Pregnancy

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During your pregnancy, you will have many questions about your own health care and the health of your baby. MedStar Health obstetricians are available to answer your questions and provide you with support and high-quality care.

Trimesters

Now that you're pregnant, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the changes your body will go through and how your baby will develop. A full-term pregnancy is considered 40 weeks long. Your doctor calculates your due date from your last menstrual period, which means the first two weeks of your pregnancy includes the time of your period, ovulation, and fertilization.

Weeks 1 to 13: The First Trimester. During this time, your body undergoes many changes, most of which will be temporary. As your body adjusts to the growing baby, you may experience nausea, fatigue, backaches, mood swings, and stress.
Weeks 14 to 26: The Second Trimester. The aches and pains experienced during the first trimester may continue, but most women find the second trimester a bit easier. Your abdomen will expand as you gain weight and the baby grows. You may experience pain in your abdomen, groin, and thighs. You may get stretch marks or acne.
Weeks 27 to 40: The Third Trimester. You are almost there! During this last trimester, your ankles, fingers, and face may swell. You may also experience difficulty breathing. This is normal as the baby is getting bigger and putting more pressure on your organs.

Pregnancy care and support

Pregnancy is an exciting time in your life. Your body will be going through many changes in the next few months, and regular prenatal check-ups are important to your health and the health of your baby. MedStar Health hospitals offer complete pregnancy care, from the first visit to delivery and postpartum care.

Even though prenatal check-ups and labor and delivery are routine for us, we know they are not routine for you. Our skilled staff will be there for you throughout your entire pregnancy, ready to answer your questions and help you navigate the world of prenatal care and testing.

When your delivery date arrives, our state-of-the art labor and delivery suites are ready for you. If your newborn baby requires extra care and support, we have a Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.