North Florida Women’s Physicians provides comprehensive obstetrics and gynecology medical care to the women in the Gainesville, Florida area.

The NFWP Comprehensive Guide to Pregnancy

Caring for Yourself

Work

You’ll probably be physically able to work during your entire pregnancy but you should take some precautions. Your job shouldn’t allow you to be exposed to chemicals or radiation which may be dangerous to your baby. Some physical activities may become impossible because of changes in your body structure. Try to arrange for short rest periods when you can sit and put your feet up. Many restrooms have lounges where you can lie down for a few minutes three or four times a day.

If you have complications, it will be unwise to continue certain jobs, especially in the latter stages of your pregnancy. Discuss your job situation with us.

Travel

Travel is usually no risk to you or your baby, if you follow certain guidelines. You shouldn’t plan to travel long distances away from home the last four to six weeks of your pregnancy. Restrict your travel earlier if you’re having twins, bleeding, or have pregnancy-related high blood pressure. When you do travel a great distance, make sure you get up and walk around at least every two hours to keep your circulation moving.

If you experience any complications with your pregnancy, it may be best not to travel at all, especially far away from home. If an emergency arises and you must travel during the last four to six weeks of your pregnancy, ask us for advice. A copy of your medical record to carry with you might prove helpful. You may also need a doctor’s note if you plan to travel by plane. If any problems arise during the trip, go to the nearest medical facility immediately.

Baths

Some women wonder if it’s safe to bathe while they’re pregnant, especially during the last months. It is! The only danger to you is not being able to get up out of the tub once you get in! So, in the last couple of months, you should bathe while someone’s around to help you in and out of the tub. This will lessen your chance of falling at a time when you’re not as likely to be able to catch yourself. The only time it is not wise for you to bathe is when membranes rupture. But by then, you should be contacting us...not heading for the bathtub!

Tampons

Since you’ll be having more vaginal discharge than usual, you might wonder about using tampons. You’ll want to keep your vagina as free from irritation as possible, so we recommend you try using one of the lightweight mini-pads instead. They’re really quite comfortable. Then you won’t have to worry about accidentally introducing extra germs into the already sensitive balance of your vagina.

Exercise

Exercise is also essential. Of course, walking is excellent exercise, but don’t count your trips to the refrigerator and bathroom. You may start a mild exercise program early in your pregnancy. Keep up any pre-pregnancy routine you may have, unless you have a medical problem and we advise you otherwise. Normally, you don’t have to limit your exercise, except when it risks injury to you or your baby. When exercising, drink lots of water, and wear good shoes and a support bra. You should tone down any exercise if you develop shortness of breath, chest pain, extreme fatigue or dizziness.

In all cases, you should apply these sensible guidelines:

Avoid impact exercise.
Avoid stress to your lower back area.
Limit the intensity of your exercise program to the same levels as you set when you were not pregnant.
Exercise for shorter periods of times and rest frequently.
Reduce weight-bearing exercise (running, weight machines) in favor of non weight-bearing exercise (bicycling, swimming).
Avoid doing full sit-ups and raising both your legs while lying flat.

If you experience certain complications during your pregnancy, you and your baby would probably benefit from a sedentary activity level with little or no exercise. We’d recommend this to you if you’re expecting twins or having high blood pressure, an incompetent cervix, or a condition in which it appears that your fetus is not growing properly. Common sense, good judgment and listening to your body’s signals are the main guides to exercising during pregnancy.

Rest

Rest is essential. Don’t let yourself get worn out during work or play. Remember, you will be more tired than usual in the early stages of pregnancy. That’s just your body trying to tell you something - “Rest”. Get a good 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night and don’t feel guilty about an hour’s nap in the middle of the day. Toward the end of your pregnancy, you may even feel like taking two or three naps a day. If you’re working, try to arrange for extra 10 to 15 minute breaks and space them out through the day.

