Your baby will grow up in a different decade, but there’s no time like the present to be having a baby! Special Delivery News Mothers today know to expect the very best in medical care. At The Family Care Birthing Center A newsletter for parents and parents-to-be from at Memorial, care is given by supportive nurses in The Family Care Birthing Center at Memorial comfortable surroundings.

The options available for families at The Family Care Birthing Center fit everyone’s needs! • Spacious labor, delivery and recovery rooms Those First Three Months! • choices such as showers in every room and Right From the Start. a birthing ball for positioning assistance Congratulations! • Supportive nurses Life Transitions. Prenatal care helps to assure a healthy . You’re pregnant! • Rooming in - 24 hours Women usually don’t realize they are pregnant until at Life transitions involve the human experience of moving Regular contacts with a physician you can trust and from one phase of life to another. There is a sense of • Breastfeeding support with trained lactation least two weeks into the first trimester, when they miss talk to increases your self-confidence and your ability loss for the old ways, fear of the unknown, anxiety, and nurses their period. If this is your first pregnancy, you should to obtain the information you need to make sound know that new physical and emotional experiences frustration with the new ways. There is often expectant choices for you and your baby. Early prenatal care occur that can be very pleasant, or these changes can joy and excitement. Attachment with your unborn baby begins as you move through the emotional phases of allows health care providers to screen for potential For more information about The Family Care make you think twice about the joys of pregnancy. pregnancy. problems and offer treatment or support when Birthing Center at Memorial, visit needed. www.memhosp.com/services/familycarebirthingcenter. The good news. Pregnancy can and should be a happy time for expectant Men’s reactions to becoming a father are numerous and parents. It’s a time of excitement and anticipation as diverse. How men react to fatherhood may depend you inform family and friends of the baby-to-be. You on his childhood memories of his father, his culture, or may want to start a pregnancy journal or calendar to his concerns over increasing financial responsibilities. preserve some of these memories for you and your Pregnancy can be an ideal time for a man to become baby. aware of his own health, lifestyle and their potential effects on his growing Special Delivery News During those first three months, incredible changes family. Throughout take place in a woman’s body that help the baby to the pregnancy it is grow and develop normally or anticipate needs they essential to include the will have later in pregnancy or delivery. Some moms father in your prenatal feel nauseated occasionally (or frequently!) in early care, education and pregnancy. Hormones or sugar changes may be delivery. 4500 MEMORIAL DRIVE part of the cause. Small frequent snacks, eating food BELLEVILLE. ILLINOIS 62226 items containing ginger, and eating a few hours before Many couples experience ups bedtime are helpful ideas. Many mothers feel sleepy and tire easily during the first few weeks when the baby is and downs as they growing rapidly. It is best to listen to your body during alternate between those times and rest more often. Getting exercise excitement and throughout the day may help you sleep better at night. new concerns that pregnancy brings. Some mothers report tender breasts in early pregnancy Discussing your because they are already changing for the potential of feelings with people close to you may help with the breastfeeding. Wearing a sports bra day and night can transition. Many couples experience a new intimacy provide firm support. If you have already decided to in their physical and emotional relationships during breastfeed, wearing a nursing bra is another option. pregnancy.

