Should I make a birth plan?

Birth plans are, by definition, the last possible moment of your life you can try to control, with varying degrees of success. Here’s the gist: creating a birth plan is a great exercise in determining how you think you’d like to give birth, ie vaginally versus c-section, with or without pain medication, in a hospital versus a bathtub with flickering candles and a sick Spotify playlist. But the reality is that when that babe’s ready to make their debut, any notion of a plan can go out the window as quickly as your pre-delivery smudge stick session.

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Our advice? Have a loose guide, and be OK with a change of plan.

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FAQs

Why do I have lower back pain?

If you feel like you can barely make it to work without erupting in back pain, or if your heating pad has basically become your bff, we’re super sorry, mama. Unfortunately there are a zillion reasons you might be experiencing lower back pain during pregnancy.

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Here are just a few:

You’re gaining weight: We hate to state the obvious here, but those extra pounds can be hard on your spine, not to mention the weight of a growing baby AND your uterus can wreak havoc on the nerves in your back.
Your walking/standing/sitting differently: These postural changes and the shifting of your center of gravity can totally add extra strain.
Your hormones are surging: The hormone your body makes during pregnancy known as relaxin lets your ligaments open up and loosen to prep for birth. Sounds great, right? Totes, yet that same hormone can cause ligaments supporting the spine to free up and cause lower back pain.
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Stress: Oh yeahhhh. That old thing. The emotional journey of bringing new life into this world can increase back pain during pregnancy.
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Here’s the good news. If this pain is new to you during pregnancy, it’s likely to disappear following birth. In the meantime, try and keep moving. Light to moderate exercise and stretching can help minimize the pain, as can acupuncture and applying heat and cold. Also, kick off them heels and wear supportive sneakers.

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If nothing’s helping, check in with your doctor on taking certain pain medications.

FAQs

Can I travel internationally during pregnancy?

Hey girl, as long as you’re feeling great and babe is healthy, get out and see the world while you can! Traditionally experts and docs feel that somewhere around 28-30 weeks is when you should probably stay land-locked in terms of air travel (some airlines even mandate as such), and as you get closer to the 36 week mark, you may want to hang local in the event you go into labor on the earlier side.

Personally, we love the idea of a babymoon or getaway somewhere around 14-28 weeks, aka the 2nd trimester. That’s usually when you’ll be feeling your best – ie no more morning sickness (hopefully) and you’re not quite big enough to squeeze out of your seat in coach. If you have certain pregnancy complications, ie preeclampsia, premature rupture of membranes, and if your doctor thinks your chances of preterm labor is higher for any reason, you might want to stay closer to home. Also, check with your doctor on where you’re planning to go, as Zika and malaria-related destinations are not recommended for pregnant women. Click here for the most up-to-date locations.

And remember, if you are planning on flying, get up and walk around the plane as often as possible and stock up on compression socks. Deep vein thrombosis (a condition where blood clots form in the veins of the legs or elsewhere), is a higher risk among pregnant women. Remember to drink lots of fluids as well! Also, check that your vaccines are up to date and plan to bring any over-the-counter medications you need. Lastly, research medical options at your final destination that are covered under your insurance plan or otherwise. Bon voyage!

FAQs

How do I know if I'm anemic?

When you get pregnant, there’s a chance you develop anemia, a condition where your blood doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to you and your babe. During pregnancy your body needs more blood for all types of reasons, but mainly to support your baby’s growth. If you’re not getting enough iron or certain nutrients, your body might not be able to produce the amount of red blood cells it needs to make more blood. There are three kinds of anemia: iron-deficiency, folate-deficiency and B12-deficiency, each where you’re lacking necessary nutrients that deliver the goods to your babe and keep you feeling great.

Having mild anemia is totes normal, but severe anemia can make you feel weak, tired and increase your risk of complications like preterm delivery, developmental delays and low birth weight. All pregnant women are at risk for becoming anemic, but your chances are higher if you’re pregnant with multiples, have had two back-to-back pregnancies, experienced morning sickness, had anemia prior to pregnancy and if you avoid iron-rich foods. Symptoms include pale skin, lips and nails, a feeling of exhaustion or weakness, dizziness, shortness of breath and trouble focusing.

Your doctor will check for anemia during routine blood work at your prenatal appointments. If you test positive for anemia, you may want to start taking an iron supplement and/or folic acid supplement and add more foods to your diet that are rich in iron (ie meat, eggs, dairy). You’ll also be giving lots of blood so your doc can check that your blood levels are improving. Your provider might refer you to a hematologist to help you manage throughout pregnancy.

2nd Trimester

How do I know if I'm experiencing preclampsia?

If you’re sick of having your blood pressure taken constantly, know that it’s for good reason. Your MD is likely checking for preeclampsia – a potentially dangerous pregnancy complication that causes high blood pressure, kidney damage, and LOTS of other problems. Preeclampsia is considered a life-threatening condition that impacts about 5% of pregnant women in the US.

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What makes it so scary is that you may not even experience any symptoms, but your doctor should be screening you for it at your prenatal visits.

Preeclampsia commonly starts in the last trimester, but it can happen at any time later in pregnancy, even during labor, or up to six weeks following delivery. It can become severe quickly or progress slowly. Left untreated, it can lead to dangerous health problems for you and your baby. Basically the gist is that preeclampsia causes the blood vessels to constrict, resulting in high blood pressure and a reduced blood flow that can affect organs in the body, ie the liver, kidneys, and brain.

