Pregnancy -what to expect?

Question

I am one month pregnant and have been given folic acid and a very small amount of estrol tablets because i was on birth control for 10 years. (i'm on healthy diet so doc said no vitamin needed)
I am in India (but from America) and i want to make suer they are doing everything as good as America for me.
--my question is
How many times should i be going to the doctor during pregnancy?
What kind of medicines will i be on during my pregnancy?
What kids of tests will should be ran and how often?

Answer 1

In the US, you'll see the OB/GYN every 4 weeks until you are 32 weeks pregnant. Then from 32-36 weeks, you'll see the OB every 2 weeks. From week 36-40 you'll see the OB once a week. Normal pregnancies will require just a good prenatal vitamin which has a lot of folic acid and iron. Other medicines will be prescribed only if you have any other health issues.

At every appointment, they will check your weight and blood pressure. Also, they will check your urine for protein, sugar, and/or other abnormalities. After hearing the heartbeat on the doppler (between 9 and 16 weeks), they will check the heartbeat at every appointment.

At your first appointment, usually around 6-12 weeks of pregnancy, they'll do a complete blood workup. The obstetric panel includes finding out your blood type, whether you're Rh negative or positive, thyroid function, CBC count, all the good standard stuff.

At around 10 weeks, the OB may try to hear the baby's heartbeat using a Fetal Doppler Monitor.

At around 15 weeks, you can choose to do an AFP (Alpha Fetal Protein) test to find out if your baby has downs syndrome or other potential birth defects. Many women choose to not do the test because it has a slightly high false positive.

At around 20 weeks you'll have an ultrasound to measure the baby. In the US you can find out the sex of the baby. In India, it is illegal to find out the sex of the baby. I don't know if they make exceptions for foreigners.

At around 28 weeks you'll be given a glucose test to check for gestational diabetes. They'll also check your iron levels at this point.

At 36 weeks, you'll have a Group B Strep test which involves a swab of your vaginal and/or anal opening. If you are positive for GBS, then you'll be given an antibiotic IV drip during labor. They may also repeat the Rh test. In the US, the OB will check your cervix to see if it has softened or started opening. Not sure if they do this in India.

From week 36-40 the OB will check your cervix at every appointment. You may have additional ultrasounds besides the "big one" at 20 weeks.

Hope that helps and good luck to you!

regards,
mari

Answer 2

You need to purchase a copy of "What To Expect When You're Expecting" and that usually would sum up everything you need to know. But I will try to give you the best to my knowledge . . .

Until your 7th month you will usually only see the doctor about once a month. Then it will go to every 3 weeks, 2 weeks, every week during your last month.

There are a number of tests. The initial blood tests at the beginning, and then a pee test about every month to check protein. There are a couple of tests that can determine if your baby has any abnormalties which are usually blood work and you don't have to take them if you dont want. There is a blood sugar test to check for gestational diabetes anywhere from 24 to 28 weeks of pregnancy. Sometime after you are 33 or 35 weeks pregnant they do a strep test where they swab you butt to make sure you dont have group b strep. There is usually an ultasound early on, then around 14 to 20 weeks. Usually around 20. There are more I am sure but those are the basics that come to my mind at the moment. As for meds, mostly just vitamins unless you have trouble with diabetes or blood pressure or something. My doc told me that after 8 weeks the folic acid has already helped in the developement of the spinal cord so i could just eat a bowl of Total cereal and it would be the same as the vitamins. I hope this helps!

Answer 3

Regardless of your diet you need to be on a prenatal vitamin, all the nutrition from the food mostly goes to baby, your teeth & bones will pay a huge price if you dont get on one. Until about 30 weeks you should be going to the doc every 4 weeks, and 3o to 36 weeks is usually about every 2 weeks & 37 to delivery is usually every week. You should have a ultrasound done, as well as a quad test , blood glucose and iron.

Check babycenter.com you can track your pregnancy week by week and it will tell you test s and such that would be done at that time.

Answer 4

typically you should see a doctor about once a month, they'll check you for any STD's or other things that could cause complications. As well they check blood pressure and weight to make sure you are progressing in a normal fashion. They'll also check to see if you are rh negative, as this can cause problems too. Ultrasounds are performed around three months, and sometimes again around 16- 18 weeks. Often they will do one more to determine the location and position of the baby close to your due date. They'll also measure your tummy each month as an indicator of the baby's growth. I'm sure you'll be fine! Congrats.

Answer 5

You should be on some sort of prenatal vitamin... The baby needs iron. You should see your doc every 4 weeks up until the last month, then it will be every week. Ultrasound usually run around the 3rd-4th month... Blood/Glucose test at 26-27 weeks. Congrats!

