meals (grazing) during the day, and many also notice that too much food or too long of time between eating may not work out. Be creative; if you’re having trouble tolerating food, then eat whatever you can, whenever you can—it will be fine for the first few months. Especially in early pregnancy, you only need about 100 extra calories a day beyond what you were normally eating before pregnancy…that’s not much!
We hope you have already been on a folic acid (folate) supplement prior to conceiving. If you have not, you should start taking a supplement with at least 800 micrograms (mcg) or 0.8 milligrams (mg) of folic acid. Adequate folic acid helps prevent Neural Tube Defects (NTD’s, a spine-development defect of the fetus.) We can prescribe a prenatal vitamin for you, or it is generally easier to purchase an “over-the-counter” prenatal vitamin to start immediately. If these vitamins are not well tolerated in early pregnancy, please consider trying 2 Flintstones Complete chewable vitamins, Gummy Vits, or anything else you can tolerate. We can also give you a prescription for Folic Acid alone, which is sometimes better tolerated. If you do not have at least 1000mg of calcium in your diet, it may be helpful to take a calcium supplement separately from your vitamin (so it doesn’t cancel out the iron).
In general, 1-2 servings of caffeine a day has not been shown to cause any significant harm in pregnancy. Likewise, a few servings of NutraSweet, Splenda or Sunnett artificial sweeteners per day appear to be safe. Please avoid foods that may pose an increased risk of Listeriosis (a bacterial infection that can harm the fetus) or Mercury exposure. For more information:
Caffeine: March of Dimes
Listeriosis: Centers for Disease Control
Mercury: March of Dimes
Read more about Food During Pregnancy: Cravings, Aversions, Foods to Eat and What to Avoid
What kind of exercise can I do during pregnancy?
We offer a prenatal fitness class at MWH. For the full schedule, visit Fitness@MWH.
Any exercise or physical activity that you have been accustomed to may be continued in early pregnancy. If fatigue or nausea make it hard for you to exercise as much, using small hand weights to continue muscle conditioning and walking outside are very nice alternatives. Please let us know at your first visit if you participate regularly in any exercise program/activities, so that we can discuss any limitations you may need. There are several prenatal yoga classes and other exercise classes available in the area that are appropriate and enjoyable.
Read more about Exercise During Pregnancy: Which Activities are Safe and Which You Should Avoid
Can I continue sexual activity in pregnancy?
Sexual activity may be continued as much as you are comfortable. Having sex will not cause a miscarriage or hurt a developing baby. Because of uterine growth and increased blood flow, sometimes sexual activity will cause some slight pink/red/brown spotting. If this is not heavy and is not accompanied by severe pain or severe cramping, it is not anything to worry about. Some conditions later on in pregnancy may carry a recommendation to avoid vaginal intercourse for the safety of the pregnancy.
Are there times when I shouldn’t travel out of town during pregnancy?
Travel is generally fine for much of pregnancy; please let us know of any travel plans involving air travel or prolonged car travel after 24 weeks of pregnancy. After 34 to 35 weeks we recommend that you are within an hour of UnityPoint Health–Meriter Hospital.
What causes a miscarriage? Can I do anything to prevent it?
Most pregnancies grow and progress normally. Occasionally, a pregnancy will not progress as planned, and may end up being a “non-viable” pregnancy. The term “miscarriage” is used to describe early pregnancy loss. While not uncommon (15-25% of conceptions may end in non-progression of the pregnancy), this situation is obviously very difficult for those experiencing it. Unfortunately, there is little to no control over nature in these situations; practically nothing you do will cause a miscarriage, and very little that you or we do can prevent this from happening if it is destined to do so. If you are having both significant bleeding and cramping together in early pregnancy before your first visit, please call to speak to one of our nurses about further evaluation.
Is there a book for fathers to guide during pregnancy?
Patients have recommended The Guy’s Guide to Surviving Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the First Year of Fatherhood.
Where do we deliver your babies?
UnityPoint Health–Meriter Hospital, 202 S. Park St. Madison, WI 53715 Learn more about your baby’s delivery.
