The Stages of Pregnancy: Before, During and After

• Before You Conceive

  If you are trying to have a baby or are just thinking about it, it’s not too early to start getting ready for pregnancy. Preconception health and health care focus on things you can do before and between pregnancies to increase the chances of having a healthy baby. The following are a few important tips to help you get ready for the healthiest pregnancy possible.

  • See your doctor. He or she will want to discuss your health history and any medical conditions you currently have that could affect a pregnancy. Find a doctor who delivers babies at Olathe Medical Center.
  • Take 400 micrograms of folic acid every day. Folic acid is a B vitamin. If a woman has enough folic acid in her body at least one month before and during pregnancy, it can help prevent major birth defects of the baby’s brain and spine.
  • Stop drinking alcohol and smoking. Smoking, drinking alcohol and using illicit drugs can cause many problems during pregnancy for a woman and her baby, such as premature birth, birth defects and infant death. If you cannot stop drinking, smoking or using drugs―get help! Contact your doctor or local treatment center.
  • Watch a virtual tour of The Birth Place. It’s not too early to consider visiting The Birth Place at Olathe Medical Center. Watch a virtual tour.
  • Attend a preconception class. Learn tips and information on what to do and avoid before and during pregnancy to give your baby the best chance for a healthy start. Risk factors and hazardous exposures, as well as emotional and financial issues are addressed. Register here for a Planning a Pregnancy class. Or, call 913-791-4312 to schedule.

• First Trimester: Weeks 0 – 13

  The first trimester may not be very visible from the outside, but inside the new mom-to-be so much is happening! After conception, the fertilized egg (zygote) travels through the woman’s fallopian tube to the uterus, where it implants itself in the uterine wall. The zygote is made up of a cluster of cells formed from the egg and sperm. These cells form the fetus and the placenta. The placenta provides nutrients and oxygen to the fetus.

  A missed period or positive home pregnancy test may be the first sign of pregnancy, around week 4 or 5. Once you suspect or know you’re pregnant, here are some things for you to consider adding to your to-do list:

  • Make your first prenatal care appointment with your doctor. Find a doctor who delivers babies at Olathe Medical Center.

  • Take prenatal vitamins that include 400 mcg of folic acid each day.

  • Register for a Healthy Pregnancy class at Olathe Medical Center. Register online here, or call 913-791-4312 to schedule.

  • Avoid smoking/secondhand smoke, drinking alcohol and caffeine and drugs throughout pregnancy.

  • Investigate insurance coverage for maternity and infant care, including whether or not you can get a breast pump before delivery.

  • Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet and drink plenty of water.

  • Research your options for maternity leave.

  • Start reading about pregnancy, childbirth and parenting.

• Second Trimester: Weeks 14 – 26

  At 16 weeks, and sometimes as early as 12 weeks, a woman can typically find out the gender of her infant. Muscle tissue, bone and skin have formed. A woman may begin to feel movement at 20 weeks. At 24 weeks, footprints and fingerprints have formed and the fetus sleeps and wakes regularly.

  Here are some important things for you to do during this busy trimester:

  • Register for a Childbirth Preparation class and plan to complete it 4 to 6 weeks before your due date. We offer 5-week, 1-day, and online options. Register online here, or call 913-791-4312 to schedule.

  • Have you chosen a physician yet? Find a doctor who delivers babies at Olathe Medical Center.

  • Plan to take Family and Friends CPR while you can still comfortably lean forward. Register online here, or call 913-791-4312 to schedule.

  • If interested, register for other classes, such as Infant Care, Breastfeeding and Sibling Preparation. Register online here, or call 913-791-4312 to schedule.

  • Make decisions on how you’ll feed your baby and whether or not to circumcise your son.

• Third Trimester: Weeks 27 – 40

  At 32 weeks, the baby’s bones are soft and yet almost fully formed, and the eyes can open and close. Infants born before 37 weeks are considered preterm and are at an increased risk for certain health and development problems. Infants who are born at 39 weeks or later are considered full term. If the mother and baby are healthy, it is best to deliver at or after 39 weeks to give the infant’s lungs, brain and liver time to fully develop. The third trimester is an exciting time of anticipation as you prepare for your new little one. Here are some things to check off your list:

  • If you haven’t already, call 913-791-4395, option 3, to schedule your Pre-Admission/Birth Place Tour appointment, which is usually held between weeks 28 and 33 of your pregnancy. Bring your Pre-Admission & Birth Options forms as well as your questions.

  • Attend Childbirth Preparation and Breastfeeding classes. Register online here, or call 913-791-4312 to schedule.