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These changes cause small blood vessels to “leak” fluid into tissues, which can result in swelling. When these tiny blood vessels in the kidneys leak, protein from the bloodstream spills into urine. Bottom line is it’s dangerous.

Most women who get preeclampsia develop it near their due date and are TOTALLY FINE.

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But the earlier you develop the condition, and the more severe it is, the greater the risk is for you and your babe, because preeclampsia raises the chance of serious complications. Not to stress it, but that’s why some women may need to deliver early if the condition is severe or getting worse.

Preeclampsia symptoms are hard to note, but if you’re experiencing any of the below symptoms, call you doctor asap:

Unusual swelling in your face or puffiness around your eyes
Significant swelling in your hands
Sudden or excessive swelling of your feet or ankles
If you’re experiencing severe water retention

FAQs

What's preterm labor and how do I know if I am experiencing it?

Preterm labor is defined as delivering your baby before 37 weeks. Some preterm babies are born intentionally early due to health conditions (ie preeclampsia or growth issues), while others are known as spontaneous preterm births.

Whether or not your baby survives preterm labor depends on how close they are to the “full term” 40 weeks. Premature babies born between 34 and 37 weeks are usually OK, although they’re still at an elevated risk for short and long-term problems compared to babies born full term. On the flip side are the babies who are born extremely premature. These days, some babies born as early as 24 weeks have a great chance of surviving, but these extremely preterm infants require significant medical interventions and long stays in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).

Call your healthcare provider if you experience any of these symptoms:

An increase in vaginal discharge
A change in consistency of discharge (ie watery, mucus-like, or bloody)
Bleeding or spotting
Abdominal pain, menstrual-like cramping, or more than four contraction-like feelings in one hour
An increase in pressure in the pelvic area (ie like your baby is bearing down)
Spontaneous lower back pain

FAQs

Why am I having hot flashes?

It’s totally normal to have hot flashes during pregnancy. Just think about the insane levels of hormones coursing through your body right now! Particularly drops in estrogen as well as your increased metabolism can cause crazy heat that will have you sweating in the middle of a polar vortex.

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Not to worry, this is all just a part of the process. Remember to wear layers, use a fan and drink some ice water.

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If for any reason, you think you’re fevering (and not flashing), call your doctor.

FAQs

What's an episiotomy and am I going to have one?

An episiotomy is a surgical cut in the area between the vagina and the anus (otherwise known as the perineum). This cut is made to open up your vagina prior to delivering. OB’s used to do these often to speed up the labor process and prevent your vagina from tearing, but within the last 20 years, studies have shown up suggesting that women who tear on their own generally recover better and with fewer complications. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists got on board and said the procedure shouldn’t be done routinely.

While the incidence of episiotomies has been on the decline, there are a few situations in which an episiotomy might be helpful. If your baby is super big and your OB needs a little extra room during delivery, especially to apply forceps, they may opt to do one. Also, if your babe needs to be born as quickly as possible, maybe due to a heart rate sitch, your OB may decide that an episiotomy will move the delivery along to see that your baby is delivered safely.

If you’re concerned about having an episiotomy, talk to your doctor about the procedure. Ask under which circumstances they might perform one and look into alternative ways to loosen up the area prior to labor, such as massage or using hot compresses.

FAQs

Why do I have varicose veins?

Varicose veins are enlarged veins that you’ll often find in the legs, but can even reach up to your butt. They’re one of the more unfortunate side effects of pregnancy, right up there with hemorrhoids and constipation.

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The reason is that during pregnancy, your blood volume increases, while the rate at which blood flows from your legs to your pelvis decreases.

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This can add pressure on the veins, which in turn causes varicose veins. Hormones are also to blame, as increased progestin can open up the veins. They’re generally harmless but they’re pesky and can be uncomfortable.

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Usually they’ll go down within three months to a year after giving birth, but here are some more ways in which you can lessen your chances of getting them.

Avoid sitting in the same position for long periods of time. (Here’s one idea: break up your endless computer time by making constant pee breaks!
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)
Avoid wearing high heels. Sorry mama, but lower heels or even flats work your calf muscles and creates healthy circulation!
EXERCISE!
Wear compression socks or maternity hosiery that can put pressure on the legs and stimulate blood flow.
Avoid crossing your legs while sitting.
Elevate your legs once in a while to get that blood flowing.
Reduce salt and sodium intake to minimize swelling.
Drink plenty of water and eat healthy (as per usual!)

FAQs

What's cord blood banking and should I do it?

Cord Blood Banking is when you collect, freeze + store the blood from your baby’s umbilical cord for future medical use. The cord blood is a rich source of stem cells, which can develop into other types of cells. They can help repair tissues, organs and blood vessels that can treat diseases. The process of collecting cord blood is fast, easy and painless.

If you decide to bank your baby’s cord blood, you can do two things. You can donate it to a public cord blood bank or you can pay to store it in a private cord blood bank for your family to use. If, god forbid, your child develops one of the diseases that cord blood can help treat, it would seem like a no brainer, right? Just know that the price to store your baby’s blood for years is steep, like in the thousands of dollars steep, and in reality, the chances of your child benefitting from their cord blood is less than .04%. The diseases currently treatable with cord blood are not only very rare, but it’s likely that those stem cells found in the cord blood contain the same genetic defects. However, in helping other family members, you could be happy you did it. And donating it to a public bank, where it may one day go to a child in need is another wonderful way to use it.

As per usual, just remember to ask the right questions when your healthcare provider brings it up, and as always, you do you.

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