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Women and Health: Pregnancy
Early Signs of Pregnancy:
Pregnancy symptoms start two to three weeks after conception. The symptoms above are not definite indicators of pregnancy. If you think you are pregnant, you should be tested.
What are the Chances of Becoming Pregnant?
If effective birth control is used every time, then your chances of becoming pregnant are minimal. However, the only 100 % guaranteed way not to get pregnant is to refrain from sexual intercourse.
Testing Options:
Schiffert Health Center:
Pregnancy testing at Schiffert Health Center is done on urine and/or blood. For most accurate results it is recommended that the urine test should be performed in the morning. The test should be performed ten days from the time of your last intercourse. The Urine pregnancy test is covered under your health fee and results are immediate.
Another option offered at Schiffert Health Center is a blood test. Results are usually back within two working days. Blood should be taken ten days after last intercourse. The cost of the blood test will not be covered under your student health fee.
Home Pregnancy Test:
Home pregnancy tests can be purchased from any local pharmacy. It can be performed in the privacy of your own home. Accuracy is very similar to the Schiffert urine test if it is performed properly. If the test is positive it is recommended to visit a doctor to make sure results are accurate.
If the Test is Positive:
DO NOT PANIC. Try not to make any decisions without going over your options completely. It is recommended that you make an appointment at Women’s Clinic at Schiffert Health Center to discuss these options. Make sure to avoid tobacco, drugs, chemicals, alcohol, and pesticides because of the effects they have on the pregnancy.
Making Decisions:
If the pregnancy is unexpected, there are a few options.
The following information was gathered fromwww.4woman.gov/pregnancy
The information listed below lists some common problems that occur during pregnancy or right after pregnancy. If you have any of the symptoms listed here you should contact your health care provide immediately.
Potential Problem: Ectopic Pregnancy
Symptoms: Slight, irregular vaginal bleeding that often is brownish; pain in the lower abdomen, often on one side, and can be followed by severe pelvic pain; shoulder pain; faintness or dizziness; nausea or vomiting.
Treatment: Because the embryo of an ectopic pregnancy cannot survive, it is removed surgically; or the woman is treated with a cancer drug, methotrexate, which dissolves the pregnancy. Potential Problem: Gestational diabetes
Symptoms: Extreme thirst, hunger, or fatigue (but usually no symptoms). Also, a blood sugar value of 140 mg/DL or greater on a diabetes test.
Treatment: Most women can control their blood sugar levels with diet and exercise. Some women with gestational diabetes or women who had diabetes before pregnancy need shots of insulin to keep blood sugar levels normal. Potential Problem: Hepatitis B (can be passed on to the baby).
Symptoms: Flu-like symptoms like mild fever, headache, muscle aches and tiredness; loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea; dark-colored urine and pale bowel movements; stomach pain; skin and whites of eyes turning yellow (jaundice); liver problems. Often no symptoms.
Treatment: Within 12 hours of birth, your baby will need a shot called HBIG, along with the first Hepatitis B shot. Potential Problem: HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases (can be passed on to the baby).
Symptoms: Often no symptoms, but can include: small blisters or warts in the genital area; fever; fatigue; aches and pains; vaginal discharge (yellowish, bloody green, gray, or thick and white like cottage cheese, or with a strong odor); burning or pain when urinating; itching around genital area; itching or burning in vagina; pain in legs or buttocks; pain during sex; frequent yeast infections; skin rash.
Treatment: Antiviral drugs; possible cesarean delivery Potential Problem: Listeriosis
Symptoms: Flu-like illness with fever, muscle aches, chills, and sometimes diarrhea or nausea that can progress to sever headache and stiff neck.
Treatment: Antibiotics (often prevent infection in the baby). Potential Problem: Toxoplasmosis
Symptoms: Mild flu-like symptoms, or possibly no symptoms.
Treatment: If fetus not yet infected, mother can be given an antibiotic, spiramycin (to help reduce severity of symptoms in the newborn). If the fetus is suspected of being infected, the mother can be given two medications, pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine. Infected babies are treated at birth and through the first year of life with these medications. Potential Problem: Urinary tract infection (if left untreated, can travel to kidneys, which can cause premature, or early labor).
Symptoms: Pain or burning when urinating; pain in lower pelvis, lower back, stomach or side; shaking, chills; fever; sweats; nausea, vomiting; frequent or uncontrollable urge to urinate; strong-smelling urine; change in amount of urine; blood or pus in urine; pain during sex.
