Obstetrics Information
Dr. Kerri Parks is a much loved Obstetrician. Her patients praise her passion and knowledge about everything regarding pre-natal and delivery care. Dr. Parks and the staff at Angeles Crest Women’s Care are here to help you through your pregnancy every step of the way and will answer any questions as well as offer reassurance. Dr. Parks gladly works with doulas and midwives for the pre-natal care of the patient and will act as a “back-up” for home deliveries as well. Although an advocate for natural childbirth, Dr. Parks is supportive of most decisions made by a woman in regards to her delivery and is open to all patient requests including elective Cesareans and vaginal birth after Cesarean.
Pregnancy comes with many questions and concerns regardless of if you are a new mommy or have been pregnant before. We would like to provide a few answers to frequently asked questions, but please note that each pregnancy is different and if you have any questions beyond what we cover on this page feel free to call or email us.
Frequently asked Questions when you are expecting:
Can I have sex?
Sex is ok as long as you are not bleeding or having problems with preterm labor.
Am I able to exercise?
Exercise is ok so long as you are not bleeding or having problems with preterm labor. You will need to keep your heart rate under 140-150 and after 20 week you will want to avoid lying on your back for extended periods of time. Of course we ask that you not partake in any dangerous sports when injury is possible which includes ice skating, horseback riding and diving. You will also want to avoid starting up new exercise programs your body is not used to, unless you have gotten the go ahead from your doctor.
Can I fly/travel?
Flying and traveling is safe as long as you are not bleeding or having problems with preterm labor. You should notify us before you fly so that we may check to make sure that everything is ok for your trip. For long trips you will need to be able to get up at least every two hours to increase circulation in your legs. We also recommend avoiding carbonated drinks before you get on a plane to avoid bloating, and also suggest you get travelers insurance in case you are not allowed to fly at the last minute.
Are hot tubs and saunas safe?
We ask that you refrain from saunas and only use hot tubs where the temperature is set below 105 degrees.
How much weight should I be gaining?
Depending on the weight you start the pregnancy out at, a healthy weight gain in pregnancy is about 4-6 pounds a month. If you are gaining too much weight (as determined by the doctor) you can try cutting down on carbohydrates, or replacing them with complex carbohydrates. An example of this is would be switching from eating a diet of white rice or white flour breads and pasta to a brown rice wheat based flour breads and pasta (we suggest you do this regardless of weight because it is much more healthy for baby and mommy during pregnancy). Also switch your dairy to a low fat or skim milk and try to stay away from high fat content foods.
What foods should I avoid?
Contrary to popular belief, Sushi is ok during pregnancy as long as the location you are getting your food from flash freezes their fish and you are eating low mercury fish sushi (see nutrition in pregnancy for more details). All unpasteurized cheeses should be avoided due to the risk of lysteria growth that is dangerous for baby, but if the package says it is made from pasteurized milk you are free to enjoy! Stay away from undercooked meat and packaged lunch meats and sausages (like hot dogs) which may also contain lysteria growth. Coffee is safe but should be kept to 2 cups per day or less, and of course stay away from alcohol, tobacco, narcotics and street drugs.
Is coloring my hair/nail salons ok?
Yes! You may have your hair colored, highlighted and nails done but please make sure you are in a well ventilated room.
A very common concern during pregnancy is what medications are safe to take. Here is a list of over the counter medications safe to take during your pregnancy.
Symptom-Medication
Headache- Any Tylenol product including extra strength Tylenol.
Fever (you should call if your fever is over 100.4) - Tylenol, extra strength Tylenol, Tylenol cold, Theraflu, Dayquil (please do not take Nyquil)
Cough- Robitussin DM
Nasal Congestion- Sudafed (only after the 1st trimester), nasal saline
Sore Throat-Tylenol, throat lozenges
Allergies- Claritin, Benadryl
Heartburn- Tums, Rolaids, Tagament
Diarrhea- Imodium AD
Hemorrhoids- Preparation H, Tucks,Anusol
Constipation- Colace, Milk of Magnesia
Yeast infection- Monistat
Nutrition in Pregnancy
Eating for Two…
Now that you are eating for two, you need enough nutrients to help your baby grow and to keep your body healthy. By choosing healthy foods, your baby is less likely to be born too early and less likely to have certain birth defects. In addition, you are less likely to feel tired and more likely to have an easier pregnancy. It is also important to be proactive in preventing Gestational Diabetes by making sure your calorie intake is based on foods such as lean protein, and fresh vegetables. Although you need more nutrients, you do not need many more calories while you are pregnant. You only need about 300 more calories a day than before you were pregnant. Below we have broken up the essential nutrients you will need during pregnancy and why there are so important to you and your growing baby.
Complex Carbohydrates
There is a very real difference between simple and complex carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates, found in rice, pasta, white potatoes, and some dairy products, contain sugars that are broken down quickly by your body. This will provide your body with a quick burst of energy, but if the carbohydrates are not used quickly, the sugar will turn to fat. That’s why low-carb diet cut them out. However, those diets often lump all carbs together. You will gain weight during pregnancy, and limiting carbs is not a safe way to try to avoid this. Instead, substitute with complex carbs. Complex carbohydrates also contain sugar, but ones with longer, more complex chains. Because of this, the human body takes longer to break them down. This allows the body more time to sue the carbohydrates, and as a result, fewer of the carbs turn to fat. By minimizing your servings of highly processed carbohydrates such as white bread and refined sugars, you also lower your risk of developing Gestational Diabetes. Vegetables, whole grain pastas and breads, and beans all contain complex carbohydrates.
