Throughout pregnancy, sometimes it seems as if you can’t eat a meal, exert yourself in any way or do simple household tasks without Googling, “[Insert concern] while pregnant.” Now that I have my three-month-old little boy in my arms, I have even more things to Google!
I thought it would be insightful to scroll through my search history and take up some of these compulsive Googling sessions with one of my amazing OB-GYNs at Mercy Health, Dr. Kathleen Piazza. Talking with your doctor lends more clarity to these nuanced concerns than sifting through the unwieldy world of internet opinions.
How many calories should you consume in each trimester? You only need about 300 extra calories a day to support a healthy pregnancy. For women that start their pregnancy at an unhealthy BMI— so say they’re considered class one obesity or class two obesity— it’s okay for them to even lose weight in pregnancy versus gaining weight. No need to gain as much weight as somebody who was underweight prior to getting pregnant, for example.
How many corn dogs is it okay to eat per day while pregnant? I’m afraid I overindulge with this one… the jury’s still out on that. I would say a corn dog probably doesn’t have as much nutritional value as a lot of other food choices, so I recommend everything in moderation, especially if that’s the only thing your body allows you to eat; some women have a lot of food aversions during their pregnancies.
To what extent do your organs shift throughout pregnancy? Pretty much every internal organ in your abdomen is going to get shifted a bit because your uterus becomes significantly bigger. A normal uterus, outside of pregnancy, is a little bit smaller than your fist. You can imagine how big a uterus gets with a full size baby and how your body adjusts to accommodate that.
How to fight constipation while pregnant: I know a lot of people like to go towards Benefiber or Metamucil, but fiber is kind of tricky. If you’re not drinking enough water, fiber has the opposite response for your body, so I would try Miralax first.
What percentage of first-time-moms give birth before their due date? It’s rare to have moms deliver exactly on their due date. Unfortunately, women nowadays have more health problems than women did 50 years ago, so we do have a lot of medical reasons to deliver babies earlier than the 40 week mark— so a significantly higher percentage deliver before 40 weeks than after 40 weeks.
When is the best time to start and end your maternity leave? We’ve done studies that show the longer you’re able to work before the birth, the more likely you are to take the pregnancy later into term. We know that it’s better for your body to get up every day and keep moving, doing the things you need to do versus being more sedentary. Your body is very easily deconditioned, so if you’re able to work up until your due date, that’s the best option. It really depends on how much time you have off and how you want to spend it that time.
Do I need to have a pediatrician picked out before the baby is born? There are lists of providers for you to pick from before the baby’s born; however, I would say most women are given that same list while they’re in the hospital after they’ve had the baby. Pediatricians who are accepting new patients are very good about getting babies in within their first week of life.
What do I need to bring to the hospital? Bring in a tablet or a computer to watch movies. Snacks and your own big water jug, that’s what I suggest before delivery.
Definitely bring comfortable pajamas. If you plan to breastfeed, you want to have a comfortable nursing bra, maybe some bigger sanitary napkins. You might also want to bring your own shampoo, conditioner and toiletries that you prefer. Bring slippers, a bathrobe and a blanket. Then, of course, bring whatever baby clothes you want. They do provide diapers at the hospital, but if you want to use your own brand of diapers or certain brands of formula, onesies or an outfit to put the baby in, bring those items. You’ll definitely need the car seat for the baby to go home in as well.
