This valuable collection of information and resources, curated by your providers at Generations OB-GYN, addresses many common questions and concerns that may arise during pregnancy. Please bookmark this page and refer to it before contacting our office.
If your question is not clearly answered here, please ask at your next visit or call our office to speak with a nurse.
Nausa / Vomiting / Morning Sickness
50%-90% of pregnancy women will experience some nausea and vomiting. It most often occurs between 5 and 15 wks of pregnancy, but can extend (rarely) throughout the pregnancy. If the condition causes inability to consume fluids/foods or excessive vomiting and weight loss, hospitalization may be required. Below are some suggestions to help relieve symptoms:
Diet Suggestions:
Non-Medication Suggestions:
Medications:
Anemia
Anemia–or low iron count–is common in pregnancy. To increase your iron intake, eat iron rich foods such as liver, meat, beans, prunes, and prune juice. It also helps to eat foods rich in Vitamin C at the same time (citrus fruits), as they help your body to absorb iron better.
Colds / Congestion / Cough / Sore Throat
Most are viral and do not require antibiotics. The best treatment is rest and fluids. Call if you have a fever of 101 degrees or greater. For symptom relief, many common products can be used. Avoid products with aspirin or alcohol in them. You can use Allegra, Benadryl, Claritin, Zyrtec, Zicam, Emergen-C, ChlorTrimenton, Vicks Vaporub, Singular, Atrovert (Rx only), Mucinex, Flonase, NasalCrom, Saline rinses and Neti-pots may relieve nasal congestion. Robitussin with expectorant (non-drowsy) or cough drops, saltwater gargles are ok to use.
Most herbal remedies are untested in pregnancy. It is best to avoid those remedies which have unknown effects. Zinc glycine lozenges, zinc tablets have no data to show they are beneficial but there has been no harm shown either. Use Echinacea with caution.
Constipation
Increase the fiber in your diet and exercise regularly to help prevent it. It is safe to use prune juice, Milk of Magnesia, Metamucil, MiraLAX, Fibercon or Citrucel. You may also use a stool softener (Colace) daily, if needed.
Diarrhea
If this occurs, it is important to stay well hydrated. You can also use Imodium as directed on the label. Do NOT use Pepto-Bismol or Kaopectate, as they contain aspirin products. Call us if it persists or worsens.
Headaches
Aspirin-free products (like Tylenol) are the drug of choice to use for headaches, muscle aches and/or fever. The total dose should not exceed 3500mg per day. Do not use any of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin, Motrin, ibuprofen, or Aleve. Biofreeze is ok to use, but Butterbur (Petaoblex) should not be used for migraines in pregnancy.
Heartburn
Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids varicose veins of the rectum. When symptomatic (pain, burning, itching or bleeding) you may use Tucks, Preparation H or Anusol HC to relieve symptoms.
Yeast Infections
It is best to be examined to accurately diagnose yeast infections. There are over the counter & prescription medications that are safe and effective in treating infections.
For most common infections: if you had it as a child you are probably not at risk, which means your baby is not at risk.
COVID-19
This is a respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It can be very contagious and can spread quickly. A COVID-19 vaccination can help reduce the risk of illness from COVIS-19 and its potentially serious complications. It remains the best protection for pregnant patients.
Fifth’s Disease
This virus is caused by parvovirus B19 and is called fifth’s disease because it is the 5th of 6 causes for childhood fever and rash. 50-75% of reproductive age women have immunity from past infections. A woman exposed to parvovirus can be tested for immunity and if no prior exposure is documented, the fetus may be monitored with ultrasounds.
Group B Streptococcus (GBS)
About 1 in 4 pregnant women have the Group B Strep bacteria, yet very few babies become ill with it. A vaginal/rectal culture is done between 35 and 37 wks on all pregnant women. If it is positive, we recommend IV antibiotic treatment during labor.
Influenza (Flu)
There are many different strains of influenza virus. Influenza pneumonia is the most serious and potentially fatal complication in pregnant patients. Inactivated flu vaccines are recommended for all pregnant women in any trimester.
Listeriosis
This food-borne illness is the result of bacteria transmitted when eating certain foods. Prevention includes washing all fruits and vegetables before eating them, avoiding non-pasteurized milk/cheeses, raw or undercooked protein sources, and processed meats (hot dogs/deli meats) unless reheated to steaming. Juices/Cider should be pasteurized.
Toxoplasmosis
This infection is caused by a parasite that can threaten the health of an unborn child. The infection comes from handling soil or cat litter that contains cat feces infected with the parasite, eating undercooked meat from animals infected with the parasite or from uncooked foods that have come in contact with contaminated meat. Indoor cats are far less likely to carry toxoplasmosis than cats that are let outdoors. If you have been infected with toxoplasmosis once, you usually will not become infected again. If there is a suspicion of infection, blood testing can be performed and, if confirmed, the pregnancy monitored closely.
Influenza
Being pregnant increases your risks of complications should you contract the influenza virus. We recommend the influenza vaccine during pregnancy.
See what ACOG has to see about the influenza virus and the influenza vaccine.
Hepatitis B
In every pregnancy, we recommend testing for hepatitis B infection and for immunity status. If the benefits of your prior vaccination have waned or you have never been vaccinated against Hepatitis B before, we recommend getting the hepatitis B vaccination during pregnancy should it be indicated.
See what ACOG has to say about Hepatitis B and the hepatitis vaccine.
