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Date/Wks Gestation Weight Urinalysis Fundal Height B/P
You may not notice a weight gain the first trimester. Having morning sickness may keep your appetite at bay. Usually by the second trimester m/s ends and you will be able to appreciate eating without visiting the porcelain bowl you may have come very familiar with over the past couple of months. After that, I personally don't feel weight gain is really something that can or should be controlled. All pregnancies are different, and it's not necessary to have a set amount of weight gain that every woman should attain and not pass. I keep tabs because I like to compare and see how different my body was with each pregnancy.
~~URINALYSIS~~
This may be something you want to add to your record if you have had problems with having traces of protein, ketones, or glucose. If this is your first pregnancy, I would suggest keeping these records to see how your body works during pregancy
Protein found in the urine could be the result of impending, or existing toxemia or hypertension. Increasing protein intake and making sure in are drinking plenty of water (64 oz.) daily should help. Here is a link to a site (Brewer's Diet) that gives you more precise instructions on how to deal with such problems by using diet to correct it.
Ketones are found in small amounts in our bodies. If you were to have too much it could be dangerous. Ketones are what your body makes when it burns fat for energy. If you are eating properly, at least 5 to 6 times a day, drinking plenty of water (atleast 64 oz.) daily, and using exercise at a level that is comfortable to you, I don't think there should be much alarm if you lose a little weight. However, this is not a time to think about losing weight. Stay away from strict diets and listen to what your body needs.
Glucose found in the urine could be a warning of pregnancy induced diabetes. You should evaluate your diet and reduce or omit sugars. They are hidden in many things, so read labels.
~~FUNDAL HEIGHT~~
You can start feeling the fundus at about the 12th week. It will be right at the pubic bone. The uterus grows about 1cm a week from weeks 20 to 36. I recommend checking only once a month or when you feel the need. At 20 weeks, the fudus will be at your belly button. Start measuring at this tiime. To measure, lie down on a firm surface, using a simple dress makers tape, measure from the pubic bone to the top of the fundus. The measurement in cm should be the same or close to the the number of gestational weeks you are pregnant. Keep in mind baby positioning could alter the measurement making it seem like you are 32 weeks when you are 28 weeks.
~~BLOOD PRESSURE~~
Blood pressure can be checked a couple of ways. You could use the machines at pharmacies or buy a blood pressure cuff and stethescope and learn how to use it. There are also electronic monitors, but my guess is they would make a dent in your wallet.
To check your blood pressure, first tighten the blood pressure cuff around your foreatm, above the elbow. The cuff should have the word artery on it, and should be directly above the artery on the inside of your arm. Using the stethescope, put the bell of the instrument on the inside of your arm, below artery. Pump the cuff upo above 140, and then slowly release the air using the valve screw. Your systolic (top) reading will be the number the needle points at when your first hear the heart beat. The diastolic pressure (bottom) reading is the number at which you hear the heart beat the last time before it disappears. About normal is 120/80. But your normal could be different.
Any drastic shifts in pressure could be a warning for hypertenson or toxemia. Check out the Brewer's Diet.
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