Answer 6

You should go on-line and order a "what to expect when you are expecting " book - must have for every pregnant woman - so far it sounds like your getting the norm. Did your doc draw blood to test for sugar, disease, etc?

Answer 7

go to the doctor as much as you can and if you have any problems such as decreased movement, dizzy or for any problems. Go to the doctor.
DO NOT TAKE ANY OVER THE COUNTER MEDICINES SUCH AS IBUPROFEN...BECUASE IT HAS INDOMETHACIN AND CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR THE FETUS!!!
You should have a urinalysis, blood work, measure your blood pressure to make sure you don't have preeclampsia, check the over all health....later on they will have to do more tests on you! Good luck! Stay healthy!

Answer 8

ummm lets see you should go to the doc once a month and your last month u go once a week. the only thing i was on was prenatal vitamines. and i had ultrasounds, and just blood work. nothing big.

Answer 9

Your Body
1st Trimester:
Your breasts will get big, and will hurt - a lot. Buy a supportive maternity bra and make sure it fits properly. You may admire them gleefully at first but they will continue to grow and be sore. Don’t be surprised if you go up by 2-cup sizes. Men will stare, but you’ll just want them to weigh about 20 pounds less.
You are sleeping for two and growing babies take a lot of energy. You may feel fatigue in the early months so nap when you can and try to go to bed early, or at least before the late night talk shows.
Feeling crampy is normal but check in with your Ob/Gyn, especially if you’re spotting at the same time.
The bathroom is your second home, so hang up a few pictures, throw down some cushions and bring in a few plants! If you’re not peeing, you’re puking. Morning sickness is a misnomer. It should be properly named as All Day Sickness. Many women actually don’t experience this “pregnancy poisoning” at all, so consider yourself lucky and envied by the rest of us. Morning sickness can last anywhere from 12 to 16 weeks. This might feel like forever, but just get cozy with your toilet bowl and start counting down the weeks.
To help ease the nausea of morning sickness try eating frequent, small meals that are high in carbs. Eat before you get up in the morning, while you’re still in bed. Not ice cream, but crackers or arrowroot cookies are good. Drink, drink, drink a ton of fluids (of the non-alcoholic variety of course!)
2nd Trimester:
Many of the 1st trimester discomforts are gone! Celebrate, but prepare yourself for a few new ones:
Gas. It was never your friend and now it’s just an unwanted guest. Feeling gassy or constipated is normal. Try to avoid carbonated drinks and eat foods high in fibre.
Leg cramps often hit at night and simple stretching could help alleviate the discomfort. Try having a banana or some milk before bed, a lack of calcium and potassium has been linked to muscle cramps. And the added nutrients are good for you anyway!
There is more “moisture” down there, and this phase can last the whole 40 weeks and then some. You can use an unscented panty liner – never a tampon – for some extra fem protection. If it’s a bit funky, then call your doctor as yeast infections are common in pregnancy.
You are not eating for two. You are eating for one and a wee bit extra, so if you keep telling yourself that you can binge because there’s two of you, well it’s a good excuse but you’ll just gain more weight. At this point in your pregnancy try eating more protein and calcium and moderate your carbs. Avoid too many starchy carbohydrates like breads, pasta and potatoes. They say a woman of average weight before she is pregnant will gain 25-30lbs during her pregnancy. They forget to tell you that it will all be in your thighs.
Sex? How do you think this happened in the first place? Sex is possible, but not probable. You’re likely too tired, but you might be one of those high-energy women that we all thought were an urban myth. So if you can, then go for it!
3rd Trimester:
If they offered frequent flyer points for your pee trips to the bathroom, you’d be giving birth in Barbados with Cabana boys all around.
You may experience shortness of breath because the baby is invading your rib cage. This can also cause a burning sensation in your throat.
Your legs are massive. Sorry, but you can justify it by knowing that you need sturdy legs to carry and balance your belly. Who wants thin and frail legs when sturdy ones are so functional? Your feet, ankles and hands might swell too.
The baby is putting extra pressure on your rectum, this coupled with a tendency for constipation may contribute to hemorrhoids. Lots of fibre and fluids will help.
You feel like you’ve been pregnant for half your adult life. With all of today’s modern technologies and breakthroughs there is still no way to speed up the process, but it’s almost over and you’ll be one of those women who says, “My pregnancy wasn’t bad at all! I felt fine!”
Birth
A few days before your scheduled due date, visit a spa and pamper yourself. If people are going to look at you from the worst angle, at least they can admire your impeccable grooming.
Drugs don’t make you weak - just a little friendlier!
If you don’t have time to pack before you rush to the hospital have someone pack a bag for you.
Bring a camera. And film. And batteries.
It is absolutely all worth it in the end and you might find yourself planning the next one!