For more than 50 years, Memorial’s approach to maternity care has made us one of this area’s leading maternity service providers. You, your baby and your family members are very important to us, and The Family Care Birthing Center is proud to be an integral part of over 1,500 annually. These contacts can be The Family Care Birthing Center Education For Good Reasoning? of oxygen the baby receives. The toxic effects valuable if you find yourself at Memorial offers classes Pregnancy, Birth and Things To Avoid During Pregnancy. of tobacco smoke can lead to low birth weight, housebound with a colicky designed to assist our parents- miscarriage or stillbirth, and increased risk Parenting. baby or in a difficult situation to-be in the journey through Everything you eat, smoke, drink or otherwise ingest There’s no doubt about it - cerebral palsy, mental retardation and other in the future. pregnancy and birth. Information while pregnant affects not only your body but also parents are passionate when it the developing body of your baby. Do not assume anomalies. • Certain classes can help you on pregnancy changes, both comes to the subject of that because you feel fine eating, drinking or smoking • Alcohol and Drugs. No amount is safe. Call master breathing, relaxation, physical and emotional, options your health care provider before using over-the- classes. They either love them or something that this is also healthy for your baby. Your and coping techniques for labor and delivery and after counter drugs. hate them, and there is usually baby’s developing body is far more fragile than yours. designed to reduce your care for mom, coach and baby no in between. Some couples perception of pain during are included. Participation of Avoid toxoplasmosis by staying away from cat liter swear by them, insisting they Pregnant women should avoid certain foods and labor. You will also learn both partners is encouraged boxes. The infection comes from contact with cat are every bit as important a part substances because of the negative way they affect about medications and and helps make the classes feces. of having a baby as choosing a your growing baby. The following list provides an anesthesia that you may at Memorial beneficial and good caregiver and finding the overview of the types of things that can be dangerous choose to use for pain relief. meaningful. Family-centered care during pregnancy. Depending on your particular Remember to always wear your seatbelt and stay right place to give birth. Others • They give your partner the is focused on throughout the pregnancy and history of complications or health healthy by avoiding people who are ill. Good hand may view them as unnecessary. chance to play an active role class. concerns, however, there may be additional things washing skills can decrease your chances of becoming Classes can actually be fun and in your pregnancy while that you need to avoid. Be sure to talk to your health ill. informative - provided you familiarizing them with the Expectant Parenting Classes: care provider about what you should avoid so as to choose the right classes and have role during delivery - to be best keep yourself and your baby healthy. good instructors. supportive, encouraging and • Prepared Childbirth Obesity and to act as your advocate. • Baby Care and Parenting Foods to avoid: Nutrition. We hope to give you some good • They give you an opportunity • Breastfeeding Support for • Raw fish, especially shellfish Being overweight has reasons for attending childbirth to ask questions about New Mothers • Raw meat become a major health classes: pregnancy, labor and delivery, • Sibling Class • Unprocessed, unpasteurized (raw) epidemic for many breastfeeding, and baby care. • Refresher and Cesarean Birth or aged cheese people in the United • Childbirth classes can help • Unprocessed, unpasteurized (raw) These questions may also education are available by States and this problem reduce your anxiety about dairy products spills into the pregnant include the pros and cons appointment with the Special giving birth by learning what population. Keeping a of medication or epidurals, Delivery Nurse. to expect - whether you have These foods can be contaminated with infection- healthy weight during episiotomy, circumcision, and a vaginal birth or cesarean causing bacteria that can cause miscarriage. Pregnant pregnancy is good for more. Call (618) 257-4826 to schedule section. women should also avoid consuming some ocean fish you and your baby. your classes or (618) 257-6800 • They educate you about such as tuna, salmon, shark, swordfish, tilefish and When you become A family-centered childbirth Extension 5853 to leave a various birthing options so mackerel. Although we know fish is a healthy food, pregnant your physician and parent education program message for the Special Delivery that you have the facts you whether raw or cooked these fish can be likely to will tell you how much weight you should gain. This emphasizes wellness, information Nurse. contain dangerously high levels of mercury. This can need in order to plan for the weight gain will be based on your BMI (Body Mass for all family members, health be associated with neurological and brain defects in Index) which will be measured by your physician at birth you want. enhancement, and family the fetus. your first prenatal visit. • They give you the autonomy, which are all • Caffeine. Caffeine stays in a pregnant woman’s opportunity to make friends foundations of family-centered blood longer and in the baby’s up to 15 times If you fall into the obese category (BMI over 30) care. with other expectant couples. longer. Most doctors agree that two caffeine you are at increased risk for complications during drinks a day are safe, but can reduce the pregnancy and labor and delivery. You will be absorption of vitamins. Drink plenty of water encouraged to gain less weight during pregnancy and during your pregnancy, will receive special care upon your admission to labor For a full listing of Childbirth Education classes especially with those prenatal and delivery. Your physician will provide you with offered at The Family Care Birthing Center vitamins. information to keep your weight gain under control • Cigarettes. Use of and to assist you in maintaining a healthier lifestyle at Memorial, visit www.memhosp.com/services/ tobacco products decreases during your pregnancy. You may receive a consultation familycarebirthingcenter. blood flow to the developing with a dietician who will provide education for baby, decreasing the amount healthier eating habits. Testing... 