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a: anterior placenta. i remember telling my nurse at roughly 22 weeks that i could feel my
baby
kicking. she told me it was normal because i had an anterior placenta. an anterior placenta means the placenta has attached to the front of the front wall of the uterus. dr. rebecca boudreaux, ob/gyn with louisiana women?s healthcare, adds, ?an anterior placenta may not allow you feel movement as strongly at first.? b: breastfeeding . breastfeeding is hard work, so make sure you are prepared. woman?s hospital and baton rouge general medical center offer classes and online resources that can help you get ready. woman?s even provides virtual consultations with lactation nurses who can answer all of your questions. c: contractions. contractions feel like heavy cramps, and they are common in the weeks leading up to delivery. regular and consistent contractions can signal that
baby
is on his way. d: dilation. dilation is the gradual opening of the cervix. dr. boudreaux explains, ?there are three things i am usually looking for: an open cervix; effacement, how thin the cervix is on a scale of 0-100; and the consistency of the cervix, all of these things are subjective during a exam.? e: epidural. every mama is different when it comes to choosing how to manage pain during
labor
. if you have an epidural, an anesthesiologist will administer medication during a certain point in
labor
that will numb the lower half of your body, helping to alleviate the pain. f: fetal doppler. your physician will likely use a fetal doppler to measure your
baby
?s heartbeat after the first trimester and during your regularly scheduled appointments. g: group b strep test. during this test, a vaginal swab is taken by your physician during the last weeks of
pregnancy
to determine if you are a carrier of group b streptococcus (gbs). according to the american
pregnancy
association, gbs is a type of bacterial infection that can be found in a pregnant woman?s vagina or rectum, and can be passed on to
baby
during delivery. h: high blood pressure. your ob/gyn will monitor your blood pressure at each appointment. high blood pressure can lead to preeclampsia, and can be harmful to both mom and
baby
if left unchecked. i: induction. your doctor may decide at a certain point after 40 weeks to speed along
labor
with medication if
baby
is taking his time and the signs of
labor
haven?t yet started. however, dr. boudreaux says if ?everything looks fine, induction is not recommended until after 42 weeks.? j: junk food. trade your chips and cookies in for some fruit and healthy protein. don?t worry, i know it?s hard. but, protein will last longer than empty carbs and will be better in the long run for
baby
. k: kegels. it?s never too early to start strengthening those pelvic floor muscles! practicing contracting, holding, then relaxing your pelvic floor may help you have an easier birth. l: linea nigra. this is a dark line that forms across your belly during
pregnancy
and goes away not long after
baby
is born. m: mucus plug. yep, a mucus plug is exactly what it sounds like. in the week or two leading up to
labor
, the mucus plug will come out, leaving a trail of thick, white, yellowish, blood-tinged material in its path. n: nausea. nausea can hit at any time, although, it is most prominent in the first trimester. eating frequently can help ward off nausea before it starts. the of
pregnancy
by jessica aslin pretty soon you will be singing the abcs to your little one. here are some other important abcs to know as you go on your
pregnancy
journey. 2 0 p i n k ? b l u e | f a l l 2 0 1 8
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