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Home >Pregnancy Diary
Pregnancy Diary
By Nikki Davies
I’m Pregnant!
You may have tried a home pregnancy test, your body may be shouting the news or you just have a faint suspicion that something is not right. It’s the first visit to the doctor that confirms the wonderful news and sets you on the path towards birth.
The first doctor’s visit is an important time, especially for first time mothers. There are many questions to ask and a schedule for future visits to prepare. Your health and that of your unborn child will need to be assessed. You and your GP will have a frank and informed discussion about the possible risks and what to anticipate with your pregnancy. The doctor will want to check;
• Your blood type including Rh factor
• Your Rubella (German measles) inoculation
• Anaemia (iron deficiency)
• Hepatitis (liver damage)
• VDRL (syphilis)
• STDs (treatment will reduce possible effects on the baby)
Now is also the time to start talking about your support network and relationships. Pregnancy is an opportunity for some women to confide in their doctor about issues in their domestic situation and get help with these issues.
At each GP visit your caregiver will do a routine physical exam. They will listen to your heart and breathing, check your blood pressure and, as the pregnancy progresses, listen to the foetal heartbeat. Pregnancy-induced hypertension and the more serious preeclampsia are two things that your doctor will be checking for. There are issues that a pregnant woman can present with, some inconvenient, others are uncomfortable or painful and a few that can represent a risk to either mother or child. The vital point is to recognise and identify them so that these issues can be successfully dealt with. This means each woman needs to be open and honest with her doctor and expect in return informed advice and options.
There are several screening tests that are often used to monitor your pregnancy. Screening tests such as an ultrasound are offered to all pregnant women, to detect pregnancies at higher risk. The ultrasound test can also determine the sex of the foetus.
There are also diagnostic tests that can be done, if problems are suspected.
Pregnancy involves many unfamiliar changes,
• You may experience incredible highs and miserable lows.
• You may feel unhappy about some of the physical changes and discomforts you are experiencing
• You may feel emotionally unsure about some of the changes ahead.
Both partners may be feeling uncertain, so try to keep the lines of communication open. Remember that different people communicate in different ways. If you are on your own, having someone to talk to is especially important. Be confident about calling on your support network.
Stages of Pregnancy
Your pregnancy is around 40 weeks and is divided into three trimesters of about three months each. Each trimester of pregnancy brings new changes. You will experience different emotions and have different physical signs of advancing pregnancy. Your foetus will grow and develop with each passing month.
Pregnancy may also bring changes to your relationship with your partner. You are both thinking about what it will mean to be a parent. If you have lost a child before or if one of you has recently lost a family member, you may be especially anxious during the pregnancy. It is important to feel love and support to help you cope with these feelings.
Some of the hormonal changes of late pregnancy inspire a woman to begin nesting - preparing a place for her baby. These feelings may be accompanied by a burst of energy. This is a good opportunity for you and your partner to work to
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