RSV
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is the #1 cause of infant hospitalization in the United States. By getting the vaccine during pregnancy, you can pass antibodies to your baby so that they can have protection during the highest-risk times of the year.
See what ACOG has to say about RSV and the RSV vaccine.
TDAP
Getting the TDAP vaccine in pregnancy passes antibodies to your baby so that they can have protection against Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (aka Whooping Cough), as they cannot start the vaccine series themselves until 2 months of age. Additionally, we recommend any adult who is going to be around your baby be up to date on their TDAP vaccine within the past 10 years.
See what ACOG has to say about the TDAP vaccine in pregnancy.
COVID-19
Just like influenza, being pregnant increases your risk of severe complications from the COVID-19 virus. Getting the vaccine can help reduce these risks. We recommend the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy.
See what ACOG has to say about COVID-19 and the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy.
We offer one-on-one consultations with Lisa Wittenberg, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES). Lisa has been practicing nutrition counseling and coaching for over 30 years. She is passionate about empowering individuals to take control of their health through practical, evidence‑based strategies that fit into everyday life.
Weight Gain and Calories
We use body mass index (BMI) to assess if your weight is healthy to start. It is a score based on your height and weight.
Weight gain recommendations are:
Obesity can increase your risk for high blood pressure, diabetes, and cesarean delivery. Research has shown that poor prenatal nutrition and maternal obesity before and after pregnancy are associated with infant and pregnancy complications. Prenatal nutrition, therefore, is important because it influences the health of a pregnant woman and her baby.
A pregnant woman requires an additional 350-450 calories per day in the 2nd and 3rd trimester – totaling about 2000 calories per day. You should eat small, frequent meals, and not skip meals.
Alcohol
There is no safe lower limit for alcohol intake in pregnancy. A fetus does not have a fully functioning liver, so is not able to break down the alcohol. Heavy drinking during pregnancy is associated with birth defects, mental retardation, and developmental problems in the fetus. We recommend that you do NOT drink alcohol while pregnant.
Caffeine
Intake should be limited to 200mg/day (equivalent to about 1- 12oz cup of coffee). Studies have shown that more caffeine than that can increase risk of miscarriage. There are lists of caffeine-containing foods/liquids on the internet. (Source: March of Dimes). A 12oz. can of Coke/Pepsi have about 50 mg.
Fish
The FDA recommends that women who are pregnant or nursing avoid eating certain fish that may contain high levels of mercury including shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish. Canned albacore tuna is restricted to one 6 oz serving per week. COOKED sushi is safe to eat. Limit all fish and seafood to less than 12 oz per week.
Smoking / Nicotine / Vaping / Marijuana
Smoking is dangerous to your health whether you are pregnant or not. It can increase risk of miscarriage, small babies, and placental problems. Nicotine patches and gum are considered acceptable when trying to quit smoking in pregnancy.
Vaping and e-cigarettes have not been studied enough to determine if safe in pregnancy and some may have increased nicotine amounts over regular cigarettes. For those reasons, you should not use e-cigarettes or vape.
Marijuana use in pregnancy should be avoided due to concerns about fetal brain development. There are also concerns about the variations in potency and byproducts that may be in marijuana.
Sweeteners
Nutrasweet (aspartame), Splenda (Sucralose), Sweet & Low (Saccharin) & Truvia (Stevia) are considered artificial sweeteners and should be used with caution since they affect your glucose metabolism. Pregnant women should make sure to get adequate amounts of healthy foods and fluids, aside from diet products.
Allergy Shots
You may continue to get your allergy shots while pregnant.
TB Testing
TB testing is safe at any time during pregnancy.
Dental Care
Routine dental care can and should be done during pregnancy, including cleaning, fillings, root canals, and extractions. Dental x-rays can be done with abdominal and thyroid shielding. Local anesthesia can be used.
Exercise
Most women can continue to exercise during pregnancy with minor adjustments. 20 to 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise, 4 to 5 times weekly is recommended. There is no need to ensure that the heart rate is below a certain number.
Hair Color, Perms & Highlighting
There is no evidence that any of these can cause birth defects. Although data is limited, because systemic absorption is minimal, these are presumed to be safe in pregnancy.
Nails
You may paint your nails yourself or have them done professionally. Shellac is acceptable.
Hot Tubs, Baths & Saunas
It is best to avoid hot tubs and saunas in pregnancy, especially for long periods of time. Your core body temperature rises when you use saunas and hot tubes and this can be unsafe for your fetus. It is safe to use a bathtub if the water is 100 degrees or lower.
Painting
It is safe for pregnant women to paint (latex or oil-based) or supervise painting in a well-ventilated area. The major risk for painting is possible falls from a ladder. If remodeling an older home and there is a question about the paint base (lead or mercury), it is better not to be around when sanding, etc is done.
Sexual Activity
Sexual activity may continue in pregnancy unless certain conditions exist, such as bleeding, premature labor, or threatened miscarriage. You should not have sexual intercourse if you think your water has broken.
Travel
It is ok to travel by car or air until 36 wks if there are no complications. Trips of any type, more than 2 hours, require rest stops to get up & stretch, to decrease risk of blood clots. Use of seatbelts in cars is mandatory! Current global travel advisories can be found at cdc.gov/travel.
Sleeping
In early pregnancy, you can sleep in any comfortable position. As the baby grows, sleeping on your side is recommended as it can help uterine blood flow for the baby. It is not harmful to your baby if you wake up on your back; just roll back onto your side and go back to sleep.