Pregnancy

[CanadianGirl]

<u>Predicting Ovulation</u>

Predicting when you ovulate is a relatively simple task. Begin by trying to remember the dates of the first days of your last four menstrual periods. Count the number of days between the first days of each cycle and get the average of these three numbers. Add this number to the first day of your last menstrual period. Subtract 14 days from this date to get your ovulation date. Since this date is only a rough estimate, some sources say that you should have sexual intercourse every day around your ovulation date, while others suggest that you should have sexual intercourse every other day within this time frame.

Note: Do not use this technique to avoid pregnancy! Ovulation dates can vary widely and sperm can live 48-72 hours in the woman's reproductive system. Following this system will likely improve your chances of becoming pregnant.

[CanadianGirl]

<u>Questions You Should Ask Your Doctor</u>

Choosing the right practitioner is an important part of making your pregnancy as safe and comfortable as possible. While most women (8 of 10) choose an obstetrician as their caretaker, some opt for the family practitioner, general practitioner, or certified nurse/midwife. Regardless of which practitioner you choose, there are many questions that you should ask to ensure that you are comfortable with and confident in your caretaker. A good idea is to take a list of questions to your first prenatal visit. Between visits, if other questions arise, write them down to take to your next visit.

As a physician, what at is the physician's cost of care? (Anyone without provincial health coverage)


Are you a solo physician or part of a practice?

If part of a practice, ask if he/she specifically will be present for your pre-natal visits and birth?

If you have partners, will you come in to perform the delivery even if you are not on call?

Can my birth partner stay with me during all appointments, labor, delivery and during a Cesarean section?

How will you monitor the pregnancy (blood tests, urine tests, ultrasound, amniocentesis)?

What is your opinion on natural vs. anesthesized vs. pain relief as needed childbirth?

What hospital do you use?

What facilities do the hospitals have (birthing rooms, chairs, rooming-in, neonatal intensive care, etc.)?
What kind of fetal monitoring do you use?

NOTE: External is less cumbersome but less accurate, too. Internal is more accurate but requires that you stay in bed.

What sort of routine procedures are conducted (shaving, enemas, feet in stirrup during delivery, other concerns you may have)?

What is your C-section rate? (Remember, normal rates are around 20% and lower is better.)

Do you induce labor? When?

How many of your patients are high risk deliveries?

When do you use forceps for vacuum extraction?

What is your policy on episiotomiea?

[CanadianGirl]

<u>Pregnancy Tests</u>

There are several home pregnancy tests that you may take to determine whether or not you are pregnant. These tests are generally easy to use and provide quick results. Some tests can be used as early as the first day after a missed period. They work by measuring the level of the pregnancy hormone, humanchorionic gonadotropin (HCG), in urine. Home pregnancy tests are always improving in accuracy, but they are still not 100% accurate. If you take a home pregnancy test, it is still important to visit your doctor as soon as possible if you think you may be pregnant. Even if you get a false result, it is still possible that you are be pregnant, so contact your physician as soon as possible. Remember, early prenatal care is a vital part of the good health of your developing child.

For a more accurate test of pregnancy, you can get a blood test at your physician 's office. While blood tests are more sensitive than home tests, they are also more expensive and must be performed by your doctor or clinician. Blood tests also do not give results as quickly. Blood tests work by measuring the amount of a specific portion of the HCG hormone, which is called the beta subunit. By measuring these levels, it is even possible to predict a due date.

[CanadianGirl]

<u>Calculating Your Due Date</u>

Pregnancies usually last about 280 days (40 weeks). For a rough calculation of your due date, you can use this procedure:

Determine the first day of your last period.

Count forward 9 months and one week from that day. (This is your estimated due date.)