Week 12

What’s happening this week

You...

are approaching the end of the first trimester
may see a slight bump, although some women don’t have one till four or five months
could find yourself craving certain foods
may go off other foods
may have a ‘dating’ ultrasound scan around now, although this varies in different parts of the country.

Your baby...

now measures about the length of your thumb
now looks like a baby although the head is still large compared to the rest of the body
has fully formed fingers and toes and all internal organs are developed
is kicking and stretching.

You may have your 'booking-in' visit this week. Your LMC will wnat you to have blood tests if they have not already been done. Take someone with you if you have a problem with giving blood or with needles. It's a good time to start thinking aheadabout how you'll be cared for throughout your pregnancy.

Who will be your Lead Maternity Carer (LMC)?

Your GP (general practitioner) is your family doctor. Midwives provide care during pregnancy, labour and after delivery. They are expert at recognising problems when they occur and will refer you on to a consultant or other health care staff, when appropriate. An obstetrician is a doctor who specialises in pregnancy and birth; usually based in hospitals, obstetricians get involved in pregnancies or labours which need special care.

General Practitioner Care

You may choose your family doctor to care for you throughout your pregnancy, labour and after your baby is born.

Hospital-Based Pregnancy Care

The hospital team of midwives, specialist obstetricians, and doctors work together to look after you throughout :

your pregnancy
your labour and birth at the hospital
your stay in hospital

Hospital Continuity of Care

This care is provided by a group of hospital midwives for women who are expected to require normal care. The midwives will provide the care through pregnancy, birth and afterwards, both in hospital and at home. The team has access to specialist obstetricians should consultation be required.

Specialist Obstetric Care

You may choose to have private specialist care throughout your pregnancy, birth and afterwards. Private obstetricians, anesthetists and paediatricians may charge a fee for their care.

Some women may not have all the caregiver options available to them, often due to past medical problems or problems with this pregnancy. Your caregiver will discuss this with you, so you fully understand the reason for these limitations.

Midwives

A midwife of your choice can assist you throughout your pregnancy, providing

total care antenatally
total care during your labour, birth and postnatally
birth at home or in hospital

Some questions you can ask to help you choose a midwife:

What birthing services does the midwife offer and how does she provide care? e.g. does she provide full continuity of care for her client?
Does she provide care for women choosing home birth, hospital birth and water birth?
Which hospital does she have access to?
Does she work by herself, in partnership with another midwife or as part of a group practice?
Are her beliefs about pregnancy and childbirth etc compatible with yours?
What is her midwifery experience and background?
How many women does she book a month?
How many weeks does she visit after you give birth?
Does she have plans to go on holiday during the months you will be needing her services?
Is she a member of the New Zealand College of Midwives and does she participate in the yearly review of practice offered by this College?

You should choose a midwife who you feel will act at all times in partnership with you and respect the decisions you make.

Routine visits

You are likely to be asked to visit your caregiver every four weeks until the 28th week of pregnancy, then every two weeks until 36th week, and finally every week until you go into labour. At each visit, your blood pressure and urine are checked for any early signs of diabetes, kidney problems or preeclampsia. Clinical checks include external examination of your abdomen to monitor your baby’s progress, a check for oedema (excess fluid in tissues) in your hands and ankles, and perhaps a weight check. Unless there is some reason for an additional check you are not likely to have an internal pelvic examination. Between visits, make a note of any minor problems arising during the interval, and discuss these with your doctor or midwife.