When you find out you’re pregnant, there is so much to learn. First, second, third trimesters, Lamaze classes, shopping lists and healthy diets, taking your baby home and everything after that. Sometimes there’s so much to learn, nine months later you’re in labor and you suddenly realize you don’t know what to expect out of your hospital visit. We get it, and we have all the answers for you right here about what to expect right after you meet your little one.

Immediately After Giving Birth

After you get through the really painful part, there will be a lot going on! Your baby will be immediately placed skins to skin as long as both of you are stable. ID bands will be placed on the baby’s wrist and leg immediately after birth. Your skin to skin time is called the golden hour and this will continue until your baby has nursed or the first hour is finished. They’ll then get foot printed and their weight will be obtained. This is the basic procedure right after delivery.

They will be transported with you to the postpartum area after your recovery time. Once you arrive on postpartum your nursery nurse will give them their first medicines. They will be given an injection of vitamin K. This is to help their blood clot to minimize any bleeding. A nurse will also apply an antibiotic ointment to their eyes to protect them from infection. But don’t worry—your baby can still see, and the ointment is not irritating.

At our hospital all of our stable babies room in with their mom so that Mom and family can spend time together the first days. This will help you recognize feeding cues and help you bond with your baby. Remember—you have the right to question or refuse any treatment that doesn’t sit right with you!

The First Hour

After you’ve delivered your baby, you’ll need to deliver the placenta. It’s about one-fifth the size of your baby, and sometimes slides out immediately, but you may still feel some intense cramping. This can take anywhere from 30-60 minutes, too. Your nurse will give you a medication called Pitocin, either through an injection or through the IV fluids you’re already hooked up to. This will also help your uterus contract to reduce bleeding. In addition to the medication, your uterus may be massaged externally or your nipples stimulated to induce these contractions.

Your doctor will inspect your genital area for any lacerations that need to be repaired, and if there are any they’ll be repaired at this time. A small amount of local anesthesia will numb the area, so you may feel pressure but no pain.

After any repairs have been made, your area will be cleaned with warm water, and a sanitary pad will be placed underneath you. You’ll be helped into clean, dry clothes. Some moms shiver intensely after birth, so you’ll get a warm sheet or blanket too. You can eat, drink and rest now! If you’re holding your baby, be sure to talk to them—they already know your voice, and they’ll be soothed by the familiar sound. Take some time just the two or three of you, even if you have friends and family waiting outside for an update.

Recovery

After a few hours, depending on the hospital, you’ll be transferred to a postpartum room.

If you want to breastfeed but it isn’t coming easily, you can request a lactation consultant. Our hospital has several on staff, so just ask your nurse! One of the best things you can do on your own is institute a no-visitors policy while you’re trying—privacy will make a huge difference. Make sure you and your partner are using the call button wisely. Don’t be afraid to ask for multiple things at once! It’s better to do that than to hit the button every five minutes to ask for something new. You’ll get more focused, attentive care this way.

After everything you’ve been through, you’ll certainly want to take a shower. Keep in mind that post-delivery fainting is extremely common, and it’s most common in the shower. The hot water causes your blood pressure to drop, so if you want to shower, make sure you use the shower bench and have someone—your nurse, your mom, your partner—to help you.

Going Home

When you take your baby home will depend on a couple of factors, including your insurance and your delivery method. The majority of insurance plans will cover two days for a vaginal delivery and four days for a C-section. There a few things the hospital will need from you before you go, including exams for you and your baby, a skills check and lots of paperwork.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact the experts at Regional Medical Center today!

There are a lot of not-so-fun side effects that come with pregnancy, and some of them are unavoidable—but some of them have viable solutions. If you experience lower back or abdominal pain while pregnant, a pregnancy belly band may be for you.

Belly bands can provide a number of benefits for active women, especially during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.

Relieving Pain

Both back and joint pain are extremely common during pregnancy, and most women think it’s just a part of the deal. It can be frustrating and makes everyday activities difficult or nearly impossible. According to the Spine Journal, 71% of women report lower back pain and 65% report pelvic pain. Although it is part of the deal, your pain can be greatly decreased with a belly band supporting your lower back and your baby bump.

Sacroiliac, or SI, joint pain frequently occurs during pregnancy. This pain is a result of an increase in the hormone relaxin, which causes your hip joints to loosen up and become less stable. This can lead to excruciating pain in the lower back near your tailbone, but belly bands bracing this region can prevent it.

