Timelines

A pregnancy is divided into three phases, or trimesters. The first trimester is from conception to the end of week 13. The second trimester is from week 14 to the end of week 26. The third trimester is from week 27 to the end of the pregnancy.

The doctor will examine you and perform a pelvic exam. He or she may also perform blood tests, a urine test, and tests for sexually transmitted disease, including a test for HIV, which is on the rise in teens. (Some STDs can cause serious medical problems in newborns, so it’s vital to get treatment to protect the baby.)

The doctor will clarify the types of physical and emotional changes you can expect during pregnancy. He or she will also teach you to how to recognize the signs of possible problems during pregnancy (called complications). This is especially vital because teens are more at risk for certain complications, such as anemia, high blood pressure, and delivering a baby earlier than usual (called premature delivery).

Your doctor will want you to start taking prenatal vitamins that contain folic acid, calcium, and iron as soon as possible. The doctor may prescribe the vitamins or recommend a brand that you can buy over the counter. These vitamins and minerals help ensure the baby’s and mother’s health as well as prevent some types of birth defects.

Ideally, you should see your doctor once each month for the first 28 weeks of your pregnancy, then every 2 weeks until 36 weeks, then once a week until you deliver the baby. If you have a medical condition such as diabetes that needs careful monitoring during your pregnancy, your doctor will probably want to see you more often.

During visits, your doctor will check your weight, blood pressure, and urine, and will measure your abdomen to keep track of the baby’s growth. Once the baby’s heartbeat can be heard with a special device, the doctor will listen for it at each visit. Your doctor will probably also send you for some other tests during the pregnancy, such as an ultrasound, to make sure that everything is OK with your baby.

One part of prenatal care is attending classes where expectant mothers can learn about having a healthy pregnancy and delivery and the basics of caring for a new baby. These classes may be offered at hospitals, medical centers, schools, and colleges in your area.

It can be hard for adults to talk to their doctors about their bodies and even more hard for teens to do so. Your doctor is there to help you stay healthy during pregnancy and have a healthy baby — and there’s probably not much he or she hasn’t heard from expectant mothers! So don’t be worried to question questions.

Be upfront when your doctor questions questions, even if they seem embarrassing. A lot of the issues the doctor brings up could affect your baby’s health. Reckon of your doctor both as a resource and a friend who you can confide in about what’s happening to you.

Changes to Expect in Your Body

Pregnancy causes lots of physical changes in the body. Here are some common ones:

Breast Growth

An increase in breast size is one of the first signs of pregnancy, and the breasts may continue to grow throughout the pregnancy. You may go up several bra sizes during the course of your pregnancy.

Skin Changes

Don’t be surprised if people tell you your skin is “glowing” when you are pregnant — pregnancy causes an increase in blood volume, which can make your cheeks a small pinker than usual. And hormonal changes increase oil gland secretion, which can give your skin a shinier appearance. Acne is also common during pregnancy for the same reason.

Other skin changes caused by pregnancy hormones may include brownish or yellowish patches on the face called chloasma and a dark line on the midline of the lower abdomen, known as thelinea nigra.

Also, moles or freckles that you had prior to pregnancy may become larger and darker. Even the areola, the area around the nipples, becomes darker. Stretch marks are thin pink or purplish lines that can appear on your abdomen, breasts, or thighs.

Except for the darkening of the areola, which can last, these skin changes will usually disappear after you give birth.

Mood Swings

It’s very common to have mood swings during pregnancy. Some girls may also experience depression during pregnancy or after delivery. If you have symptoms of depression such as sadness, changes in sleep patterns, thoughts of hurting yourself, or terrible feelings about yourself or your life, tell your doctor so he or she can help you to get treatment.

Pregnancy Discomforts

Pregnancy can cause some uncomfortable side effects. These include:

  • nausea and vomiting (especially early in the pregnancy)
  • leg swelling
  • varicose veins in the legs and the area around the vaginal opening
  • hemorrhoids
  • heartburn and constipation
  • backache
  • fatigue
  • sleep loss

If you have one or more of these side effects, keep in mind that you’re not alone! Question your doctor for advice on how to deal with these common problems.

If you are pregnant and have bleeding or pain, call the doctor immediately, even if you are not plotting to continue the pregnancy.

Things to Avoid in pregnancy

Smoking, drinking alcohol, and taking drugs when you are pregnant place you and your baby at risk for a number of serious problems.

Alcohol

Doctors now believe that it’s not safe to drink any amount of alcohol when you are pregnant. Drinking can harm a developing fetus, putting a baby at risk for birth defects and mental problems.

Smoking

The risks of smoking during pregnancy include stillbirths (when a baby dies while inside the mother), low birth weight (which increases a baby’s risk for health problems), prematurity (when babies are born earlier than 37 weeks), and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). SIDS is the sudden, unexplained death of an infant who is younger than 1 year ancient.

