When a woman becomes pregnant, she has a million questions immediately running through her mind. What should she do? What prenatal vitamin should she take? What she can or can not eat and drink? It seems like there are a million things that you never knew before. Sure, a quick google search could probably answer every question you ever had, but you may not like the answer, and google is notorious for making any little molehill a huge mountain.

Any and all questions are definitely better left for the medical professionals in your birthing team. Whether a family doctor, an OB or even your midwife, it really is better to ask them your burning questions. As annoying as you may think you are with all the questions you have, don’t feel embarrassed, you are not the first anxious pregnant women they have had walk into their office.

Here at Babygaga we aim to please, so we scoured to find the most FAQ (frequently asked questions) that medical professionals face from expecting women and their partners. Some of them you may know the answer too, and some may shock you that some women don’t know these things. We all have to remember that everyone has received different levels of education, dependant on where they grew up and went to school. I like to say that common sense is common to no one, as it is very subjective.

So, if you are expecting and want to know some frequently asked questions, sit back and enjoy. If you have a friend or family member that is expecting and you want to help them out steer them our way! We may surprise you!

20 What Are The Earliest Pregnancy Symptoms?

This is probably the most commonly asked question, and one that may be asked before the baby is even conceived. Women who are anxious to start their family will be patiently (or not so patiently) waiting for those two pink lines, so they likely will already be ‘harassing’ their doctor with what is the earliest symptom of pregnancy so they can know even sooner.

The hard thing is that there is no white or black answer to this question, as every woman and every pregnancy is different. Some women experience little to no of the ‘normal’ early pregnancy symptoms, such as; headaches, extreme fatigue and nausea. The best and most likely answer you are going to get from your medical team is to wait for a missed menstrual cycle, or test 14-days after intercourse.

19 When Is My Baby Due?

This is another question that seems to immediately pop into the heads of a woman when she finds out she is expecting. She wants to know the date she can expect to meet her little bundle of joy. While a doctor may be able to make a really educated guess, you may never know the exact date your little one is due.

Doctors will most likely use one of two methods (or possibly both) they will calculate weeks since the first date of your last menstrual cycle. If a woman is irregular with their cycles this can be quite difficult, so the doctor will likely turn to a dating ultrasound. This is probably the most accurate way to determine a due date, even though it will never be 100% guaranteed. Ultrasounds can be off by 2 weeks. So you could deliver 2 weeks earlier, or 2 weeks after (we hope not).

18 Is It Safe To Do It While Pregnant?

Ah, yes, the time old question, is it safe to have intercourse while expecting. Women (and men) are very curious about getting intimate when they have a baby on the way. Is it safe, will it cause me to miscarry, and will it hurt the baby are the most common concerns when talking about pregnancy and the deed. Doctors get asked this question almost every other day from a nervous mom-to-be and their answer is always (usually) the same.

YES! As long as there are no concerns with a woman’s pregnancy, she can continue an active sex life with her husband. It will not cause a miscarriage and it definitely will not harm the baby. The only time the doctor may advise you to not have sex, is if you are further along and are at risk for preterm labour, or if you suffer from placenta previa (when the placenta is too close to the cervix), and of course if you experience any vaginal bleeding.

17 What Should I Expect From My First Doctor’s Visit?

The beginning of a pregnancy can often also mean the beginning of many doctor’s visits. While it can be a pain, it is essential to ensure that a mom received the appropriate prenatal care to ensure the health of herself and her little bean. Some women can get pretty anxious before their first doctor’s visit as they do not know what to expect. They may ask this question to the receptionist when they call to book that first appointment.

There are some things that will happen at that first visit, but we’ve got you covered here. You will most likely have blood and urine tests done to confirm the pregnancy. The doctor will go over a pretty detailed medical history review. They will also do a pretty generic physical health exam; they will check your weight, blood pressure, heart and other organs. They may run a few other tests to check for any infections that you may be fighting. Most importantly, this is the time to ask any and all questions you may have. A good tip is to make a list of questions you want to ask before hand so you don’t forget anything. It can be very overwhelming.

16 Are Prenatal Vitamins Really That Important?

This one may shock some people as we think that everyone knows that prenatal vitamins are very important. Well, some people do not think they are that important if they already have a healthy lifestyle, and some just don’t want to take any un necessary medications. This is a common question that doctor’s are asked, and they have a simple response; yes, they ARE that important.

Growing another human being is not easy on your body, and you (the mom) need additional vitamins and minerals that you just won’t find in your food. They can be even more important if mom is suffering from some pretty serious morning sickness, as she will not be able to take in as much food and vitamins as normal. Talk to your doctor about finding one that works for you!

15 Why Are My Feet HUGE?

As if a growing belly wasn’t enough, pregnant women will be running to the doctor to ask why the heck their feet are getting so big. This can be extremely difficult in the winter months, when women have to shove their newly-fat feet into tight winter boots. May be a bit easier in the warmer months where a woman can get by with some flip flops or other summer sandals.