In addition to SI joint pain, round ligament pain is common during the second trimester. The ligaments that support your growing uterus are going through a lot of changes with extra weight and pressure, and this can lead to dull aches and sharp pains on the front of the hip below the belly. While this is a temporary problem, you don’t have to suffer through it. A belly band will help distribute the weight of your baby so there isn’t so much direct strain on your ligaments.

Gentle Compression

The key word here is “gentle.” Too much compression can impact your circulation and your blood pressure, contributing to heartburn and indigestion. If you have issues with these things already, your doctor may advise against using a belly band.

If your doctor gives you the go-ahead, belly bands can make physical activity much more comfortable for you. If you’ve ever gone for a run without a sports bra, you know the kind of discomfort we’re talking about. Supporting your uterus while moving around will make all the difference in the world.

Better Posture

By supporting your lower back and your torso, pregnancy belly bands encourage your body into correct posture. In doing this, you avoid overextending your lower back. The typical leaning stance you see most pregnant women in is due to the extra weight being carried in front of the body. I think we’d all agree that holding this stance for nine months doesn’t sound pleasant and surely couldn’t be great for your spine or your core muscles.

It’s important that you don’t wear your belly band too often, though—you don’t want your body to become overly dependent on it. Try to limit wearing it to two or three hours at a time.

Daily Comfort

Most of us know the positive benefits of exercise, but did you know that exercising while pregnant can have positive health benefits for your baby? Prenatal exercise will increase your muscle tone and endurance, as well as decrease hypertension, depression and diabetes. Many women who exercise regularly pre-pregnancy find that it’s no longer comfortable, but belly bands can more easily allow you to maintain your normal routines while pregnant.

Post-Pregnancy Benefits

Finding your core muscles weak in the few weeks following birth is extremely common—your muscles and ligaments were stretched and strained during pregnancy, and now they need time to heal. This initial weakness plus the added strain of carrying around your newborn can cause extra discomfort or lead to injuries.

While your body is adjusting after birth, a pregnancy belly band can offer extra support. This can also help if you experience separation of your abdominal muscles—a belly band and specific exercises can help in closing the gap between them.

For more information and premiere maternity care, contact Regional Medical Center today.

Every woman’s pregnancy journey will be different, but almost all women have a few consistent things they have to deal with. One of those things is dressing for your growing and changing body! With serious changes can come serious fashion and comfort issues, but we have the answers to all your questions.

The simple answer is, most women start wearing maternity clothes when they feel uncomfortable in their regular clothes. This point will come at different stages for every woman, but there are some specific things you can consider when deciding whether or not it’s time to take the plunge.

Your Uterus

The one thing that will definitely be growing for all women—the uterus! Knowing the uterus’ typical stages of growth during pregnancy will help you analyze where you are and what will make you the most comfortable. Here’s a breakdown of where your uterus should be (typically) at given times.

12 Weeks—the uterus just reaches the top of your pubic bone

14 Weeks—it reaches about two inches above your pubic bone

16 Weeks—the uterus is halfway between your pubic bone and your belly button

20 Weeks—it reaches your belly button

After 20 weeks, your uterus will steadily get bigger as you move along in your pregnancy. Around 14 weeks is where you may feel that your abdomen has grown, but most likely you won’t be showing yet, as most women don’t start showing until around 16 weeks. By week 20, most women will have switched to maternity—or at least loose-fitting—clothes.

Body Shape

Your body type or shape before pregnancy will be a pretty good indicator of how soon you’ll need to switch up your wardrobe to stay comfortable. For example, if you’re on the shorter side, your belly may start to protrude earlier that someone with a long torso. If you carried a little more weight pre-pregnancy, you may take more time to show. Knowing your own body type will help you predict the changes it will go through, although you’re bound to get some surprises along the way.

Weight Gain

As with everything in the stages of pregnancy, this varies. Certain women will gain more weight during their pregnancy than others, sometimes regardless of your pre-pregnancy size. Fat distribution plays a large part in this too, as women tend to gain weight in different places that will affect the clothes you want to wear. For example, if you tend to gain weight in your face or your legs, you may not need to switch to maternity clothes so soon.

Constipation and gassiness are also common during pregnancy, so you may need to make the switch as early as during your first trimester if you find yourself extra bloated.

Other Factors

Because of the increased progesterone and estrogen levels in your body during pregnancy, your breasts will get larger and heavier fairly fast. You may need to buy maternity clothes for your chest before you need to buy them for your abdomen! The great thing about most maternity bras, however, is that they have several rows of hooks, so you don’t have to buy a new one every time you go up a size.

