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What to Pack for the Other "Labor Day"!

8/28/2018

We get this question from new moms all the time- what should I take to the hospital for me and my newborn? There are hundreds of sample lists online and most are so long, it would probably require you to have to “check a bag”! In reality, your hospital room isn’t very large, and overpacking in a tiny room will likely be more of a hassle, not to mention make it less likely to find what you really need. Here is a list of essentials of what moms really need for the big day:

1. Most importantly, bring ID and your insurance card. Important phone numbers written down for your nurses are also very helpful.

2. If you are a first time mom, labor can be a very lengthy process. Unless you are okay with watching talk shows and reruns of The Big Bang Theory, bring your own entertainment: Ipads/Laptops- a way to watch movies, read books, music playlists and keep friends and family updated on social media! Hospital guest wi-fi may be slow and unreliable, so you may want to download certain books and movies before your big day. Also, decide how you are going to capture that special moment- if it is a special camera/video, make sure you bring chargers/extra batteries for ALL of your electronic devices.

3. Moms, the hospital already has a lot of pads and underwear, but bring a robe, comfy sweat pants or pajamas, and flip flops (They may also serve the purpose of shower shoes!). Nursing tops and bras are good ideas, but the hospital already has breast pumps/nursing pillows if you need it. Your milk may not come in until you leave the hospital, so bringing your own is likely unnecessary.

4. For your little one: The hospital will provide diapers/wipes/suction bulbs/blankets/bottles- pretty much everything you will need for your newborn, so don’t waste space or energy packing any of these. All you really need is a couple of cute outfits that you want to take baby's first pictures in.

5. With that being said, don’t forget your toiletry/makeup bag so you can look great in those first pictures with your baby!

6. Also, you should pack at least one extra set of clothes that will fit you after you deliver. After all, who wants to go home with their butt hanging out in the breeze from their hospital gown?

7. Last but certainly not least, the car seat! Learn how to use the car seat before you leave for the hospital so you are not struggling the day of discharge.

Fortunately, no matter how hectic your “labor day” is, you won't forget the most important part of your list..your baby :)

Dr. Pam

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Since Your Baby Doesn't Come with an Owner's Manual Chapter 2: The Second Trimester

8/14/2018

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For many women, the second trimester is often the favorite. Nausea generally subsides (or at least lessens), moms can begin to feel their babies move, and the baby hasn’t yet become large enough to make you too uncomfortable :) If you’re planning a “baby moons,” the second trimester is probably your best bet.

The second trimester is often when you get to really see your newest family member for the first time. While earlier ultrasounds can show some features, the ultrasound done around 20 weeks lets us look at all those little parts, from heart and lungs to fingers and toes. And of course, if you haven’t learned already (or even if you have), this is usually the best time to confirm the gender of your baby. At this point, if Pinterest and Etsy browsing for baby clothes hasn’t already become your favorite pastime, it probably will :)

From the OBGYN standpoint, with the exception of the 20 week ultrasound to assess your baby’s anatomy, our testing is generally pretty limited. Visits continue every 4 weeks during the period, and each visit will include listening to your baby’s heartbeat. After 20 weeks, we will begin to measure the fundal height (measurement from the pubic bone to the top of the uterus) in order to ensure your baby is growing well.

The only downside of the second trimester is that we do perform one of the 2 least favorite tests of pregnancy: the screening for gestational diabetes. It’s kind of a tossup as to whether this test or the check for group B strep in the third trimester is the least favorite of moms-to-be. Since this test isn’t so fun, I’d like to take a minute to explain what it is and why we do it.

The way we do screening for gestational diabetes is as follows: you get to drink a sugary drink provided by the lab and then have your blood drawn an hour after. If you pass, you’re done, and if you fail above a certain level, we begin management for gestational diabetes right away. If you fall in the middle, we do a second round of testing (a 3 hour version) to determine if you have gestational diabetes. We know all moms have some element of insulin resistance during pregnancy (we want your blood sugar to be a little higher than your baby’s so that he/she can eat); however, some moms are over-achievers :) For those moms, dietary modifications and in some cases medical management may be indicated. Glucose control is one of the most important aspects of pregnancy as uncontrolled gestational diabetes can lead to larger babies, increased risk of birth trauma to baby/mom or need for cesarean section, and in severe cases, even increased risk of stillbirth. So, yes, it’s not a fun test, but it is important.

The last important milestone for the second trimester is that around 23-24 weeks is the very earliest that babies have a chance to survive outside of mom’s body. That being said, we much prefer that your little one gets to stay inside awhile longer. Complications from prematurity can generally be minimized the further pregnancy progresses, so even if you’re finding that the second trimester isn’t a total breeze, remember that after 20 weeks, you’re over halfway to getting to see your baby in person and that cute little face will be totally worth it :)

Dr. Nick

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Why is my baby bump bigger than hers (she’s 28 weeks, and I’m only 20 weeks!)?

8/7/2018

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All mothers to be like to compare baby bumps. It’s not fair that I’m not as far along as you, but my bump is way bigger.

1.       Baby bumps come in all shapes and sizes. The most common reason to have a baby bump that sticks more outward than upward is dependent on which number pregnancy it is. First babies tend to grow upward towards your diaphragm, and subsequent babies tend to grow outward like a basketball. The reason for this is because as you have more children, your abdominal muscles tend to become more lax, so your bump is more likely to grow outward.

2.       Does a bigger bump mean a bigger baby? Not necessarily. Just because your bump is growing outward instead of upward does not necessarily mean your baby is bigger. A more accurate way to determine the size your baby is by measuring your fundal height. Your doctor will start measuring your fundal height after 20 weeks. The fundal height is the distance from your pubic symphysis to the top of your uterus (aka the fundus). This measurement is done in centimeters. Most providers will measure the fundal height after 20 weeks because at 20 weeks the uterus will be at the belly button. Before that it can be difficult to measure accurately. Ultrasound is generally used at or before 20 weeks to assess the size of the baby.

3.       Does my height affect the size of my baby bump? It may. Women with a short torso are more likely to have “a bigger bump” than someone who is taller, but this does not tell us anything about the baby size. It just tells us that the baby has less room to grow upward, and so it is more likely to grow outward. Babies of shorter women tend to actually be smaller just because more petite women tend to make smaller babies.

4.       When can I finally see a baby bump? Most first time mothers will not notice a bump until the second trimester- sometime around 14 to 16 weeks, although if this is not your first baby, you may notice a bump sooner. Some women may confuse bloating in the first trimester with a bump.

5.       Is it true that if my bump looks like a basketball I am likely having a boy and if it looks like a watermelon I must be having a girl? Unfortunately, this is just an old wives’ tale. Gender has nothing to do with the shape of your baby bump. The shape of your bump is more likely related to which pregnancy this is, the size of your torso, and the strength of your abdominal wall.

6. Does a bigger bump mean I am going to get a hernia? A hernia is where the intestines can protrude through a weakened portion of the abdominal wall. Most pregnant women will experience some separation of the rectus muscles (diastasis recti), but most pregnant women do not develop a hernia simply because they are pregnant. However, if you have a preexisting hernia, pregnancy can make the hernia worse.

There you have it! Baby bumps can be big or small, grow out or up, and even vary from one pregnancy to the next. Regardless of how your bump grows, we’re here to help you deliver the healthiest possible baby from your bump :)

Dr. Pam

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What to Pack for the Other "Labor Day"!

Since Your Baby Doesn't Come with an Owner's Manual Chapter 2: The Second Trimester

Why is my baby bump bigger than hers (she’s 28 weeks, and I’m only 20 weeks!)?

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