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goachmuongmi.epbi.etPregnancy Day by Day Count Down Your Pregnancy Day by
Day with Advice from a Team of Experts
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Contents
How to use this e-book
Introduction
How to use this book
A healthy pregnancy
Pregnancy day by day
Welcome to your first trimester
Welcome to your second trimester
Welcome to your third trimester
Labor and birth
Life with your new baby
Concerns and complications
Glossary
Resources
Acknowledgments
Copyright
g CONTENTS
Introduction
When you find out that you are pregnant, you may feel excited and a little fearful of the unknown.
Rest assured that most women have straightforward pregnancies, have uncomplicated births,
and deliver a healthy baby. This book provides clear, unbiased, and, where possible, evidence-
based advice to support you through the journey. The information has been written by a variety
of health-care professionals, all of whom have contributed to the safe care of women in
pregnancy and during birth, as well as taking care of newborn infants over many years. I thank
them for their contributions.
This book gives guidance when planning a pregnancy and discusses the normal symptoms
that many, if not all, women experience. Straightforward advice is given on the many practical
aspects of pregnancy, such as how to choose a place of birth and issues to consider to ensure the
safety of mother and baby.
Some women, in particular circumstances, may need additional information and knowledge.
In this new edition, the existing text has been supplemented by descriptions of the new tests
available in pregnancy. There is also information on the additional monitoring and interventions
that are now performed if there are any complications that may impact on the health of the
mother or her unborn baby.
Over 30 percent of women now give birth either by a planned or an emergency Cesarean
section, so there is updated information on why a woman might need a Cesarean, what the
process involves, a description of any complications, and a more detailed section on the recovery.
Induction of labor rates continue to increase, so more information has been provided on why a
woman might need to be induced and a description of the steps involved.
Also in this new edition, we have introduced an emphasis on the monitoring of fetal
movements and screening for poor growth in the unborn baby, which can help to reduce the risk
of stillbirth. There is also additional guidance provided on the situations in which women should
seek urgent help.
I hope this book helps you to navigate one of the most exciting journeys that any woman can
undertake.
Dr. Maggie Blott
g CONTENTS
How to use this book
This book starts with guidance on how to enjoy a healthy and safe pregnancy, with
lifestyle advice that often applies to the preconceptual period too. The core section of
the book gives a day-by-day account of pregnancy with detailed explanations of the
physical and emotional changes that take place in your body along with fascinating
insights into how your baby develops within the uterus. A labor and birth chapter takes
you through the delivery of your baby, followed by a summary of the first two weeks
with your newborn. A final chapter deals with concerns and complications in the
mother and baby in pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period.
A healthy pregnancy
This chapter provides the information you need to make lifestyle choices that will
maximize your own health throughout pregnancy and give your baby the best possible
start in life. It includes guidelines for exercising safely, eating healthily, avoiding
hazards, and dealing with illnesses. It also addresses concerns you may have about how
the emotional and physical changes of pregnancy may impact your relationships.
Learn simple ways to relax and tune in to your body. As well as being essential to your physical and mental well-being, exercise
or physical activity will help you prepare for labor and birth.
Pregnancy day by day
Here, the book takes you day by day through the extraordinary story of conception and
pregnancy, counting down each of the 280 days until the onset of labor. Each day
reveals how your baby is developing and the changes that are occurring in your body.
The 280 days, or 40 weeks, of pregnancy are divided into three trimesters, each of
which comprises around a third of the pregnancy. Beyond being a simple measure of
time, each trimester represents a distinct phase in the development of the baby and in
the pregnancy.
The first trimester The definition of the first trimester is given here as weeks 1–12,
though you may also see weeks 13 and 14 included elsewhere. This trimester covers the
time from the beginning of the menstrual period to the moment of conception, which is
usually around two weeks. Because the exact moment of conception is unknown,
pregnancy is counted from the one definite date, the beginning of the menstrual cycle.
Although technically your pregnancy may not begin until two weeks into your
menstrual cycle, these two weeks are very important in helping your body achieve a
healthy pregnancy. In this section, we explain day by day the changes that take place in
your uterus to prepare it for conception and implantation of the early embryo. There is
dietary advice and recommendations from fertility experts to boost your chances of
conceiving. The first trimester is a period of extraordinary development, when all your
baby’s major organs form, and they will grow faster than at any other period in life. A
day-by-day account is given of the changes that you and your baby undergo, and
advice offered on how to cope with the exhausting changes that occur in early
pregnancy. There’s also an honest appraisal of the emotional feelings you’re likely to
experience, reassuring you that negative as well as positive emotions are normal.
