1ST TRIMESTER
Here is some valuable information about the first trimester of your pregnancy.
 Advice For Expectant Fathers
Prenatal Care
Your Baby's Health and Development
FIRST TRIMESTER - ADVICE FOR EXPECTANT FATHERS
Do you wonder how you can support the mother of your unborn baby?
She needs all the patience and steadiness you can give her. Expect her to change - not only in shape, but also in moods. She may smile, cry, feel starved or feel nauseated, want company or want to be alone-all within the same day.
Accept her changing moods.
Your partner is more sensitive now than ever before, particularly about your feelings towards her. Let her know how much you love and appreciate her.
Partners for a Healthy Baby: Home Visiting Curriculum for Expectant Families
©1999 Florida State University Center for Prevention and Early Intervention Policy
FIRST TRIMESTER - PRENATAL CARE
Why is prenatal care important?
What should I expect at my first prenatal visit?
Getting the Care You Deserve from Your Doctor or Midwife
Why is prenatal care important?
It's important to get early and regular prenatal care even if you feel fine. Why? Because most problems, if caught early, can be corrected before they become serious. Going to your doctor or midwife regularly may prevent you baby being born too soon or too small or even dying. Even if this is not your first pregnancy, prenatal care is critical to make sure you and your baby stay healthy. Before each doctor's appointment, write down any questions you or your partner may have and take the list with you to your visit.
Partners for a Healthy Baby: Home Visiting Curriculum for Expectant Families ©1999 Florida State University Center for Prevention and Early Intervention
Policy
What should I expect at my first prenatal visit?
Your first visit usually takes the longest. You may want to bring a snack and something to read to help pass the time.
Medical History
Your provider will ask you questions about your health, any medicines you take, your family's health, and your lifestyle in order to identify risks for your pregnancy.
Blood Pressure
She will wrap a cuff around your arm and pump it tight with air to check how well your heart is working. Your blood pressure may go up during your pregnancy so your doctor will watch it closely to help your baby be born as healthy as possible.
Weight and Height
The nurse will measure how tall you are and how much you weigh now, so she can monitor how much weight you gain.<
Blood test
She will draw blood from your arm to check you blood type and look for anemia, sickle cell, hepatitis, syphilis, and HIV, since these need to be treated right away.
Urine
The nurse will ask you to go into the ladies' room and 'pee' into a small cup. It will be tested for sugar (diabetes), protein, and infection which need to be found early to keep you and your baby healthy.
Physical Examination
Your doctor/midwife will check your heart, lungs, and other organs to find out if you have any conditions that need to be treated.
Breast Exam
She will show you how to check for lumps to make sure your breasts stay healthy.
Pelvic Exam
You will lie on a padded table with your legs apart so your doctor/midwife can feel the size and shape of your uterus. This helps her learn how the baby is growing and confirm your due date. She may also do a PAP smear and check for any infections.
Partners for a Healthy Baby: Home Visiting Curriculum for Expectant Families © 1999 Florida State University Center for Prevention and Early Intervention Policy
Getting the Care You Deserve from Your Doctor or Midwife
• Don't be embarrassed to give her accurate information even if you are not proud of it. She will keep it confidential.
• Bring your questions in writing and remember to ask them.
• Don't be shy. If you don't understand something, say so. Take notes if you need to.
• Questions you may ask to understand you medical condition and test results
o What does this mean?
o How does it affect the pregnancy?
o What are the danger signs I should watch for?
o What should I do if a danger sign appears?
• Questions you can ask to understand your treatment:
o What is this medicine for?
o When and how should I take it?
o How will this medicine affect my baby?
o How will I know whether it is working?
• Ask what to do I you feel something is wrong, especially if it is during the night or in the weekend.
• Trust your feelings. If you think something is wrong, get help.
• Talk with your doctor/midwife. You are speaking for both your baby and yourself!
Partners for a Healthy Baby: Home Visiting Curriculum for Expectant Families ©1999 Florida State University Center for Prevention and Early Intervention Policy
FIRST TRIMESTER - YOUR BABY'S HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT
How can stress affect my unborn baby?
Nourishment for you and your baby
How tobacco, alcohol, and drugs can hurt your unborn baby
Healthy things to do your you and your baby
Sexually transmitted diseases can hurt your baby
How is my baby developing?
How can stress affect my unborn baby?
When you have a lot of stress that builds up over time, it may:
• Slow the flow of blood to your baby, cutting down the nutrients and oxygen she receives
• Hurt parts of your baby's brain, which may cause behavior or learning problems later in life.
• Cause you to eat poorly, smoke, drink or take drugs that can harm your baby.
• Cause your baby to be born too soon or too small.
Ask your Healthy Start nurse or service coordinator to suggest ways you can manage your stress, or if you are not receiving Healthy Start services, call for assistance.
Partners for a Healthy Baby: Home Visiting Curriculum for Expectant Families © 1999 Florida State University Center for Prevention and Early Intervention Policy
Nourishment for you and your baby.
Everything you put in your mouth nourishes your body and the baby inside of you. To nourish yourself and your baby, eat food from all five groups every day. Each day you will need to eat:
• 6-11 servings of breads and cereals
• 3-5 servings of vegetables
• 2-4 servings of fruit
• 2-4 servings of dairy products
• 2-4 servings of meat, poultry, fish & beans
How much is a serving?
• Breads, Cereals, Rice and Pasta: 1 slice of bread, ½ cup cooked cereal rice or pasta, 1 cup dry cereal.
