Are you expecting a child or planning for one, but find everything so different in the USA? Are you confused as to what to do and where to start? Read on, we just might have some tips for you!
Pregnancy Confirmation:
- Your local stores are sure to stock various home pregnancy kits. These are easy to use and come with full instructions. Administer one such test to yourself.
- Once confirmed, immediately take an appointment with a gynecologist. Your Insurance plan will cover some gynecologists. Do some research on who the best available gynecologist is.
- At the time of the appointment, the doctor might refer you directly to a lab for blood tests for pregnancy confirmation. The reports are available within two days.
- The first appointment takes time, so make it as soon as possible.
- Start preparing for the happy event! You can read up on pregnancy related books.These give tips on what to expect while you're expecting, breast-feeding, nutrition, prenatal and postnatal care, etc. You can also visit web sites like
Register on these web sites and you will get lots of reading material on pregnancy related stuff. You will find free pregnancy guidance material at your doctor's clinic as well.
First Visit: Once you have a positive blood report, it is time for your first visit to the doctor. You will first be given the Pap Smear Test, which checks for vaginal infection. In fact, this test is so helpful in detecting diseases that all women should have it once a year. The Doctor will give you an approximate due date, calculated from the first day of your last period. He/ she will also give you some reference material- on prenatal care, nutrition, what you may expect through out your pregnancy, what are the signs to worry about, when to call the doctor, remedies for common pregnancy problems etc. The Pregnancy Period is divided into three trimesters, each comprising three months.
First trimester (1st to 3rd month): After the first eight weeks, the Doctor will perform a short ultra sound test to check for twins, the condition of the baby, and a corrected due date. Your husband can also see the results of the ultrasound check!! But remember, the gender of your baby cannot be determined at this stage. The doctor will also probably give you the contact details of some classes and group meetings you should attend. Start taking good care of yourself. Eat a healthy, balanced diet, and take the daily prenatal vitamin tablets your doctor prescribed for you. The doctor will send you in for further tests, and whatever the outcome, she will discuss the results with you on the next visit. From now on, you have to visit the doctor once in every four weeks, and on each visit you will be asked to give your urine sample for a glucose test.
Second Trimester (4th to 6th month): You will continue to visit the doctor once every four weeks. By the end of the second trimester another ultra sound test will be performed. This checks for the normal growth of the baby, and also confirms the due date as per the growth pattern of the baby. The gender might also be predicted. Any way, your husband and you will indeed be very happy to see your baby moving and even sucking her thumb! You can even ask for copies of your baby's picture and show it around to your friends and family! Usually only one ultra sound test is needed, but doctors might ask you to go for another some time later. Don't worry. ** Note: Find out how many ultra sound tests are covered by your insurance plan.
Third Trimester (7th to 9th month): You will now have to visit the doctor once in every weeks, and from the 36th week onwards, once very week till delivery. In the 36th week you have to go through another ultra sound test, to check whether the baby has positioned its head in the pelvis or not. From around the 38th week, you will be given a vaginal check every time you visit the doctor. This checks for dilation, or opening of the cervix. If you are past your due date by more than two weeks, the Doctor will advice an induced labor.
Things to be taken care of during third trimester:
- Start shopping for your baby. Compare prices, use
discount coupons. You will find good stuff at reasonable
prices at Walmart,
K-mart, Ross, Baby
'R' Us, Toys
'R' Us, Kids
'R' Us,
Baby Depot, Target etc. List of things required
is available on Baby
'R' Us.
Lookout for the list of recalled items.
- Be ready with the baby's name. It is always better to be ready with both a baby boy and baby girl name, because the gender prediction is not 100% fool proof! So in case of some surprises you won't have time to think a name instantly. You can always enter the baby's name later in the birth certificate, or even change the name; but both these processes are time consuming. Registering the name later on might take upto 6 months. And changing the name might take up to 2 years.So it's always best to get the right name on the birth certificate right after birth.
- Finish all the classes way before your due date. Recommended classes are:
-
Finish your hospital tour in the last month of pregnancy. Here you will be given a complete tour of the labor room, recovery room, nursery etc. Clarify all your doubts during this free tour. Find out who will be present during delivery- your doctor or the doctor on call. Check out the list of local anesthesiologists supported by your insurance.
This class helps women understand the physiological and psychological changes occurring during pregnancy. Information about the nutrition, exercise, fetal development, warning signs, remedies for common pregnancy problems and some other general information about pregnancy are also addressed. In case you are going for this class, then you should take it during your first trimester.
- Find out who will be present during delivery- your doctor or the doctor on call.
- Check out the list of local anesthesiologists supported by your insurance.
- Pick a pediatrician for your child, who will be called in as soon as your baby is born.
- Call your insurance provider and find out about:
- How many days of hospital stay is paid for?
- How much will they pay in case of a c-section?
- For how many days will baby be covered under your insurance?
- How much will they pay in case an epidural is administered?
- Keep the hospital bag ready. List of all the items to carry can be found on the above web sites.
- Buy a car seat, as your baby won't be discharged from the hospital without a car seat. Install it beforehand and get it checked. Three out of five people install it incorrectly, and that could be very dangerous for your baby. You can get your car seat inspection done at any of the local Baby'R'Us or Toys'R'Us stores, at the Fire department or at the Police station.
 Tips
- Never buy a recalled item. Check for the recalled list on above mentioned sites.
- Don't buy unnecessary stuff mentioned in the baby stuff list, which you may find in the books or on the above mentioned web sites. Judge for yourself as to what will be really needed.
Find out if some of the pregnancy classes are offered free of charge at your hospital.
- Decide if you really want to go in for all the classes, as all the information is also given in the books and reading material you are provided with form time to time. Also, during your hospital stay, you will be shown four hours of informative programs covering these topics on the in- house TV channel. Your nurse and doctor will also assist you with breast-feeding and childcare. Ask your experienced friends for advice.
- It is advisable to be ready with names for both a boy and a girl.
- Find out the maternity benefits offered by your insurance provider.
- Always carry your doctors contact number with you. Find out the after hours contact number and give a copy of these numbers to your husband.
Try to meet the doctor on call, and the pediatrician you selected for your baby, some time before the delivery date.
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