Pregnancy FAQs

• I think I am pregnant. How soon should I come in for an appointment?

  If you have had a positive pregnancy test at home, call for an appointment for your physical exam with one of the practitioners. If you are not on prenatal vitamins, call for a prescription.

  We encourage you to sign up for the "My Health Record" via our web site if you are not already signed up. This program will allow you access to your medical information so that you can easily make an appointment, ask a question, or review your own lab results. If a lab result is abnormal, we will contact you.

  There are some basic recommendations that you should follow before your OB work up appointment:

  1. Avoid smoking, alcohol and recreational drugs: All of these activities increase the risk of miscarriage, bleeding, smaller babies, premature babies, developmental delays, and other serious complications. Also avoid second hand smoke.

  2. Limit caffeine; Caffeine intake limits the amount of calcium that will be available for your baby. You are advised to only have one serving of caffeine per day.

  3. Avoid Sweet and Low and Sweet One because these are saccharine and not enough data has been collected on their safety. You can use Equal or Splenda in limited quantities.

  4. Avoid NSAIDS - NSAIDS are a group of medications that can be purchased over-the-counter. This group includes Motrin, Advil, Ibuprofen, Aleve, and aspirin. There are certain conditions in which a daily Aspirin is prescribed.

   

• I am transferring from another practice. What information do you need?

  If you are transferring to Atlanta Women's Specialists, we need you to have your records either faxed or mailed to us prior to you visit so we can review them. You will speak to our insurance department prior to your first visit so they can verify your benefits. Your first visit will be with one of our physicians or nurse practitioners.

• Can I see just one physician for my prenatal visits? Will he/she be there for my delivery?

  It is very important that you feel comfortable with your ob care. If you are especially comfortable with one provider, we recommend you see that person as often as you want. Once you reach the 7-month gestational age, you may want to meet all of our OB physicians, but that is really up to you. The physician on call will be the one who will deliver your baby, unless you have a scheduled C/Section.

   

• What happens at each prenatal visit?

  At the first visit, you will receive a complete exam. We'll collect a pap smear if needed and vaginal cultures. You will be given an informational packet which includes genetic information. At the next visit, one of the Obstetrical nurses will review your medical history and discuss the information contained in the packet. A panel of blood tests will be ordered. The ensuing visits are usually shorter visits where we check for fetal heart tones and measure your weight and blood pressure. You will provide a urine sample at each visit (unless you are having an ultrasound). The urine test screens for glucose and protein in your urine and is used to monitor kidney function.

• What over-the-counter medications are safe to take during pregnancy?

  Tylenol is safe to take during pregnancy. Aspirin may also be taken, but only if a physician has directed you to do so.

• Should I be taking vitamins?

  We recommend a daily prenatal vitamin. You may find the prenatal vitamin is tolerated better if you take it at night, before going to bed.

• How do I manage (avoid) heartburn?

  Heartburn is very common and cannot always be avoided. Staying away from highly seasoned foods does help. Eating smaller, more frequent meals and not going to bed immediately after eating may also help.

• How do I manage (avoid) morning sickness?

  There is nothing that you can do to completely prevent morning sickness, but keeping food in your stomach by eating small frequent meals does help. You may find that if you eat and drink at the same time, your nausea will be worse so first eat and then drink. Don't drink large amounts at one time; drink frequent small amounts instead. Avoid spicy highly seasoned foods. Carbohydrates seem to work best in the prevention of nausea. There are safe medications that can be prescribed for nausea and vomiting. For most women, nausea subsides by 12-14 weeks gestation.

• Is sex safe during pregnancy?

  Sex is safe in pregnancy unless you have developed a problem with your pregnancy that requires abstinence. It is common to have spotting sometimes after sex but this should be very light and go away with in a day or so.

• What nutritional advice should I follow?

