Frequently Asked Questions

Pregnancy

  • If you are sexually active and have missed a period, you may be pregnant. The next step is to take a pregnancy test. We offer free pregnancy tests or you can purchase one at most drug stores. You need to confirm the pregnancy with a physician.

  • Early in pregnancy it is difficult to distinguish the embryological age of the embryo or fetus because they are very small and it is impossible to know exactly when conception (fertilization) took place. Instead of using embryological age, physicians count gestational age from the more easily identifiable first day of the last menstrual period (LMP). You can use our due date calculator for a rough estimate of your gestational age. For more information, speak with your doctor about getting an ultrasound.

  • Implantation bleeding typically occurs 10-14 days after conception. This is normal and relatively common. The bleeding is caused from the implantation of the embryo (blastocyst) into your uterus (1); it is similar to spotting. Sometimes this can be mistaken for a period, so it is important to confirm with a physician.

    1) Kim, S. M., & Kim, J. S. (2017). A Review of Mechanisms of Implantation. Development & reproduction, 21(4), 351–359. https://doi.org/10.12717/DR.2017.21.4.351

  • Missed period

    Nausea: The research is still unclear as to why some people experience morning sickness or nausea in early pregnancy. Human chorionic gonadotropin or hCG, estrogen, and progesterone have all been implicated, but their relative associations are still murky. Nausea is also associated with a decreased chance of miscarriage (1).

    1) Hinkle SN, Mumford SL, Grantz KL, et al. Association of Nausea and Vomiting During Pregnancy With Pregnancy Loss: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2016;176(11):1621–1627. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.5641

    Heartburn, Dizziness, and Hair Growth

    Mood Swings

  • Lots of vomiting can cause dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, among other health issues. Talk to your doctor if you believe you are experiencing excess vomiting or nausea.

    We would also love to direct you to a Nutritionist or Dietician (possibly subsidized) that can help make sure you and your baby get the nutrients you need!

    1) Butler Tobah, Y. S., Lamppa, J. A., Marnach, M. L., & Wick, M. J. (2020, June 30). Morning sickness. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/morning-sickness/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20375260

  • Pregnancy lasts approximately 280 days (1) It is roughly broken up into three trimesters: weeks 0-12, 13-27, 28 to the end of pregnancy around 38-40 weeks (2).

    1) Jukic, A. M., Baird, D. D., Weinberg, C. R., McConnaughey, D. R., & Wilcox, A. J. (2013). Length of human pregnancy and contributors to its natural variation. Human reproduction (Oxford, England), 28(10), 2848–2855. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/det297

    2) https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/Pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=stt11640&

  • If you think you are or may become pregnant you should take a pre-natal vitamin. The lifestyles and other dietary changes required will be different from person to person so it is best to speak with your physician and a dietician about what changes, if any, need to be made. Smoking, drinking, drug use, or high caffeine consumption should stop immediately if you may become or are already pregnant.

  • First, don’t panic. While drinking, smoking, and illicit drug use may affect development, studies have found mixed results (2). Drinking and drug use very early pregnancy is unlikely to cause any negative effects, but you should stop immediately when you discover you are pregnant (1,2). Because so much development occurs early on in the first trimester, your baby is at most risk of complications if teratogens are ingested between the 3rd and 10th weeks (2). Illicit drugs, alcohol, and smoking, especially when carried out continually through a pregnancy are likely to affect birth weight and development, which are associated with intellectual and physical disabilities (1,2). Speak to your physician as soon as possible as early interventions for children are the most helpful.

    1) https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/alcohol-and-women?utm_source=redirect&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=otn

    2) McCarthy, Fergus P. PhD, MD; O'Keeffe, Linda M. BSc; Khashan, Ali S. PhD, MSc; North, Robyn A. PhD, MD; Poston, Lucilla PhD; McCowan, Lesley M. E. MD, FRANZCOG; Baker, Philip N. FRCOG, DM; Dekker, Gus A. PhD, MD; Roberts, Claire T. PhD; Walker, James J. MD, FRCOG; Kenny, Louise C. PhD, MD Association Between Maternal Alcohol Consumption in Early Pregnancy and Pregnancy Outcomes, Obstetrics & Gynecology: October 2013 - Volume 122 - Issue 4 - p 830-837 doi: 10.1097/AOG.0b013e3182a6b226