Some women find it difficult to ask their OB-GYN uncomfortable pregnancy questions because of their fear of being embarrassed and humiliated. These uncomfortable pregnancy questions are necessary to ask because knowing the answers to these questions will help women become well-prepared and well-informed mothers for their baby's well-being.
Parenting recently spoke with two OB-GYNs -Mary Rosser at Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, New York City and Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz from Bevery Hills - to talk about the most important but uncomfortable things to ask your OB-GYN.
One important question is about a woman's bowel movement during childbirth. Rosser said that it is possible for a mother to poop during delivery because the bowel area is pushed during the pushing phase of the labor.
The second uncomfortable question is about the stretching of the vagina during childbirth. Parenting reports that the vagina will indeed stretch during childbirth but will revert back to its normal size after recovery.
Pregnant women are also encouraged to ask about their pregnancy weight because it might affect their health and their babies'. They should also remember that bladder control decrease after pregnancy and childbirth.
Asking about sexual intercourse during pregnancy is also important. The pregnant women's partners need to know that sexual intercourse is safe during pregnancy and that the trauma suffered by the vagina during childbirth will temporarily make sexual intercourse more painful after childbirth.
Women should also be aware that vaginal discharges are normal during pregnancy but are advised to call the doctor if the discharge is smelly and watery or causes pain, burning, and itching.
Pregnancy is also known to affect a woman's digestive system. Bloating, nausea, acid reflux, and indigestion are normal during pregnancy but these side effects can be reduced by eating small but frequent meals, fiber-rich foods, vegetables, fruits, lots of water and avoiding acidic and spicy foods.
Labor also involve leaking of water and contractions. Pregnant women should consult their doctors immediately when these signs happen.
Women should also remember that the healthcare personnel in the delivery room are all professionals devoted to helping and supporting them deliver their baby. Mothers should concentrate on delivering their baby and not on the side effects and events they perceive to be embarrassing.
Catherine Donaldson-Evans of What To Expect talks about her experiences giving birth to her child, "I actually had fun having a baby. Not in a weird, creepy way, mind you. But the first time, with my daughter, I had no major pain. It was long and sometimes messy. There were blips. But overall, it went shockingly well. My husband and I laughed and bonded our way through it. And it was kind of...wonderful. Magical."
However embarrassing and humiliating these uncomfortable pregnancy questions might seem, always remember that all of these are important things to ask your OB-GYN for you and your child's welfare.
