Month 3
This article contains information on...
Prenatal Care – A Must!
Your Growing Baby
Your Physical and Emotional Changes
Alpha-Fetoprotein Test
You and Your Partner
Exercising for Two
Prenatal Care – A Must!
Prenatal care and regular visits to your physician are crucial to your health, as well as to your baby’s. Shortly after you become pregnant, you need to schedule your first prenatal exam.
Be sure to ask your physician any questions that are important to you about the delivery, no matter how simple or complex they may seem.
During your first visit to the doctor, you may be asked questions about your medical history. The physical exam likely will include the following:
- A pelvic or vaginal exam will help your healthcare provider estimate the shape of your pelvis and confirm your pregnancy.
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A pap smear will test for cervical cancer.
-A blood sample will indicate your blood type and show if you are anemic and in need of iron, if you have an Rh factor and need special precautions during pregnancy, and if you have an immunity to German measles. - A blood test also confirms your pregnancy and checks for infection and diseases.
- A urinalysis, or urine test, confirms your pregnancy, and checks for infection and high protein and sugar levels.
Your Growing Baby
At the end of this month, you will have completed the first trimester, or one-third of your pregnancy. Although your baby is beginning to resemble a miniature human, he must still rely upon your body for survival. Most of his organs are now completely developed, but they aren’t fully functional. At nine weeks, your baby’s head is still quite large – about half the size of his entire body. This changes quickly, though, because in the next three weeks, his body nearly doubles in length. Measuring 3½ inches long, he weighs about 1½ ounces. In his amniotic sac, he would fit neatly in a cupped hand.
By 12 weeks your baby’s arms are just about the right size in proportion to the rest of his body, but his legs still have some catching up to do. Your baby’s sex is distinguishable, and he already has his own unique set of fingerprints.
Around this time, your baby swallows about a pint of amniotic fluid daily. He can now urinate, and his liver has begun producing blood. To keep up with the growing baby, the placenta is rapidly increasing in size. The placenta, an organ which connects the fetus to your uterus, is busy delivering nutrients to your baby and eliminating his waste products.
By 12 weeks your baby’s arms are just about the right size in proportion to the rest of his body, but his legs still have some catching up to do. Your baby’s sex is distinguishable, and he already has his own unique set of fingerprints.
Around this time, your baby swallows about a pint of amniotic fluid daily. He can now urinate, and his liver has begun producing blood. To keep up with the growing baby, the placenta is rapidly increasing in size. The placenta, an organ which connects the fetus to your uterus, is busy delivering nutrients to your baby and eliminating his waste products.
Your Physical and Emotional Changes
Since the end of the second month, your uterus has expanded from the size of a tennis ball to that of a grapefruit. The top of your uterus is located slightly above your pubic bone. Although you’re probably still urinating frequently, you may have noticed an improvement in energy level. That feeling of extreme exhaustion should be diminishing, and any nausea will more than likely pass in the next couple of weeks.
As you begin feeling better physically, your emotions should be leveling off, and sudden mood swings should become fewer. However, each woman is different. Some soon-to-be-mothers experience nausea throughout their pregnancies. Others say they felt as if they spent most of the nine months of their pregnancies carrying around boxes of tissue for crying. If you’re concerned about nausea or extreme changes in your moods, be sure to discuss this with your physician.
As you begin feeling better physically, your emotions should be leveling off, and sudden mood swings should become fewer. However, each woman is different. Some soon-to-be-mothers experience nausea throughout their pregnancies. Others say they felt as if they spent most of the nine months of their pregnancies carrying around boxes of tissue for crying. If you’re concerned about nausea or extreme changes in your moods, be sure to discuss this with your physician.
Alpha-Fetoprotein Test
A test called Alpha-fetoprotein, or AFP, is a blood test often given to women who are about 15-20 weeks pregnant. The test helps determine the possibility of having a baby born with an open spine or spina bifida, which is a separation and swelling of the brain.
If the AFP test is abnormal, your physician may do further testing to check for Down’s Syndrome.
Most blood test results are normal. Fewer than two tests per 1,000 pregnancies are abnormal. If you have any questions about the test, you should discuss them with your physician.
