The first pregnancy can come with excitement, especially if you planned for it and expected it. You may get a bit nervous but anxious to provide your baby with the best environment for healthy and steady development.
The most accurate resource you can get the best answers for any concerns about your first pregnancy is a women’s specialist clinic with a good reputation like Dr.Tan Poh Kok (PK Tan) PK Women’s Specialist Clinic. Here the providers will help you model an excellent prenatal care program for you and the baby.
Every woman is different, though, so a good clinic should custom-tailor the program to suit your needs. One of the things that would happen at your first pregnancy appointment include pregnancy confirmation.
Do note that pregnancy confirmation at the women’s clinic is necessary even if you’ve had at-home tests which came back positive. You can also expect the doctors to check your overall health and review you and your family’s health and medical history.
Therefore, you can expect to answer quite a lot of questions on your visit to the women’s clinic when you’re pregnant. You shouldn’t really worry about the nature of questions you can expect at the facility since they’re straight forward so you won’t struggle to respond to them.
What do I need to know about my Pregnancy?
Now, there is quite a lot to learn about pregnancy, especially if it’s the first one. There are also many misconceptions about pregnancy, so the only good source you can trust with pregnancy advice is the women’s clinic near you.
Be sure to follow the guidelines your provider will provide religiously. Here are six essential things the obstetrician at your women’s clinic will want you to know about pregnancy.
I. Doubling your Food Intake When Pregnant Isn’t Necessary
You must have come across claims that, when you’re pregnant, you’re eating for two; therefore, you will need to basically eat twice more than you normally eat to take care of your baby’s nutritional needs as well. Now, your OB-GYN will give you an estimate of the correct amount of vitamins or nutrients you should be getting when pregnant.
For instance, they may recommend around just 300 extra calories in your second trimester. For the third trimester, you can benefit from around 500 extra calories.
Care should be taken when choosing the best foods to eat when pregnant to avoid possible complications during pregnancy or delivery. For example, gaining too much weight during pregnancy isn’t advisable since it may increase your risks of pregnancy-related complications like diabetes and high blood pressure.
In extreme cases, gaining excessive weight may make natural delivery very complicated or even riskier for you. This implies that your best bet would be a C-section delivery.
II. Dental Care is Still Important
Several women put off dental care during pregnancy due to beliefs that the dental care programs could hurt their babies. Again this isn’t accurate as your dental care does not in any way affect your baby’s development.
You also need dedicated dental care to have good overall health. Procedures like dental X-rays with Lidocaine and abdominal shielding will not harm your baby.
Therefore, if you need dental care, do not postpone them to a later date unless your doctor advises against such treatments. As a general rule, you can still get oral care services like dental cleaning, tooth extraction, cavity treatments etc.
III. You can Still Drink Coffee when Pregnant
Caffeine is usually not recommended for pregnant women because it is a stimulant and can increase your heart rate and blood pressure. These effects are not safe during pregnancy.
Caffeine is also not recommended for pregnant women because there are concerns that it can increase your urination frequencies, something which may cause fluid levels in your body to drop. When this happens, you will have higher risks of dehydration.
Despite these risks, most pregnant women crave coffee, and you may experience the same if you are an avid coffee drinker. Now, the doctors at the women’s clinic may give you the nod to continue drinking coffee if you can drink it with moderation.
For instance, you may only be approved to continue drinking coffee even during pregnancy if you can maintain consuming just 200mg of caffeine each day. In this case, you will need to consume around eight 8oz each day which equals consuming just 163 mg of caffeine.
IV. Signs of Preterm Labor
Preterm labor isn’t something you’d want to get into, but it is also a possibility, so it is something that the provider at your women’s clinic would want you to know about during the appointment. The ob-gyn at the facility will explain the signs to you.
Some of the signs that the women’s specialist will want you to know in this case include vaginal bleeding and very painful cramps that don’t seem to be stopping. You should contact your OB-GYN immediately when you get these symptoms.
You shouldn’t really get scared if there is a risk of preterm delivery. The women’s clinic will give you important medications that will help improve your preterm baby’s health.
V. You should not Stop Exercising
Exercising during pregnancy won’t harm your baby. However, there are a few exercises that the specialist at your women’s clinic may not recommend.
For example, if you love downhill skiing, scuba diving or hot yoga, the provider may want you to stop them for some time since they’re not safe for you. Instead of this, they may recommend walking to improve your body, the mind and help you build endurance.
Other than exercises, your doctor will want you to understand that water is still necessary even though you may find the taste unappealing. You need the water to keep your system hydrated and avoid risks like preterm labor, which are common effects of dehydration.
VI. You may still get Cramps after Delivery
Cramping after delivery may seem unusual, but it is normal. Your uterus will still contract after delivery as it attempts to get back to its natural size, and this best explains why you’d still get cramps. You can expect the cramping to last for 24 to 72 hours after delivery.
Find a Good Clinic for your Appointment
Do you have any concerns about pregnancy that you would want an OB-GYN to address? Let us know now to help you book an appointment for the consultation.
PK Women’s Specialist Clinic @ The Venue
2 Tai Thong Cres, #01-12 The Venue Shoppes, Singapore 347836
+65 6636 9909
