For a completely accurate due date, visit your ob-gyn provider. Or you can use our pregnancy due date tool to calculate you estimated due date.
During the early stages of pregnancy, 90 percent of women suffer from morning sickness2: nausea and/or vomiting. It is most likely caused by hormones, such as human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), the pregnancy hormone.1 Luckily, women have found many helpful at-home remedies, including:
A birth plan is a document that tells the health care provider what's important to you during labor and delivery. Your number-one goal is the safe delivery of your baby, so it's important to keep your plan flexible. You may have to adjust it if circumstances change during delivery. Here are a few birth plan examples/resources:
Each labor and delivery is unique, and your health care provider considers you and your baby’s safety first. By talking to your health care provider, ob-gyn, or midwife throughout your pregnancy, you can develop trust and understanding with each other. You will feel like an active partner in your baby's birth, even if the unexpected occurs.
A Lamaze class is one of the many childbirth classes you can take throughout your pregnancy. Lamaze classes focus on coping strategies, breathing techniques, and other ways to keep yourself comfortable while giving birth.3
It’s all about preference. There are classes around care for your baby, yoga classes to keep your mind and body at peace throughout pregnancy, classes to prepare you for childbirth, and so much more. Your health care provider, ob-gyn, or midwife should be able to give you information about classes that fit your needs.
Keep in mind that for some health plans you may pay for these classes, though classes are reimbursable. Our maternity care managers can discuss which classes are available for reimbursement and help you submit the proper form.
Your baby needs a lot from you during pregnancy, so it’s possible to develop issues. However, do not fret, because most common pregnancy problems are manageable by your health care provider. Here are a few you should know about:
Whatever has caused you to lose your baby or your pregnancy—miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, stillbirth, or early newborn death—can be extremely difficult and upsetting for you and those close to you. It may be helpful for you to speak with your health care provider, a support group, or with a therapist to help during this emotional time. UPMC Health Plan maternity care managers are also here to offer support and additional resources.
Appropriate pregnancy weight gain is based on an individual’s pre- pregnancy BMI. You should discuss this with your provider.
In the meantime, there are ways to stay on track with your weight, like eating right and exercising moderately in order for you and your baby to be as healthy as possible.4
Many physical and emotional changes happen during pregnancy, and everyone has a different experience. These and other symptoms can happen during the first trimester of pregnancy3:
Your body is starting to change. Some changes are normal early in your pregnancy, but other symptoms, like those listed below, are serious:4
If you have any of these symptoms, contact your health care provider right away.
Prenatal visits are vital to pregnancy care. Most women have two prenatal visits during their first trimester. The first is usually around the eighth week of pregnancy. During this visit, your health care provider will3:
The second visit will likely be similar to the first visit. It usually happens right before the end of the first trimester. During this visit, your health care provider will: