Tips For Navigating Your Winter Pregnancy
Getting ready for your birthing experience can be one of the most exciting times in your life. Our team at FemmPro OB/GYN in Garden City and North Massapequa, New York, understands your desire to know how to navigate through your labor and delivery. We have the expertise, training, and compassionate care to walk with you every step of the way and to help you know what to expect.
First steps
Whether you know that you’re pregnant or want to get a test for validation, you should schedule an appointment with our practice. We can confirm your pregnancy and create a personalized and seasonal birthing plan for your prenatal care to keep you and your baby healthy.
Prenatal care
During your prenatal care visits, we monitor your health to make sure your body stays healthy while you’re pregnant. During your first visits, we learn about your family’s medical history, perform blood work, test your urine, determine your due date, and perform other tests, if needed.
We then help you line up scheduled routine prenatal visits with us to check the vital signs of you and your baby to monitor the progression of your pregnancy and your baby’s health.
We also talk about your birth plan. For example, your preferences might include choosing to have a natural childbirth or having midwifery services with FemmPro MIDWIFE. No matter your preferences, we're here for you to meet them.
If you're pregnant during the winter (and spending more time indoors), it will be important to stay hydrated, exercise, and eat right. When outdoors, stay warm by wearing extra layers.
Trimesters
Your pregnancy is broken up into three trimesters, with your delivery expected to happen between 37 and 41 weeks.
First Trimester
During your first trimester, your fetus starts to develop, and the heart starts beating. Your baby’s brain, organs, and spinal cord begin to form. At this stage, we will perform prenatal blood testing.
Second Trimester
When you enter your second trimester, we perform an ultrasound to monitor your baby’s development and possibly reveal its sex. At this point, you might start to feel your baby move inside your body.
Third Trimester
As you move into your last months of pregnancy, you can gain more weight and start to tire more easily. You might feel some discomfort in your pelvis and experience Braxton-Hicks contractions, which are relatively painless and irregular.
Labor and delivery
When you start going into active labor, your cervix begins to dilate to prepare for your delivery. You can expect intense contractions as your baby moves down the birth canal. Once you have a fully dilated cervix, you’re ready to push and deliver your baby.
Every pregnancy is its own unique experience. At FemmPro OB/GYN, we value the uniqueness of your pregnancy, and we treat each stage personally with a highly tailored approach. We understand the individual needs of your pregnancy from beginning to end.
To learn more about what to expect during your pregnancy, contact us by calling our Garden City or North Massapequa locations today, or book your appointment online. You can also send our team a message with any questions you might have.