Your Pregnancy

Your pregnancy can be a very joyous and exciting time but also a very scary and uncertain time. A pregnancy is divided into 3 trimesters and lasts 40 weeks from the 1st day of your last menstrual period. You will read, hear and learn many ways to proceed with your pregnancy but keep in mind that each pregnancy is unique and take everything you hear and read as a guide not an absolute. We hope you have a wonderful experience!

Common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, breast tenderness, fatigue, frequent urination.
Vaginal spotting can often occur and may be nothing of concern but it can sometimes be the start of an impending miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy
Prenatal vitamins, especially Folic Acid are very critical at this point to prevent neural tube defects.

Prenatal Vitamin (PNV): With at least 800 mcg of Folic Acid (see the Products page for recommended non-prescription PNV)
DHA (omega-3 fatty acid): Helps in the development of the fetal brain. Recommended dose is 200-400 mg.
Calcium: Needed for bone development. Recommended dose 1200 mg/day. Most PNV have about 200 mg of Calcium, thus you would need 1000 mg/day. Calcium is hard to absorb thus take it in divided doses, 500-600 mg twice per day. (Tumms is a calcium source so if taking for heartburn you may not need any extra)
Iron: If needed for anemia. Your blood test will check for anemia at the 1st visit and again in the 3rd trimester. (See Products page for recommended iron supplements if needed)

First initial blood test: Check for anemia, blood type, immunizations, viral infection, thyroid.
First Trimester Screen – 11-14 weeks: Genetic testing for Down Syndrome, Trisomy 18, and other genetic tests.