Drugs

Using illegal drugs such as cocaine or marijuana during pregnancy can cause miscarriage, prematurity, and other medical problems. Babies can also be born addicted to certain drugs.

Question your doctor for help if you are having distress quitting smoking, drinking, or drugs. Check with your doctor before taking any medication while you are pregnant, including over-the-counter medications, herbal remedies and supplements, and vitamins.

Unsafe Sex

Talk to your doctor about sex during pregnancy. If your doctor says it’s OK to have sex while you’re pregnant, you must use a condom to help prevent getting an STD. Some STDs can cause blindness, pneumonia, or meningitis in newborns, so it’s vital to protect yourself and your baby.

Taking Care of Yourself During Pregnancy

Eating

Many girls worry about how their bodies look and are worried to gain weight during pregnancy. But now that you are eating for two, this is not a excellent time to cut calories or go on a diet. Both you and your baby need certain nutrients so the baby can grow properly. Eating a variety of healthy foods, drinking plenty of water, and cutting back on high-stout junk foods will help you and your developing baby to be healthy.

Doctors generally recommend adding about 300 calories a day to your diet to provide adequate nourishment for the developing fetus. You should gain about 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy, most of this during the last 6 months — although how much a girl should gain depends on how much she weighed before the pregnancy. Your doctor will advise you based on your individual situation.

Eating additional fiber — 25 to 30 grams a day — and drinking plenty of water can help to prevent common problems such as constipation. Excellent sources of fiber are fresh fruits and vegetables and breads, cereals, or muffins that have lots of whole grain in them.

You’ll need to avoid eating or drinking certain things during pregnancy, such as:

  • certain types of fish, such as swordfish, canned tuna, and other fish that may be high in mercury (your doctor can help you choose which fish you can eat)
  • foods that contain raw eggs, such as mousse or Caesar salad
  • raw or undercooked meat and fish
  • processed meats, such as hot dogs and deli meats
  • soft, unpasteurized cheeses, such as feta, brie, blue, and goat cheese
  • unpasteurized milk, juice, or cider

It’s also a excellent thought to limit artificial sweeteners, and drinks that contain caffeine and artificial sweeteners.

Exercise

Exercising during pregnancy is excellent for you as long as you are having an uncomplicated pregnancy and choose appropriate activities. Doctors generally recommend low-impact activities such as walking, swimming, and yoga. Contact sports and high-impact aerobic activities that pose a greater risk of injury should generally be avoided. Also, working at a job that involves heavy lifting is not recommended for women during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about whether particular types of exercise are safe for you and your baby.

Sleep

It’s vital to get plenty of rest while you are pregnant. Early in your pregnancy, try to get into the habit of sleeping on your side. Lying on your side with your knees bent is likely to be the most comfortable position as your pregnancy progresses. Also, it makes your heart’s job simpler because it keeps the baby’s weight from applying pressure to the large vein that carries blood back to the heart from your feet and legs.

Some doctors recommend that girls who are pregnant sleep on the left side. Because of where some of your major blood vessels are, lying on your left side helps keep the uterus from pressing on them. Question what your doctor recommends — in most cases, lying on either side should do the trick and help take some pressure off your back.

Throughout your pregnancy, but especially toward the end, you may wake up often at night to go to the bathroom. While it’s vital to drink enough water while you’re pregnant, try to drink most of it during the day rather than at night. Use the bathroom right before going to bed. As you get further along in your pregnancy, you might have a hard time getting comfortable in bed. Try positioning pillows around and under your belly, back, or legs to get more comfortable.

Stress can also interfere with sleep. Maybe you’re worried about your baby’s health, about delivery, or about what your new role as a parent will be like. All of these feelings are normal, but they may keep you up at night. Talk to your doctor if you are having problems sleeping during your pregnancy.

Emotional Health

It’s common for pregnant teens to feel a range of emotions, such as dread, rage, guilt, confusion, and sadness. It may take a while to adjust to the fact that you’re going to have a baby. It’s a huge change, and it’s natural for pregnant teens to wonder whether they’re ready to handle the responsibilities that come with being a parent.

How a girl feels often depends on how much support she has from the baby’s father, from her family (and the baby’s father’s family), and from friends. Each girl’s situation is different. Depending on your situation, you may need to seek more support from people outside your family. It’s vital to talk to the people who can support and guide you and help you share and sort through your feelings. Your school counselor or nurse can refer you to resources in your community that can help.

School and the Future

Some girls plot to raise their babies themselves. Sometimes grandparents or other family members help. Some girls choose to give their babies up for adoption. It takes a fantastic deal of courage and concern for the baby to make these hard decisions.

Girls who complete high school are more likely to have excellent jobs and delight in more success in their lives. If possible, end high school now rather than trying to return later. Question your school counselor or an adult you trust for information about programs and classes in your community for pregnant teens.

Some communities have support groups especially for teen parents. Some high schools have child-care centers on campus. Perhaps a family member or friend can care for your baby while you’re in school.

 

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/do-you-have-a-health-pregnancy-2844890.html

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