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Nutrition in Pregnancy
Group B Streptococcus
Prenatal Diagnosis
Breastfeeding
Flu Vaccine
Common Cold and Upper Respiratory Infections
Dental health during pregnancy
What to Expect

Nutrition in Pregnancy Back to top

  • Recommended weight gain in pregnancy:
    - 25-35 pounds for average-weight women
    - 15-25 pounds for overweight women
    - Less than 15 pounds for obese women
    - 28-40 pounds for underweight women
    - 40-50 pounds for twins
    - 50-60 pounds for triplets
  • Take your prenatal vitamins and DHA (omega 3 fatty acids) daily
  • The Food and Drug Administration has advised pregnant and lactating women not to eat swordfish, king mackerel, shark, and tile fish. Pregnant women may safely eat up to an average of 12 oz. of seafood and fish per week
  • Do not eat/drink unpasteurized milk or cheese
  • Thoroughly cook all meat (beef, chicken and pork)
  • Do not drink alcohol
  • Tri-State Maternal-Fetal Medicine Associates, Inc.

Tri-State Maternal-Fetal Medicine Associates, Inc.

Group B Streptococcus GBSBack to top

  • Is a bacteria that resides in the birth canal and/or perianal region of 30% of healthy women.
  • It is not a sexually transmitted disease.
  • It may be passed to your baby during labor. The chance of your baby being infected is 1 in 200 without intrapartum antibiotics.
  • We follow the Centers for Disease Control and American College of Obstetricians’ and Gynecologists’ recommendations to obtain a vaginal/anal culture for Group B streptococcus in all of our patients between 35 to 37 weeks gestation.
  • You will be notified of the result at your next visit.
  • If you are identified as a Group B streptococcal carrier, you will receive intravenous antibiotics in labor.
  • You will be given antibiotics in labor and not be screened if you have had a previous infant with a Group B streptococcal infection or a prior urinary tract infection with Group B streptococcus.

    Tri-State Maternal-Fetal Medicine Associates, Inc.

Prenatal Diagnosis Back to top

The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) recommends that the following blood tests be offered to all pregnant women. The brochures and consent forms will be given to you at your first prenatal visit. We have Board-certified genetic counselors available for comprehensive consultations.

1. Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Is the virus that causes AIDS

If you have the HIV virus and it is recognized and treated appropriately, the chance of transmission to your baby decreases from around 30% to 1%

2. The available choice for prenatal screening for genetic counseling includes either:

  • A. Early Screen/Nuchal Translucency
    - Performed between 11 2/7 weeks and 13 6/7 weeks
    - Calculates risk of trisomy 21, 18 and 13, utilizing maternal blood and ultrasound measurement of the baby’s neck
    - Detection rate of 90% with a false positive rate of 5%
    - Does not screen for spina bifida. A follow-up maternal serum screen AFP can be drawn after 15 weeks
  • B. Maternal Serum “Quad” Test:
    - This test from the maternal blood measures 4 chemicals used to calculate your risk of spina bifida, Down syndrome (trisomy 21) and trisomy 18
    - The test can be drawn between 15 and 22 weeks
    - The detection rate is 80% for trisomy 21 and trisomy 18. The detection rate for open spina bifida is 85% with a false positive rate of 5%

3. Cystic Fibrosis

  • Is a genetic disorder that causes respiratory and digestion problems, and decreased life expectancy
  • We offer cystic fibrosis testing to all patients considering a pregnancy or who are currently pregnant
  • All babies born in Ohio and Kentucky will be screened routinely for cystic fibrosis while they are in the hospital

Tri-State Maternal-Fetal Medicine Associates, Inc.

Breastfeeding Back to top

We encourage breastfeeding (or pumping) for you and your baby.

  • Baby Benefits
    - Less acute and chronic infections including ear, respiratory, urinary tract and meningitis.
    - Human milk has a protective effect against sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), insulin-dependent diabetes, Crohn’s disease and lymphoma.
    - Less diarrhea and allergic disorders.
    - Enhancement of cognitive development, higher I.Q.

  • Maternal Benefits
    - Decreased risk of premenopausal breast and ovarian cancer.
    - Less osteoporosis.
    - Earlier return to prepregnant weight.
    - It takes an additional 300-kilocalories/day to produce milk.

  • There are TriHealth lactation consultants available during your
    postpartum stay.
  • TriHealth offers a breastfeeding class that you can attend.
  • There is a breastmilk donor bank available for the premature infant of the mother who is unable to produce breastmilk

Tri-State Maternal-Fetal Medicine Associates, Inc.

Flu Vaccine Back to top

  • The Center for Disease Control (CDC), American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Cincinnati Health Department recommend that all women who are pregnant during influenza season (December-March) receive the flu vaccine.
  • Healthy women in their 2nd or 3rd trimesters of pregnancy have been found to be at higher risk of complications from influenza than nonpregnant women.
  • You may obtain the flu vaccine at your primary care physician’s office or your pharmacy. We currently do not offer the vaccine in our office.
  • FluMist® (the intranasal influenza vaccine) should not be given to pregnant women.
  • Breastfeeding is not a contraindication for any immunization.
  • Traditionally, the Health Department and the hospitals in the Tri-State area have restricted all children under the age of 14 from visitation during flu season.

Tri-State Maternal-Fetal Medicine Associates, Inc.

Common Cold and Upper Respiratory Infections Back to top

Common symptoms include nasal and sinus congestion and/or drainage, sore throat, cough, muscle aches and low-grade fever.

  • Viruses, not bacteria, cause the vast majority of infections; therefore, antibiotics will not be effective.
  • Over the counter medications that may be safely used during your pregnancy:

    A. Nonproductive cough A. All cough syrups and drops; Dextromethorphan/Robitussin
    B. Productive cough B. Guaifenesin/Mucinex®
    C. Sinus congestion C. Pseudoephedrine/Sudafed, menthol/Vicks®, nasal strips Breathe Right®
    D. Sinus drainage D. Diphenhydramine/Benadryl®
    E. Headache E. Acetaminophen/Tylenol
    F. Sore throat F. Any throat lozenges

* If you have high blood pressure, please DO NOT take pseudoephedrine *

Tri-State Maternal-Fetal Medicine Associates, Inc.

Dental health during pregnancy: Back to top

  • Dental Health During Pregnancy:
  • Chronic oral infections such as periodontal disease may contribute to:
    - Preeclampsia
    - Preterm labor and delivery
    - Fetal growth restriction
  • Chronic gingivitis causes increases in bacterial products and inflammatory mediators that may affect placental function.
  • Routine dental procedures such as cleaning, scaling, polishing and local anesthesia are safe throughout pregnancy.
  • We recommend daily, at home dental care, including flossing, and to maintain (or initiate) your dental hygiene appointments every six months during your pregnancy.

Tri-State Maternal-Fetal Medicine Associates, Inc.

What to Expect: Back to top


Your Newborn’s Stay in the Hospital

  • Your baby will be examined daily by your pediatrician or by TriHealth pediatricians and the results will be discussed with you.
  • Universal newborn hearing screening.
  • Vitamin-K injection to prevent bleeding complications.
  • Ohio Universal Newborn Blood Screening at 24 hours of age for a total of 30 conditions is screened in your newborn by a heel-stick blood draw. A sample of conditions tested for are:

    - PKU (phenylketonuria)
    - hypothyroidism
    - sickle cell anemia/trait
    - galactosemia
    - congenital adrenal hyperplasia
    - homocystinuria
    - cystic fibrosis

Tri-State Maternal-Fetal Medicine Associates, Inc.