We recommend that you get 6-11 daily servings of carbs. Of course, we recommend that most of them are complex carb servings like whole grains. Try to get 4-6 servings to start with and build from there. It might not be as hard as you think; a whole-wheat bagel, for example, is actually two servings. Finding room in your diet for complex carbohydrates can b very easy, because many of us already are eating plenty of carbohydrates. Now it is just a matter of replacing your simple carbohydrates with complex ones. Here are a few complex carbohydrates that can fit snugly into your diet without missing a beat:
Complex Carbohydrate Choices Amount per serving
Brown rice ½ cup
Wild rice ½ cup
Bulgur, millet, kasha ½ cup
Wheat bagel ½ small size bagel
Whole wheat English muffin 1
Rice wheat crackers 2
Enriched pasta ½ cup
Whole grain cereals 1 oz. reach to eat ½ cup cooked
Wheat germ 2 tlb
Whole wheat, rye, pumpernickel bread 1 slice
What you need to know about mercury in fish and shellfish
Fish and shellfish are an important part of a healthy diet. Fish and shellfish contain high quality protein and other essential nutrients, are low in saturated fat, and contain omega-3 fatty acids. A well balanced diet that includes a variety of fish and shellfish can contribute to heart health and children’s proper growth and development.
However, nearly all fish and shellfish contain traces of mercury. For most people the risk from mercury by eating fish and shellfish is not a health concern. Yet, some fish and shellfish contain higher levels of mercury that may harm and unborn baby or young child’s developing nervous system. The risk from mercury in fish and shellfish depend on the amount of fish and shellfish eaten and the levels of mercury in the fish and shellfish. Therefore, the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency are advising women who may become pregnant, pregnant women, nursing mothers and young children to avoid some types of fish, and eat fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury. Fish you should not eat if you are pregnant or nursing due to high level s of mercury are; Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel, and Tilefish.
You should eat up to 12 ounces a week of a variety of fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury, such as shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, Pollock and catfish. Albacore tuna has more mercury than canned light tuna, so when choosing your two meals of fish and shellfish you may eat up to 6 ounces of albacore tuna per week.
Helpful side notes:
- Fish sticks are commonly made from fish that are low in mercury.
- Nearly all fish and shellfish contain traces of methyl mercury.
- If you want more information about the levels in the various types of fish you eat see the pamphlet enclosed or visit the FDA food safety website at www.epa.gov/ost/fish
Fluid Intake
It is recommended that you drink plenty of liquids (8-10 cups per day). Your body will use the water to make the extra blood you need and the amniotic fluid your baby floats in. Water is the best source of liquid, however other good sources are; clear soups that are low in salt, low fat or fat free milk, soy or rice milk with calcium added, fruit juices mixed with water, popsicles and gelatin. Avoid drinking alcohol (including beer and wine), limit coffee and tea to 2 cups a day, and limit both regular and diet soft drinks, which are high in sodium.
Calcium and vitamins A, B, and C
Your developing baby needs calcium to grow strong bones, teeth, a healthy heart, nerves and muscles, and to develop normal heart rhythm and blood clotting abilities. If you do not get enough calcium in your diet, your baby will take it from your bones, which may impair your own health later on. Before, during and after pregnancy you need 1,000 mg of calcium a day. Aim for four servings of dairy or other calcium rich foods daily. A good multi vitamin or prenatal vitamin should include at least 150 to 200 mg of calcium.
Vitamin A is important for your baby’s embryonic development, cell growth, eye, heart, limb and ear development, healthy skin and mucous membranes, infection resistance, bone growth and fat metabolism. Vitamin A is particularly essential for pregnant women because it helps with postpartum tissue repair as well as maintaining normal vision and helping fight off infections. Some food suggestions that contain vitamin A are; sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach and oatmeal.
Vitamin B6 aids your body’s metabolism of protein, fats and carbohydrates. It also helps converts amino acids, forms new red blood cells, antibodies, and neurotransmitters, and is vital to your fetus’s developing brain and nervous system. In addition, research shows that the vitamin may relieve nausea or vomiting for some women during pregnancy, though no one knows for sure why it works. Bananas, watermelon, potatoes and chickpeas all contain B6.
Both you and your baby need Vitamin C daily. Vitamin C is the cementing agent that holds new cells together. It helps your baby grow and builds strong bones and teeth. In addition, it helps your body absorb iron. You will need at least 85 mg of vitamin C daily during pregnancy, or about what you would expect to get if you drink a small glass of orange juice. However, try to include a vitamin C-rich food with every meal to get the most iron out of the foods you eat.
Protein
The amino acids that make up protein are the building blocks of your body’s cells and of your growing baby’s body as well. You will want to make sure you are getting enough protein throughout your pregnancy but especially during the second and third trimesters, when your baby is growing the fastest and your breasts and other organs are getting bigger to accommodate the needs of your growing baby. Eat three of four servings of protein daily and you will be well on your way to eating right for a healthy pregnancy and baby.
A NOTE FROM OUR DOCTOR -
We believe that for a healthy pregnancy the mommy – to- be should gain around 20-30 pounds and should exercise everyday for about 20 minutes.
It is ok to eat sushi and deli meat as long as you trust the place at which you are eating. The fish should have been “flash frozen” before preparation. Also soft cheese is fine as long as it is made of pasteurized milk.
We also believe that eating frequent small meals is the best way to avoid Gestational Diabetes.
If you have any questions about which over the counter medication is safe to take while pregnant please refer to the list above. On this list will be our suggested safe OTC meds such as taking “Colace” or “magnesium” for constipation and “Tylenol” for aches and pains.
Please contact the office if you have any other questions or concerns, our staff is happy to help!