Your Pregnancy
Congratulations! Your pregnancy is a time of exciting change and the beginning of a life long journey. Your body is going though many changes and knowing what is normal and what to be expected will hopefully remove any unnecessary concerns. As the OB GYN San Antonio TX women trust most during their pregnancy, we are here for you every step of the way to answer questions and give you the right guidance.
During your pregnancy you may want to avoid any medications unless they are absolutely necessary. You may take Tylenol sparingly for minor aches and pains, however you should avoid Aspirin and Ibuprofen. If you have a persistent temperature over 100.4 taken on two separate occasions, you should contact our office so we may rule out any illness related to your pregnancy. For additional medication usage, please refer to the “Medication use in Pregnancy Sheet”.
During your pregnancy you should also avoid the following:
- smoking
- alcohol
- douching or use of tampons
- cat litter boxes
- consumption of raw meats
- hot tubs and saunas
- non-pasteurized cheeses and dairy products (listeria risk)
- consumption of tuna steaks, tilefish, king mackerel or shark (these are high in mercury)
You should limit your intake of artificial sweeteners such as saccharin, aspartame and sucralose. We do not have sufficient evidence of the safety or potential harm of these products relative to pregnancy.
Caffeine consumption should be limited to the equivalent of 2 or fewer caffeinated beverages per day. Excessive caffeine intake of greater than 6 or more servings per day has been shown in some controversial studies to be associated with pregnancy loss.
When seeing another physician, please advise them that you are pregnant and feel free to clear all prescriptions with our office.
Avoid having any unnecessary x-rays performed. If an x-ray needs to be done, be sure to advise the technician of your pregnancy and shield the abdomen with a lead drape if possible.
- Teeth
- If you have not seen your dentist in the past year, we advise that you do so after your first prenatal visit. Poor dental hygiene gets worse during pregnancy and has been associated with premature birth. Fillings and extractions may be done safely. Your dentist may use local anesthetic and properly shielded x-rays without danger to your baby. If any questions arise, have your dentist call us.
- Work
- Fortunately, most women with normal pregnancies are able to continue to work throughout their pregnancy. There are a few job situations that require modifications. If you are concerned about your particular job requirements, discuss them with your doctor. If you require job modification or discontinuance, we will give you a written statement to that effect.
- Childbirth Classes
- These are available through the hospital and are recommended. There are also private classes available. They provide information regarding the process of childbirth, anesthesia methods and modes of delivery. Classes on other topics such as infant CPR, breastfeeding, childcare and car seat usage are also available.
- Travel
- It is fine to travel during your pregnancy (including air travel), unless otherwise advised. After 34 weeks, we ask that you stay close to both your hospital and your doctor.
- Exercise
- Exercise is safe in pregnancy, however you should not start any new exercise program during your pregnancy. You should avoid any exercises lying flat on your back after 20 weeks and you ideally want to keep your heart rate below 140. You should avoid all contact sports, water and snow skiing or horseback riding. Use common sense in your exercise regimen.
- Diet
- A weight gain of 2-3 pounds per month or a total of 20-25 pounds is desirable. Women who are overweight when they become pregnant may not need to gain this much and women who are underweight at the beginning may need to gain more. Weight reduction is never advised during pregnancy. A diet high in protein and low in carbohydrates and fat is best during pregnancy. Adequate calcium can be obtained through the diet alone. 2- 3 glasses of low fat or skim milk a day is recommended. If you cannot drink milk other good sources of calcium are yogurt, hard cheeses, or orange juices with added calcium. If you still cannot get enough dietary calcium, please add a calcium supplement.
