So, you’re having a baby, and you’re making your way through the first trimester, looking forward to the second trimester and being one step closer to the big day.

You’ve powered through the challenges of the first 12 weeks. So what comes next? And what can you expect from your OB-GYN visits in the second three months?

Going Through the Second 12 Weeks and OB Visits

During the second trimester, patients usually feel their best. These next three months will probably be the “peak” of your pregnancy. They’ll at least be the least stressful, since you no longer have to worry about first trimester miscarriages, or deal with the cramping and nausea that accompanies that time period.

The focus of your OB-GYN visits during this trimester is on monitoring the growth of your baby and making sure both you and the baby are healthy.

You’ll continue to have your vital signs and your urine checked, and you’ll visit approximately once every two weeks to once every month, depending on the schedule you and your doctor establish.

During the second trimester, you’ll probably be given an alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) test, which screens for birth defects like spina bifida and things like Down syndrome. You can also undergo optional genetic studies, although you certainly don’t have to (unless your doctor strongly recommends them based on genetic history). An amniocentesis is also offered during this time if you’re over the age of 35; it checks for developmental abnormalities which are more likely if you’re over that age.

Symptoms to Expect

You probably won’t encounter nausea or cramping like you did during the first part of your pregnancy, but there are still some symptoms to expect. These include:

• Shortness of breath
• Unexplained pains
• Nerve tingling
• Increased fetal movements

The last one is particularly important. Around the 18-week mark, you’ll probably experience something called the “quickening.” This is when your baby suddenly starts moving around a lot more. This is normal and good. Your doctor will monitor the movement, establish a pattern, and then be on the lookout for decreases in movement that could indicate something that needs to be checked out.

The main concern during the second 12 weeks is preterm delivery. Your doctor will keep a careful eye on several risk factors and signs that preterm delivery is possible.

Keep Up Your OB-GYN Visits – You’re Almost There!

Everyone wants a healthy baby and mommy. The OB visits during the second trimester are no less important than during the first trimester. So, keep it up – you’re about to enter the home stretch!

Find a qualified and friendly OB-GYN at one of our locations and schedule your next visit- and let us help you care for you and your growing family!

You’re having a baby – we’re so excited for you!

It’s going to be a wild but fulfilling ride for you over the next nine months, and nothing during this journey is more important than making sure you and baby are as healthy as possible.

That means seeing your OB-GYN often, especially in the all-important first trimester.

What can you expect from your OB visits in the first three months of your pregnancy? Let’s take a look.

What Will Happen in the First Trimester: the First Visit

During the first trimester, there are a few things that will be important to be aware of and monitor.

The risk for miscarriage, for example, is highest in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. So, your doctor will want to meet often to monitor the progress of the pregnancy and keep track of things that could indicate difficulty down the road.

Around the 6- to 8-week mark, you’ll have your first visit with your doctor, in which he or she will go over your medical history and get as much data as possible. At this stage, your doctor may see something in your medical history that will need to be monitored because it could cause difficulties later on.

You’ll also get tested for anything and everything, from anemia to sexually transmitted diseases. In addition, you can expect a Pap smear.

Essentially, this visit sets the tone for the rest of the trimester.

Going Through the First 12 Weeks and OB Visits

At some point early in the first trimester – sometimes even during the initial visit – you’ll get your first ultrasound. The doctor is looking for normal growth of the fetus, and checking for any abnormalities.

You’ll also go to your OB-GYN multiple times. During each visit, your vital signs will be taken. Your urine will also be tested for protein and glucose (sugar). You’ll likely experience morning sickness during the first three months, which means monitoring your weight will be important. If you lose too much weight, you could be at risk and will need weekly visits instead of monthly ones.

As you go through the first 12 weeks, you and your doctor will develop a better understanding of your pregnancy. He or she will be making sure you’re generally healthy and that your pregnancy is developing as planned.

