A Guide to Having a Baby a Practical Guide to the Impractical, Beautiful, Wonderful Experience of Having a Baby
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A guide to having a baby A practical guide to the impractical, beautiful, wonderful experience of having a baby. oxford healthy mother, healthy babySM Contents We’re here for you The Health Mother, Healthy Baby Program. Handy phone numbers, information on prenatal support, plus instructions on enrolling your baby with Oxford. What you should know about pregnancy 3 Learn all about the big changes coming your way. This section includes: Prenatal Care Your Baby’s Growth Changes in Your Body Nutrition, Exercise and Sleep Preparing for The Big Event You’re home with your baby. Now what? 23 Calm your new-parent jitters and baby-care. This section includes: Newborn Care It’s Perfectly Normal When to Call the Doctor Taking Care of You Resources 32 Here’s a list of books, organizations and websites. About the information in this guide The health-related information contained in this guide is provided by the parenting experts at KidsHealth.® If you would like more information about pregnancy and your health, log onto our website at www.oxfordhealth.com. The Oxford Healthy Mother, Healthy Baby® program Right about now, you probably have more than a few questions. Fortunately, the Oxford Healthy Mother, Healthy Baby Program has more than a few answers. When you or your doctor told Oxford that you were pregnant, we automatically enrolled you in our program, which is designed to complement the care you are receiving from your health care provider. We continually strive to find ways to help our Oxford members stay healthy. That’s why we created this guide – to help you learn more about caring for yourself and your baby, during and after pregnancy. We wish you the best of health during this special time in your life, and we look forward to providing you with access to our quality network of health care providers. This information should only be used as an educational tool and is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor or other healthcare professional. 1 We’re here for you Oxford Support and Guidance from a Notification of Your Baby’s Birth Registered Nurse Within 48 hours of the birth, it is important to let us know that We are proud to offer the guidance of nurses during this special you have delivered your baby. Call Oxford Customer Service time of your life. at the telephone number on your Oxford member ID card or at 1-800-444-6222, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to Home Nurse Visits 6:00 pm, or notify us online by visiting our member website at After your baby is born, your coverage provides a minimum of www.oxfordhealth.com. 48 hours of hospital care after a vaginal birth or 96 hours of Please note that this notification does not automatically enroll hospital care after a cesarean delivery. For some women, going your child as an Oxford member. Customer Service is also home sooner may be the right thing to do, so we offer home available to answer questions regarding benefits, claims and Keep This Phone nurse care to Oxford members as an option only if they go policies. Number Handy home early. A visiting nurse will provide in-home medical care, Call Customer Service including a full assessment of your health and that of your baby. Enrolling Your Newborn at 1-800-444-6222, Please check your Certificate of Coverage for information about To enroll your baby as a new member under your Oxford Monday through Friday, from your specific benefits. health plan, you should contact your benefits administrator and 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, complete an Addition/Termination/Change Form. Your benefits to notify us within 48 hours Oxford On-Call® of the birth of your baby or ask administrator must sign the completed form and return it to us questions about benefits, claims Whether you are on vacation or have a question at 2:00 in the within 31 days of your baby’s birth. Forms that are submitted or policy information. morning about your child’s health, we understand that you may to us without your benefits administrator’s signature cannot be need immediate health care guidance. In situations like these, processed. you can turn to Oxford On-Call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When you dial 1-800-201-4911, you will receive personalized attention from a registered nurse who will follow up with your provider as needed. 2 Guide to this Section 3 Prenatal Care Advice on choosing a health care provider, what to expect at prenatal visits, diagnostic tests, commonhealth What you should know concerns during pregnancy, and when to call the doctor. about pregnancy 8 Your Baby’s Growth How your baby develops, Prenatal Care week by week. 10 You and your health care provider – a good relationship is everything. Changes in Your Body Choosing a health care provider – whether that provider is an obstetrician/gynecologist, family practitioner or certified nurse-midwife – What physical changes you can is one of the most important decisions you’ll make during your pregnancy. Take the time to choose wisely. When interviewing potential expect, plus information on providers from the Oxford network, look for someone whose philosophy on childbirth matches your own and whose personality puts weight gain as well as things you at ease. Here are some points to consider when choosing the provider who will administer your prenatal care: that might surprise you about being pregnant. • Does the provider take time to answer your questions and listen to your concerns, both physical and emotional? 15 • What hospital is he or she affiliated with and what level of services is offered there? Nutrition, Exercise and Sleep • Where does your provider stand on issues like pain management during labor, the birthing environment, cesarean sections, Tips on eating right, staying fit, spouse participation, and inductions? and getting a good night’s sleep. • Is this a solo or group practice? What are the qualifications of any doctors other than your provider who might care for you 19 during your pregnancy? Preparing for the Big Event • Who should you call in an emergency when your provider is not available? Advice on childbirth courses, choosing a doctor for your child, • What is the office atmosphere like? Does the staff seem helpful and responsive? creating a safe home environment, • Does your provider handle high-risk pregnancies? This is especially important to know if you have a pre-existing health condition and how to know when you’re or a history of pregnancy complications. in labor. You’re going to be spending a lot of time with your health care provider over the next nine months. Make sure you find someone you’re comfortable with. What to Expect at Prenatal Visits The First Visit Your first examination should take place during the first six to Expectant parents may also choose to have one or more of eight weeks of your pregnancy or when your menstrual period the following diagnostic tests depending on your specific is two to four weeks late. Seeing your health care provider circumstance and doctor’s recommendation: during this time will help him or her determine an expected delivery date (EDD). Your EDD is 40 weeks from the first day Ultrasound of your last menstrual period (LMP). It’s important to remember You’ll likely have at least one ultrasound examination to make that your due date is only an estimate – most babies are born sure the pregnancy is progressing normally and to verify the between 38 and 42 weeks, and only 5% of women actually expected delivery date. The technician coats your abdomen deliver on their due date. with a gel and then runs a wand-like instrument over it to At your first visit, your provider will take a detailed medical produce images of the fetus on a computer screen. Ultrasound history of both parents and perform a full physical examination, scanning is used to determine whether the fetus is growing at a which may include a Pap test for cervical cancer. You’ll probably normal rate, to record fetal heartbeat or breathing movements, When will I start be asked to provide a urine sample and a blood sample, to see whether you might be carrying more than one fetus, to to show? which will be used for a series of tests. An HIV test is also measure the amount of amniotic fluid, and to identify a variety of When you start showing recommended. abnormalities that might affect the remainder of the pregnancy differs from woman to woman. or delivery. Usually it’s performed at 18 to 20 weeks, but it can Everyone’s body is different, Routine Visits and Diagnostic Testing also be done sooner or later and sometimes more than once. so don’t be alarmed if you If you’re healthy and have no complicating risk factors, you can think you are showing to HIV Test early or to late! expect to see your health care provider once a month until the 28th week of pregnancy, then twice a month until the 36th It is important for women who are pregnant to have their blood week, and then once a week until delivery. tested for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. If you test positive for HIV, there is a chance that your baby may have the virus At each examination, your weight and blood pressure will too. Certain medications taken during pregnancy can reduce be recorded, and the size and shape of your uterus will be the chance of the virus being passed on to your baby.