  All meats should be well cooked. All raw fruits and vegetables should be washed well. Deli meats need to be reheated in a microwave or grilled before eating. Soft cheeses need to be made of pasteurized milk. Fish is safe but you should avoid those that are high in mercury such as Swordfish, Shark, Tilefish or King Mackerel.

  Limit your caffeine to no more than one serving per day. Sweet and Low and Sweet One contain saccharine so it is better to use Equal or Splenda. These should be used in limited amounts.

   

• What seafood is safe to eat during pregnancy?

  Fish and shellfish can be an important part of a balanced diet. It is a good source of high quality protein and other nutrients and is low in fat. The FDA and EPA are advising pregnant women and nursing mothers to eat the types and amounts of fish and shellfish that are safe to prevent harm to the development of their baby or young child. Methyl mercury exposure in the womb, which can result from a mother's consumption of fish and shellfish that contain methyl mercury, can adversely affect a baby's growing brain and nervous system.

  If you follow advice given by FDA and EPA you will gain the positive benefits of eating fish but avoid any developmental problems from mercury in fish.

  To protect your baby follow these 3 rules:

  • Do not eat Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel, or Tilefish.
  • Levels of mercury in other fish can vary. You can safely eat up to 12 ounces (2 to 3 meals) of other purchased fish and shellfish a week. Mix up the types of fish and shellfish you eat and do not eat the same type of fish and shellfish more than once a week.
  • Check local advisories about the safety of fish caught by family and friends in your local rivers and streams. If no advice is available, you can safely eat up to 6 ounces (one meal) per week of fish you catch from local waters, but don't consume any other fish during that week.

  For additional information on the recommendations on fish and shellfish in your diet, you can go to the web site http://www.epa.gov/mercury/advisories.htm

   

• What other situations/environments should I avoid?

  If you have cats and have no one who can change the cat litter, then you must wear gloves to prevent any feces from touching the skin. Cat feces carries a bacteria called toxoplasmosis that can be dangerous to the pregnancy should you contract this bacteria. If you garden, wear gloves to prevent contact with the soil because the soil can also contain certain bacteria. Wash all raw fruits and vegetables well before eating them.

  Avoid Hot tubs and saunas: If you are sweating, it's too hot for the baby.

  Avoid Herbs. Please do not use herbal preparations without first making sure they are allowed. Some herbal preparations can be very harmful and have even been known to cause a miscarriage.

  You may have peppermint, ginger, and chamomile tea.

  Avoid soft cheeses- Brie, feta, blue cheese, goat cheese, gorgonzola, camembert, and Mexican soft cheeses, unless they are made of pasteurized milk. Deli meats should be reheated in the microwave or grilled prior to eating. Hot dogs also cooked or grilled.

   

• How do I exercise safely?

  Low impact aerobics are safe to do. No free weights over 20 pounds. Water aerobics are very good and are offered in many locations. Pregnancy yoga is a good muscle exercise. Walking is one of the best types of exercise. If you play tennis, we recommend doubles. Never get over heated or so winded that you cannot talk. Keep your pulse rate under 140. Remember to keep hydrated and avoid getting overheated by coming in and out of the sun more often. Wear heavy sunscreen, especially on your face.

• When should I sign up for prenatal classes?

  You should sign up for the classes and the tour of Northside Hospital at 20 weeks gestation. You should begin the classes at 7 months gestation. Try to get the hospital tour before you reach 8 months gestation.

• How do I contact the on-call doctor after hours?

  If you have a problem after office hours or on a weekend or holiday, you can reach our on-call physician by calling the office phone number, 404 252-5196. An attendant will take down all of your information and page the physician on call. The physician will call you directly at the number you provide. Remember to keep your phone line open so the MD can reach you.

• What is an NST?

  NST stands for Non Stress Test, a diagnostic test done to monitor fetal movement and contractions. We use NSTs for patients with certain medical indications. For example, if you call and tell us your baby is not moving normally or if you think you may be having contractions, we'll do an NST. You are connected to a fetal monitor in the office for approximately 30 minutes. We look for fetal movement, contractions and we also look for fetal heart accelerations that may occur with fetal movement. This is a reassuring sign for fetal well being.

