Gearing up for Motherhood: Pregnancy Checklist

Gearing up for Motherhood May brings flowers from all those April showers and Mother's Day, a much-deserved celebration of motherhood. With roughly 85 million mothers in the U.S., there are a lot of mothers to celebrate this year. This year, we turn our attention to mothers-to-be. Brought to you by: NorthShore University Health System A Pregnancy Checklist There are approximately Here are some pregnancy facts and figures and a checklist of what to expect when you're expecting. million births in the 4 U.S. per year. Weeks 1-8 Mom: Baby: Choose an OB/GYN & schedule first prenatal appointment That little heart will start beating by week 4 Begin taking prenatal vitamins (if you haven't already) to help both you and Baby stay healthy Baby is about the size of a large grape by week 8 Ensure you are up-to-date on immunizations, including tetanus booster, rubella and chicken pox Did you know? You're not alone! Roughly 70% of women report some type of morning sickness in their first trimester. Weeks 8-12 Mom: Baby: Talk to your doctor about screenings for chromosomal or genetic disorders Baby's heart can be seen beating in an ultrasound Make sure you get adequate rest and sleep; growing a baby is tough work for your body! Baby's major organs have started to form Did you know? Pregnant women need to eat approximately 300 additional calories per day. Weeks 12-16 Mom: Baby: Baby can now suck his or her thumb & grab the umbilical cord Start telling family and friends! Inform your boss and start planning maternity leave Treat yourself to new shoes! Pregnancy often causes an increase in shoe size Baby begins to make facial expressions Did you know? The average size of a full-term baby in the U.S. is 8 pounds. This is an increase from an average size of 6 pounds 30 years ago. Weeks 16-20 Mom: Baby: Schedule your mid-pregnancy ultrasound Baby is learning how to kick Have antacids handy. Baby's growth may press on the stomach and cause heartburn Baby's gender is now visible in ultrasound Prepare your pets. If your dog hasn't been to obedience school, now is the right time Did you know? 56% of new moms take childbirth classes. Weeks 20-24 Mom: Baby: Find and enroll in a childbirth class Baby has unique fingerprints Stay active with 30-45 minutes of moderate exercise every day, like walking, swimming, biking or yoga Start talking. Baby now hears Hormones can increase oil production so keep your skin clear with a gentle face cleanser your voice Did you know? The heaviest recorded birth weight of a baby was 19.2 pounds in Sumatra, Indonesia in 2009. Weeks 24-28 Mom: Baby: Get a blood glucose test to check for gestational Baby will have a large growth spurt between weeks 26-29 and will gain more and more baby fat diabetes Pick out your faorite baby names Moisturizing 3-4 times a day with cocoa butter lotion will help get rid of stretch marks Baby's immune system develops Did you know? O O Twins represent only 3.31% of births. That's an increase of 60% since the 1980s. Weeks 28-32 Mom: Baby: Take it slow. You may find yourself getting winded easily and feeling clumsier than usual Baby only weighs 2-3 pounds and is 14-17 inches long Prepare your birth plan with your doctor or midwife during one of your two monthly visits Keep calm. Baby now reacts to loud music & fast movements Begin your childbirth classes Did you know? Roughly 98% of all U.S. births occur in hospitals. Weeks 32-36 Mom: Baby: Prepare your hospital bag O Baby has learned how to blink Buy and practice installing a car seat for your baby With less room, Baby may start to squirm to get more comfortable Two doctor appointments this month Did you know? Only 5% of babies arrive on their due date; 80% come within 2 weeks on either side of it. Weeks 36-Delivery Mom: Baby: Put the final touches on the nursery Baby gains half an ounce of fat per day Begin seeing your doctor weekly Recognize the signs of labor - contractions, water breaking and nesting - but expect some false alarms Baby changes position to prepare for birth Sources northshore.org cdc.gov webmd.com thebump.com askbaby.com babycenter.com facts.randomhistory.com