• Vegetables: ½ cup cooked or raw vegetables, 1 cup of raw leafy vegetable salad, ¾ cup of vegetable juice.
• Fruits: 1 medium whole fruit, ½ cup of canned fruit, ¾ cup of fruit juice.
• Dairy Products: 1 cup of milk or yogurt, 1 ½ ounces of cheese, ½ cup ice cream.
• Meat, Poultry, Fish & Beans: 2-3 ounces of cooked lean meat, poultry, or fish, ½ cup of cooked dry beans.
• Fats, Oils & Sweets: Use sparingly.
Partners for a Healthy Baby: Home Visiting Curriculum for Expectant Families © 1999 Florida State University Center for Prevention and Early Intervention Policy
How tobacco, alcohol, and drugs can hurt your unborn baby.
Your brain needs a steady supply of oxygen for you to live. So does your baby's brain. Tobacco, alcohol, and drugs can cut the flow of oxygen to your baby's brain and can damage him for the rest of his life.
If you smoke while you are pregnant, less oxygen will get to your baby. Your baby may be born too soon (premature) or too small (low birth weight.) Your baby has a greater chance of dying before his first birthday. Also, he may not be as smart as other babies whose mothers have not smoked.
If you drink beer, wine, liquor, or even wine coolers, you may harm your baby's brain and other organs. He is more likely to have trouble learning or paying attention and may have behavior problems when he gets older.
If you use cocaine, marijuana, heroin, or other street drugs while you are pregnant, your baby is more likely to be born too small and may have brain damage. These drugs can even make your baby addicted and have to go through withdrawal. He may cry a lot and have trouble eating or sleeping. He may develop emotional problems and be sick a lot.
Every time you smoke, drink, or do drugs, so does your baby. The sooner you stop or cut down, the greater chance that your baby will be born healthy and strong.
Get the help you need to stop. You and your baby deserve it.
Partners for a Healthy Baby: Home Visiting Curriculum for Expectant Families © 1999 Florida State University Center for Prevention and Early Intervention Policy
Healthy things to do your you and your baby.
• Eat a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables.
• Never take medications or drugs without checking with your doctor first.
• Quit smoking or at least cut down.
• Say 'no' to beer, wine, wine coolers, liquor, marijuana, cocaine, or any form of drugs.
• Let someone else empty your cat's litter box. You could get and infection (toxoplasmosis) which can cause birth defects.
• Avoid x-rays. Tell the technician you are pregnant.
• Avoid caffeine. Sodas, tea, coffee, chocolate and other drinks with caffeine can reduce the calcium your baby gets. Instead, drink water.
• Take a prenatal vitamin that contains folic acid each day.
• Avoid hot tubs or saunas. The may cause your baby's heart to beat too fast.
• Avoid contact with sick people as much as possible. Wash your hands often to reduce infections
• Let your doctor know if you or your partner have had genital herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, or other sexually transmitted diseases.
• Do not eat raw or undercooked meat, fish, eggs or soft cheeses.
• Wear your seatbelt below your belly across your lap. The shoulder harness should go across your chest, not under your arm.
• Floss and brush your teeth to reduce bacteria in your mouth. See your dentist at least once during your pregnancy.
Partners for a Healthy Baby: Home Visiting Curriculum for Expectant Families ©1999 Florida State University Center for Prevention and Early Intervention Policy
Sexually transmitted diseases can hurt your baby.
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are passed from one partner to another during sex. Your doctor or midwife will test you during pregnancy so if you have any diseases, they can be treated. If left untreated, they can seriously harm your baby.
Herpes
Causes small painful blisters in the genital area. If you have active herpes, your doctor may delivery your baby by cesarean section to protect her from serious infection.
Gonorrhea
May cause burning when you urinate, an unusual discharge from your vagina, or you may feel nothing at all. Untreated gonorrhea could make your baby blind or cause serious complications.
Chlamydia
Can also make you burn when you urinate or have a vaginal discharge. Untreated chlamydia could give your baby pneumonia or eye infection.
Genital Warts
Can later turn into cancer. Untreated genital warts can be passed on to your baby.
Syphilis
May cause a painless sore on a man or woman's sex organ. Untreated syphilis can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or damage your baby's bones, teeth, and brain.
Group B Streptococcus Infection
Can be passed to the baby during pregnancy, delivery, or after birth. Even if you have it, there is a very small chance that the baby will get it. Antibiotics during delivery may prevent infection in your baby.
Protect your baby by telling your doctor or midwife if you have any of these symptoms or if you think your partner may have a sexually transmitted disease. Use condoms during pregnancy to prevent passing these diseases.
Partners for a Healthy Baby: Home Visiting Curriculum for Expectant Families © 1999 Florida State University Center for Prevention and Early Intervention Policy
How is my baby developing?
The first three months of pregnancy are a critical time for our baby's development.
• All the brain cells your baby will ever have are formed during the first three months. All your baby's organs - the heart, stomach, lungs, eyes, ears, arms and legs - are developing right now.
• What is happening in your womb today affects your baby's future. What you eat and drink gives your baby the nutrients he needs to grow.
• The smoke you breathe cuts down the oxygen your baby's brain needs to fully develop.
• Alcohol or drugs can harm your baby's body especially his brain.
• The stress you feel can cause your baby to weigh less or to be born too early.
You can make your baby healthier and smarter by taking good care of yourself while you are pregnant. Your baby is depending on you!
Partners for a Healthy Baby: Home Visiting Curriculum for Expectant Families © 1999 Florida State University Center for Prevention and Early Intervention Policy
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