  • Choose a pediatrician for your baby by 30 weeks of pregnancy. To avoid unexpected out-of-pocket expenses, contact your health insurance carrier to ensure the physician group accepts your insurance. Find a Pediatrician who Cares for Newborns at Olathe Medical Center.

  • Practice installing the car seat in your vehicles and get it checked by a certified technician. View a list of Car Seat Inspection Stations, or call toll free at 866-732-8243. Most stations require an appointment, so plan ahead. Visit the National Highway and Transportation Administration, or call 1-800-DASH-DOT for additional resources, including seat recall information.

  • Start looking for child care providers, if needed.

  • Complete The Birth Place Pre-Admission form and submit it to your physician’s office, or to the Patient Registration Department at Olathe Medical Center. You may also submit this form at your pre-admission appointment.

  • Discuss your birth plan with your physician. If you’d like, use Olathe Medical Center’s The Birth Place Options and Preferences form, and submit it to your physician’s office by 30 weeks, or bring it to your pre-admission appointment.

• Labor and Delivery

  Labor occurs in three stages.

  • Although the uterus has practice contractions for several weeks before a woman delivers her infant, labor begins when the contractions start to make the cervix soften and dilate. The first stage continues until fully dilated (10 centimeters, or 4 inches), which means the cervix has stretched to prepare for birth.

  • The second stage is the active stage, in which the pregnant woman begins to push downward. It begins with complete dilation of the cervix and ends with the actual birth.

  • The third stage, or placental stage, begins with the birth of baby and ends with the completed delivery of the placenta and afterbirth.

  Once you arrive at The Birth Place at Olathe Medical Center, there are many ways to labor – with or without medical pain management, such as an epidural, and where you labor, such as the in-room whirlpool tub, bed or birthing ball. You also decide who you’d like to be with you during labor and delivery, including family members, birth coaches, etc. Our nurses and doctors are there to support your labor and birthing decisions, which is why it’s so important to talk about your birth plan in advance of the big day.

  Sometimes for the health of the mother and child, a Cesarean section may be recommended by your doctor. Cesarean deliveries can be performed in the surgical suites within The Birth Place, just steps away from your room.

• Postpartum

  Immediately following the birth of your child, your physician will continue to care and support you as your body recovers.

  If you’ve had a vaginal delivery and you and your baby are both in good condition, you may be able to hold your newborn on your chest immediately after birth. We encourage all moms to hold their baby skin-to-skin as soon as they can and continue to do so throughout their stay. Partners are also encouraged to hold their baby skin-to-skin as it has many benefits for term and preterm babies. Your baby will be closely observed to ensure that he or she continues to do well. If your baby needs a little extra help transitioning to the outside world, our special care nursery and board-certified neonatologists are there to help. Our Level II NICU with single-family rooms is equipped with more incubators, ventilators, and specialized monitoring equipment to care for sick and premature newborn infants born at 32 weeks gestational age, or greater, as well as full-term babies who need extra support.

  Nurses and doctors will continue to monitor your baby’s condition to ensure all is well. A nurse will put antibiotic ointment or drops in your baby’s eyes soon after birth. This is required by state law in the United States to help prevent a serious eye infection, caused by bacteria that your baby could have been exposed to just before or during birth. The nurse will also weigh your baby and may give an injection of vitamin K to help the baby’s blood clot. Your baby may get a first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine before being discharged from the hospital or at the first doctor’s appointment.

  Your baby will receive a complete pediatric exam, and the nurse will measure the baby’s length and head circumference. Multiple newborn screening tests are performed to check for rare but serious conditions in babies just after birth, which include a variety of blood tests, malformations of the heart, and a hearing test. You will be advised if further tests are needed. If you choose, your son may be circumcised by the pediatrician while you’re in the hospital.

  Some mothers prefer to have their babies spend some time in the nursery so they can rest. If you wish, your baby can room with you the entire time, including for most exams and procedures. If you’ve chosen to breastfeed your baby, you’ll want to try to nurse every few hours. Be sure to let the caregivers know your preference.

  The postpartum period lasts six to eight weeks, beginning right after the baby is born. During this period, the mother goes through many physical and emotional changes while learning to care for her newborn. Postpartum care involves getting proper rest, nutrition and vaginal or incisional care. Many new parents (including dads) can feel stressed and overwhelmed by their new responsibilities and changes in sleep patterns. While it is common to experience the “baby blues,” many women experience a longer lasting depression. It is important to ask for help with the daily tasks and talk to your provider about your feelings. Help is available and you don’t have to suffer.

  >> Pregnancy & Postpartum Resource Center

  >> Postpartum Support International