D. A & C
Pregnancy last 9 calendar months, 10 lunar months, 266 days from the date of conception or 280 days from your last period. All of this winds up being fairly irrelavant, because babies generally come when they are ready. Approximately 95% of babies will be born two before or two weeks after their "expected due date."
2. Nutrition in pregnancy is:
C. Very important, make what you eat count.
Contrary to popular belief, you are not eating for two, nor are you using vitamins as a sole source of nutrients. It is important to get a variety of foods, including protein (about 80-100 grams per day), and yet, you only need between 300-500 extra calories be day during pregnancy.
3. Ultrasound is:
B. Recommended only if complications arise.
The American College of OB/GYNs says that the long term effects of ultrasound, if any, are not known, and therefore we should use ultrasound only for specific indications. Routine ultrasound does not help reduce the number of birth defects or significantly improve outcomes.
4. Sex during pregnancy is:
A. Allowed at any point, following only a few small precautions.
Pregnancy is definately a time when sexual relationships change. There may be more sex than every, less frequency, but more enjoyment, more sensuuality, freedom from birth control or conception trials. The one thing that is important is communication. Between partners it is especially important to discuss your needs and desires. With your care provider it is important to see what restrictions, if any are needed. The most common restrictions are: no sexual activity if you are bleeding, suspect that your water has broken, have a history of preterm labor, have an active sexually transmitted disease, or do not feel like having sex.
5. Labor is:
A. Good for the baby.
Believe it or not, labor is great for babies! Labor helps prepare them for extrauterine life. It causes certain chemical changes in their bodies that will aid them in making this change and the stimulation prepares them for breathing, also helping to expel mucous and water in their mouth, nose and lungs. Even in the case of a cesarean section, laboring beforehand should not be looked at as a waste of time, but rather of great benefit for the baby. Labor also has benefits for the mother, so take a childbirth class and discover what you probably didn't know.
6. Labor medications are:
D. All of the above.
Labor medications are in wide spread use in the United States and a few other countries. There are popular myths that drugs do not cross the placenta, affect the mother, the baby or labor, and these are all false assumptions. Definately there are times when medications are of benefit, but this should be on an as needed basis. It is very difficult to predict ahead of time, even if you have previously had a baby, what your labor will be like. Another myth is that medications will remove all of your pain. This is not so, even the epidural at it's highest doseage will leave you with pulling and pressure sensations. This can lead to an increase in stress, even though pain may be decreased. So learn all of your options and make the decision that is best for you when the time comes.
7. Childbirth classes are:
B. Medically proven to help during labor and birth.
Childbirth classes are a great idea, even for those who have been there before. It has been proven to help reduce fear (which is not conducive to relaxation), prepare you for what to expect and for the not so expected. Although, they cannot garantee you that you will have a short and easy labor, so be vary of the ones that try to promise such things.
8. A doula is:
D. A & C.
A doula is professional labor support. She has been shown to help reduce the cesarean rates by 50%, as well as lowering other intervention rates. This is someone to help you and your partner through labor.
9. The cesarean rate for the United States is?
C. Around 25%
In the US the cesarean is around 24.7% and in some places rising. There are many professionals who believe that the cesarean rates are too high. Although we are also seeing a reduction in repeat cesareans as the vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) is proven to be safer for most and more popular.
10. Forceps are:
