Once you find out you’re pregnant, follow a recommended schedule of prenatal visits and review the tests you can expect for each doctor’s visit. Learning a few medical abbreviations used by your doctors and hospital staff will help you keep up with what's going on all the way through your delivery. Keeping tabs on your baby’s growth is exciting, especially when you have a helpful growth chart to follow. Keep a bag packed towards the end of your pregnancy and have important phone numbers handy ahead of time.
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A Typical Schedule for Prenatal Visits and Tests
To ensure the health of you and your baby, you’ll need to schedule regular visits to your doctor during your pregnancy. Use this guideline for making your appointments and understanding common procedures for each visit:
| Weeks | Possible Tests |
|---|---|
| 6-8 | Blood type, rubella titer, blood counts, HIV antibody, syphilis, hepatitis screen, ultrasound. |
| 10-12 | Doppler detection of fetal heart; CVS, if planned. |
| 11-14 | First trimester screen/Nuchal translucency (11–12 weeks is best). |
| 15-18 | Second trimester serum screen (sometimes called quad screen); amniocentesis, if planned. |
| 18-22 | Ultrasound to evaluate fetal anatomy. |
| 24-28 | Glucose screen to check for gestational diabetes. |
| 28-36 | Every-other-week visits to check blood pressure, weight, urine protein, and fetal growth. |
| 36-40 | Weekly visits to check the same things noted for 28–36 weeks and to assess fetal position. Some practitioners do internal exams to check the cervix; some do a vaginal/rectal culture for group B streptococcus. |
| 40-?? | Twice-weekly visits to assure fetal well-being. |
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Medical Abbreviations Commonly Used During Pregnancy
So you know what’s going on throughout your pregnancy while at doctor’s visits, touring the hospital, and during labor and delivery, learn these medical abbreviations and what they mean:
| Abbreviation | What It Stands For |
|---|---|
| AFP | Alpha-fetoprotein |
| AMA/APA | Advanced Maternal/Paternal Age |
| CNM | Certified Nurse-Midwife |
| CRL | Crown-Rump Length |
| CVS | Chorionic Villus Sampling |
| EDC or EDD | Estimated Date of Confinement or Estimated Due Date |
| EFW | Estimated Fetal Weight |
| EGA | Estimated Gestational Age |
| IUGR | Intrauterine Growth Restriction |
| LGA | Large-for-Gestational Age |
| LMP | Last Menstrual Period |
| MFM | Maternal-Fetal Medicine |
| SGA | Small-for-Gestational Age |
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Your Baby’s Growth during Pregnancy
At the eighth week of pregnancy (date of last menstrual period) the embryo is now referred to as a fetus. All organs are formed and the remaining 32 weeks of pregnancy is a time for the fetus to grow and mature. Take a look at this chart to see how your baby’s body weight and length changes during your pregnancy:
| Weeks Pregnant (Measured from LMP) | Average Weight | Average Length |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | 0.035 oz (1 g) | 1.5 in (3.81 cm) |
| 10 | 0.175 oz (5 g) | 2.4 in (6.10 cm) |
| 12 | 0.7 oz (20 g) | 3.5 in (8.89 cm) |
| 14 | 2.1 oz (60 g) | 4.1 in (10.41 cm) |
| 16 | 4.2 oz (0.12 kg) | 6.25 in (15.88 cm) |
| 18 | 8.0 oz (0.23 kg) | 7.8 in (19.81 cm) |
| 20 | 12.0 oz (0.34 kg) | 9.75 in (24.77 cm) |
| 22 | 1 lb 0 oz (0.45 kg) | 11.0 in (27.94 cm) |
| 24 | 1 lb 8 oz (0.68 kg) | 11.7 in (29.72 cm) |
| 26 | 2 lb 0 oz (0.91 kg) | 12.5 in (31.75 cm) |
| 28 | 2 lb 12 oz (1.25 kg) | 13.7 in (34.80 cm) |
| 30 | 3 lb 10 oz (1.65 kg) | 14.8 in (37.60 cm) |
| 32 | 4 lb 6 oz (2.00 kg) | 15.6 in (39.62 cm) |
| 34 | 5 lb 3 oz (2.35 kg) | 16.4 in (41.66 cm) |
| 36 | 6 lb 0 oz (2.72 kg) | 17.5 in (44.45 cm) |
| 38 | 6 lb 12 oz (3.10 kg) | 18.7 in (47.50 cm) |
| 40 | 7 lb 8 oz (3.40 kg) | 19.5 in (49.53 cm) |
lb = pounds kg = kilograms
oz = ounces g = grams
in = inches cm = centimeters
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Items for Your Labor, Delivery, and Hospital Stay
During your pregnancy, pack portable items you’ll need for your labor and delivery and hospital stay in a bag and keep it in a handy place or in your car. For your trip to the hospital you’ll need:
Your partner/labor coach
A bathrobe and nightgown
Toiletries
Sturdy underwear that you don’t mind soiling with blood
A change of clothes to wear home, including comfortable, roomy shoes
Baby clothes
Infant car seat (your partner can bring this item on the day of discharge)
Sanitary napkins (if you don’t want to use the archaic ones that most hospitals provide)
A camera
Video devices. Please check with your doctor or hospital first. Many facilities don’t permit filming.
Telephone numbers of family and friends you may want to call
Insurance information
Cellphone
Lollipops or hard candies
MP3/CD player, if you want
Change for parking or vending machines
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Your Pregnancy: Important Phone Numbers and Addresses to Have
Be prepared for your baby’s arrival (or in case you have questions or concerns during your pregnancy) by printing this list and filling out the information. Keep this list in your purse or on the fridge for easy access:
Your practitioner:
Name
Phone number
Address
Your pediatrician:
Name
Phone number
Address
Hospital or birthing center:
Name
Phone number
Address
Consultant (ultrasound, internist, maternal-fetal medicine, and so on):
Name
Phone number
Address
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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/pregnancy-for-dummies-cheat-sheet.html
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