Healthy beginnings: giving your baby the best start, from preconception to birth

277 Pages·2009·47.063 MB·English

by  Schuurmans, Nan;Senikas, Vyta;Lalonde, André

Principal Author: Nan Schuurmans, MD, FRCSC; Edmonton, AB

Editor: Jennifer Blake, MD, FRCSC; Chief Executive Offi cer, SOGC; Ottawa, ON
Copyright © 2017 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.
Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.
Fourth edition copyright © 2009 by John Wiley & Sons Canada Ltd. (ISBN 9780470160244)
Published simultaneously in Canada.
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Contents
Acknowledgements vii Keep track of your monthly cycle 15
Foreword ix What if I am using the “pill,” the
“patch,” or the “ring”? 16
About the SOGC and the authors x
What about other forms of birth control? 16
Chapter One Let’s talk about nutrition 17
Planning a healthy pregnancy 1 Guidelines from Health Canada 22
It all begins with an egg 3 Foods to limit or avoid during
pregnancy 23
How your body supports new life 4
Other important nutrients 25
Visit your health care provider before
you get pregnant 5 Nutrition tracking 32
Learn about pregnancy 6 Vegetarian diets 33
Pregnancy and the environment 8 Exercise 33
Your medical history 10 Workplace 34
Are you at your healthy weight? 10 Smoking 34
Medicines and pregnancy 12 Alcohol 36
Immunizations and infections 13 Cannabis 37
Lifestyle and sexual history 13 Other drugs 38
If you have been pregnant before 14 My pregnancy journal 39
Chapter Two
Off to a great start: the first trimester 41
Your changing body 43
Your growing baby 44
Choosing a health care provider 44
How often should I expect to visit
my health care provider? 45
Your first prenatal visit 46
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About weight gain 46 Common discomforts in early
pregnancy 71
About vitamin supplements 48
Diabetes 76
Discussing your pregnancy 49
Your emotions during pregnancy 78
Our heritage and our health 50
Abuse during pregnancy 80
You are expecting twins . . . or more! 51
Miscarriages do happen 82
Prenatal classes and preparing
My pregnancy journal 84
for birth 51
Travel during pregnancy 52
Sex during pregnancy 54 Chapter Three
Exercise during pregnancy 55 Gentle growth: the second trimester 87
Rules to follow when you exercise 57 Your changing body 89
Kegel exercises strengthen your core Your growing baby 90
and pelvic floor muscles 59 About fetal movement 91
What are these tests for? 59 Weight gain during the second
trimester 91
Genetic screening 61
About work 91
Tests that check your baby’s health
before birth 62 Common discomforts during the
second trimester 92
Infectious diseases to be aware of
in pregnancy 67 When there are complications in
the second trimester 96
About dental health 71
Preterm labour 99
Labour and checking for preterm labour 102
Preterm babies 102
My pregnancy journal 104
Chapter Four
The home stretch: the third trimester 107
Your changing body 109
Your growing baby 110
Your prenatal care 110
iv
When there are complications in
Special Breathing 153

