Long Beach Women’s & Children’s Medical Clinic

Opening Hours : Monday to Friday - 8am to 5pm
  Contact : (562) 624-1111

FAQs

COMMON QUESTIONS DURING PREGNANCY

How Much Weight Am I Going To Gain?

Average weight gain during pregnancy is approximately 30 pounds.  If you have a normal BMI, weight gain during pregnancy should be 25-35 pounds.

  • If you are underweight based on your BMI, the recommended weight gain is 28-40 pounds.
  • If you are overweight based on your BMI, the recommended weight gain is 15-25 pounds.
  • If your BMI is in the obese range, recommended weight gain during pregnancy is 11-20 pounds.

What Should I Avoid Eating?

Avoid eating the following foods during pregnancy:

  • Fish with high mercury levels: shark, swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish.

(Limit albacore to 6oz/wk. )

  • No raw or undercooked seafood, eggs or meat. So, no sushi with raw fish.
  • No unpasteurized milk or foods made with unpasteurized milk
  • No hot dogs, luncheon meats, cold cuts (unless heated until steaming hot just before serving)

Make sure to refrigerate pate and meat spreads.  Also, refrigerated smoked seafood.

Can I Exercise?

Usually yes.  We recommend exercise during pregnancy if you are healthy and have a low-risk pregnancy.  If there is a reason you should not exercise, your doctor will let you know.

The CDC recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise a week (30 minutes, 5 days a week).   Exercise will give you more energy and decrease body aches/back pain.  However, lifting heavy weights can cause injury to your joints during pregnancy, so limit weight lifting.  Also, your balance is affected as your pregnancy progresses, so don’t do exercises can be dangerous.  Moreover, just remember to not over-do it!  Don’t start to train for a marathon if you typically run 1 mile a day.  Also, avoid high-temperature work-outs.  No hot yoga during pregnancy, but modified yoga in room temperature is great!

If you start bleeding or having pain with exercise, please stop and call your doctor.

Can I Have Sex?

Yes, sex is healthy and usually safe.  However, if you are having severe pain or any bleeding with/after intercourse, please abstain from any further coitus until after you are evaluated by your doctor.  There are some instances where a patient is recommended not to have intercourse during pregnancy, but your doctor will notify you if that is the case.

Can I Drink Coffee?

Relax- you do not have to give up coffee completely!  You can safely drink up to 200mg of caffeine a day, which is approximately one 12-ounce cup of coffee.

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