Problems Leading to Risk in the First Trimester

There are several things that could lead to problems during the first three months. These conditions include:

Bleeding
Asthma
Alcohol/drug abuse
Diabetes
Chronic hypertension
Smoking
Thyroid disease
Previous miscarriages or stillbirths
Abnormal Pap smear

These conditions may require treatment, but there’s a delicate balance because what is good for the mother may not be good for the baby. Your doctor will help you navigate these as you start your pregnancy.

Bottom Line: OB-GYN Visits Are Important!

We can’t stress enough how important it is to visit your doctor as often as he or she directs during the first three months. This is a critical part of your pregnancy. We want your baby to develop in a healthy way, and that starts as soon as possible after conception.

Find a qualified and friendly OB-GYN at one of our locations and schedule your initial visit – and let us help you care for you and your growing family!

A lot goes on with your body when you’re pregnant.

You have to deal with hormonal changes, aches, pains, morning sickness, stomach problems, and many other pregnancy symptoms that many women experience when expecting.

Most of the time, what you’ll go through is perfectly normal. Soon-to-be mothers have endured these side effects of pregnancy for ages. But what if something happens that makes you think you need help? When, exactly, should you call the doctor?

Pregnancy Symptoms to Watch Out For

Pregnant women don’t always like calling their physician, even when something may be off. Many pregnant women don’t call the doctor to ask questions because they don’t want to be a nuisance.

You should always feel free to talk to your doctor if you have concerns. That’s what we’re here for! But to help make you more comfortable doing so, here are some specific times you should call a doctor.

Severe Nausea: When It’s Not Just Morning Sickness

Nausea, mood swings, and fatigue—all of these are known as common symptoms of most pregnancies, especially during the first trimester. But what about frequent nausea accompanied by vomiting or belly pain? Watch closely for the following symptoms, as they may point to Hyperemesis Gravidarum.

Hyperemesis Gravidarum

Hyperemesis Gravidarum is a condition associated with severe vomiting—a cause well worthy of seeing a doctor during pregnancy—and other reasons for concern:

• Moderate to severe dehydration
• Inability to digest or “keep down” any food or water
• Unbearable nausea, constant vomiting
• Excessive or unusual weight loss
• Belly pain (besides contractions, “growing pains,” baby kicks, and quickening)
• Severe headache
• Fainting or losing consciousness

If test results from your physician reveal you have been suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum or a similar medical condition, they will provide you with options for treatment and follow-up care.

Unusual or Severe Vaginal Bleeding

Expecting mothers sometimes spot during the early pregnancy and sometimes experience other minor bleeding throughout their term. Most of the time, it’s not a cause for concern.

However, vaginal bleeding and severe cramping during pregnancy can signify something more serious, like placental abruption or an ectopic pregnancy. To ensure everything’s normal, talk to a doctor whenever you start bleeding—especially if the bleeding comes with severe pain. They can check you out and make sure everything looks okay.

Before your visit, monitor the rate and severity of your bleeding by wearing a panty liner or pad (as is recommended by the American Pregnancy Association).

Abnormal Vaginal Discharge

A sudden release of vaginal discharge in excess or with abnormal coloring, consistency, odor, or frequency is not necessarily a signal for alarm or immediate medical care. Most women notice minor changes in their discharge while pregnant, but inconsistencies can be a sign of a hormone imbalance (aside from what you usually expect from pregnancy).

Call your doctor if you’re unsure about the changes you’re experiencing during pregnancy.

Swelling

You should call a doctor if your hands, face, or feet start to swell. Sudden swelling can be a symptom of preeclampsia, which can damage your liver and kidneys and usually pops up after the 20-week mark. This condition affects anywhere from 5 to 8 percent of all pregnancies.

Note that preeclampsia can happen even if you’re otherwise perfectly healthy, according to your vitals. So, if your extremities and face are swelling, talk to a doctor about it.

Vision Problems

Problems with your vision, such as light sensitivity, blurred vision, spots in your eyes, and excessive dry eye, can also signify preeclampsia. This is due to how preeclampsia can restrict blood flow to the eyes and other body parts.

When you bring up vision problems related to preeclampsia, your physician will first address the condition itself. However, they may refer you to an optometrist to intervene and prevent or treat optical damage the condition may have caused.

