Mary Duenwald

Once you find out you’re pregnant, follow a recommended schedule of prenatal visits and review the tests you can expect for each doctor’s visit. Learning a few medical abbreviations used by your doctors and hospital staff will help you keep up with what's going on all the way through your delivery.Keeping tabs on your baby’s growth is exciting, especially when you have a helpful growth chart to follow.

If you’ve ever had a parent-to-be show you an ultrasound picture of the baby, you know determining what you’re looking at, let alone detecting a family resemblance, isn’t always easy! But ultrasound pictures can be amazingly clear and useful — if you know what you’re looking for. Following are some of the items that doctors and sonographers try to pick out on ultrasound to find out whether the baby is growing and developing well.

If you suspect that you’re pregnant, you’re probably excited and want to know definitively whether you are pregnant. The first four weeks are important because the pregnancy is getting established as the implantation process is underway. During these initial weeks, do the following: Record your last menstrual period (LMP).

You may notice that a small road map has suddenly appeared on your lower legs (and sometimes the vulvar area). These marks are dilated veins, referred to as varicose veins. The pressure of the uterus on major blood vessels — the inferior vena cava (the vein that returns blood to the heart) and the pelvic veins, in particular — causes them.

So you know what’s going on throughout your pregnancy while at doctor’s visits, touring the hospital, and during labor and delivery, learn these medical abbreviations and what they mean. Abbreviation What It Stands For AFP Alpha-fetoprotein AMA/APA Advanced Maternal/Paternal Age CNM Certified Nurse Midwife CR

During your pregnancy, pack portable items you’ll need for your labor and delivery and hospital stay in a bag and keep it in a handy place or in your car. For your trip to the hospital you’ll need: Your partner/labor coach A bathrobe and nightgown Toiletries Sturdy underwear that you don’t mind soili

To ensure the health of you and your baby, you’ll need to schedule regular visits to your doctor during your pregnancy. Use this guideline for making your appointments and understanding common procedures for each visit: Weeks Possible Tests 6–8 Blood type, rubella titer, blood counts, hepatitis screen, ultrasound.

At the eighth week of pregnancy (date of last menstrual period) the embryo is now referred to as a fetus. All organs are formed and the remaining 32 weeks of pregnancy is a time for the fetus to grow and mature. Take a look at this chart to see how your baby’s body weight and length changes during your pregnancy: Weeks Pregnant (measured from LMP) Average Weight Average Length 8 0.

Be prepared for your baby’s arrival (or in case you have questions or concerns during your pregnancy) by printing this list and filling out the information. Keep this list in your purse or on the fridge for easy access Your practitioner: Name ______________________ Phone number ________