Health and Preparation
What you'll find here: explanations of what to expect at healthcare visits, and normal feelings, during the 9 months of pregnancy. Optimally, you should have prenatal care that consists of monthly visits to your healthcare provider for the first 6 months, visits every two weeks for months 7-8, and weekly visits during month 9.
Sections:
Healthy Nutrition: General Rules
- Increase your calorie intake by about 300 more calories per day than before you got pregnant
- Protein is essential for the baby's growth
- Limit or eliminate caffeine intake
- Eliminate alcohol and nicotine intake
- Food cravings are common; some women also crave non-food items (clay, dirt, or ice)
- Take prenatal vitamins, which supply extra iron for your blood
Nicotine (Smoking), Alcohol, and/or Illegal or over-the-counter Drug Use
Each of these is a drug and can do serious damage to the baby. They can cause birth defects and increase the possibility of having a miscarriage. The baby gets 100% of the amount the mother takes in. Even a small amount, which may not be dangerous to the mother because of her adult size, is very toxic to the developing tiny baby. Pregnant women should avoid all of these. Over-the-counter drugs should not be taken or used without your healthcare provider's advice.
How to Know You Are in True Labor versus False Labor
| True Labor contractions: | False Labor contractions: |
| Increase in painfulness | Not painful or slightly painful |
| Increase regularly in frequency over time | Come and go, irregular pattern |
| Increase in intensity with exercise | Go away when you exercise |
| Pain that will stop you in your tracks | Not painful or slightly painful |