Baby Movements

Babies move in the womb. For first-time mothers, this can be both a blissful moment and a scary one. But you’ll eventually settle into a routine and learn how your baby likes to move around.

If you’ve reached the 28-week mark and there’s a change in your baby’s normal movement patterns, you should talk to a doctor. Around this time is when a baby’s umbilical cord can become compromised. Your doctor can take a look and see if anything needs more attention.

Skin Changes and Itching

It’s normal to see changes in your skin during pregnancy, such as linea nigra, a healthy “glow,” and stretch marks. You may also experience itching, acne, new skin tags, and other minor skin changes.

Itching is one of those things that just happens in pregnancy. As with anything else, it’s usually nothing to worry about.

If the pads of your hands and the soles of your feet are very itchy, there might be a problem called cholestasis. Cholestasis can cause issues ranging from premature labor to fetal death, so you must call a doctor if you notice these symptoms. If you notice that your bowel movements are pale-colored, you should also contact a doctor.

Urinary Tract Infection—a Symptom of Premature Labor

UTIs can lead to premature labor, so it’s essential to call your doctor immediately if you notice these symptoms:

• A burning sensation while urinating
• Frequent need or urge to urinate—even when you’re unable to pass much urine at all
• Urine that has a strange odor
• Bloody or dark urine
• Pain in your lower abdomen or back
• Feeling shaky or fatigued
• Chills or a fever

Urinary tract infections can lead to other serious problems, such as a kidney infection, when left untreated.

When You Should Seek Emergency Care for the Above Symptoms

These or other symptoms that you may experience may concern you. Don’t worry—every expecting mother has gone through many of the same things.

We want you to feel comfortable talking to your doctor whenever you’re concerned. Don’t think you’ll be a nuisance or that it’s always nothing to worry about. Sometimes, the best health decision you can make is to simply call and consult with a physician. After all, our priority is your health and your baby’s health!

If your physician is unavailable when certain symptoms call for immediate medical care, contact or visit the nearest emergency room as soon as you can. It may be the most important health decision you’ll ever make for your and your baby’s safety.

Stay Up to Date With Your Prenatal Appointment Schedule

From the first 6-8 weeks of pregnancy up until your due date, prenatal visits are an important part of ensuring you will receive the best of care. If you think you’re experiencing the symptoms we’ve mentioned or signs of other concerns, try to address them as soon as possible by seeing if you can move up your next prenatal visit with your OB-GYN.

The Next Steps

Although these are general suggestions, you and your baby’s health should be taken seriously, and that’s why these symptoms and other concerns should be well monitored by your OB-GYN or general practitioner of family medicine.

Remember that many women have experienced complications during pregnancy and that keeping tabs on your health during pregnancy is not a burden to physicians in any way.

For More Advice on Maintaining a Healthy Pregnancy

Our maternal maternity care team in the Women and Children’s Pavilion at RMC in Anniston welcomes more than 2,000 newborns each year. We have a team of specially trained OB Nurses, board-certified physicians, and top-of-the-line labor, delivery, and recovery care systems.

For all the pregnancy advice and support you need, contact Regional Medical Center today!

The first hour after a baby is born – known at RMC as “the golden hour” – is one of the most important and crucial hours during a baby’s transition from the womb to the outside world.

This first hour should be a time in which the baby and the mother are left undisturbed so they can bond. There are many benefits to having this first hour after birth – benefits that can impact the baby over a short-term and long-term period of time.

Here, we’ll discuss three of those major benefits and why we at Regional Medical Center focus on keeping baby and mom together for as long as possible immediately after birth.

Bonding Begins Right After Delivery

As soon as the baby is born, he or she needs to be placed with the mother so skin-to-skin bonding can occur.

This crucial contact has several health benefits. Since a baby can’t regulate its temperature as well as an older child, skin-to-skin contact immediately after delivery can help their little bodies regulate themselves with the mother’s assistance.

