Pregnancy: Getting Ready

Sources:

1.     The Everything Pregnancy Organizer by Paula Ford-Martin

2.     http://www.babycenter.com/

1.0            Choosing a Healthcare Provider

Talk to experts and get referrals. Ask for referrals from the followings:

Friends, family members, state or country medical board, patient services department in hospitals, etc

2.0            Referrals

Healthcare professional’s name:

Position:

Tel:           

Address:

Referred by:

Covered by insurance?

3.0             Interview sheet

1)   What are the costs and payment options?

2)   Who will deliver my baby?

3)   Who will I see during office visits?

4)   What is your philosophy on routine IVs, episiotomies, labor induction, pain relief, and other interventions in the birth process?

5)   What hospital or birthing center will go to? (Hospital privileges, information on facility’s program and policies, neonatal unit availability, hospital tour etc)

6)   What is your policy on birth plans?

7)   How are phone calls handled if I have a health concern or question?

4.0            Early Pregnancy Nutrition

Recommended Daily Intake of Nutrients in pregnancy (for women aged 19-50)

Source: Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences; Dietary Reference Intake Tables.

Calcium          1000 mg

Copper            1000 mcg

Folate              600 mcg

Iodine              220 mcg

Iron                 27 mg

Magnesium     350 mg

Niacin             18 mg

Protein             50 g

Riboflavin       1.4 mg

Selenium          60 mcg

Thiamin           1.4 mg

Vitamin A        770 mcg

Vitamin B6       1.9 mg

Vitamin B12     2.6 mcg

Vitamin C         85 mg

Vitamin E         15 mg

Vitamin K         90 mcg

Zinc                   11 mg           

5.0            Common Test

1.     Urine culture – to check for presence of ketones and levels of protein, bacteria and glucose

2.     Rh factor (Rh positive or negative) – If you are Rh negative, you are at risk for Rh incompatibility with the blood type of your baby

3.     Hemoglobin/hematocrit – Test for anemia

4.     Glucose challenge test (GDM) – tests for gestational diabetes mellitus

5.     Oral glucose tolerance test (GTT) – Provides definitive diagnosis of GDM

6.     Hepatitis B – tests for the presence of Hep B in the blood

7.     Pap Smear – to detect cervical cancer, precancerous cells, vaginal infections, or inflammation of the cervix

8.     Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) – to test for Down syndrome and more than 200 other disorders

9.     Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) blood tests (or variations called the triple or quad AFP screens) – to screen for chromosomal irregularities like trisomy 18 and Down syndrome, and for neural tube defects

10. Cystic fibrosis screening – to screen to see if you are a carrier

11. Amniocentesis – to diagnose chromosomal abnormalities, genetic disorders, and birth defects

12. Ultrasounds – may be used to diagnose placental abnormalities, an ectopic pregnancy, or certain birth defects

6.0            Personal Medical History Worksheet

1.     Chronic illnesses?

2.     Current medications?

3.     Current vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal supplements:

4.     Allergies to medications:

5.     Past surgeries

6.     Tobacco use (include frequency of use):

7.     Average number of alcoholic beverages consumed per week:

8.     Current level of physical activity

Have you had:	Yes	No
Seizure disorder
Epilepsy
Insomnia
Frequent anxiety
Recurrent headache
Asthma
Pain/pressure in chest
Chronic cough
Palpitations (heart)
Valvular, congenital, or other heart disease
High or low blood pressure
Rheumatic fever or heart murmur
Back problems
Tumor, cancer, cyst
Jaundice (liver disease)
Stomach or intestinal trouble
Mononucleosis
Gallbladder trouble or gallstones
Recurrent diarrhea
Hernia
Recent weight gain/loss
Dizziness, fainting
Weakness, paralysis
Blood clots
Thyroid disorders
Urinary tract infections or kidney disease
Bowel disease
Significant hemorrhoids
Blood transfusion
Albumin-sugar in urine
Blood in urine
Diabetes
Peptic ulcer
Collagen disease
Pneumonia
Irregular periods
Severe cramps
Excessive menstrual flow
Sexually transmitted diseases (past and present, if any)	Treatment
Fertility issues (if any)	Treatment

Number of previous pregnancies:

In previous pregnancy, have you experienced:	Yes	No
Birth weights less than 2.5 kg
Birth weights greater than 4 kg
Preterm labor
Preterm rupture of membranes before onset of labor
Complications with labor or delivery
Pregnancy-induced hypertension
Preeclampsia
Eclampsia
Postpartum hemorrhage
Third-trimester bleeding
Anemia
Miscarriage
Stillbirth
Abortion
Neonatal death
Previous miscarriage or abortion Date:
Other complications during previous pregnancies Treatments:

7.0            Family Medical History Worksheet

Medical Condition	No	Yes	Do not Know	Relationship
Diabetes
Hypertension
Psychiatric disorders
Alcoholism
Neural tube defects
Multiple births
Macrosomia
Congenital defects
Hearing problems
Cleft palate or lip
Sickle cell anemia
Hemophilia
Down syndrome
Cystic fibrosis
Huntington’s Chorea
Cerebral palsy
Muscular dystrophy
Nerve-muscle disorder
Thyroid disorder
Other hormonal disorder
Dwarfism
Hepatitis B, C, or carrier
Blindness, visual problems
Hand or feet abnormalities
Autism
Miscarriage
Lou Gehrig’s Disease
Cancer
Endometriosis
Sudden infant death syndrome
Others