If the AFP test is abnormal, your physician may do further testing to check for Down’s Syndrome.
Most blood test results are normal. Fewer than two tests per 1,000 pregnancies are abnormal. If you have any questions about the test, you should discuss them with your physician.
You and Your Partner
During this time, don’t feel guilty if you begin to question priorities and be concerned or even anxious about your upcoming roles as parents. While raising children is one of the most fulfilling experiences a man and woman can share, the responsibility of another human life also can be very frightening. It’s important to share your insecurities with your mate. More than likely, you’re experiencing similar emotions, and you can look to one another for support.Especially important during pregnancy is communication – verbal and physical. Your sexual relationship may change to some extent; some couples experience a decreased desire for lovemaking, while others receive more enjoyment during pregnancy. You and your mate should discuss your feelings and try to respect one another’s wishes. Unless your physician advises otherwise, there is no need to limit sexual activity. If your doctor recommends postponing sexual intercourse until after delivery, be sure to find other ways to express your love and support.
Exercising for Two
If you’re in good health, there’s no reason why you should stop all activity and go into hibernation for the duration of your pregnancy.Regular exercise while you’re pregnant will not only help you look and feel better, it will do wonders for your self-confidence. Keeping in tip-top shape also will help prepare your body for childbirth. The important thing to remember when exercising during pregnancy is not to overdo it. This is not the time to begin training for the Olympics! Before you begin any exercise program, check with your physician. If you were in the habit of exercising before you became pregnant, your doctor may give the okay for you to continue with just a few modifications.
Here are some tips for exercising during pregnancy:
- Follow your physician’s advice and pay close attention to your body.
- Start out slowly and gradually increase the intensity of your workouts.
- As with any exercise routine, warm-up and cool-down periods are extremely important.
- Try to steer clear of any sports (horseback riding, bicycling, skiing or intense jogging) that require good balance, jumping, bouncing or sudden movements. Swimming, brisk walking and stationary cycling all provide ideal aerobic conditioning.
- Check your heart rate while you work out. You should keep your heart rate below 140 beats per minute.
- After your fourth month, avoid exercising while lying flat on your back.
- Remember to drink plenty of fluids before, during and after exercising.
- If you experience any pain, dizziness, severe loss of breath, headache or nausea while working out, stop exercising immediately!
- An ongoing fitness program can help you keep in shape during and after your pregnancy.
For buttocks and outer thighs:
Lie on left side, pressing right arm into floor for support. Bend legs at knees. Raise right leg, keeping knee bent. Inhale and extend leg to front, foot flexed. Exhale as you raise and lower leg eight times. Inhale and straighten leg in line with your spine. Exhale as you raise and lower your leg eight times, keeping foot flexed and making sure not to arch your back. Repeat on right side. Work up to 16 repetitions.
Lie on left side, pressing right arm into floor for support. Bend legs at knees. Raise right leg, keeping knee bent. Inhale and extend leg to front, foot flexed. Exhale as you raise and lower leg eight times. Inhale and straighten leg in line with your spine. Exhale as you raise and lower your leg eight times, keeping foot flexed and making sure not to arch your back. Repeat on right side. Work up to 16 repetitions.
For back (helps alleviate backaches associated with pregnancy):
Lie on one side, then slowly roll onto back, knees bent a hip-width apart, feet flat on floor, hands on lower abdomen. Inhale then exhale as you hug baby into you with abdominal muscles. Lift your pubic bone, keeping rib cage and upper back relaxed on floor. Slowly lower hips, making sure not to arch your back and keeping back flat on floor when you inhale. Do this four times. Work up to eight repetitions. (If you feel nauseated or dizzy doing this, stop and roll onto your left side.)
Lie on one side, then slowly roll onto back, knees bent a hip-width apart, feet flat on floor, hands on lower abdomen. Inhale then exhale as you hug baby into you with abdominal muscles. Lift your pubic bone, keeping rib cage and upper back relaxed on floor. Slowly lower hips, making sure not to arch your back and keeping back flat on floor when you inhale. Do this four times. Work up to eight repetitions. (If you feel nauseated or dizzy doing this, stop and roll onto your left side.)
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