Of course, if you’re carrying more than one baby, your timeline will be entirely different—and nearly twice as fast. But you can still take these things into consideration when you’re anticipating your clothing needs!

If you experience a lot of morning sickness early on in your pregnancy, you may actually lose weight before you gain it. This will make buying maternity clothes (at least for your abdomen area) unnecessary for a longer period of time.

Maternity clothes must have been invented by a pregnant women, because they’re pretty easy to translate to your size! If you were a size eight pre-pregnancy, then typically you’d be a size eight in maternity clothes.

Alternatives

Alternatively, if you’re putting off buying a whole closet of new clothes, there are still things you can wear well into your third trimester. Go for loose, a-line dresses that flare out, dresses with an empire waist or sheath dresses made out of stretchy fabric. Also opt for pants or skirts with elastic waistbands, so you can wear them above or below your abdomen depending on your needs. Lastly, loose-fitting t-shirts or flowy blouses will be kinder to your chest area!

When you make the switch to maternity clothes will differ from a lot of women, but just remember that it’s all about your comfort. You’ll know when it’s time!

For more more information and maternity care every step of the way, contact Regional Medical Center today.

Pregnancy can be very exciting – but it can also be a little nerve-wracking!

There’s so much to learn and do, it can be overwhelming sometimes. We just want to take good care of ourselves and our babies before the big day, but there’s a lot of information out there.

We’d like to help by sharing a few essential, important prenatal care tips that will get you on the right track.

Eat a Well-Balanced Diet

What you eat is very important when it comes to prenatal care. You want nourishment not just for yourself, but for your baby. And since your baby “eats” whatever you eat, you have a responsibility to follow a well-balanced diet.

So, what is a well-balanced diet while pregnant?

According to the American Pregnancy Association, a healthy diet first involves not restricting calories or macronutrients. So, no Atkins or South Beach diets, and no diet in the usual way we understand the word. (In fact, you’ll need about 300 extra calories a day.)

Your diet should be heavy in fruits and vegetables, protein (lean beef, chicken, turkey, eggs, beans), whole wheat or whole grain breads and pastas, and dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt, etc.). Be sure to balance your meal with:

• 4 servings of dairy
• 3 servings of protein
• 6-11 servings of grains
• 2-4 servings of fruit
• 4-6 servings of vegetables

This combination will give you the macronutrients and micronutrients you need. But you’ll need a lot of micronutrients, which leads us to the next part.

Take Prenatal Multivitamins

Your micronutrients ideally should come from your main diet. But you might need to supplement in case you don’t get the full amount of the vitamins and minerals you need, which is common.

You’ll need a multivitamin that offers:

• Folic acid
• Vitamin D
• Thiamin
• Riboflavin
• Calcium
• Vitamin B12
• Vitamin C
• Iron
• Zinc
• Iodine
• Vitamin E

These nutrients are essential, not just for general health, but to also help prevent birth defects. For these reasons, if possible, you should start taking prenatal vitamins three months before conception.

Make Lifestyle Changes

The lifestyle you follow also matters.

For example, you should get around 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise a week. You should drink plenty of water, avoid smoking or drinking alcohol, get plenty of sleep, and consider doing yoga or meditation as a way to control stress levels.

Also, gain weight. You should gain 25 to 35 pounds during your pregnancy. So, eat up! This is one part of your life where you want to gain weight! (Within reason, of course.)

Visit Your Doctor Often

Finally, you need to visit your OB/GYN as often as he or she directs. Don’t miss an appointment or a checkup. Follow the schedule and your OB/GYN’s advice religiously. They’ll help you keep yourself and your baby healthy and can notice any issues as soon as they arise.

Pregnancy is exciting. It can be rewarding and fulfilling. Follow these tips for a better pregnancy!

Pregnancy is a wonderful, exciting, and slightly stressful time for families, especially mothers. It can be overwhelming at times because there are just so many questions and a lot of information out there – what a mother should do, wear, eat, etc.

Pregnancy nutrition raises a ton of questions itself. What foods are good for mom and baby and which ones should stay off your shopping list?

Let’s take a look at which foods should make it into your basket and which foods are not recommended for you or your baby.

Pregnancy Foods to Eat

An expecting mother needs a well-balanced diet for both her and her baby. There are a few types of foods you should have lots of if you want the best diet.

