Mayo Clinic - Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy

Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy

2011 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in review. Address inquiries to Good Books, Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 419, Intercourse, PA 17534

Print edition published by Good Books

Publisher
Merle Good

Executive Editor
Phyllis Pellman Good

Assistant Publisher
Kate Good

First electronic edition published 2011 by RosettaBooks LLC, New York

If you would like more print copies of this book, contact Good Books, Intercourse, PA 17534; 800-762-7171; www.GoodBooks.com

For bulk print edition sales to employers, member groups and health-related companies, contact Mayo Clinic Health Solutions, 200 First St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905, or

Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy is intended to supplement the advice of your personal physician whom you should contact about your individual medical condition. MAYO, MAYO CLINIC and the Mayo triple-shield logo are marks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

ISBN e-Pub edition: 9780795317187

MAYO CLINIC

Medical Editors
Roger Harms, M.D.
Myra Wick, M.D., Ph.D.

Managing Editor
Karen Wallevand

Senior Product Manager, Books
Christopher Frye

Director, Health Information
Jay Maxwell

Creative Director
Wes Weleczki

Art Directors
Stewart Koski, Richard Resnick

Editorial Research Librarians
Anthony Cook, Amanda Golden, Deirdre Herman, Erika Riggin

Proofreaders
Miranda Attlesey, Donna Hanson, Julie Maas

Indexer
Steve Rath

Contributing Reviewers and Writers
Rachel Bartony; Kristi Boldt, M.D.; Brian Brost, M.D.; Katherine Brost, R.D.; Petra Casey, M.D.; Walter Cook, M.D.; Paula Craigo, M.D.; Douglas Creedon, M.D., Ph.D.; Anita DeAngelis, R.N.; Matthew Hopkins, M.D.; Keith Johansen, M.D.; Robert Johnson, M.D.; Margaret Long, M.D.; Mary Marnach, M.D.; Sharon Munns, R.N.; Mary Murry C.N.M.; Carl Rose, M.D.; Susan Sobolewski, R.N.; Cheryl Stuhldreher, I.B.C.L.C.; Jennifer Tessmer-Tuck, M.D.; Kyle Traynor, M.D.; William Watson, M.D.

Medical illustrations and photo credits:
A Colour Atlas of Life Before Birth , Marjorie A. England, 1990; Getty Images; Joseph Kane at Mayo Clinic; John W. Karapelou; Mayo Clinic staffillustrators; Gary Allen Ness; PunchStock; Veer.

There are few events in anyones life that rival the significance and the joy of childbirth. This new person youre bringing into the world will become so important to you that youll do anything to nurture and protect him or her. Your eagerness to form this unbreakable bond is reflected in your interest in this book. You want to do all you can to help ensure a healthy pregnancy and a wonderful beginning to your childs life.

Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy is an authoritative reference manual that you can trust. This book is the work of a team of pregnancy experts who find nothing in medicine more exciting and satisfying to experience than the development and birth of a child. Its our sincere wish that you find this book helpful and meaningful as you anticipate your new baby.

Roger Harms, M.D., is a specialist in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. In his 32 years at Mayo Clinic, Dr. Harms has guided thousands of women through pregnancy and childbirth. Dr. Harms is an associate professor at College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, and a recipient of the Mayo Clinic Distinguished Educator Award. Dr. Harms says fatherhood has been his greatest learning experience.

Myra Wick, M.D., Ph.D., is a specialist in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Department of Medical Genetics. She is also an assistant professor at College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic. As a mother of four children, Dr. Wick can relate to pregnancy from both a doctors and a mothers perspective.

Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy is a comprehensive and easy-to-use how-to manual that provides answers and explanations to all of the questions and concerns of expectant mothers and fathers. To help you easily find what youre looking for, the book is divided into six sections.

From how to get pregnant, to eating and exercise during your pregnancy, to what you should know about medications, this section covers it all. Here youll also find answers to many of those questions youve been wondering about.

This section provides weekly and monthly insights into your babys development and your own physical and emotional changes. It also includes detailed information on labor and childbirth.

For first-time parents, caring for a newborn can be nerve-racking. The information and advice in Part 3 can help you get through those first couple of weeks.

During pregnancy, you may be confronted with a number of decisions, big and small. Part 4 is designed to help you determine the best option for you in your particular situation.

Here youll find helpful self-care tips for backache, fatigue, heartburn, leg cramps, swelling and many more common concerns of pregnancy. The symptoms are listed alphabetically to help you easily find them.

Most pregnancies proceed smoothly, but sometimes problems can develop in mother or baby. The most common complications, and how theyre treated, are discussed here.

So you think you want to be a mom at least sometime in the near future. How exciting! Having a child is a wonderful experience that will enrich your life forever. But the decision to have a child shouldnt be taken lightly. Parenthood is a lot of work, and the best way to approach it is by preparing yourself so that youre as ready as possible for this big event.

When it comes to pregnancy, thinking ahead can give you and your baby the best possible beginning. If youre reading this book and are still in the planning stages before becoming pregnant, good for you! Youre giving yourself a head start on the exhilarating, sometimes confusing, but always worthwhile path to parenthood.

In this introductory chapter, youll find some key concepts and action items that can help make your transition to pregnancy as smooth as possible. If you already know that youre pregnant, congratulations! You may want to page through this chapter and begin with Chapter 2.