Pregnancy FAQs

Yes, if you are pregnant, the CDC and your Ob-Gyn recommend you get the flu shot to protect yourself and your baby from the flu.   You should get vaccinated by the end of October, if possible.  This timing helps ensure that you are protected before flu activity begins to increase.  More information can be found at  www.cdc.gov/flu

Yes. All women should get a Tdap shot in the third trimester of every pregnancy. Tdap is used to prevent Tetanus, Diptheria, and Pertussis. The shot will help you make protective antibodies against Pertussis. These antibodies are passed to your fetus and protect your baby until he or she begins to get vaccines against Pertussis at 2 months of age.

Also consider having your significant other and anyone else who will be frequently with your baby to have their Tdap updated if necessary.

Studies have shown that exercising at a moderate to high intensity level in pregnancy brings about both short term and long term benefits for both mom and baby.  An exercise routine is recommended with appropriate adaptations.

Adapt

During pregnancy your body has an increase in overall blood volume, your resting heart rate increases by about 15 beats per minute, your peripheral vascular resistance is decreased, your need for water almost doubles, your breathing capacity slowly decreases and your body makes a chemical that helps relax your muscles and ligaments. On top of that, your baby is growing in front of you, which tends to make us adjust our center of gravity a bit. We then use more support muscles in our legs and back. Because of these changes, we need to make some adaptations in our routine and listen to our bodies and not the "standard heart rate and exercise guides."

Guidelines: 

• If you have not been exercising, now is not the time to become super woman on the treadmill.  Begin slowly with walking at a slow pace for 5-15 minutes and ask for advice on starting a specific exercise routine for you.
• Drink water! Increase your water intake before, during, and after a workout.
• Avoid extreme temperatures.
• Breathe! Make sure to breathe in and out without straining. If you cannot carry on a light conversation while you are exercising, slow down. Be especially mindful of breathing with any strength training. If you cannot carry or lift the weight without holding your breath (straining), you are lifting too much.
• Adapt your exercises whether aerobic or otherwise to make sure that your back is supported and that you are not doing motions that are jerky or extreme.
• Keep your workout heart rate 140 or less. This will be difficult, so monitor carefully. When you are dehydrated your heart rate increases, so again, drink plenty of water.
• Be careful doing balance sports.  If you feel that you are "off kilter" stop doing them.
• STOP any exercise right away if you develop signs of dizziness, bleeding, faintness, abdominal or back pain, overly rapid heart rate or shortness of breath. If symptoms contine, call our office or seek emergency help.

Get out and walk, ride a bike, dance, golf, join an aerobics class, go for a swim or do water aerobics, and enjoy! If you have any questions regarding exercise in pregnancy, please let us know. 

• Current multiple pregnancies – 2 or more babies

• Abdominal surgery during current pregnancy

• Current kidney or urinary tract infection

• Cervical dilation or effacement before 36 weeks

• Bleeding, placenta previa, too much or too little amniotic fluid

• Age less than 18 or greater than 35; unusual physical or mental stress

• Smoking and/or substance abuse

• Premature rupture of the membranes (“water breaks”)

• Illness of the mother, including preeclampsia, high blood pressure, or diabetes mellitus

• Hormone imbalance

• Vaginal infection that spreads to the uterus

• Large baby

• Many women who develop premature labor have none of the above risk factors.

What are warning signs for Premature Labor

• Uterine contractions of 4 or more an hour lasting for more than 2 hours that begin before the baby is mature, usually before the due date of delivery

• Menstrual-like cramps – may be rhythmic or continuous and radiate to your back

• Low, dull backache – different from what you normally experience

• Pressure or pain in the lower abdomen, back or thighs

• Passage of blood mucous

• Flow of fluid (amniotic fluid) from the uterus which may occur with a gush or may be only a continuous watery discharge

• A general sense of “feeling different” or that “something is not right.”

Notify our office if you have symptoms of premature labor. If after office hours, call our office 309-454-3456 or go to Labor and Delivery.

Preventative Measures

• Obtain good prenatal care throughout the pregnancy.

• Don’t smoke, use drugs, or drink alcohol during pregnancy.

• Eat a normal, well-balanced diet during pregnancy and take prescribed prenatal vitamins and mineral supplements.

• Don’t use medications of any kind, including non-prescription drugs, without medical advice.

• Drink plenty of water. Especially with increased activity or during warm weather.

Treatment

• Diagnostic tests to determine fetal maturity and to check for infection

• Hospitalization and treatment for any underlying risk factors

• Medications to stop labor

• Medications to assist with fetal lung maturity

• Decreased activity or bedrest

• Pelvic rest (no douching or sexual intercourse)

Role of Progesterone in Pregnancy

• Progesterone is a hormone produced in the body by the ovary and placenta.

• Progesterone prepares the uterus for pregnancy, inhibits uterine contractions and maintains uterine relaxation throughout pregnancy.

• Researchers have described how progesterone acts to relax uterine smooth muscles and block oxytocin activity (the hormone released by the pituitary to stimulate contractions).

Progesterone to Prevent Pre-term Births

• In 2003 a large study by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development showed that women at high risk for preterm birth treated with progesterone (17P) maintained pregnancy longer and decreased the rate of preterm births by 33%.

• The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that progesterone be given to women with a history of delivery before 37 weeks.

• Risk factors for preterm birth include high blood pressure, diabetes, infections, multiple gestations, malformations of the uterus, fibroids in the uterus, family history of preterm labor and problems with position of the placenta. The risk factor that is most predictive is a prior history of a pre-term birth.

• If you are at risk for pre-term labor, we will advise starting weekly progesterone injections between 16 and 20 weeks of pregnancy.

• Each week you will come into the office to receive the progesterone injection and our nurses will assess for signs and symptoms to alert our providers.

• Injections will be given until your baby is full term, or is past 37 weeks of pregnancy.

Common Side Effects

• Reactions at the injection site such as pain and redness are common.

• Some patients report increased nausea, rash, headache, and increased uterine activity right before the next injection is due.

• Increased risk for gestational diabetes is associated with 17P usage so a 1-hour glucose tolerance test is done at 24 weeks to screen for this.

• Serious side effects for mothers or babies have not occurred in studies. Increased risk of birth defects or developmental problems have not been seen in infants whose mothers received 17P during pregnancy. At this time, infants have been followed the first 2 yeas of life, longer term studies have not yet been completed.

Please see this helpful page from the FDA on food safety when pregnant.

Food Safety for Pregnant Women

Please view this helpful page from the FDA on how to safely eat fish when pregnant. 

Advice About Eating Fish