Treatment: Antibiotics, usually 3 to 7 day course of amoxicillin, nitrofurantoin, or cephalosporin. Potential Problem: Placenta previa (the placenta, or the temporary organ joining the mother and fetus, covers part or all of the cervix and can cause sever bleeding usually toward the end of the second trimester or later).
Symptoms: Painless vaginal bleeding during the second or third trimester. In many cases, no symptoms.
Treatment: If diagnosed after the 20th week of pregnancy, but with no bleeding, required to cut back on activity level and increase bed rest. If bleeding is heavy, requires hospitalization until mother and baby are stable. If the bleeding stops or is light, requires continued bed rest until baby is ready for delivery. If bleeding doesn’t stop or if pre-term labor starts, baby will be delivered by cesarean. Potential Problem: Placenta abruption (a condition in which the placenta separates from the uterine wall before delivery, depriving the fetus of oxygen).
Symptoms: Vaginal bleeding during the seconds half of pregnancy; cramping, abdominal pain, and uterine tenderness.
Treatment: When the separation is minor, bed rest for a few days usually stops the bleeding. Moderate cases may require complete bed rest. Sever cases (when more than half of the placenta separates) can require immediate medical attention and delivery of the baby. Potential Problem: Baby possibly in distress, potential risk of stillbirth.
Symptoms: Fetus stops moving around and kicking. If, after 26 weeks of pregnancy, you count fewer than 10 kicks in a day, or if the baby is moving a lot less than usual, see your health care provider right away.
Treatment: Treatment depends on results of tests. If a test suggests a problem, this does not always mean the baby is in trouble. It may only mean that the mother needs special care until the baby is delivered. This can include a wide variety of things (such as bed rest and further monitoring) depending on the mother’s condition. Potential Problem: Pregnancy-related high blood pressure. Usually occurs after about 30 weeks of pregnancy.
Symptoms: High blood pressure (usually around 140/90); protein in the urine; swelling of the hands and face; sudden weight gain (1 pound a day or more); blurred vision; severe headaches, dizziness; intense stomach pain.
Treatment: The only cure is delivery, which my not be best for the baby. Labor will probably be induced if condition is mild and woman is near term (37-40 weeks of pregnancy). If a woman is not yet ready for labor, her provider may monitor her and her baby closely. May require bed rest at home or in hospital, until blood pressure stabilizes or until delivery. Potential Problem: Early or pre-term labor (labor occurring after 20 weeks, but before 37 complete weeks of pregnancy).
Symptoms: Contractions, either painful or painless, anytime during pregnancy, that occur more than four times an hour, or are less than 15 minutes apart; menstrual like cramps that come and go; abdominal cramps with or without diarrhea; dull backache that may radiate around to the abdomen; increase in or change in color in vaginal discharge; constant or intermittent pelvic pressure.
Treatment: Lie down with feel elevated; drink 2 or 3 glasses of water or juice. If symptoms do not subside within one hour, contact health care provider. May require medications called tocolytics or magnesium sulfate to stop contractions. After Pregnancy
Potential Problem: Post-partum depression ( a serious kind of depression that needs medical attention and treatment).
Symptoms: Intense feelings of sadness, guilt, despair, helplessness, anxiety, irritability, which may disrupt your ability to function; appetite changes; thoughts of self-harm or harming your baby; “baby blues” haven’t gone away after 2 weeks.
Treatment: Can be successfully treated in most cases with antidepressant medication, psychotherapy, participation in a support group, or a combination of these treatments. Potential Problem: Breast infection
Symptoms: Soreness or a lump in the breast accompanied by fever and/or flu-like symptoms; possibly nausea and vomiting; yellowish discharge from the nipple; breast feel warm or hot to the touch; pus or blood in the milk; red streaks near the area; symptoms could come on severely and suddenly.
Treatment: If symptoms are not relieved within 24 hours of the following steps, see a health care provider (you may need an antibiotic). Relieve soreness by applying heat (heating pad or small hot-water bottle) to the sore area. Massage the area, starting behind the sore spot. Use your fingers in a circular motion and massage toward the nipple. Breastfeed often on the affected side. Rest. Wear a well-fitting supportive bra that is not too tight. For more information on how to have a healthy pregnancy, visit NWHIC’s Healthy Pregnancy page at www.4woman.gov/pregnancy
Counseling is recommended before you make your final decision. The goal of such counseling is to clarify feelings about pregnancy and come to a decision. This is also available at the Women’s Clinic.
Planned Parenthood:
Clinic apt: (540) 951 5184 Education dept: (540) 951 7009 Crisis Pregnancy Center of NRV
(540) 552 1150 Article by: Hannah
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