Contact in the first hour reduces the risk of low blood sugar, regulates the baby’s temperature, and also controls their respiration. Remember: babies are coming from an environment that was perfectly controlled for them for nine months. Being out in the real world is a shock to their systems.

That’s why we encourage all mothers to hold their babies right after they come out so this skin-to-skin contact can occur.

Babies Begin Breastfeeding Naturally

In the 1980’s, researchers and doctors discovered what we now call the “breast crawl.”

This is when a baby is placed on the mother’s bare stomach and instinctively crawls toward the breast to feed.

It’s amazing how we are hardwired to do this, and it’s great to encourage this behavior because it can have profound impact on the progression of natural breastfeeding in the short and long term.

At Regional Medical Center, as a Baby-Friendly Hospital, we believe in the importance of breastfeeding and want to encourage it as much as possible. That undisturbed first hour is critical when it comes to natural, instinctive, baby-led breastfeeding, and can help a mother have an easier, more successful time with breastfeeding going forward.

Attachment Grows in the First Hour

Finally, the all-important bond of attachment between mother and baby is formed in those first moments after delivery.

A baby will spend this first hour getting to know his or her mother. They’ll stare at their mother’s face, smell her scent, feel her skin against theirs, and hear the sound of her voice. You’ll get to do the same with them.

What this intimate connection does is promote the production of oxytocin for both you and the baby, which promotes maternal behavior and encourages affection that is a must for the baby. Mothers who have the first hour to bond with their baby report more confidence in being able to meet the baby’s needs and more comfort with the baby in general.

Babies also benefit because they receive affection more readily and can more easily adapt to the world without the trauma of separation.

Have Your Baby with Regional Medical Center

We pride ourselves on keeping the mother with the baby for as long as possible after delivery, because we know just how important that experience is for the relationship you will build with your child.

A great relationship starts from the very first moment you see your child. We want to help promote that and create beautiful relationships from the very beginning.

Consider having your child with us in our comfortable, state-of-the-art facility with a staff that cares about your family and knows the best things to do for you before, during, and after delivery. Contact us to learn more!

At Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center, we’re proud of our status as the first Baby-Friendly Hospital in the state of Alabama.

But what does that mean? And how does this factor into giving you the best maternity care you can find?

Here, we’ll explain how this designation means you can receive high-quality maternity care in the five-county region we service, and why you’ll be in the best hands possible during your stay with us.

The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative

The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative was created by the World Health Organization and UNICEF in 1991 as a way to promote breastfeeding throughout the world. This movement has since morphed into one that promotes better maternity care in general, especially that which establishes a strong, healthy bond between mother and child and increases the chances of success in the critical early days of a child’s life.

Certification in the BFHI in the U.S. is conducted by Baby-Friendly USA. They award this designation to medical centers throughout the country that meet their guidelines, including:

• Committing to a breastfeeding-is-best policy
• Training all health care staff to implement the policy
• Educating pregnant patients about the benefits and management of breastfeeding
• Helping mothers initiate breastfeeding within one hour of birth
• Placing mothers and babies together in skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth
• Showing mothers how to effectively breastfeed
• Encouraging a breastfeeding-only policy while the infant is in care of the hospital
• Allowing mothers and infants to remain together 24 hours a day
• Encouraging breastfeeding on demand
• Giving no pacifiers or artificial nipples to breastfeeding infants
• Fostering continued breastfeeding by establishing and supporting breastfeeding support groups

By following these policies, designated Baby-Friendly Hospitals promote the bonding of a mother and infant, and help them learn and grow together through breastfeeding and other best practices while they are in the care of the facility.

Why This Matters to You

We’re proud to have been named the first Baby-Friendly Hospital in the state of Alabama because we are committed to giving our mothers the best possible care.

In addition to being a Baby-Friendly Hospital, we also offer more choices for maternal care, more natural delivery options, and more personalized birthing experiences. That’s because we care about our mothers and their babies, and we want the very best for them while they are under our roof.

Learn more about our maternity care and how we are dedicated to offering the best maternity care in the region — including a more personalized, comfortable experience for you and your growing family that you can’t find anywhere else.