Health Chats
Pregnancy: What to Expect from Conception to Birth
Wednesday Aug 11, 2010, 12:00PM - 01:00PM (EST)
Clinical Instructor/Preceptor, and Anatomical Laboratory Instructor
Plano Urogynecology Associates
Obstetrics and Gynecology , Plano, TX
The nine months of pregnancy are a time of excitement and anticipation of the day you greet your newborn, but it can also be a time of change and anxiety as your body adapts to the little one growing inside of you. You've probably received a lot of advice about what you should and should not do during a pregnancy, what is safe for the baby and what isn't, and what is normal and what isn't. Learn all about what to expect and when to expect it - from hearing the baby's heartbeat for the first time to feeling that kick from inside, from morning sickness to cravings - and learn to differentiate between old wives' tales and scientific research. From trying to conceive to the first trimester to labor, learn what to expect during your pregnancy in this live health chat with Dr. Kyle Mathews, MedHelp's resident Ob/Gyn expert.<br><br>
Kyle Mathews, MD:
Cramping similar to menstrual cramps is usually normal, more severe cramps should be investigated by your OB/GYN.
rjoshua:
I recently had a baby girl, via IVF (first take) after 10+ years of trying to conceived. The diagnosis was "unexplained". My husband and I would like to try again shortly and wanted to know what the likelihood would be to get pregnant naturally, versus having to do IVF again? I'm 36yrs old.
Kyle Mathews, MD:
That is a difficult question to answer.
Kyle Mathews, MD:
I would suggest not trying too long naturally, before returning to your IVF doctor.
Kyle Mathews, MD:
At 36 years old your ovarian reserve (eggs) may not be large.
Kyle Mathews, MD:
Waiting too long may decrease your chance of getting pregnant, even with IVF.
Danielle713:
I have been TTC since Jan 10'. I was told by my Dr that I show signs of PCOS and the more I read about it sounds like I could have it. They are having me do birth control for two months and then come off of it and ttc really hard for two months and if that doesn't work then I should get fertility testing. Is this something that could work? And is there anything I can do to help with weightless when PCOS hinders it?
Kyle Mathews, MD:
Providing you are having regular menstrual cycles we usually suggest beginning a work-up after 1 year of unprotected intercourse.
Kyle Mathews, MD:
Should your cycles not be regular, a work-up would be indicated.
Kyle Mathews, MD:
Testing to insure ovulation which consists of a blood draw on day 21, 22 or 23 of your cycle can easily be done.
Kyle Mathews, MD:
Weight loss, while difficult can be achieved by following good dietary practces. I have found diet programs such as Weight Watchers to be more beneficial than many of the fad diets.
mzrichee:
i had my first pregnancy in my early 20's. throughout the entire pregnancy everything went well and was fine. then i became a week overdue. the day that marked the one week overdue date, i went in for a typical checkup with the possibility of getting induced to deliver. during my visit my doctor noticed that i had signs of preeclampsia and would have to deliver right away. the week before i was perfectly fine. i ate a pretty normal/healthy diet. i don't have a history of high blood pressure, not overweight, and don't have gestational diabetes, etc. what factors could have caused this and why so sudden? can it happen again in any future pregnancies and what are ways to prevent it?
Kyle Mathews, MD:
Your experience is not an uncommon one.
Kyle Mathews, MD:
Preeclampsia (PIH) can occur quickly and is often seen in young patients with their first pregnancy.
Kyle Mathews, MD:
It can also be seen in older patients with pregnancy.
Kyle Mathews, MD:
Your chance of this condition recurring is difficult to predict but some experts estimate 15-25%.
LosingMyMindInGA:
What are some possible causes of severe muscle pain and weakness in late pregnancy? Mostly in legs.
Kyle Mathews, MD:
The most common cause of muscle cramps in late pregnancy is low potassium and calcium.
Kyle Mathews, MD:
I suggest taking supplemental calcium - 1,000 to 1,500 mg daily in a divided dose - (1/2 MORNING and 1/2 NIGHT)
Kyle Mathews, MD:
and eat a banana twice daily
Kyle Mathews, MD:
Your doctor should also check for other possible causes such as low thyroid and others.
goodiesnthings:
hi there,
just a quick question on hormone testing for pregnancy.
I went my Dr. on 7/29/10
Progesterone: 18.51
Estrogen: 309.23
HCG: 6259.8
Did a Vaginal Ultrasound-she said she saw the yolk sac and told me i'm about 5.5 weeks
I went again back the Dr. today 8/3/10
Progesterone: 15.41
Estrogen: 264.22
HCG: 9573.4
Did another Vaginal Ultrasound-she said it only changed slightly.
