Melissa Heckscher - The Pregnancy Test: 150 Important, Embarrassing, and Slightly Neurotic Questions

Disclaimer: The authors made every effort to present accurate information about pregnancy and childbirth, but a book is never a substitute for a living, breathing physician. Always consult your doctor if you have questions or concerns about your pregnancy.

Copyright 2011 Melissa Hecksher

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Number: 2010936313

eISBN: 978-1-59474-511-9

Production management by John J. McGurk

Published by Quirk Books
215 Church Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
quirkbooks.com

v3.1

Pregnancy is an exciting time. But it is also a scary time, filled with suddenly urgent questions: Can you go to the gym? (Sure.) Can you have a glass of wine? (On special occasions, maybe.) Can you eat a spicy tuna roll or a spoonful of raw cookie dough? (Not good ideas.) Basically, can you lead the life you used to without endangering the health of your growing baby? (Yes, but with a few minor adjustments.) Its a big responsibility, and The Pregnancy Test is here to help.

We are first-hand experts on the subject. One of us (Melissa) was a paranoid pregnant woman (whos now a paranoid mother). The other (Emily) is a trusted ob-gyn. In this handy volume we strive to answer some of the most important, embarrassing, obscure, and occasionally neurotic questions about pregnancy and childbirth that women have ever asked.

Part trivia game, part prescription, The Pregnancy Test is a combination of medical facts and doctor-dispensed advice. The questions came from the authors, their pregnant friends or patients, and online pregnancy forums. The answers were compiled using a variety of sources, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the March of Dimes, and a litany of published research articles (as well as Emilys own expert brain).

)youll find these questions and their answers (and many more) within.

But this test is meant for your education and entertainment. No ones keeping score. You can play the book like a game or read it like a novel. Quiz your Lamaze buddies or enlighten your spouse. There are no rules here.

Most important: Have fun. Not just while reading this book, but always. Enjoy your pregnancy. Enjoy your baby. Yes, being pregnant is stressful. Yes, having a baby is a big responsibility. Yes, youve got to watch what you eat-drink-and-do for nine months. But dont let your deluge of questions obstruct the big picture. Being a happy parent makes a happy child.

Remember that this is just the beginning. Youve got a long, crazy, wonderful journey ahead of you. Congratulations!

a. You may stunt the babys growth.

b. Probably nothing, but lay off the booze.

c. You will cause birth defects.

d. It wont hurt the baby, but since your body cant process alcohol when youre pregnant, even a little alcohol might damage your liver.

According to the March of Dimes, a babys brain and other organs begin developing about the fifth week of pregnancy (a week after your missed period and around a week after a home pregnancy test would show a positive result). As long as you put down that mojito before this crucial period, everything will likely be fine. Even if you consume some alcohol after this time, the odds are in your favor that your baby would be OK.

But now that you know youre pregnant, its best to practice teetotalism. Although an occasional sip of wine probably wont adversely affect your baby, some studies have linked even a moderate amount of alcohol use to miscarriages. Heavy drinking may lead to fetal alcohol syndrome, a condition that can cause flattened facial features and lifelong learning disabilities.

The more you drink, the greater the risk. Experts say risks to the fetus are highest with binge drinking (consuming so much liquor that you black out) and for those women who consume seven or more drinks per week.

a. The added hormones could affect the babys sexual development.

b. Its not the hormones you have to worry about, its the added chemicals.

c. It likely wont affect the baby at all, as long as you stop taking the pill now.

d. The added estrogen in the pill could make your baby more emotional.

Experts estimate that 1 to 5 percent of women accidentally use oral contraceptives during the first part of their pregnancies, thereby exposing their unborn children to the artificial estrogens that are intended to prevent conception.

But according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, taking birth control pills during pregnancy doesnt increase the risk of birth defects. In the past, concerns were raised that some oral contraceptives (those containing higher doses of hormones, in particular) could interfere with the development of a babys sex organs, but todays lower-dose pills pose no such risk.

Still, you should stop birth control medication once you learn youre pregnant. A 2009 University of Ottawa study found that women who continued past the first trimester were more likely to deliver preterm or have babies with low birth weights. If you stopped taking the pill as soon as you found out you were pregnant, your baby is most likely fine. But if youre concerned, ask your doctor to monitor your babys development to ensure everything is normal and healthy.

a. Sure, as long as you dont go upside down.

b. No, sharp turns can cause the babys umbilical cord to tangle, interrupting blood and oxygen flow to your baby.

c. No, the roller coasters sudden starts and stops can rip the placenta from the uterine wall, which can be dangerous for you and your baby.

d. No, sudden ups and downs can jostle your baby and affect brain development.

The shearing forces exerted on a womans womb by roller coasters are the same as those present in car crashes. Such rapid starts and stops can cause the placenta to rip away from the wall of the uterus, which cuts off the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the baby. This condition, called placental abruption, is an emergency for both mother and baby.

Placental abruption is less likely to happen in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, because the placenta is not fully developed and is therefore less likely to be jarred out of place. So if you cant abstain entirely from amusement park rides, indulging in them earlier in your pregnancy is better. Still, your best bet is to stick to the kiddie ridesthe carousel, swings, and Ferris wheel are safe for your pregnant bodyuntil after your baby is born. Then youll have a whole different kind of roller coaster to ride.

a. Nausea and vomiting is your bodys way of trying to reject the baby.

b. Since your baby is taking so many of your nutrients, your body is left malnourished, which causes nausea.

c. Many women tend to change their diets dramatically during pregnancy, which causes an upset stomach.