Q: I just found out I'm pregnant. Now what?
A: The first thing you should do is make an appointment to see your medical professional. Your doctor can provide you with much of the information you will need to know about the months ahead. Learning that you are pregnant should serve as encouragement for you to adopt healthy lifestyle habits. Avoid using drugs, cigarettes, alcohol and caffeine to the best of your ability. If you are currently taking medications (prescription or over-the-counter), be sure to discuss possible effects they may have on you and your baby when you see your doctor.
Q: What can I do about morning sickness?
A: Morning sickness can be one of the more unpleasant aspects of your pregnancy. However, you can do several things to ease the discomfort it causes, including:
- Get plenty of rest.
- Move slowly in the morning, as nausea may worsen with quick movements.
- Eat foods that you know agree with you to avoid the nausea often caused by an empty stomach.
- Keep a diary each day to help you determine what improves your condition, as well as what seems to make it worse.
If you find yourself losing weight or suffering from dehydration due to your morning sickness, consult your doctor to make sure you are still absorbing all necessary nutrition for you and your baby. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe medication to ease your discomfort.
Q: Can I still exercise during pregnancy?
A: You must discuss this with your doctor. Generally, however, exercise will prove beneficial both to you and your unborn baby, as it improves muscle strength, muscle tone, and flexibility. It promotes a sense of well-being and enhances self-esteem. Use your own judgment as to how much exercise may be too much for you, or create a well-balanced exercise program with your doctor.
Q: Up to what point can I travel safely by plane while I am pregnant?
A: As always, check with your physician first. He or she knows your individual medical history best. Assuming you have no history of problems that could complicate your pregnancy, air travel in a commercial plane is safe for you and your baby.
The safest time for you to travel is during your second trimester. However, carry a copy of your pre-natal records with you when you travel should you need the care of another physician while away from home. Be aware that some airlines won't allow a woman over 35 weeks to fly or will require a doctor's approval note for flying.
Q: I feel wiped out all of the time. When will this feeling end?
A: Fatigue is one of the most common, and some would say bothersome, aspects of pregnancy. It's to be expected. Your body is a veritable construction site for 40 weeks. Your heart and other organs are working harder to produce more blood to carry nutrients to your baby, and it's also changing the way it processes food and nutrients. All of this adds stress on the body and contributes to fatigue.
Normally, this extreme tiredness eases by your second trimester and your energy levels return to relatively normal. Unfortunately, around your seventh month the strain of carrying the extra weight of a growing baby can induce a new wave of fatigue.
Take heart, there are things you can do to lessen pregnancy fatigue.
Take naps - Rest whenever you are able. Take frequent breaks throughout the day to help renew your energy.
Listen to your body - Remember that your body has a right to be exhausted. If it tells you that you must sleep, listen and obey. If it demands to be fed, feed it.
Adjust your bedtime - Now is not the time to catch up on all of the late night talk shows. Decide to go to bed earlier, especially if sleeping through the night is difficult.
Drink plenty of fluids - It's important to stay hydrated. When you don't get enough to drink, this contributes to fatigue.
Exercise - Although exercise may be the last thing you may feel up to, it's amazing what moderate activity can do to increase your metabolism and energy levels. Consult your physician beforehand to determine an appropriate regimen.
Get help - Friends and relatives want to help during this time. Learn to let them.
Take it easy - After the baby arrives, you'll have more reasons to be tired. Therefore, cut back on your schedule now if you can.
Eat right - Commit to eating a healthy balanced diet that includes plenty of iron and protein. Eating smaller meals throughout the day will provide the necessary fuel to combat fatigue.
Take a prenatal vitamin and iron supplements if necessary - Anemia is common in pregnant women. Lack of iron will certainly result in low energy levels and may be confused with general pregnancy fatigue.
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Lisa M. Masterson, M.D.
Dr. Lisa M. Masterson, M.D., is a specialist in obstetrics, gynecology, infertility, adolescent gynecology and family planning. She is on staff at Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and maintains a private office in Santa Monica. Dr. Masterson is also founder and medical director of the Ocean Oasis Medical Spa also in Santa Monica, which offers spa treatments, exercise and nutrition programs tailored specifically for women.
She attended The Bishop’s School, a private school in La Jolla, Calif., and upon graduation, Dr. Masterson entered Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts. She graduated from medical school at the University of Southern California.
“I am extremely passionate about improving and saving people’s lives,” says Dr. Masterson. “Through my charity, Maternal Fetal Care International (MFCI), we go to poor regions in the world to help save the lives of pregnant women and improve the standards of their healthcare. I am currently creating the first OB/GYN residency program in Eritrea, Africa, and I have started birthing clinics in Kenya and India.”
Dr. Masterson is familiar to television audiences from her numerous appearances on “Today,” “Good Morning America,” “Dr. Phil” and “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” as well as on CNN, Discovery Health Channel’s “Strictly Dr. Drew” and the Lifetime series, “What Should You Do?” She is also a co-host on the nationally syndicated show “The Doctors”.
She and her family live in Southern California, and in her spare time, she enjoys surfing and learning French.
Dr. Lisa Masterson receives compensation for her participation in FIRST RESPONSE® communications.
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