AskMeDoctor! Season 6 Episode 1 | First-Time Mama: What to Expect

Becoming a first-time mother is a life-changing experience that comes with its own set of challenges and uncertainties. From pregnancy to childbirth and beyond, the journey can be overwhelming, exciting, and emotional all at the same time. As a new mum, you may have a million questions running through your mind about what to expect during this new phase of life. In this episode of AskMeDoctor!, we interviewed Dr Nicholas Lim, an Obstetrics and Gynaecology consultant from Columbia Asia Hospital, to help answer some burning questions first time mums may have about their first pregnancy. Q1. What are some of the things they need to be aware of in their first pregnancy? First-time pregnancies can be overwhelming. It’s important to understand the changes you might experience and how to take care of yourself during this exciting time. Firstly, your hormones during pregnancy will not only result in changes to your body like developing a baby bump, experiencing fatigue and discomfort in some parts of your body. They may also cause you to be emotional and have frequent mood swings. But the joy of having a baby outweighs all these inconveniences so do embrace and enjoy every moment that you can! Once you know you’re pregnant, it’s important to plan your prenatal visits. While there is no set time for check-ups, I strongly advise first-time mothers to come in early once your home test results shows positive, to check for viability, ensure that it’s not an ectopic pregnancy, and to so we can do a dating scan. This also allows your O&G to monitor your baby's growth and development, and also to check for any potential health concerns for mum and baby. In your early stage of pregnancy, it is important to start a pregnancy checklist too, so you don’t miss out on things or wait until the last minute. Things like: Q2. Do pregnancies get easier with each subsequent pregnancy? Every pregnancy is different. For most mums, being pregnant a second or subsequent time can be easier than the first. Having experienced it before, you'll be better equipped to know how to look after yourself. However, it may also be more challenging to manage multiple kids and the household. Q3. How does diet affect pregnancy? Eating a balanced diet is important because the body needs more nutrients than it used to. Choose foods that are high in fibre and enriched, opt for healthy proteins and make sure you are getting enough vitamins and minerals in your daily diet while pregnant. Poor diets lacking in key nutrients such as iodine, iron, folate, calcium, and zinc during pregnancy can cause anaemia, pre-eclampsia, haemorrhage, and death in mothers. They can also lead to stillbirth, low birthweight, prematurity, and developmental delays in children. Q4. What pregnancy symptoms are normal and what isn’t? Normal symptoms include mild swelling such as puffiness in the face, hands, legs, feet, and ankles. Stomach problems is also a common one often resulting in nausea and vomiting, heartburn, gas, and bloating. Mild aches and pains, backaches or leg cramps at night. Bathroom issues such as frequent urination, leaky bladder, constipation, or haemorrhoids. Changes in the mouth, swollen gums that may bleed easily. Breathing issues such as stuffy nose and shortness of breath. Skin changes such as brown spots on the face, stretch marks, or varicose veins. However, some symptoms can point to potential problems with the pregnancy. They are usually signs to call your doctor immediately. Signs of preterm labour such vaginal bleeding or spotting, unusual fluid discharge, lower abdominal cramping, lower back pain, or regular tightening of the abdomen (contractions) that don’t go away. Urination problems such as pain or burning when you urinate, especially if you have a fever. Sudden or excessive swelling. Watch for unusual swelling in the face or fingers. Severe pain, this includes bad headaches and strong stomach pain or cramps or mid-back pain. Unusual rash, fever, dizziness, severe nausea or vomiting, or any higher-than-normal temperature, which could harm your baby. Pelvic pressure, this could be normal or not. Call your doctor to be sure. Q5. What should we expect during labour? While each labour and birth is unique, the process of a vaginal delivery follows four stages: A vaginal birth is usually the safest way for your baby to be born. But sometimes health problems or pregnancy complications might make a caesarean the safest option for giving birth. Even if you’re planning a vaginal birth, it’s good to find out about giving birth via caesarean. You might need a planned caesarean for medical reasons like placenta praevia, baby breech, etc. Unplanned (emergency) caesareans can also happen when there are problems in pregnancy or during labour. Q6. What are the best ways to reduce my baby’s risk of a birth defect and developmental delays? While there is no 100% guarantee to be free of a birth defect, some of the ways you can reduce it are: Birth defects cannot always be prevented, but there are many aspects of prenatal care that can protect your unborn baby just like doctor has mentioned. If your baby does have a birth defect or foetal condition, be assured that many treatments are now available that have revolutionised and affected baby’s ability to survive and thrive after birth. You might feel overwhelmed and unprepared. But you're not alone, and many people and resources are available to help you and your child. Q7. Any final advice for Mamas’ managing their first pregnancies? To all our expectant mums out there, my advice is: take care of diet exercise regularly get enough rest make a birth plan (and be prepared for any changes) go shopping early, don’t wait until the last minute when you’re ready to pop! and most importantly, enjoy your pregnancy! Having the right support during pregnancy and labour is important during this life-changing time. Pregnancy can be a physical and emotional rollercoaster, and for some of us, it can feel like the longest nine months of our lives. Hence, getting the right support to meet our physical and mental health needs is important for us and our newborn babies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v2oa0bo5O0bA Protect Your Child with PRUMy Child Plus Prudential believes that new mamas deserve the right support during childbirth. That’s why PRUMY Child plus is designed for all mums and babies out there, providing comprehensive protection starting from 13 weeks of pregnancy and continues to cover your child until the age of 100! Coverage includes pregnancy complications, emergency caesarean, congenital conditions up to age 7, and child developmental disorders up to age 7. To learn more about how you and your baby can get protected with PRUMy Child Plus or to schedule an appointment with a Prudential wealth planner, please visit this link. Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice from Motherhood. For any health-related concerns, it is advisable to consult with a qualified healthcare professional or medical practitioner. For more insightful stories and fun recipes, stay tuned to Motherhood Story!

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