Most people would think this is common knowledge when expecting, but it’s not. Especially if a woman did not experience swelling in their first pregnancy. A woman’s feet swell due to all the extra fluids that she is carrying. This can cause a woman’s feet to grow a full size during pregnancy, and the bad news is, sometimes, they do not go back to their normal size after delivery. The bonus is some shoe shopping!

14 Why Is My Skin Changing Colour?

Yup, that’s right, sometimes during pregnancy a woman’s skin colour can change. This does not happen to everyone, as it never happened to me. But, there are women out there who will frequently ask their doctor this question. It may not even be all over skin tone change, instead maybe just a patch of a certain part of the body that has changed colour.

This is called hyperpigmentation, and can you guess what causes this condition? If you think it is the same thing responsible for pretty much all pregnancy symptoms, you are right; it’s those pesky hormones! It’s also not just the skin that can change, the hair and nails are often effected too. Those are usually positive changes, the hair is thicker and grows faster, as do the nails!

13 Why Is Milk Coming Out Of My Boobs Already?

This is one thing that can be very alarming to a pregnant woman, and one that may have her call her OB right away. It is a common question that gets asked, but it is very common. It can be perfectly normal for a woman to leak colostrum during pregnancy. Colustrum is the first milk that comes through after a baby is born, and it is all a baby needs for the first few days.

Most women may experience this in the middle of a warm shower, as the warm water can cause the leak. Others may even experience it in the grocery store when they hear another baby cry. It can be quite concerning for a women who doesn’t know that this can be completely normal, and that it has no effect on a woman’s ability to breastfeed.

12 Why Does Everything Smell Weird?

Ah, yes the heightened sense of smell. Another one that many people think would be common sense, but common sense is not common for everyone. One of the earliest symptoms of pregnancy is a heightened sense of smell. Smells that a woman used to love, suddenly have her running to the bathroom. Even smells she absolutely hates are made ten times worse, which she never though possible.

Some women find this quite concerning, and a lot of them bring up this question at their next prenatal appointment. I have never come across anyone who would say this is anything but normal. In fact, it happens for a very unique and somewhat primal reason. The heightened sense of smell is meant to let women know to avoid certain foods that could harm the growing baby. Pretty cool, eh?

11 Why Can’t I Remember Anything?

Even a woman with the most amazing memory can find herself the victim of pregnancy brain. It can be so alarming that they will frequently ask their healthcare provider if it is normal, and if it is harmful. Pregnancy brain is a phenomenon that is quite common, and to be expected. If you start putting things where they don’t belong, or walk into a room forgetting why you were even in there, don’t worry it is perfectly normal and very, very common.

They say that this is due to the lesser amounts of oxygen that are travelling to a woman’s brain during pregnancy, while others say there is no such thing as pregnancy brain and that all reasoning is nothing more than a myth. Whatever the reasons for it, it happens. The bad news is that it may get worse after the baby is born, where you now have mommy brain, but that is due more to lack of sleep then oxygen.

10 Will I Poop When Delivering My Baby?

This is probably one of the biggest fears a woman has when her labour is approaching, some women even have this fear before they even fall pregnant. This is one of the most frequently asked questions that OB’s receive by expecting mom’s. If a woman does not ask her doctor this, it is probably because she is embarrassed and not because she doesn’t want to know.

The truth is the doctor can not give you a definite yes or no answer to this question, but they will most likely say it probably will happen. They will then quickly tell you not to worry if you do, and that they have all seen it before. This does little usually to ease the woman’s mind, as it just seems so embarrassing and awful. The fact of the matter is the muscles you use to push a baby out are the same muscles you use to have a bowel movement. So, if there is something in there it will most likely come out. Try not to worry, they will clean it up quickly and discreetly and you will most likely never know it happened.

9 How Stretched Will My V Get?

Yup, we worry about our lady parts and how they will change after we give birth. We assume they will stretch the 10 centimeters to get the baby out and then they will just stay that way. The answer is no, and all the doctors and midwives who get asked this question will tell you the same way. While your lady parts will not return to the exact form they were before childbirth, they will not change in a drastic way that will effect you in the long run.

Your vagina has muscle memory, and we were made to stretch to make sure a baby could pass during childbirth and then go right back to the same size. If you want to make for a ‘healthier and stronger’ V area, you can always do Kegel exercises. This is when you squeeze you pelvis like you are holding in urine, hold it and release.

8 Have I Gained Too Much Weight?

It is sometimes a very hard thing for a woman to go through; gaining the pregnancy weight. Some women embrace it and know that it is just a part of growing a little baby. Others can become very insecure about the weight they are gaining, and with so much fat-shaming happening it is easy to see why. They will often as at every prenatal appointment if they have gained too much weight. There is no set ‘right’ amount of weight for a women to carry, but be rest assured that your weight is something that is checked at every single appointment.

The doctor will go over with you any concerns they may have about your weight and don’t be shy to discuss it with your doctor. You can even ask your doctor what kind of exercises you can partake in when pregnant so that you can try and keep any weight gain at a comfortable level for you.

