Prenatal Care and Maternity Q & A

How much weight should I gain during Pregnancy?

It depends on how much you weighed before you became pregnant. Generally, if you are an average weight, you should gain about 25 lbs. during pregnancy. If you are under weight, you should gain between 25 and 35 lbs. and if you are over weight, you should only gain about 15 lbs. Be sure to ask your doctor what is the best weight for you!

If I exercise while pregnant, will it hurt my baby?

Exercise is always important. During pregnancy, do take it easy. If you did not do aerobic exercise before your pregnancy and are thinking of beginning now, don't. You should only exercise as much as you did before you were pregnant. It's not a good idea to do a lot of bouncing, jerky movements, or situps.

What are Braxton Hicks Contractons?

They are what some consider false contractions. In reality, these contractions are getting your body ready to deliver the baby! They are worse and harder to distinguish than true labor contractions if you've had more than one child.

How will I know the difference between Braxton Hicks Contractions and the real thing?

Braxton Hicks and false labor can be difficult to determine. If you think you're having true contractions, begin timing them and walk around. Braxton Hicks contractions will slow down or go away when walking. Again, if the pain worsens and the contractions become more frequent or don't slow down, call your doctor immediately!