FYI - Pregnancy

Here is some helpful information for those patients who are currently pregnant.

  • First Visit:
  • Orientation to the practice
  • Assign due date
  • Discuss prenatal vitamins
  • Order labs and ultrasound
  • Get history
  • About 12 weeks (or second visit):
  • Discuss prenatal laboratory testing
  • Check weight, blood pressure, and urine
  • Listen for fetal heart tones
  • Perform physical exam (if not already done)
  • About 16 weeks:
  • Listen for fetal heart tones and check uterine size
  • Order AFP Test
  • Check weight, blood pressure, and urine
  • Sign up for childbirth education classes
  • Order ultrasound
  • About 20 weeks:
  • Listen for fetal heart tones and check uterine size
  • Check weight, blood pressure, and urine
  • About 24 week:
  • Listen for fetal heart tones and check uterine size
  • Check weight, blood pressure, and urine
  • About 28 weeks:
  • Listen for fetal heart tones and check uterine size
  • Check weight, blood pressure, and urine
  • Order one-hour glucose test (fasting is not necessary)
  • A Rhogam shot is given to patients who have Rh-negative blood type
  • About 30 weeks:
  • Listen for fetal heart tones and check uterine size
  • Check weight, blood pressure, and urine
  • Discuss glucose test results
  • About 32-36 weeks:
  • Listen for fetal heart tones and check uterine size
  • Check weight, blood pressure, and urine
  • Check for the baby's position
  • Group B strep culture of the vagina
  • About 36 weeks:
  • Listen for fetal heart tones and check uterine size
  • Check weight, blood pressure, and urine
  • Discuss labor and delivery
  • About 38 weeks:
  • Listen for fetal heart tones and check uterine size
  • Check weight, blood pressure, and urine
  • A cervical examination may be done
  • Non stress test (optional)
  • About 40 weeks:
  • Listen for fetal heart tones and check uterine size
  • Check weight, blood pressure, and urine
  • Non stress test
  • Cervical examination
  • Discuss management plan for delivery

Approved Prenatal Medications Listed below are medications that you can take safely for the minor discomfort of pregnancy. In general, it is best to avoid any medications during the first twelve (12) weeks of pregnancy. If you are taking a prescription, we should be notified as soon as possible.

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PAIN MEDICATION

Safe to take: Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Extra Strength, 2 tabs every 4 hours for minor aches and pains, headaches.
Codeine (by prescription only)
Do not use: Aspirin
Motrin
Advil
Aleve
Call our office: Dizziness or blurred vision
Not getting better

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HEARTBURN, INDIGESTION, GAS

Safe to take: Tums
Rolaids
Gas-X
Maalox
Mylanta (safe to use for first 12 weeks)
Tagamet
Zantac Acid
Call our office: Bad abdominal painƯ

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COUGH/COLDS

Safe to take: Tylenol (aches and pains)
Robitussin (cough)
Robitussin DM (non productive cough)
Sudafed (congestion)
Chloraseptic/Cepacol lozenges (sore throat)
Do not use: Anything containing acetaminophen or aspirin
Call our office: Fever over 101
Coughing up a lot of phlegm
Not getting better in 2-3 days

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DECONGESTANTS

Safe to take: Sudafed (pseudoephedrine)
Robitussin CF
Tavist D
Ocean Mist nasal spray (saline solution)
Call our office: Fever over 101
Coughing up a lot of phlegm
Not getting better in 2-3 days

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ALLERGIES

Safe to take: Zyrtec
Claritin
Benadryl
Dimetapp

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NAUSEA & VOMITING

Safe to take: Pepto Bismol
Emetrol
Small frequent meals
Ginger ale
Vitamin B6
Sea Bands (form of acupuncture on wrists)
Sweet fruit syrup from canned fruits, i.e. pears/peaches
Call our office: Unable to keep liquid down for more than one day Weak and dizzy (dehydrated)

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DIARRHEA

Safe to take: Kaopectate
Pepto Bismol
Imodium (1 dose - if it persists please notify office)
Follow the BRAT diet (banana, rice, applesauce, tea or toast)
Call our office: Fever
Not improved in 2-3 days
Weak and dizzy

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CONSTIPATION

Safe to take: Citrucel
Colace (if hard like little rocks, twice a day, takes a week to work)
Fiberall
FiberCon
Konsyl Easy Mix (stool softener and natural laxative)
Metamucil
Milk of Magnesia

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HEMORRHOIDS

Safe to take: Konsyl Easy Mix (daily to keep stools soft)
Preparation H (safe throughout entire pregnancy)
Anusol

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INSOMNIA (unable to sleep)

Safe to take: Benadryl

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LICE TREAMENTS

Safe to take: Rid
Do not use: Kwell

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NOSE BLEEDS OR GUM BLEEDING

Common in pregnancy
Call our office: If persistent or patient is worried

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LEG CRAMPS (especially in both legs)

Safe to take: Oscal 500 or similar over-the-counter calcium twice a day
Call our office: If only one leg is hurting all the time

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TOOTHACHE or OTHER DENTAL PROBLEMS

May see dentist, have cavities filled, and have x-rays with lead shield.

Safe to take: Orajel
Novocain
Some antibiotics
Some pain pills