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Before we jump in, my name is Annabelle. I am a nurse, birth doula, and mama. I felt qualified, knowledgeable, and prepared for pregnancy and birth, but there were definitely some things that caught me off guard. I want you to know these things now!
Also, I want to mention my FREE Natural Birth Workbook! This 4 Step Process is a great start if you are considering a med-free birth. Click the button below to download the workbook…
1. First Pregnancy Doctor’s Visit
You find out that you are pregnant. You think, “Well, I need to get scheduled for my prenatal doctor’s appointment.” You call your OB/GYN and ask to schedule an appointment. You might be thinking, “They will get me in over the next few days”. AND that doesn’t happen…The receptionist gives you a few options, and it’s 6 – 9 weeks away!
You say to yourself, “I’m pregnant! Shouldn’t I just come in TODAY? What am I supposed to do until then?!”
Be aware that it is perfectly normal for your doctor or midwife to not schedule your first OB appointment until you are about 9 – 12 weeks pregnant.
Personally, I was 10 weeks when I went in for my first OB appointment.
This may sound inconsiderate, but the doctor is waiting to be sure that your pregnancy is viable, and that nothing happens over those first few weeks, as there is a percentage of women that will miscarry in the first few weeks of pregnancy.
So, don’t be alarmed, but make your appointment, start your prenatal vitamin, and download the Power Pregnancy Workbook while you wait. Click Below.
Next is the sonogram question. Some doctors don’t perform a sonogram on your first visit. They wait until you are a little further along (again, waiting to make sure your pregnancy is viable and big enough to see on ultrasound).
2. Gestational Age
How is gestational age calculated? It is not always calculated the way that you would expect. The majority of doctors establish your gestational age based on your last menstrual period (LMP). Now you may be thinking, “This is kind of weird. I wasn’t pregnant when I was on my period. Why are they calculating it according to my period?”
Historically we didn’t always have the technology that we have today. And that was the most accurate way to calculate when a baby was conceived.
According to clinical research, you did not ovulate until approximately 14 days after your last menstrual period. So, your gestational age is going to vary slightly by approximately two weeks. With all of that in mind, healthcare providers still calculate gestational age based on your last menstrual period.
Gestational age in pregnancy will last a total of 40 weeks. Some women deliver on their EXACT due date (I was one of those women) while others deliver before or after.
3. The Emotional and Physical Experience of Pregnancy
At first, when you find out you are pregnant you are probably going to excited (especially if it was a planned pregnancy). You are expecting that excitement to last! By the time you find out you are pregnant, you are approximately 6 weeks along.
You are thinking, “I feel GREAT! I’m pregnant!” Then comes the sickness.
You have nausea, mood swings, and you just want to sleep all of the time! You are thinking, “What happened? I am pregnant I am supposed to be feeling great! People say I might feel sick, but I feel sick and TERRIBLE!”.
I want to tell you to be encouraged if you are at this point right now, or when you get to this point. You are almost halfway through your first trimester (first trimester is 13 weeks). YAY! And by your second trimester you should start to feel great again and regain some of that lost energy.
4. Morning Sickness & Other-Day Sickness
Everybody talks about morning sickness. You’re going to wake up and feel nauseated. Well, that is not the case for everyone. I want you to know that you might have morning sickness, afternoon sickness, or night sickness.
I had the night time sickness. I always woke up feeling pretty good. But by the time I was ready to go to bed I was feeling nauseated! So, what did I do? I didn’t eat because I didn’t want acid reflux or heartburn. I chewed ginger root. I would cut off a piece of ginger root and chew it up. It definitely helped the nausea. Plus ginger root helps digestive upset and it helped settle my stomach.
If you have to snack before bed then I recommend avoiding greasy foods! Blue corn chips are a great snack for nausea.
5. Teeth (My Teeth?!)
People really don’t talk about this much. I have very healthy teeth and I did not expect to have any problems. But I did. I had plaque build-up, my enamel started to act weird, and my gums were bleeding.
So what’s the deal?
Well, pregnancy hormone changes can affect teeth. You have increased blood volume, which can cause the bleeding of the gums. You may be vomiting a lot and the acid in your vomit can cause the enamel on your teeth to erode.
Acid reflux alone can cause erosion of your enamel. It is also common for women to have an increased risk of gingivitis. We would definitely recommend you seeing your dentist if you are concerned about developing gingivitis.
There are ways to protect your teeth during your pregnancy. I delivered my baby and I still have strong healthy teeth. But you have to use preventative measures to protect your teeth. I had to begin brushing my teeth MORE than two times per day.
DON’T brush your teeth more aggressively, but you should brush gently more often.
Make sure you use a soft bristle toothbrush. I bought this electric toothbrush while I was pregnant, because I was starting to brush too hard (potentially injure my gums).
Also, be sure to select a good toothpaste. I use this Tom’s anti-plaque and whitening toothpaste and I would brush 3 times per day. Make sure you also brush after eating any sugar (side note make sure you decrease your sugar intake because that sugar can cause even more problems with your teeth).
These tips will greatly help alleviate anxiety in your pregnancy when you are looking for answers all over the internet. I hope my own experience helps you.
You are in your pregnancy, but delivery day will come a lot faster than you expect. Do you want some help making a plan for birth? I have created my FREE Natural Birth Workbook just for you. This 4 Step Process is a great start if you are considering a med-free birth. Download below…
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