Doctors Appointments example essay topic

1,854 words
How To Prepare For The Birth Of Your Child 1. Record the beginning date of your last menstrual cycle. Try to remember if it was a cycle consistent with the pattern of your regular cycles. Was it a heavier or lighter blood flow than usual?

Was it late? Did it last as long as your usual cycles? What are your symptoms of pregnancy? Have you had sexual intercourse lately, or has it been five years? Keep this information in a place where you can access it quickly.

2. Call your doctor. I would suggest skipping your physician, and calling your gynecologist immediately. The doctor will schedule an appointment for you to have a pregnancy test. At this appointment you will be given a urine test. If the results are positive for pregnancy, you will receive an extensive internal exam.

If they aren? t, you need more help than I can give you! The doctor will take cultures of your tissue to test for infections and sexually transmitted diseases. You will be given a rough estimate of how far along the pregnancy is. You will be counseled on the results, and every option you have regarding pregnancy.

If you decide to carry the child to term, 9 months, your doctor will give you a bottle of pre-natal vitamins. Schedule and attend all future pre-natal appointments, and avoid the excessive usage of ultrasounds. If you have other doctors appointments, make sure they know you are pregnant. Some tests and medications are dangerous to an unborn child. 3. Consider all alternatives, such as delivery, abortion, and adoption, and make a decision.

If you decide to carry the child full term, continue on to the following steps. If you do not choose to, arrange an appointment with your doctor for further counseling. Make sure you have the means to pay for the options you choose. You will either need a very rich husband, or medical insurance. 4.

Take one vitamin, given to you by the doctor, every morning until the end of your pregnancy. If they make you puke, try taking them at a different times of the day. If they still make you sick, call your doctor. Your doctor will tell you to switch to a multi-vitamin from the store. If these changes do not work, you will need to change your diet to make sure you are receiving all the vitamins you need. Your doctor may require blood tests to make sure.

5. Prepare yourself emotionally. You need to change your personal habits and lifestyle based on the knowledge that your unborn child is defenseless, and needs to be placed as first priority. Smoking, drinking alcohol, taking drugs, consuming excessive amounts of caffeine, and other such habits should be stopped. Situations that may cause distress need to be avoided also. You need to realize that soon you will not have the body of a supermodel, but you will be beautiful and radiant in other ways.

The radiance may be due, in part, to the apple juice and milk you will be slugging down. 6. Start a journal to your child. This increases the bond between a mother and child.

This will help you realize more rapidly that there is an actual human being growing inside you. Write about important events that are happening during your pregnancy. Who is the president? What are the fashion trends of the times? Apologize for the dirty jokes it may have overheard twenty minutes ago.

This may be useful later in the child's life. Tell your baby what it feels like when you lay in bed waiting to count it's fingers and toes. 7. Take care of your body. Eat healthy foods and drink a lot of fluids.

Some vitamins create constipation. To avoid hemorrhoids, take stool softeners with them. Drinking milk is a wonderful source of calcium, but if you are starting to look like Fat Aunt Sally and you? re only one month along, switch to 1%or skim milk. If you are experiencing morning sickness, start eating small healthy meals frequently, instead of three large meals every day.

An empty stomach adds to the nausea. Avoid greasy foods, and foods that may give you heartburn. Heartburn is very common with pregnancy. Elevate your legs higher than the level of your heart as much as you can throughout the day, balanced with time spent walking around.

This will decrease the likelihood of veins in your legs due to poor circulation. Exorcise regularly. Do not overexert yourself, but try stretching and strengthening your leg and mid-body muscles. This will also help with controlling your weight gain. If you are having trouble sleeping at night, prop pillows under your legs, and back. Sleep in an upright position if possible, to help with breathing.

Do not sleep on your stomach after your first trimester. Apply cocoa butter, vitamin e, or other skin softening products several times each day. This should be amply spread all over your body, to decrease stretch marks, and combat all other skin problems due to your hormonal changes. The texture of your hair may change a swell.

