Free What to expect when you're expecting by Heidi Murkoff, Sharon Mazel Page B

yourself. Ask for an opinion on what you’ve heard—not in a challenging way, just so you can get your facts straight.
If you suspect that your practitioner may be mistaken about something (for example, okaying intercourse when you have a history of incompetent cervix), speak up. You can’t assume that he or she, even with your chart in hand, will always remember every aspect of your medical and personal history. As a partner in your own health care, and one who knows your body like the back of your hand (and then some), you share the responsibility of making sure mistakes aren’t made.
Ask for explanations. Find out what the potential side effects of a prescribed medication are, and whether there’s a nondrug alternative. Be sure you know why a test is ordered, what it will involve, what its risks are, and how and when you’ll learn the results.
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    So You Won’t Forget

    Because there’ll be times when you’ll want to do a little writing with your reading, jot down a symptom so you can share it with your doctor, make a note of this week’s weight so you can compare it to next week’s, record what needs recording so you’ll remember what needs remembering—you’ll find plenty of space in the
The What to Expect Pregnancy Journal and Organizer
for all your note taking.
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Put it in writing. If you find your practitioner doesn’t seem to have time to respond to all your questions or concerns, try providing a written list. If it isn’t possible for you to get a complete response at the visit, ask if you can get the answers you need through a follow-up phone call or e-mail or a longer visit next time.
Follow your practitioner’s recommendations on appointment schedules, weight gain, bed rest, exercise, medication, vitamins, and so on, unless you have a good reason why you feel you shouldn’t or can’t (in which case, talk it over with your practitioner before you follow your instincts instead).
Remember that good self-care is a vital component in good prenatal care. So take the best care of yourself that you can, getting enough rest and exercise, eating well, and steering clear of alcohol, tobacco, and other nonprescribed drugs and medications once you find out you’re pregnant, or better still, once you start trying to conceive.
If you have a gripe about anything—from regularly being kept waiting too long to not getting answers to your questions—speak up, in as nice a way as possible. Letting a problem fester can get in the way of a productive practitioner-patient relationship.
Insurance companies often serve as mediators between patient and practitioner when there is a conflict or complaint. If you have a problem with your practitioner that good communication isn’t solving, contact your health organization for help.
    If you feel you can’t follow your practitioner’s instructions or go along with a recommended course of treatment, it might be because you’re just not on board with the person you’ve chosen to care for you and your baby during your pregnancy, labor, and delivery. In such a case—or if, for some other reason, your relationship with your practitioner just isn’t working—consider looking for a replacement (assuming that’s financially feasible and your medical plan permits it).

CHAPTER 3

Your Pregnancy Profile

    T HE TEST RESULTS ARE BACK ; the news has (sort of) sunk in: You’re having a baby! Excitement is growing (along with that uterus of yours), and so is your list of questions. Many, no doubt, have to do with those wild and crazy symptoms you might already be experiencing (more on those later). But many others may have to do with your personal pregnancy profile. What’s a pregnancy profile? It’s a compilation of your gynecological, general medical, and obstetrical (if you’re not a first timer) histories—in other words, your pregnancy backstory. You’ll be discussing this backstory (which can actually have a lot of impact on the pregnancy story that’s about