1, 2, 3 growing baby and the placenta can be obtained What’s Going On? beginnings of the arms and From that positive to delivery, there from the ultrasound. It’s also fun to see the baby A Peek Inside! legs. are many tests available to help you and your health moving around and often makes the pregnancy During the first trimester, your • The development of fingers, care provider understand your pregnancy health seem more “real.” growing baby is developing at toes, ears, ankles, wrists, and status. Some of the tests done in early pregnancy an amazing rate. A baby starts eyelids. By the end of the include: • Cystic Fibrosis screening. Cystic fibrosis is out as a few cells called an first trimester, the fetus will an inherited disease that affects breathing and embryo. After the eighth week have fingernails and toenails • Blood tests. Standard tests show your blood digestion. CF carrier testing checks to see if of pregnancy, your baby is called and will have buds in its count and can reflect if you are anemic or have parents-to-be have the abnormal gene that a fetus. During this time, your mouth area that will go on to “iron poor blood.” Those blood cells that carry causes Cystic Fibrosis. The test is taken through a baby will proceed to develop the become baby teeth. oxygen to your baby are important! Prenatal parent’s blood or saliva. basis for all of the mechanisms vitamins and iron can help build those cells. it will need in the first trimester. • or Chorionic Villus Sampling. Development begins when the Making Good Choices • STD tests. Cultures or blood tests can rule out Amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS) fertilized egg attaches itself During Your Pregnancy. sexually transmitted diseases or infections that are are common prenatal tests used to diagnose to the wall of the uterus in a We hope to help you learn harmful to both mom and baby. Tell your health chromosomal and genetic defects. CVS is done process called implantation. If aspects of pregnancy that you care is to monitor the progress care provider if you might be at risk for infection earlier in pregnancy (usually 10-12 weeks) and all goes well, the fetus will be may not have previously thought of your pregnancy and identify of any kind. involves removing a tissue sample near the approximately 6-7.5 centimeters of and to make informed choices problems before they become placenta site through the abdomen or . in length and weigh a little over throughout your pregnancy. serious. Women who see a • Blood typing. It’s good to know your blood Amniocentesis is a test of the amniotic fluid (water one ounce by the end of the first health care provider regularly type, especially during pregnancy. If you are Rh around the baby) drawn out of the uterus through trimester. Choosing who will help care for have healthier babies and are negative you will need an antibody-screening test. a small needle. This test is done between 15 & you during your pregnancy, labor less likely to deliver prematurely. If that test is negative, that is a good sign and you 20 weeks. CVS and amniocentesis test for the Some important developments and delivery is very important. Make sure you attend all of your may be offered immune globulin to help keep it same birth defects. The procedures differ slightly, that occur during this stage There are several types of health prenatal appointments, even if negative. It helps prevent your body from making however, in risk, timing and how soon results are include: care providers who can care for you are feeling fine. antibodies later that react to the Rh-positive blood available. your needs during pregnancy and that your baby may have. • The development of the childbirth. Be sure to explore During prenatal visits, the placenta and umbilical options and evaluate what is healthcare provider: • Teaches you about pregnancy • Urine tests. Simple tests of your urine are often Complications and Miscarriage. cord. These structures most important to you before done at prenatal visits to check for sugar and are important for bringing making a decision. • Monitors any medical Although most pregnancy symptoms present during conditions protein in your urine. Their presence can alert the first trimester are benign and merely annoying, nutrients from the mother Doctors and other specialized • Tests for problems with you the doctor to there are also a few symptoms to watch out for that and removing waste products health care providers including and the baby observe for signs will require medical attention. from the fetus back to the of toxemia or mother. nurses, dieticians, and • Refers you to services such will be some important allies as support groups, the WIC diabetes, which Contact your health care provider if you experience • The development of the during your pregnancy. They are program and Childbirth can be serious any of the following symptoms: amniotic sac, a fluid-filled in the best position to guide you Education Classes complications of • Bloody or watery vaginal discharge—it may or membrane that cushions the through the process and to make pregnancy. may not be accompanied by uterine cramping developing fetus. authoritative recommendations Read up on pregnancy, birth, • Excessive vomiting • The development of all major that will benefit your baby’s breastfeeding and baby care so • Ultrasounds. • Swelling of the hands, feet, or face organs. The heart begins to Your healthcare beat on or around the 25th development and future health. you can feel comfortable with • Recurring headaches—may be accompanied by the choices you’ll be making. provider may do blurred vision, dizziness day after conception. If you have already selected Remember, in addition to good one or a series • Decreased urination or painful urination • The development of the a health care provider, make prenatal care, be sure to have of ultrasounds • Fever neural tube, which goes on during your to form the brain and spinal an appointment early in your a dental check up early in your pregnancy. cord. pregnancy. Share your questions pregnancy to help your mouth Information • The development of the and concerns about your remain healthy. about the limb buds, which are the pregnancy. The goal of prenatal