the third trimester 112

Body positions during labour and birth 158

What to expect during labour and birth 114

Hydrotherapy 159

Writing your birth plan 116

Using your voice during labour 160

Common things included in a birth plan 117

Transcutaneous electric nerve

Feeding your baby 124

stimulation (TENS) 160

Breastfeeding—the natural and

Using medication for pain relief 161

healthy way to feed your baby 126

Breastfeeding myths—true and false 127
The second stage of labour 162

My pregnancy journal 131
Making room for the birth 164

My pregnancy journal 132
The third stage of labour 165

After the birth 166

The fourth stage of labour 167

Chapter Five
Bonding with your baby 167

Getting ready for baby’s birth 135

Apgar score 168

Your changing body 136

Medical help during labour and birth 169

Your baby at full term 137

Postpartum hemorrhage 174

Common discomforts in late pregnancy 138

Overdue babies 139
How long will you stay in hospital

or birthing centre? 174

My pregnancy journal 142

If things do not happen as you

planned . . . 176

Saying goodbye to a baby 177

Chapter Six
Your time is here 145
My baby’s journal 179

When labour begins 146

The importance of labour support 148

Chapter Seven
The stages of labour 150

Taking care of yourself 181

The first stage of labour 150

Your changing body after the birth 182

Medication-free ways to make labour

easier 153
The baby blues 183

v
Normal vaginal discharge 184 Newborn care 211
Having sex again 185 Sleeping in a safe environment 218
Common discomforts after giving Feeding your baby 219
birth 186
Breastfeeding 220
Your body shape after pregnancy 189
Breastfeeding positions 222
Menstrual periods 190
How to get started 224
Birth control choices 190
Breastfeeding tips 226
If you have completed your family—
Expressing breast milk 227
sterilization 194
Common breastfeeding problems 228
My personal journal 195
Spitting up (reflux) 232
Why babies cry 233
What about soothers (pacifiers)? 236
Chapter Eight
Taking care of your newborn 197 Parenting classes 237
First impressions of your baby 198
How to handle your baby safely 199 Chapter Nine
What to expect at your baby’s first Finding help 239
check-up 204
Key resources and services 240
Getting your baby immunized 205
Other reading 249
Vaccination questions and answers 207
Labour action list 251
Jaundice (yellowish skin and eyes) 207
Index 255
Circumcision 209
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Acknowledgements
Healthy Beginnings: Giving your baby the best start, from preconception
to birth, fifth edition, is based on the Society of Obstetricians and
Gynaecologists’ clinical practice guidelines.
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada would like
to thank the following organizations and individuals for sharing their
experience and knowledge:
Best Start Resource Centre
Canadian Paediatric Society
Central South West Reproductive Health Working Group
Champlain Maternal Newborn Regional Program: Christina Cantin, RN,
MScN, PNC(C), Perinatal Consultant
Kathy Chan, RN, BScN, IBCLC, Public Health Nurse
City of Hamilton Public Health Department, Family Health Division—
Breastfeeding Resource Team: Dana Haas, RN, BScN, IBCLC, Public
Health Nurse/Lactation Consultant
Jocelynn Cook, PhD
E. Laura Cruz, MD, CCFP(SEM), Dip. Sport Med
Dad Central Ontario: Brian Russell, Provincial Coordinator
Fraser Health, British Columbia: Sidney Harper, Baby Friendly Initiative
Lead
Susan Gallagher, RN, BScN, Public Health Nurse
Edna Marie Grajales, RN, BScN, Public Health Nurse
Édith Guilbert, MD, MSc, FCFP
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health: Jessica Richardson, Registered
Dietitian
Immunize Canada: Lucie Marisa Bucci, Senior Manager
Jennifer Jocko, MD, FRCSC
KFL&A Public Health: Darlene Johnson, Public Health Nurse
Marg La Salle, RN, BScN, IBCLC, CCHN and BFI lead assessor
Lisa Morgan, RM, MA, PhD (candidate)
Motherisk Program
Jack Newman, MD
Ontario Public Health Association’s (OPHA) Reproductive Health
Workgroup
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Ontario Society of Nutrition Professionals in Public Health (OSNPPH)
Andrea Page’s Original Fitmom
Parachute: Pamela Fuselli, VP, Knowledge Transfer & Stakeholder
Relations
Physical Activity Resource Centre (PARC), managed by Ophea
Provincial Council for Maternal and Child Health—Maternal Newborn
Advisory Committee
Matthuschka Sheedy, RN, BNSc, ICCE
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit: Becky Blair, RD
St. Joseph’s Health Centre: Alice Ordean, MD, CCFP, MHSc, FCFP, DABAM,
Associate Professor, Department of Family & Community Medicine;
Medical Director, Toronto Centre for Substance Use in Pregnancy
Swati Scott, RD, IBCLC
Toronto Public Health: Catriona Mill, RN, MHSc, CCHN(c), Chair, OPHA
Reproductive Health Workgroup & Health Promotion Specialist
University of Ottawa Heart Institute: Andrew Pipe, CM, MD, LLD(Hon),
DSc(Hon), Chief, Division of Prevention & Rehabilitation
Evelyn Vaccari, MHSc, RD, Consultant Nutrition Promotion
Sandra Walker, SSW, BSW
R. Douglas Wilson, MD, MSc
Special thanks to all who have contributed on previous editions of this
publication and a special acknowledgement to Vyta Senikas, MDCM, FRCSC,
and André B. Lalonde, MD, FRCSC.
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