• For what symptoms should I call you immediately?

  You should call the office for vaginal bleeding if it appears similar to a period. It is pretty common to spot, especially if you had a pap smear in the past 72 hours. Spotting is also common after intercourse.

  Call us promptly with any of these symptoms: fever over 100.1 F, headaches, swelling, pain, nausea and vomiting-especially if you cannot keep down food or liquid. Also, call if your baby is not moving normally.

   

• What age should I feel the baby moving?

  First-time moms may not recognize fetal movement until at least 20 weeks. Mom's who have had other babies may recognize movement a few weeks sooner. At this early gestational age, you will not feel all of the movements.

• What does high–risk pregnancy mean?

  High risk pregnancy means that you have a medical condition prior to pregnancy that requires additional testing or a condition of the baby or the mother that develops during the pregnancy that requires additional testing.

• When should I plan to shop for maternity clothes?

  Most pregnant women need to start wearing maternity clothes by 16-20 weeks.

• When is a good time to start preparing the nursery?

  A good time to begin preparing the nursery is beginning at about 7 months. Get on the registry at baby stores so friends can see what you need. You should have your car seat and know how to install it by 35 weeks gestation.

• What restrictions on work-related (or housework-related) activities do you recommend?

  Do not lift anything over 20 pounds. If using cleaning chemicals, wear gloves and make sure the area is well ventilated. If doing yard work, wear gloves. Keep hydrated. It is important that you have the opportunity at work to go to the bathroom often and to keep hydrated and to have snacks at least mid-morning and mid-afternoon.

• What is a GCT, when do I need to take it?

  GCT means glucose challenge test. This is a screening test for gestational diabetes. For most patients this is done between 24 and 28 weeks gestation. There are some exceptions and the GCT may be done earlier due to certain medical indications.

• When are sonograms done?

  A routine ultrasound is done between 19 and 20 weeks to check fetal anatomy. Ultrasounds are also done if you are unsure of your last menstrual period, conceived on the pill or had only one cycle after stopping the pill or only one cycle after a miscarriage. They are done if you have irregular periods (shorter than 26 days or longer than 30 days). Ultrasounds are done for bleeding or pain.

• Is a VBAC safe?

  In short, the answer is: It depends. If you are considering a Vaginal Birth After a C/Section (VBAC), your physician must review the operative notes from your previous C-section. If one of our physicians did the surgery, we'll locate the note. If it was done by another physician, you'll you need to request the operative notes from your previous OB. We will not attempt a VBAC without first reviewing the operative notes from the previous surgery. In addition, it is very important for you to have a frank discussion with your physician about risks. Together, you'll decide if a VBAC is safe.

• What is the First Screen Test?

  First screen or Nuchal Translucency test is a test done between 11 ½ weeks gestation and 13 ½ weeks gestation that screens your baby for Down's Syndrome and Trisomy-18, two well-known genetic disorders. It is performed at one of the Perinatal Centers (Physicians who specialize in perinatal medicine). The test has two components-an ultrasound that measures the neck fold or nuchal fold on the baby and a blood test. We encourage all patients to consider the First Screen Test. To help you decide, we'll provide you with plenty of information. We recommend you check with your insurance company to verify if the test is covered because it can be a costly out-of-pocket expense.

• What is Group B strep?

  Group B strep is a strain of bacteria commonly found in the intestinal tract that can get into the vaginal canal or in the urinary tract. You will be routinely tested at 36 weeks gestation with a vaginal culture. If you test positive for Group B Strep, you will be treated with an antibiotic in your IV fluids when you go into labor to prevent any chance of this being passed to the baby during delivery. If your urine culture at any time in the office is positive for Group B strep, you would be treated at that time.