Protein-rich foods: Protein is great for both you and your baby. Lean sources of protein that are good for you include fish rich in omega-3 fatty oils, chicken, tofu, turkey, beans and lentils, low and nonfat (pasteurized) dairy, pork tenderloin or loin chops, and eggs.

Fresh produce: Fruits and veggies contain a lot of the nutrients your body needs during pregnancy, particularly vitamins and fiber. You should wash all produce before eating it, as well. A few examples of nutrient-rich fruits and veggies are: leafy green veggies, squash, zucchini, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, avocados, bananas, broccoli, asparagus, peas, and any of your favorite fruits. Each of these will provide big benefits for baby.

Pregnancy Foods to Avoid

Here are food types you should either limit or cut out altogether.

Alcohol: Some studies suggest that a very moderate amount of alcohol – say, a glass of wine once or twice a week – may not be harmful. But then again, we don’t really know how much alcohol is needed to cause something like fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). It’s best to cut out alcohol altogether.

Smoked/cured meats: Bacon and sausage and other smoked/cured meats have nitrates in them that can lead to health problems. You should seriously limit how much of these you eat (that goes for hot dogs, too).

Non-pasteurized juices and dairy: If dairy or juice products you’re considering have not been pasteurized, you should avoid them.

Sushi and raw foods: The general rule is this: any meat-related food you eat should be completely cooked before you can eat it. This includes sushi, eggs, hamburgers, steaks, etc. You don’t want harmful bacteria and parasites to enter your body.

Fish/seafood: We know we said you can eat fish earlier, and that’s true, but most fish contains mercury, which can lead to birth defects. Fish with higher amounts of mercury, like tilefish, swordfish, and shark – are off limits. Even other types of fish should be limited. Stick to no more than 12 ounces of fish per week. Light tuna, salmon, catfish, and shrimp are all good sources that usually have a lower amount of mercury.

For more guidance, talk to your nutritionist and your OB/GYN. You want to make sure your diet is nice and healthy for a safer pregnancy – and a healthier baby boy or girl!

You’re having a baby – congratulations!

As exciting as pregnancy can be at times, it can also be exhausting, and virtually every expecting mother looks forward to delivery and getting pregnancy over with. That’s completely normal, and it’s also normal – and recommended – to start preparing early for the big day.

You may or may not have thought about the day itself in detail in terms of how to be ready for it. For example, do you know what to bring with you when you make the trip to the hospital to deliver your baby? Many expecting mothers don’t until the last minute, which can be very stressful.

It’s better to think about preparations sooner rather than later. Here’s what we recommend you take when you go into labor and delivery.

Preparing for the Mother

First, we’ll talk about what to bring for mom.

Here is a good list of things that most mothers will need or want for the big day:

• Bathrobe
• Socks (your feet might get cold!)
• Hairband
• Reading material
• Phone and charger
• Tablet and charger
• Insurance forms
• Photo ID
• Pre-registration forms
• Pillow
• Camera and batteries/charger
• Toiletries
• Makeup (if you want)
• Nursing bra
• Change of underwear
• Snacks
• Nursing pillow
• Nursing pajamas or nightgowns (at least two sets)
• Snacks
• What you’ll wear when you leave the hospital

Many of these items relate to your comfort, so if there’s anything that will make you more comfortable that isn’t on this list, feel free to bring it with you – whatever will help!

Preparing for the Partner and Baby

Your partner will also need some things, such as:

• Snacks
• Reading material
• Pillow
• Cell phone and charger
• Tablet and charger
• Change of clothes
• Change (for vending machines)
• Camera with batteries/charger

And you’ll need to pack things for your new baby! You can consider bringing:

• Swaddling blanket or swaddler
• Car seat
• Infant-sized coat
• Infant-sized hat or stocking cap
• What he/she will wear when going home

You want both your partner and your baby to be very comfortable. After all, the big day should be a great day for everyone.

Tips for Being Prepared

When delivery day approaches, keep a bag packed and ready to go at all times. Make sure it’s accessible, and if you leave the house, don’t leave home without it.

Make sure your family members are on the same page when it comes to the big day. This includes making arrangements so that no matter when you go into labor, someone can be with you. No one wants to start the process alone.

Having a baby is an exciting time, and by following these tips, you can be prepared for the big day whenever it comes!

Regional Medical Center helps pregnant mothers-to-be every day. Learn more about our maternity care services and how you can bring your new child into the world with a caring staff of professionals.