Pregnancy
week by week -
Week 9,
Must-ask
Questions this Week
(Week 9)
What should
I expect from this
month's prenatal
checkup?
This months' check
up wont be as detailed
as your initial
prenatal checkup
but your doctor
will still want
to cover some ground.
The purpose of this
visit, like all
subsequent visits,
is to monitor your
well being and that
of your baby and
to ensure your pregnancy
is going smoothly.
You can expect your
doctor to check
• The size
of your uterus (your
doctor will palpate
your uterus to verify
that your uterus
is roughly the size
it should be at
this stage of pregnancy)
• The fundal
height (your doctor
will measure the
distance between
your pubic bone
and the top of your
uterus the fundus
after Week 9 of
your pregnancy)
• Your weight
to see if you gaining
appropriately
• Your blood
pressure to spot
any signs of chronic
hypertension (this
becomes especially
important as your
pregnancy progresses)
• Your urine
to ensure your sugar
and protein levels
are within the normal
range
• The fetal
heartbeat (your
doctor will use
a Doppler or hand-held
ultrasound unit
to try to pick up
a fetal heartbeat
after Week 9 of
your pregnancy,
when baby is a little
bit bigger)
How accurate
is ultrasound in
dating a pregnancy?
Ultrasound is extremely
accurate when used
during the first
trimester. Measuring
the baby's crown
to rump length at
this stage can pinpoint
a baby's gestational
age within 3-5 days
while similar measurements
taken during the
other two trimesters
take relatively
longer. Therefore
the first trimester
is the preferred
time to date a pregnancy.
What are
the other reasons
for performing a
first trimester
ultrasound?
• Your doctor
may order a first
trimester ultrasound
to
• Pinpoint
the location of
the gestational
sac (the developing
fetus is contained
within this sac),
something that can
be useful in
• diagnosing
an ectopic pregnancy.
• Look for
evidence of an embryo
• Check for
a fetal heartbeat
• Find out
if you are carrying
more than one baby
• Examine
the uterus for structural
abnormalities or
other problems that
could pose problems
during your pregnancy
•
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Full Article
How
safe is ultrasound?
Ultrasound has been
used for more than
30 years and is
not known to cause
any harm to pregnant
women or her baby.
That said, ultrasound
should not be routinely
used unless your
doctor has a specific
medical reason for
doing so.
Is it possible
to miscarry without
knowing that you
have miscarried?
While most women
who experience miscarriage
experience bleeding
or other symptoms,
it is possible to
experience 'missed
miscarriage or missed
abortion' where
neither the placenta
nor the baby is
expelled from the
uterus. In this
case the first sign
of detection is
an absent fetal
heartbeat during
a late first trimester
checkup.
Some
Basic Pointers
(Week 9)
Increased
Blood Volume
Your blood system
changes dramatically
during pregnancy.
Your blood volume
increases to about
50% more than
before you became
pregnant. However
this amount varies
from woman to
woman. This is
important as it
is designed to
meet the demands
of your growing
uterus. This increase
does not include
the blood in the
embryo whose circulation
is separate. More
blood in your
system protects
you and your baby
from harm when
you lie down or
stand up. The
increase is also
a safeguard when
you lose blood
during labor and
delivery. The
blood volume increase
begins during
the first trimester
and the largest
increase happens
during the middle
trimester and
the increase tends
to slow down in
the final trimester.
Red blood cells
and plasma (composition
of blood) both
increase during
pregnancy; plasma
increases more.
The increase in
red blood cells
increases your
body's demand
for iron. The
increase in plasma
can cause anemia.
If you are anemic,
especially during
pregnancy, you
may feel tired,
fatigue easily
or experience
a general feeling
of ill health.
Microwave
ovens
Some women wonder
about the safety
of microwave ovens.
It is not confirmed
if it causes harm
to pregnant women;
more research
is needed. Initial
research indicates
tissues developing
in the body, including
the human fetus,
may be particularly
sensitive to the
effects of microwaves.
A microwave oven
heats tissues
from the inside.
Don't stand next
or directly in
front of it while
it is in use.
Your
Nutrition (Week
9)
Fruits and vegetables
are important
during pregnancy.
You can add variety
to your diet because
they are seasonal.
They are excellent
source of vitamins,minerals
and fiber. You
get your supply
of iron, folic
acid, calcium
and vitamin C.
| Tasty
low-cal
sources
of Vitamin
C |
| Strawberries
– 1 cup
contains
94mg of
vitamin
C |
| Orange
juice –
1 cup contains
82mg of
vitamin
C |
| Kiwi
fruit –
1 medium
contains
74mg of
vitamin
C |
| Broccoli
- ½cup
cooked contains
58mg of
vitamin
C |
| Red
peppers
- ¼
of a medium
contains
57mg of
vitamin
C |
Vitamin C can
be very important
during pregnancy.
It is important
for fetal tissue
development and
iron absorption.
Some studies indicate
that vitamin C
helps prevent
preeclamsia. Deficiencies
have been linked
to premature births.
It helps build
the amniotic sac.
The recommended
daily dose is
85mg. Besides
your prenatal
vitamin, you can
depend on fruits
and vegetables
for your daily
dose. Every day
try to eat one
or two servings
of fruit high
in vitamin C and
at least one dark
green or deep
yellow vegetable
for extra iron,
fiber and folic
acid. Fruits and
vegetables you
may choose and
their servings
outlined below:
| Grapes
- ¼cup |
| Banana,
orange,
apple -
1 medium |
| Dried
fruit -
¼cup |
| Broccoli,
carrots
and other
veggies
- ½cup |
| Potato
- 1 medium |
| Leafy
green vegetable
- 1 cup |
| Vegetable
juice -
¾cup |
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