I went back to the Dr. today 8/5/10
Progesterone: 10.84
Estrogen: 317.91
HCG: 11,011.1
I was supposed to do another Vaginal Ultrasound, but got scared.
I will be going back on Monday 8/9/10 for another ultrasound and blood testing.
She told me that by monday if there's no heartbeat then we have to make a decision
My last menses was on June 18, 2010
I am trying to calculate how far I am and also trying to understand what all those levels mean.
just a quick question on hormone testing for pregnancy.
I went my Dr. on 7/29/10
Progesterone: 18.51
Estrogen: 309.23
HCG: 6259.8
Did a Vaginal Ultrasound-she said she saw the yolk sac and told me i'm about 5.5 weeks
I went again back the Dr. today 8/3/10
Progesterone: 15.41
Estrogen: 264.22
HCG: 9573.4
Did another Vaginal Ultrasound-she said it only changed slightly.
I went back to the Dr. today 8/5/10
Progesterone: 10.84
Estrogen: 317.91
HCG: 11,011.1
I was supposed to do another Vaginal Ultrasound, but got scared.
I will be going back on Monday 8/9/10 for another ultrasound and blood testing.
She told me that by monday if there's no heartbeat then we have to make a decision
My last menses was on June 18, 2010
I am trying to calculate how far I am and also trying to understand what all those levels mean.
Kyle Mathews, MD:
Based on the dates in your question, I assume you have already seen your doctor. If you still have questions please feel free to post them in MedHelp's online Ask a Doctor Pregnancy Forum.
not2alone:
GOOD MORNING DOCTOR! WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO CONCIEVE FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. I NEVER HAD REGULAR PERIODS SO I WAS TAKING PROVERA TO START THEM. IN JUNE AND JULY THEY STARTED WITHOUT THE HELP OF PROVERA, AND W/US CONFIRMED THAT I WASNT OVULATING BUT ONCE I USED CLOMID 100MG IN MAY I WAS OVULATING, THEN THE PERIODS CAME ON THEIR OWN. I WAS WANTING TO KNOW IF MY BODY HAS REGULATED ITSELF WITH THE HELP OF THE MEDS AND IF YOU THINK I CAN STOP THEM. THIS MONTH, AUGUST, I AM NOW 5 DAYS LATE ON MY PERIOD. I TOOK A TEST YESTERDAY AND I THINK IT WAS NO GOOD BECAUSE IT HAD PART OF A CROSS (POS) SO NOT SURE IF IT WAS - OR +. SO EITHER I AM STILL IRREGULAR OR PREGNANT. HOW LONG SHOULD I WAIT TO TEST AGAIN, AND CAN I BE REGULATED NOW AND NOT NEED MEDS? THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.
Kyle Mathews, MD:
I would not recommend stopping your medication and would continue following your doctor's advice.
Kyle Mathews, MD:
A urine pregnancy test often will be positive 10 days after conception.
Kyle Mathews, MD:
If you are still unsure, a blood test called a Beta HCG can be run to confirm
bekst:
i was treated for a mild urinary tract infection (10000 e.coli per ml of urine) 2 months before getting pregnant ( my first UTI). Now im 9 weeks and 3 days pregnant with my first child. I am worried in case the frequent urination that im having at night is again a UTI(im hoping not) and im pregnant,,,is it safe to treat it in this stage of pregnancy or not
Kyle Mathews, MD:
It is safe to treat UTI in pregnancy.
Kyle Mathews, MD:
A simple urinalysis can determine if your frequent urination is an infection or not.
goodiesnthings:
Good Afternoon, I just recently had a hysteroscopy to remove poylps from my uterus back in May 2010. I was told to have a regular period which I did and to call my Dr. on the 1st day to that she can she if I still have more poylps. But my LMP: June 18, 2010. On July 29th she said I was pregnant. I went in to have a vaginal ultrasound done. she saw the yolk sac but she said it's still to early to see the fetal pole. she measured me at 5.5 weeks. I went back into days and she said only it changed a little. I just went back on Monday Aug 9th, 2010 and she told me that there's no fetal pole. Could she still be wrong and it's just hiding? she wants me to do a D&C but I was reading and it said it's not necessary to have one on a bligthed Ovum. What's your opinion on that? And do you think that this pregnancy didnt go further because maybe I still have polyps in me. Thank you for your insite
Kyle Mathews, MD:
I'm sorry to hear of your problem.
