By Guest Blogger: Serena D. Tidwell M.D, Midtown OB/GYN
Tips for First Time Moms
Becoming a first time Mom is such an exciting and scary time! Thankfully there are tons of sources of information available. I would divide tips for first time Moms into “Phases” – pre-pregnancy, during pregnancy and the labor and delivery experience.
Phase 1: Pre-pregnancy
In my practice, I see a lot of planned pregnancies but I also see a lot of surprise pregnancies. Studies suggest about 49% of pregnancies overall in the U.S. are unplanned. For women who plan a pregnancy I would recommend:
- Start taking folic acid (400 mcg) when you decide to try to become pregnant.
- Make sure all wellness care is up to date (general physical, PAP smear, etc)
- If you are on any long term medications (thyroid, blood pressure, etc) then discuss with your medical provider safety in pregnancy.
- Stop smoking!!
For women who have a surprise pregnancy we recommend starting folic acid ASAP and we evaluate the medications and adjust if needed.
Once you are pregnant, or perhaps before you get pregnant, think about your preferred choice for a pregnancy provider. Thankfully in our community we have excellent OBGYNs and Midwives, and it really is a personal decision for each Mom which of those is a better fit. Once you have that positive pregnancy test call your provider to schedule that first appointment.
Phase 2: During Pregnancy
Moving on to during pregnancy – I think one of the more confusing decisions to most new Moms is the availability of many “optional” screening tests – for cystic fibrosis, Down Syndrome and other potential problems with the baby. I see patients struggle with “what is best”. Truly, what is best as far as testing goes is what you are comfortable with. Medically, we aren’t going to do anything differently based on whether or not you have optional screening tests. If you have questions about the pros and cons of doing these tests then discuss with your OB provider until you are comfortable in making your decision.
Once you have made your decision about testing (which is usually early in pregnancy) then most prenatal care after that is very routine for low risk patients. I strongly encourage all patients to write down any questions that come up so you can discuss with your OB provider at your appointments.
As the pregnancy progresses we see many patients who continue to work. We strongly support anyone’s decision to continue working but realistically I think Moms need to look at reducing work demands after 36 weeks simply due to fatigue and advancing pregnancy.
Phase 3: Labor & Delivery
As you approach your due date most people start thinking a lot about the delivery process. In our office, I order an Ultrasound for
my patients at 37 weeks. I think this is helpful to make sure the baby is vertex (head down) and get an estimated fetal weight. It’s also a good time to do a test of fetal well being. After that ultrasound, I ask my patients “If you had your magic wand tell me what your delivery experience would look like”. That’s when we talk thru thoughts about epidurals, natural labor, C-Sections, etc.
I strongly encourage patients who want to avoid a C-Section to avoid an “elective” induction of labor. This will increase the risk of C-Section, especially in first time Moms. There are some patients who will have a medical indication for induction and obviously that is a different story. For patients who want natural labor, I encourage them to await spontaneous labor. For patients that want to avoid an epidural I support that; however, I encourage them to keep options open so that if they change their mind while in labor they won’t feel like that is not an option.
Being a first time Mom is such a fun time. This is a very short version of a few tips for pregnancy and delivery. Taking your baby home starts a whole new phase of finding your “Mom Style”.
One Final Thought
And, one final thought on pregnancy in general – everyone, literally EVERYONE will have advice or comments for you. From “you look huge” to “you don’t look big enough” to “don’t do this” to “absolutely do this”. Try to take it all with a smile and find your own path during pregnancy.
Dr. Serena Tidwell is an OB/GYN with Midtown OB/GYN. She completed residency at Wake Forest University after graduating from The Medical College of Georgia and Emory University. She is the 2013 winner of our Choice Award for Best OB/GYN.
Image Sources: istockphoto.com