Experiment with new shampoos and conditioners until you have desired results. Perming and dying hair, contrary to belief, is safe, however they may not hold as usual due to your changes. The chemicals do not seep into your scalp, however breathing in the fumes might not be appropriate. 8.

Avoid danger. Fumes from hair permanents, nail polish removers, and perfume can be harmful, and sometimes create nausea. Do not go on rides at amusement parks. Stay away from Jacuzzis, hot tubs, and saunas. They are breeding grounds for bacteria, and the temperatures can sometimes be detrimental to your baby's health. Consult your doctor about the proper usage of seat belts during pregnancy.

Start taking showers if you usually take baths. Some women have a hard time maneuvering in a tub with added weight, and get stuck. Apply something onto the bottom of your shower to avoid accidents. Consult your doctor on the amount of weight you should be lifting. I wouldn? t lift over twenty pounds after your first trimester. If you feel any pains, unusual discomfort, or bleeding, call your doctor immediately.

9. Invest in proper clothing. Your body will be growing rapidly, and you will need clothes that can grow with you. Do not wear clothes that will cut circulation or apply pressure on your stomach. Some women consider wearing back braces if they are experiencing pains due to the extra weight and odd proportioning. Wear a sturdy bra to prevent stretch marks and discomfort from growing breasts.

Most women will choose a sports bra until their later pregnancy when it may be very difficult to put on or remove such bras. Comfortable, cushioned sneakers work well for distributing and carrying extra weight. They will also benefit you if you are having back pains. 10. Stimulate your child. Shine flashlights on your stomach.

Listen to soothing noises, such as classical music. If you have headphones, place them around your stomach if you can, so your child can hear it more clearly. Sometimes they will respond to the music in later months by dancing around in your belly. Placing an empty cup on your stomach, and watching it move around, is a good indicator. 11.

Read a book about what to expect during pregnancy. This will inform you if you have any questions or concerns. Get a book that shows pictures of a growing fetus in every stage of pregnancy. This will help you to know how the child came to be from a tiny egg. Find answers to questions such as? When you are supposed to feel the baby moving inside you??

You will know that the child is most likely healthy if it is behaving in consistency with the book. Results may differ slightly. Consult your doctor if you are concerned with differences from the book. 12. Without imposing, remind your loved ones that you are pregnant on occasion. Nine months can be a very long time.

Sometimes the novelty of pregnancy wears off for others, and they forget important aspects such as mood swings and how much sleep you will be needing. 13. Begin nesting. Clean and disinfect your house. Make sure the newborn has a clean and secure environment to come home to. The baby will need a place to sleep, clothes to wear, and food, if you choose not to breast feed.

If you are planning on having a nursery made for the child, make sure it is painted and furnished significantly before it's arrival. Stocking up on necessities for the first year of the baby's life is very helpful as well. Extra clothes, diapers, wipes, formula, powders, creams, and shampoos are good examples. 14.

Pick out a suitable name for your child. Take into consideration family names, the child's predicted personality, or simply choose from a book of baby names. I was very tempted to name my son after a soccer player. He loved to kick, especially my ribcage when I was sleeping. The child will need a name for obvious reasons, as well as for applying for social security cards and insurance purposes. 15.

Make important decisions about the day of delivery in advance. You may not be in the right state of mind to do so later. Who will be in the delivery room with you? Do you want medication or a natural birth? Who are you inviting to the hospital, and what are there phone numbers? Will you breastfeed?

Pack your hospital bag. Put in it things such as your baby's first outfit, diapers, bottles and blankets. You may want to include money for the child's first pictures, if the yare offered, and gas for your vehicle. In this day and age, it might be useful to equip yourself and / or loved ones with a cell phone or beeper for when you start labor. Pack a camera with working batteries and film. Make sure your identification and list of phone numbers are handy when it is time to go to the hospital.

Know the route to the hospital fairly well, and have a car seat ready for the ride, new bons can be slippery!