1.0 – Month One (Week 1-4th)

Sources:

1.     The Everything Pregnancy Organizer by Paula Ford-Martin

2.     http://www.babycenter.com/
FamilyEducation.com

1.1            Checklist

1.     Evaluate your diet and begin taking prenatal or multivitamin that contains at least 400mg of folic acid

2.     Limit your caffeine intake to less than 200mg per day

3.     If you smoke or drink, quit now.

4.     Evaluate your doctor, midwife, or group practice and decide if it’s right for you and your pregnancy.

5.     Discuss any possible on-the-job hazards with your doctor or midwife.

6.     Get up to speed on your health insurance coverage for prenatal visits, delivery and the care of your child.

7.     Prepare a budget to save for when your baby arrives.

1.2            Baby Development

Your developing baby (called a zygote, or fertilized ovum) travels from the fallopian tube and into the uterus (or womb). By day four, the zygote has formed a small solid cluster cells known as a morula.

By day five or six, the morula grows to a blastocyst. Within days, the blastocyst nestles into the nutrient-rich lining of your uterus (the endometrium) as implantation begins. About 15 days after conception, the blastocyst becomes an embryo. Next to the embryo floats the yolk sac, a cluster of blood vessels that provide blood for the embryo at this early stage until the placenta takes over.

1.3            My Body

Estimated Due Date (EDD):

	Week 1	Week 2	Week 3	Week 4
Date
Time
My weight

Note which you are experiencing and discuss any concerns with your doctor:

Feeling bloated, and waistband begins to feel a bit snug
Your breasts are starting to increase in size
The areolas around the nipples enlarge and darken
Your breasts are more tender
Vaginal secretions increase, similar to those you get premenstrual
You may feel tired and run down. (Grab a nap during the day or make an early bedtime a priority)
You may feel faint or dizzy. (Sit or lay down on your side as soon as possible. Try not to lay flat on your back as this can make the dizziness worse)

1.4            At the Doctor’s Office

Your first visit to doctor, you will likely experience the following:

1.     Undergo a thorough physical examination.

2.     Give a urine sample

3.     Have blood drawn for routine lab work.

4.     If you haven’t had a Pap smear in the last 3 months, your doctor may also take a vaginal swab of cells scraped from your cervix for this purpose.

5.     Have your pregnancy confirmed.

Prenatal Visit Notes

My Weight
Week of pregnancy
Fundal height
Blood pressure
Baby’s heart rate
Tests	Results
1.
2.
3.
Additional Notes:

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

·      Abdominal pain and/or cramping

·      Fluid or blood leaking from the vagina

·      Abnormal vaginal discharge (foul-smelling, green or yellow)

·      Painful urination

·      Severe headache

·      Impaired vision (spots or blurring)

·      Fever over 38.3 degree Celsius

·      Chills

·      Excessive swelling of face and/or body

·      Severe and unrelenting vomiting and/or diarrhea

·      Fainting or dizziness, especially if they are accompanied by abdominal pain or bleeding (They could be symptoms of ectopic, or tubal, pregnancy, a potentially fatal condition where implantation occurs outside of the endometrial lining of the uterus, such as in the fallopian tubes.

1.5            Checking the Budget

Sit down with your partner and work through a budget together.

Suggested Activity to Cut Back on	Amount Saved per Month if Scaled Back
Movies
Concerts
Weekend getaways
Daily cup of coffee
Bottled water
Eating out
Additional Way of Saving	Amount Saved per Month
Total Potential Savings per Months:

Suggestions: Spa, facial, manicure & pedicure, hair treatment, golf, taxi, travel, cosmetics, skincare products etc.

1.6            Milestones

Here is a place for you to record the thoughts, feelings, and physical changes you experience during your first month of pregnancy.

Time until due date: Firsts: Suggestion: Record down who you first inform about your pregnancy and their reactions. Concerns: Suggestion: Confinement period, delivery venue, baby earliest travel, gastric pill, traveling, golfing, health insurance, Kegal exercise, prenatal vit, cord blood, bird nest during first trimester. Looking forward: Questions for the doctor next month: Suggestion: Dr philosophy – are you pro natural birth? Prenatal vit, gastric/headache/flu/diarrhea/fever medications; Taipei Dr referral Reflections from the Heart: Our thoughts about becoming parents: Who we told that we’re trying for a baby We’ve been trying to conceive for this long I suspected I might be pregnancy because My partner suspected I might be pregnant because I’m excited about I’m nervous about

1.7            Morning Sickness

Treatments to reduce morning sickness:

1.     Eat ginger

2.     Try acupressure

3.     Consider B vitamins

4.     Eat smaller, more frequent meals

5.     Choose proteins and complex carbohydrates

6.     Eat what you like

7.     Drink plenty of fluids

8.     Eat juicy fruits

9.     Brush regularly

10. Talk to your doctor about switching prenatal vitamins

Morning Sickness Survival Kit

1.     Wet wipes

2.     Tissues

3.     Small bottle of water

4.     Travel-sized toothbrush and toothpaste

5.     Gum or breath mints

6.     Large freezer-grade zipper lock baggies

7.     Just-in-case change of clothes

8.     Graham or soda crackers

1.8      On Your Mind

Pregnancy is a time of great anticipation as you head out into uncharted waters. Worries about the baby’s health and the possibility of miscarriage are common fears early in pregnancy. Although it may be easier said than done, letting go of your anxieties, at least for a little while, is the best thing for you and your baby right now.

Here are some ways to deal with anxiety about miscarriage and areas about your pregnancy:

-          Designate a certain area of your home, like your bedroom, a worry-free zone, and then stick to a vow to let your anxieties go when you are in that space.

-          Use an aromatherapy candle you like to help you relax.

-          Play soft music or nature sounds.

-          Incorporate soothing scenery in the form of photographs and posters to relieve your anxiety.

1.9      Estimating Your Due Date

If you have a regular 28-day cycle, you can figure your own EDD.

1.      Take the date of your last period:

2.      Count three months back:

3.      Add 7 days:

4.      The resulting date is your EDD:

1.10    Prenatal Nutrition

Prenatal vitamin to contain most, if not all, of these nutrients:

Calcium 250mg	Magnesium	Vitamin B6	Vitamin E
Copper 150mcg	Riboflavin 2mg	Vitamin B12	Zinc
Folic Acid 1mg	Thiamin 3mg	Vitamin C
Iron 60mg	Vitamin A 400 I.U.	Vitamin D

1.11    When to Contact Your Doctor

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

-          Abdominal pain and/or cramping

-          Fluid or blood leaking from the vagina

-          Abnormal vaginal discharge (foul-smelling, green, or yellow)

-          Painful urination

-          Severe headache

-          Impaired vision (spots or blurring)

-          Fever over 101F or 38.3c

-          Chills

-          Excessive swelling of face and/or body

-          Severe and unrelenting vomiting and/or diarrhea

-          Fainting or dizziness, especially if they are accompanied by abdominal pain or bleeding (They could be symptoms of ectopic, or tubal, pregnancy, a potentially fatal condition where implantation occurs outside of the endometrial lining of the uterus, such as in the fallopian tubes.)

Trust your instincts. If something just doesn’t feel right to you, make the call.