All Things Pregnancy

Pregnancy and the decision to have kids has always been something I have both looked forward to and feared. I am the youngest of five girls so I never really grew up around babies. I love being an aunt so I’m great when they are rolling around or walking, but being responsible for a newborn scares me. Labor also is a something I am quiet nervous about. However, I find comfort in what Elder Neil L. Andersen (2011) said and knowing it is an act of faith to have children.

“We express deep gratitude for the enormous faith shown by husbands and wives (especially our wives) in their willingness to have children. When to have a child and how many children to have are private decisions to be made between a husband and wife and the Lord. These are sacred decisions—decisions that should be made with sincere prayer and acted on with great faith.”

Below are stages to be aware of when it comes to pregnancy, concerns or issues I could face, and how I plan to address these.

Developmental Stages

• Fertilization of the ovum. After ejaculation, hundreds of sperm reach the ovum and can live up to six days. Fertilization occurs within 24 hours after ovulation.
• Prenatal Development. This is the 40 weeks or 9 months of the baby’s growth before delivery. They are also segmented into three trimesters. At around 25-38 weeks, a baby a chance of surviving outside the womb.

The most critical period is the Embryonic Stage between 3-8 weeks. This is when all the vital organs are forming and it is important for the mother to avoid any exposure to teratogens. Below is a list of things to avoid.

• Alcohol and Drugs (narcotics)
• Nicotine (increases heart rate +120 beats/min) – associated with low birth weight (below 5lbs)
• Caffeine (more than 84 oz. per day)
  • Associated with low birth weight
  • Irritability in neonate
    • Coke, Dr. Pepper, coffee, tea, energy drinks, chocolate, energy quick shots
    • Don’t binge on chocolate
• Avoid over the counter drugs
  • Only take drugs perscribed by obstetrician
• Avoid Aspirin, IB
  • Associated with low birth weight
  • Bleeding in mother’s stomach
  • Linked to lower I.Q, attention deficits, low motor skills
  • Can take Tylenol
• Avoid Cleaning products
• Foods to Avoid
  • No sushi
  • Raw food
  • Hot dogs or lunch meat (bacteria)
  • Unpasteurized diary (brie, feta etc)
  • Large fish (swordfish, shark, tuna fish, tile fish)
  • Supplements – *Can have a prenatal vitamin

• Pregnancy Weight Gain. “Mothers only need 300 extra calories per day to actually maintain a pregnancy,” according to the New Pregnancy Weight Guidelines as of May 28, 2009.Institute of Medicine (IOM) – The first time the IOM has issued pregnancy weight guidelines since 1990. The following guidelines for pregnancy weight gain are based on a woman’s BMI ( body mass index) before becoming pregnant with one baby:
  

  Underweight:       Gain 28-40 pounds
  Normal weight:    Gain 25-35 pounds
  Overweight:          Gain 15-25 pounds
  Obese:                    Gain 11-20 pound

  

  If a baby is born too large, their can be birth injury for the baby and mother. It is important to exercise and eat healthy before, during, and after pregnancy.

• Childbirth.
  • Stage 1: Effacement and Dilation of Cervix, Transition
    • Effacement is the thinning, shortening, and drawing up of the cervix measured from 0-100%.
    • Cervical dilation is the thinning and opening of the cervix measure from 0-10 cms.
    • Contractions: muscles of the uterus contract
      • Thins the cervix
      • Dilation of the cervix
      • Pushing the neonate out
      • Expulsion of the placenta
      • Stage 2: Pushing, birth of baby.
      • Stage 3: Delivery of the Placenta.
• Types of Childbirth 
  • Medicated Deliveries
    • Cesarean: For prolonged labor or complications with baby’s position, small pelvic region, large head.
    • Spinal Block: In spinal canal, one time dose of anesthetic, effects immediately, short acting.
    • Epidural: In epidural space, catheter allows continuous infusion, takes 10-15 minutes, lasts throughout labor.
  • Natural Childbirth
    • Lamaze Method: lessens the pain, breathing techniques, husband trained to be a coach. Learn more here.
    • Bradley Method: teaches positive attitudes, to relax and not fight the pain, uses gravity to help with birthing. Learn more here.
    • Home Birth: Difficult to anticipate if you have complications. Learn more here.
    • Birth Centers: Feels like a home, relaxed atmosphere, more intimate feel. No electronic monitoring. Learn more here.
    • Mid-wife: Certified nurse-midwife. Learn more here.
    • Doula: Trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the mom before, during, and after birth. Learn more here.

Concerns or Issues with Pregnancy

1. Infertility has always been a fear of mine. This can be due to hormone imbalance, ovum or sperm not produced or viable, blocked fallopian tubes (female), blocked defernens (male). What can I do if this is a problem we face?
2. Having a healthy baby is also a concern. Exposure to teratogens could hurt the development of my baby. I want to do all I can to help the baby develop fully and correctly.
3. To be honest, I am terrified for the labor portion. I hate needles and get super woozy whenever the idea of an epidural, spinal, or cesarean get brought up.

Addressing Concerns or Issues

1. While infertility can be frustrating and sad, one can receive treatment for infertility. Medication, intrauterine insemination, or assisted reproductive technology are all option and definitely something to look into if we ever face infertility (Walker, lecture 8). Also, I would consider looking into adoption as well. The CDC also offers great information that can be found here about infertility.
2. My husband and I are already planning when we are going to have children, so knowing ahead of time when we will start trying will help me prepare so that I can avoid teratogens and other harmful substances. If I make sure to have the list I included above on our kitchen fridge, it will remind me to stay clear of those items. I think it is just better to avoid things that could be harmful all together while you are trying to get pregnant anyways. I think another way to help the development of my baby is to “live a healthy lifestyle that consists of appropriate levels of exercise, healthy eating habits, and avoidance of damaging substances.”  (Brooks, 2013, p. 122) I should strive to exercise and eat healthy now because it will make pregnancy and birth easier. A note on exercising to remember is to try to keep my heart rate no higher than 140 while pregnant. (Walker, lecture 8).
3. I have to remember that having an epidural or medicated help isn’t the only option. There are many other great options that work for some women. It may or may not work for me. That is something I will have to explore with the help of my husband. I plan to look into the different methods like the Lamaze or Bradley mentioned above (Walker, lecture 8) . I want to be in a hospital where they can help if there are complications. Here are summaries of pros and cons of epidurals and spinal anesthetic procedures from American Pregnancy and Childbirth Solutions.

Reference unless otherwise sited/linked:

• Walker, L. Class lecture 8: Pregnancy and Childbirth, School of Family Life 240: Parent Child Guidance, Winter 2017