Seat Belts

Seat belts are safety devices that protect you and your baby in important ways. It’s best you wear both the shoulder and lap belts if possible. Place your lap belt under your abdomen, across your hips and thighs. Wearing your safety belt makes you 60% less likely to be injured or killed in an accident. Most fetal injuries relate directly to the seriousness of the mother’s injuries, rather than to those caused by the seat belt itself.

Clothing

Comfort is the word in clothing...not flash. Get a good supportive bra because your breasts will be getting larger and heavier. You can buy a maternity girdle if you like, but unless you suffer from back pain or lax stomach muscles, a girdle is rarely needed. If you do buy one, make sure it’s supportive, not tight! If you plan to wear hose, buy pantyhose instead of garters or knee highs. Just be sure to buy pantyhose that allow your crotch to breathe. Circular garters or elastic bands that hold up your stockings are out.

You’ll want to allow as much circulation to your legs as you can. Support hose may help your legs if they’re feeling tired or if you suffer from varicose veins. Wearing a good pair of shoes that’s secure and comfortable is only sensible you don’t want to be tottering around on high heels while you’re heavy and off balance. Buy for comfort in all your maternity clothes.

Douching

There’s rarely a need to douche during your pregnancy. If it becomes necessary, we’ll give you specific instructions.

Teeth

Proper dental care is very important. Don’t hesitate to see your dentist for dental problems. Be sure to tell him/her you are pregnant so he/she can take precautions when giving x-rays or prescribing medications.

Frequent brushing, dental flossing and proper diet can minimize your dental problems during pregnancy.

Swollen and bleeding gums are common problems for pregnant women. You can minimize bleeding by using proper oral hygiene (frequent brushing and dental flossing).

Immunization

Talk with us about immunizations you think you might need, especially those required for foreign travel. Some booster shots like tetanus are okay during pregnancy. Others are not.

You definitely do not want to be given live-virus vaccines such as mumps, measles or rubella (German Measles) during your first three months of pregnancy. These are potentially harmful to your developing unborn child. Ideally, you should be immunized before you’re pregnant. This allows a certain amount of immunity to be passed on from you to your child without the harmful effects a live virus might cause.

Insecticides and Household Chemicals

You should avoid heavy or prolonged exposure to as many household chemicals as possible. They can absorb into your system right through your skin, or through tiny cracks in your skin. If you must use strong household cleansing aids, wear gloves and work in well-ventilated areas.

Also avoid insecticides, pesticides, and weed killers. If you’ve had your house sprayed for bugs, allow it to air out before you return. Give up using aerosol sprays and use mechanical pump sprayers instead. Exercise the same caution for hair dyes and permanents. We’re just beginning to understand the potentially hazardous effects many chemicals have on pregnant women and their unborn babies.

When you get all excited about painting your new nursery, be sure to use latex paint if at all possible. You want to avoid lead-based paint because it has the potential to harm your baby. Although oil-based paint and organic solvents like turpentine and lacquer have not been proven to be harmful, they do produce strong fumes that you should probably avoid. Keep the room well ventilated.

Saunas and Hot Tubs

Very hot water and steam should be avoided during the early part of your pregnancy. You can harm your baby if you raise the temperature of his/her environment over 100 degrees for prolonged periods of time. So avoid hot tubs while you’re pregnant. If you need to soak your aching feet, that’s fine...but for awhile, avoid plunging in all the way. Saunas are out completely.

Sex

You might not want to have sex if it’s uncomfortable during the last four to six weeks, when you’re so heavy and your due date is approaching. And, if you have a history of miscarriages, pregnancy-related vaginal bleeding or other complications, we’ll probably suggest you don’t have sex. Otherwise, there’s absolutely no reason to interrupt your normal sex life. Orgasms will not start labor or cause bleeding or other problems in a normal pregnancy. Many partners are afraid that having sex will hurt the baby. Don’t worry. Your baby is so well-protected by fluid, muscle, and bone, your motions aren’t going to bother the baby one little bit. It’s much healthier for your relationship if you continue to be sexually intimate.

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