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Q: How can I find out about agencies and or services for me and my baby? A: You can contact us at 426-1153 and we can refer you to the right agency. You can also request a free copy or the Parent Resource Directory that lists various human service and health care providers and the services they provide. Q: What are the symptoms of pregnancy? A: The most obvious symptom of pregnancy is a missed period. Other possible symptoms include
However, it is possible that any combination of these symptoms could also indicate that a woman is premenstrual, or that she has the flu or some other illness. Again, the only way to be sure of pregnancy is to have a pregnancy test. Many women, especially young women, have normally irregular periods. These irregularities may include missed periods and other changes in the menstrual cycle. These irregularities can happen from month to month. Although pregnancy is the most common reason for missing a period, irregularity is also caused by illness, travel, worry, or stress. Q: When will I notice the symptoms of pregnancy? A: Some women may experience obvious symptoms of pregnancy a week or two after it begins at implantation, while others may not experience noticeable symptoms for several more weeks or even months. (Implantation occurs nine days after fertilization, which usually occurs from vaginal intercourse during the six day ending in ovulation.) Q: How do I find out if I am pregnant? If you use a home pregnancy test you must follow directions carefully and correctly. To be sure about the presence or absence of a pregnancy, it is best to visit a healthcare professional for a pregnancy test and pelvic exam. If you are pregnant - whether or not you want to continue the pregnancy - you need to have medical care and counseling as soon as possible. http://www.plannedparenthood.org/LIBRARY/FAQs.html Q: Where can I go for prenatal care? A: There are many places you can go for prenatal care. If you already have a primary care physician talk to him about your options. In the Capital Region you can contact PCAP/MOMS providers for the Capital Region Residents. These agencies provide low-cost or no-cost prenatal services in the Capital Region. They are listed by their county location but may serve residents from other counties, click here to get a list of sites that provide prenatal care services. Some of the hospitals and clinics you could go to seek care are: Albany Medical Center 518-272-3125 Albany Memorial 518-471-3221 Bellevue Woman's Hospital 518-346-9400 Ellis Hospital 518-243-4000 Saint Clare's Hospital 518-382-2000 Saint Mary's Hospital, Amsterdam-Maternity 518-841-7314 Saint Peter's Hospital 518-525-1550 Samaritan Hospital 518-271-3300 Seton Health/Saint Mary's Hospital 518-268-5000 Whitney M Young Jr. Health Center 518-427-0089 ext 245 Schenectady Family Health Services 518-370-1441 Q: I am pregnant and I do not have health insurance, What can I do? A: Women and teens who live in New York State who are pregnant and who meet certain income guidelines can receive free medical care during pregnancy and delivery, click here for more information and for a list of PCAP/MOMS providers. Q: Why should I breastfeed? A: Here are just some of the many good reasons why you should breastfeed your baby:
Q: How long should I breastfeed? A: One of the best things that only you can do is to breastfeed your baby for as long as possible. The longer a mom and baby breastfeeds, the greater the benefits are for both mom and baby. Babies should be fed with breast milk only — no formula — for the first six months of life. Ideally, though, babies should receive breast milk through the first year of life, or for as long as both you and your baby wish. Solid foods can be added to your baby’s diet, while you continue to breastfeed, when your baby is six months old. For at least the first six months, breastfeed babies don't need supplements of water, juice, or other fluids. These can interfere with your milk supply if they are introduced during this time. http://www.4women.gov/Breastfeeding Q: Can I Freeze Breastmilk? A: Human breastmilk has an amazing ability to ward off bacteria and can be stored at room temperature for several hours. However, if you plan to use the milk in the next few days, weeks or months, you will want to refrigerate or freeze your expressed milk. The following are some guidelines for storing milk for moms of health full-term baby. Moms who are storing milk for a baby who is in the hospital should follow any guideline required by the hospital.
New Parent News, North Country Prenatal/Peritanal Council, Inc, page 4 Q: My milk looks thin. Does that mean it is not rich enough? A: Breastmilk may appear thin and much like cow's skim milk. This is due to the protein, which has a bluish tint. As long as your baby is nursing ofthen enough and long enough, the milk will be rich enough and your baby will continue to grow. * Women's Health Center of Albany Med WIC Program. Newsletter April/May/June 2006 In the Capital Region you can contact the following organizations for more information:
Q:Why is it recommended that all pregnant women be tested for HIV? A:There are now medical therapies available to lower the chance of an HIV-infected pregnant woman passing HIV to her infant before, during, or after birth. ZDV (zidovudine, also known as AZT or Retrovir) is the only drug which has been proven to reduce perinatal transmission. HIV testing and counseling provides an opportunity for infected women to find out if they are infected and to gain access to medical treatment that may help to delay disease progression. It also allows them to make informed choices during delivery that can prevent transmission to their infant. For women who are not infected, HIV counseling provides an opportunity to learn important prevention information to reduce the possibility of future exposures. For more information visit the The Center for Disease Control web site Q: Where can I go for childbirth and parenting classes? A:
Phone #: 518-688-2677. They also have sites in Latham, NY and Albany, NY.
If any of this organizations fits your needs, call Maternal Infant Network at 518-426-1153 or e-mail us for more referrals. Q: Why is it important to control asthma during pregnancy? Q: Does asthma worsen during pregnancy? Q: Can women with asthma have safe pregnancies? A: If a pregnant woman is under medical supervision for her asthma care and practices asthma control measures and her asthma is well controlled, complications are unlikely. From http://www.pregnancyand asthma.com/pregnancy Q:Which vitamin helps prevent birth defects? A: Folic acid. Women who are contemplating pregnancy or already pregnant should get 400 micrograms of folic acid daily to help prevent spina bifida and other birth defects. Prenatal vitamins are a good source of this B vitamin. It is also available in leafy greens, orange juice, dried beans and legumes, and fortified cereals and other grains. Q:Doctors usually recommend that the average pregnant women take in about how many extra calories a day? A: 300 calories. A pregnancy takes about 300 extra calories a day to maintain. Q: An episiotomy is a surgical procedure performed in order to: A: Increase the size of the vaginal opening during childbirth. An episiotomy is a surgical incision into the perineum, the area between the bottom of the vaginal opening and the anus. Q:Reasons to perform a Caesarean section include: A: All of the above. Indications for a C-section include a dangerous drop in the fetal heart rate for many minutes and many (but not all) breech babies. Triplets almost always require a C-section. Q: All pregnant women should avoid: A: Hot tubs. Soaking in a hot tub can make a woman overheat, which may harm a developing fetus. Hot sauce and other spicy foods are fine as long as a woman can tolerate them. And sex is generally considered safe throughout most pregnancies, though women with any complications should check with their doctors.
A: High blood pressure in pregnancy. High blood pressure in pregnancy is often referred to by doctors as preeclampsia.
Pregnancy/Prenatal Care Health Information & Resources
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