Practical information on accessing prenatal care and detailed explanations of the
choices that are available help you begin to plan your pregnancy and think about your
options for the birth.
The second trimester In the second trimester, which is designated as weeks 13–25,
your baby’s organs mature further and growth continues. This is an exciting time as
your body starts to change shape to accommodate your growing baby and you feel your
baby move for the first time. However, it is also a time when women can experience
symptoms that are often due to quite normal pregnancy changes but that can
occasionally indicate a problem. For example, abdominal pain can be due to ligaments
being stretched or to constipation; however, it could also indicate a problem with the
placenta. Symptoms such as these are discussed at the relevant point in pregnancy,
with detailed explanations that will provide reassurance or alert you to the possibility
of something more serious that should be brought to the attention of your doctor.
The third trimester In the third trimester, designated as weeks 26–40, your baby
continues to grow and mature and, if born early, could survive life outside the uterus.
During this time, your body starts to prepare itself for labor. We describe the changes
taking place and explain why they occur, as well as providing pointers to what is
normal and which symptoms need to be reported to your doctor. Women recount their
experiences, and questions that are presented daily to doctors are reproduced to
provide a bank of vital knowledge. Practical guidance on all matters, from maternity
leave entitlement information to reassurance that having sex won’t harm the growing
baby, helps you navigate your way through the final weeks of pregnancy.
With amazing fetal images and fascinating facts, you can follow your baby’s development throughout your pregnancy.
Labor and birth
One of the best ways to cope with labor is to understand its stages. In the labor and
birth chapter, a team of professionals covers in detail the progress of labor, each
providing their own expert insight. A doctor writes about normal births and discusses
natural pain relief. An anesthesiologist gives the options available for medical pain
relief, including detailed descriptions of how epidurals are given and their pros and
cons. While most women have a normal birth without complications, on average in the
US over 30 percent have a Cesarean section, and less than 1 in 20 women have an
assisted delivery, with either forceps or vacuum extraction. An obstetrician writes
ffi
about difficult births, describing complications and the medical interventions that may
be required.
The first two weeks
Here, the early days as you adjust to life with your new baby are charted in the day-by-
day format. A pediatrician addresses the practical issues of baby care. Also discussed
are the emotional and physical renewal you undergo as your body recovers and you
begin the new tasks of nurturing and feeding your baby.
Discover how to make the most of those precious early days with your newborn baby. Amidst the constant newborn care and
interrupted sleep, take time to strengthen your bond and just enjoy being together.
Concerns and complications
This section is a concise guide to conditions in pregnancy and labor, and postpartum
concerns in the mother and baby. Clear explanations enable you to digest medical
information, understand which symptoms are not of concern, and feel reassured about
how more serious conditions are managed in pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum
period.
g CONTENTS
A HEALTHY
PREGNANCY
With an ever-growing body of knowledge on how a mother’s
behavior in pregnancy impacts her baby’s immediate and long-term
health, you have the opportunity to ensure that your lifestyle
choices positively benefit your baby. Eating healthily, exercising
regularly, and avoiding hazards will all help give your baby the best
possible start in life.
A Healthy Pregnancy | CONTENTS
Your pregnancy diet
Exercising safely
Sex and relationships
Illnesses and medication
Lifestyle hazards
Skin, hair, and teeth
Traveling in pregnancy
g A HEALTHY PREGNANCY g CONTENTS
Your pregnancy diet
You can optimize your own health and your baby’s future health by eating a nutritious,
balanced diet throughout pregnancy.
In recent years, much has been learned about what constitutes a healthy diet in
pregnancy. In addition to the importance of nutrients such as folic acid, evidence is
mounting that a person’s health may be influenced by the mother’s diet, including
whether particular nutrients were received at certain times. Good nutrition in
pregnancy may reduce a baby’s future risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, as
well as help you deal with the demands of pregnancy.
Eating regular nutritious food, such as smoothies, is vital during pregnancy to keep your energy levels up, and to provide your
growing baby with all he needs to develop well.
A healthy diet
f f
