First Choice

Ob Gyn

tel: (201) 441-9300

Call: (201) 441-9300

1115 Clifton Avenue Suite 104 Clifton NJ, 07013

Business hours on Thursday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM

True Labor Symptoms

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True Labor Symptoms

 

True Labor Symptoms

If you are pregnant, one of your first concerns might be what labor and delivery are like. Here is the some true labor

This information will help answer the most common questions about true labor symptoms.

Spotting 

This red flag usually occurs during 37 to 40 weeks of gestation. If spotting is present you should call the office of FirstChoice ObGyn, LLC at 201-441-9300 and make an appointment so that you and Dr. Copur can consider the next step. However, if a large amount of blood is present, this may be a sign of complication with your pregnancy and should be addressed immediately with the most recent available appointment. If the office is closed during the time of your emergency, any pregnant patient who is 18 weeks or less into their gestation will go to the Emergency Room and any patient who is greater than 18 weeks into their gestation will see their way to the Labor & Delivery Department. 

Pink/Brown Vaginal Discharge 

Discharge is considered the fluid that is expelled from the vagina to carry away bacteria that may cause infection. In this case, your pregnant and let’s face it with all the hormonal changes going on in your body you are very prone to strange things growing; like bacteria for example. The presence of pinkish/brownish discharge is one way of knowing your vagina is doing it’s job to keep you and your baby safe from infection. It could also mean the first sign of infection. For this case you would want to make an appointment with Dr. Copur, and if necessary, a specimen will be collected from the vagina to analyze for any growing culture of bacteria that needs to be treated. 

 Losing Mucus Plug  

Also known as “the bloody show”, this ring of mucus protection will drop from the cervical opening usually with just a short time frame away from the beginning of your labor. This mucus plug is stationed at the cervical opening to protect your baby from bad bacteria and ultimately from infection. Any new findings you have related with your pregnancy should be reported to Dr. Copur during your next prenatal visit. You can differentiate this mucus plug from regular discharge because it will be very thick and compact. Perhaps get the hospital bags ready because labor and delivery could be just a short 72 hours away. 

 Amniotic Sac Ruptures 

Everyone knows that if your water breaks, your baby is just minutes away from coming into this world. Well, that’s not always the case. After your water breaking labor can take up to 12 hours or more before actually delivering your little bundle of joy. It is however important that you report to the hospital as soon as possible to prepare for labor. Leaving your baby exposed with no amniotic fluid to protect him or her increases the risk of infection. 

 Thinning and Dilating Cervix 

Your cervix will go from 3-4 centimeters to 10 full centimeters. The doctor will do a vaginal exam to estimate the length of your dilating cervix and feel the thinning of your cervix as well. This stretching, thinning, and dilating are preparations your cervix needs to fulfill in order to move to the next step which is labor. 

 True Contractions VS Braxtion Hicks 

Braxton Hicks contractions are known for their pranks. If your contractions aren’t happening every 10 minutes, for a continuous amount of time despite your physical activity, then they’re most likely Braxton Hicks. “True” contractions are continuous and will remain during and after labor. False runs to the hospital are not to be shunned. There’s no shame in practicing. 

Preterm Labor 

If you’re less than 36 weeks and are experiencing any early signs of labor than report to Dr. Copur immediately for there may be serious risk for you and your baby. Call the office of First Choice ObGyn at 201-441-9300 to make the next available appointment possible. 

For more information, please click on the link below.

http://www.acog.org/~/media/For%20Patients/faq004.pdf

Dealing With Morning Sickness

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For many women, the toughest part of early pregnancy is morning sickness. If you are suffering from nausea, vomiting, or both, you need safe measures that will bring you some relief. Your best course of action for managing morning sickness is home treatment. By following a few proven guidelines, you are likely to gain significant relief from nausea and vomiting. Home treatment measures for morning sickness include:

  • Changing what, when, and how much you eat.
  • Taking ginger, vitamin B6, or vitamin B12, which may reduce nausea and/or vomiting during pregnancy.
  • Avoiding foods and smells that make you feel sick.
  • Trying acupressure, which seems to work for some women.
  • Taking doxylamine with vitamin B6, which you can buy without a prescription. Talk to your doctor before taking this remedy.

If you have severe, persistent nausea and vomiting, see your doctor or nurse-midwife immediately. This uncommon complication of pregnancy can lead to dehydration and malnutrition, sometimes requiring prescribed medicine or hospitalization.

What is morning sickness? 

Morning sickness can range from mild, occasional nausea to severe, continuous, disabling nausea with bouts of vomiting. Symptoms may be worse in the morning, though they can strike at any time of the day or night.
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What can you do to have a healthy pregnancy?

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What can you do to have a healthy pregnancy?

You may be happy and excited to find out that you’re pregnant. And you may be a little nervous or worried. If this will be your first child, you may even feel overwhelmed by all of the things you need to know about having a baby. There is a lot to learn. But you don’t have to know everything right away. You can read all about pregnancy now, or you can learn about each stage as your pregnancy goes on.

Pregnancy is measured in trimesters from the first day of your last menstrual period, totaling 40 weeks. But a full-term pregnancy can deliver between 37 weeks and 42 weeks.

During your pregnancy, you’ll have tests to watch for certain problems that could occur. With all the tests you’ll have, you may worry that something will go wrong. But most women have healthy pregnancies. If there is a problem, these tests can find it early so that you and your doctor or midwife can treat it or watch it to help improve your chance of having a healthy baby.Taking great care of yourself is the best thing you can do for yourself and your baby. Everything healthy that you do for your body helps your growing baby.
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Labor and Delivery

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What is labor and delivery?

At the end of the third trimester of pregnancy, your body will begin to show signs that it is time for your baby to be born. The process that leads to the birth of your baby is called labor and delivery. Every labor and delivery includes certain stages, but each birth is unique. Even if you have had a baby before, the next time will be different.
Giving birth to a baby is hard work. It can also be scary, thrilling, and unpredictable. Learning all you can ahead of time will help you be ready when your time comes.

What are the stages of labor?

There are three stages of labor. The first stage includes early labor and active labor. The second stage lasts through the birth, with the baby traveling down and out of the birth canal. The third stage is after the birth, when the placenta is delivered.

Stage one. The muscles of the uterus start to tighten (contract) and then relax. These contractions help to thin (efface) and open (dilate) the cervix so the baby can pass through the birth canal.
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