Pregnancy FAQ’s

Healthcare For Women By Women

During pregnancy you may experience these symptoms:

Nausea
Backache
Digestive problems
Lightheadedness
Leg cramps
Skin changes
Insomnia
Hemorrhoids

Many questions arise during pregnancy. These may include information on early signs of pregnancy or questions about things you can expect to experience. This information can answer some of your questions, although you should always consult your doctor for medical advice.

Safe Over-the-Counter Medications in Pregnancy

Getting Sick in Pregnancy
Pregnancy oftentimes makes women more susceptible to getting sick. The best way to avoid getting sick is to take steps to make sure you are healthy. The more you invest in your health, the more likely you are able to avoid illness and recover if you do get sick. Remember:

Eat a healthy diet

Take your prenatal vitamin

Tet enough rest

Exercise

Stay hydrated

Refer to your Safe Medications in Pregnancy over-the-counter medication list, but feel free to ask your doctor regarding medications not listed.

It is important that you notify your doctor if you develop a fever that is 101°F or greater, if your cough is accompanied by chest pain and/or wheezing, or if your sickness lasts more than two weeks.
Inductions of Labor

Induction of labor means that we will start your labor process instead of letting it happen on its own. There are many reasons why this is done.

Some are considered medical inductions, such as the mother’s health condition, the well-being of the baby, or a pregnancy that is going too long past the due date. Other reasons for inductions are considered elective and will be planned on an individual basis.

If you are scheduled for an induction, we will give you details on the time and date, as well as the process of induction that will be most helpful for you.
Dietary Restrictions

Most food is safe during pregnancy, but we want to prevent your baby from being exposed to bacteria or for you to be ill during your pregnancy. We ask that you avoid deli meat or food that has been sitting out for a while, but you can eat it if you heat it to steaming hot.

Raw or undercooked food should be avoided, as well as unpasteurized foods. Fish is safe (and encouraged) during pregnancy, but the ones that have a high level of mercury, such as swordfish and king mackerel, can be dangerous. Discover the benefits and considerations of fish during pregnancy.
Exercise in Pregnancy

If you have been exercising before pregnancy, you are encouraged to continue! However, we do discourage activities that put you at risk for falls, or trauma to the abdomen area.

While yoga is safe, hot yoga is not recommended, nor is sitting in a hot tub with a temperature greater than 102 degrees, as we do not want your body’s temperature to rise that high around your baby.

If you were not exercising regularly before becoming pregnant, you should not start anything rigorous. But walking, jogging, and swimming are great exercises to keep you healthy while pregnant.
Cord Blood Banking

This is the option for collecting blood from the placenta or umbilical cord in order to store it for future use or treatment. This is an elective option for you and your family. There are two options, Private and Public.

Private means that you will need to make contact with the company of your choice, who will store the blood for you, for your own personal/family use.

The Public option is a shared collection of donated blood that is available for medical treatment or research. UNC Rex does participate in the Public banking, and you can choose to donate when you are in labor.
Signs of Labor
Things that should prompt you to contact us would be:

Strong cramping or contractions around the abdomen, coming at regular intervals

Fluid coming from the vagina

Vaginal bleeding

Everyone experiences different versions of these signs, and if you are unsure, please contact us. We are happy to see you in the office or at UNC Rex Women’s Center to assess you and your baby.