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I told her he was at the dentist having oral surgery. She said, "Oh, so they're just gonna talk about it?" READ MORE
First Years (0-2)
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Since I’m the kind of person who likes to know how to do something fairly well before ever attempting it, pregnancy was a big shocker on so many levels – and boy was I unprepared for the joys (and challenges) that motherhood has brought into my life! Just as no two children are exactly alike, no two pregnancies are the same either. You can read up on the subject, attend classes and network with other expectant moms, but I’d be willing to wager a year’s supply of Cheerios that there will be a few moments when you’re not quite sure what is happening to your body and mind. Even moms with whole broods of children will tell you there were times during their pregnancies that they wondered whether to call the doctor, phone a friend or grab another gallon of ice cream from the freezer and wait until morning. That being said, there is a certain amount of wisdom that comes with experience. Get a group of moms together and you’ll hear story after story about false alarms and worries that turned out to be unfounded. Braxton Hicks contractions, sudden pains, a baby with a severe case of hiccups – they’ve been there and done that. What we’re less eager to share with the women who need to hear it most are the times when our intuition leads us to delve deeper. The advice I give to all first-time moms is to trust your instincts. My sister is the proud mother of a rambunctious toddler, but her first pregnancy resulted in an early miscarriage. Her gut told her something wasn’t right when she started experiencing bleeding and cramps. In spite of reassurance from others that “it was probably nothing,” she sought medical attention when her symptoms persisted. She is the perfect example of what to do when your worries just won’t go away. A self-professed worrywart, I frequently turned to the Internet during my pregnancy to help allay my fears when I experienced a strange symptom. In many cases, I felt better once I logged on and read dozens of similar stories from other moms. Occasionally, though, the World Wide Web fanned the flames of my fears and launched me into full-fledged panic. The Internet is a convenient means for getting 24/7 pregnancy information, but too much information can be a dangerous thing. A reliable source for clues to common complications can be found at womenshealth.gov/pregnancy/complications. While this and other sites serve as helpful tools, be careful not to use the information provided to self-diagnose. Trust your instincts, and call your doctor if you feel that something just isn’t right. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health suggests calling your doctor immediately if you: • are bleeding or leaking fluid from the vagina • have sudden or severe swelling in the face, hands, or fingers • get severe or long-lasting headaches • have discomfort, pain or cramping in the lower abdomen • have a fever or chills • are vomiting or have persistent nausea • feel discomfort, pain or burning with urination • have problems seeing or blurred vision feel dizzy • sense a change in your baby’s movement • suspect your baby is moving less than normally after 28 weeks of pregnancy (if you count less than 10 movements in 2 hours or less) Don’t fret about troubling your doctor in the middle of the night (at least the first time you call) since he or she knows late night and weekend phone calls come with the territory. Most of the time, you’ll have nothing to worry about, but a little peace of mind goes a long way when, quite literally, the weight of a new life is yours to carry. S. Danyelle Knight is a regular contributor. |
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