7 Why Am I Peeing Myself?

One of the unfortunate side effects of pregnancy, especially in the third trimester, is women start to not be able to hold in their own urine. This means that doctors and other health care professionals will hear this question quite often from embarrassing moms. It is something that can be quite common, as the baby can put themselves in a pretty awkward position for mom, right on the bladder. This, added with there not being a lot of room in there anyways, can lead to some bladder leakage, While embarrassing, it is usually nothing to worry about.

Women will frequently ask their doctor also if they will continue to pee themselves once the baby is out, as it is a common complaint said by a lot of women who have already had children. While this can happen in the early months post-partum, it usually clears up by 6 months. If it persists, you can speak to your doctor about it again.

6 Is It Normal To Have This Much  Discharge?

Pregnancy hormones can run havoc on a woman’s body when she is expecting, and one other thing they are responsible for is vaginal discharge. This can cause concern among a lot of expecting women and is a frequently asked question that OB’s and midwives alike get asked almost daily. Their answer will most likely always be that it is normal and usually nothing to worry about. There is also more blood flow to the pelvic area which can lead to discharge. I had to wear a pad during some of my pregnancy days to avoid feeling wet and uncomfortable.

There are types of discharge that should be seen by a doctor right away. If you notice a weird smell or colour, it could be the sign of an infection. If it is a steady flow of liquid, it could signal your water has broken.

5 What If I Sleep During Labour?

For any mom reading this who has already had children, they may wonder why on earth women think they will sleep during labour, or why they would ask their healthcare provider this question. The truth is, some women do think that they will be sleeping when labour starts and they will not wake up. This usually has to do when they are talking about their water breaking. That they will not wake up from their water breaking.

Doctors are all pretty much on the same page, that it is possible to sleep through your water breaking. This is because a woman’s water does not normally break with a gush, it is more like a trickle, so it is quite common it could happen at night without waking up mom. However, once those contractions start there is no sleeping through those!

4 Is That The Baby Kicking Or Just Gas?

It is the moment in a women’s pregnancy she has been waiting and waiting for, the first little flutter from her jumping jelly bean. She is pretty sure she felt it, but then wonders if maybe she just got too excited and it actually just gas. Our mind knows how to play the most weird and odd jokes on us, so sometimes we want to feel them so bad that we think we do! This will leave a lot of moms asking their doctor’s if they will know the difference between gas and baby kicks.

There is a pretty good guideline you can follow. If you are before your 16th week of pregnancy, then you can most likely assume it is just gas. Movements are usually felt somewhere between the 16th and 22nd week of pregnancy. Also, wait and see how regular they are, the more regular the feeling the more likely it is that it is the little baby and not the burrito you ate for lunch today.

3 How Can I Avoid Stretch Marks?

This one goes along with all other body-image issues that women struggle with when they are expecting. The appearance of that first stretch mark can have anyone concerned and start running to the drug store to buy any and all supposed stretch mark removing creams. A lot of women will ask their doctor this early on their pregnancy, desperately searching for a way they can avoid getting these marks.

The truth is that 75-90% of women have some stretch marks one some spot of their body. This is a natural occurrence that occurs when a part of the skin is stretched, such as the belly and possibly boobs during pregnancy. The skin has to stretch to accommodate for the growing baby, so until they come up with a way that the belly doesn’t have to stretch to carry a baby women will probably have to deal with stretchmarks. The best advice I can give is to wear them with honour and pride!

2 What Does Labour Feel Like?

Enquiring minds need to know this one; what does labour feel like? Women will ask their mom, their friends and their doctor what labour and contractions feel like. It may seem really odd when a pregnant woman asks her male doctor this question. There is no medical textbook answer for this question, as everyone experiences labour differently, and everyone has different thresholds of pain and tolerance.

They can tell you that contractions feel mostly like intense period cramps and the urge to go to the bathroom. This is exactly how it felt for me, so much that I didn’t think I was in labour for 4 hours and I kept trying to go to the bathroom. I am surprised I didn’t give birth on my toilet. The truth is there is no way for a first time mom to know what it feels like until she goes through it. If we did know before, we may have a population crisis on our hands, as no one would get pregnant.

1 How Soon After I Have My Baby Can I Get It On?

Some people are just more sexually inclined then others, so it may be a common question on peoples minds before they deliver their baby. How long do they have to wait before resuming their regularly scheduled activities? Doctors get this question a lot as a women nears the end of her pregnancy. The recommended time to wait is 6 weeks to give your body a chance to heal and recover from childbirth. You are also susceptible to infections immediately following birth.

Some people may even say that you don’t have to wait the 6 weeks and you can go for it as soon as you feel ready too. Speak to your doctor about birth control options, as it can be very dangerous to conceive so soon after giving birth. You also may want to stock up on some lubrication for that first time, and take it slow and let your body tell you what is right and wrong.

Sources: kidspot.com.au, mom.me/pregnancy, activebeat.com