A successful first trimester of pregnancy is crucial to health and well
being of baby and mother. Though you may not being showing, your embryo
is growing, its heart is pumping blood and most major organs and bodily
systems have begun to develop. This early stage of development is the
prime time to prepare yourself for a healthy, happy, low-stress pregnancy.
Consider each of these tips as you navigate the first trimester of your
pregnancy:
Choose Your Healthcare Provider
The very first thing a newly pregnant woman needs to think about is prenatal
care! A good place to start when deciding where to go for care is where
you wish to deliver. If you’re planning to have your baby at CVMC,
this leaves three provider groups to call, interview and consider:
A Woman’s View,
Catawba Women’s Center and
Catawba Valley Medical Center’s Maternity Services. Maternity Services is unique in the fact that they are a team of certified
nurse midwives, located within the
Catawba County Public Health Building, that provides comprehensive prenatal care for women at any stage of pregnancy,
including transfer patients. They also accept Medicaid and most private
insurance plans.
Embrace Good Nutrition for a Healthy Pregnancy and Baby
“Never in a woman’s life is nutrition so important as when
she’s pregnant and nursing”, says Elizabeth Somer, MA, RD,
author of Nutrition for a Healthy Pregnancy. You don’t have to look
far to find plenty of good nutrition information. The Center for Women
& Children offers a free app you can download on any Apple or Android
device called
iBirth, which has an entire section devoted to nutrition. Download
iBirth and use the code: CVMC to access all our customized information. Consult
with your doctor, nurse practitioner or midwife if you have specific concerns
about your diet.
Maintain Physical Activity
Exercising is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your baby.
It can help with morning sickness, regulate weight and prepare you for
the extra pounds you will carry as your pregnancy progresses, not to mention
getting you in shape for childbirth. As an added bonus, exercise is great
for your mood and helps with restful sleep.
Adding low-impact exercises during your first trimester is a good idea.
If you have been exercising vigorously several times per week, you may
want to substitute one session with water exercise. This way, if you need
to give up your more challenging workouts later in the pregnancy you have
a head start on a lower impact workout.
CVMC’s Fitness Plus offers an aqua fitness class for soon-to-be moms every Wednesday at 5:30pm called
Moms-in-Motion.
Register for Child Birth Classes
Whether you are a first time mom-to-be or already have children, we encourage
you to consider all the classes offered at
The POD, Maternal Child Education Center at the Center for Women & Children.
From Baby Basics to breastfeeding, we offer a complete array of classes
to help you prepare for your baby’s arrival. Classes and tour rosters
fill quickly so register as early as possible via our website, through the
iBirth App or call 828.326.3062.
Rest and Relax
While this is certainly a very exciting season in your life, it can also
be potentially overwhelming and a tad stressful. You are going through
a LOT of changes, physically and mentally. Take good care of yourself
and find effective ways to manage the stress in your life. Get plenty
of rest and sleep, eat healthily and maintain (or start) an appropriate
exercise program. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t hesitate
to talk to your healthcare provider about your concerns.
In these tender first weeks of pregnancy the real goal is to get yourself
in the healthiest habits possible, eat well and rest as needed. CVMC would
be honored to be a part of your childbirth experience.