Advice

You have just found out that you are expecting a baby and you have lots of questions that you would like to find out the answers to. This section aims to provide you with some of those answers.

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• Stop smoking
  

  Smoking is bad for you, especially if you are pregnant. Tobacco can cause foetal malformations. Are you finding it difficult to quit smoking? Speak to your doctor about it.

• Advice for the first month
  

  Work conditions
  Will you have to perform dangerous tasks or lift heavy objects during your pregnancy? Inform your employer, your labour union or your company doctor as soon as you know you are pregnant. You have the right to an adapted job.
  
  Cat litter
  From now on, get someone else to clean the cat’s litter tray owing to the risk of toxoplasmosis. Wear gloves when you are gardening.
  
  Make an appointment to see your doctor
  As soon as you find out that you are pregnant, make an appointment to see your doctor. Whilst you are waiting to see them, make a note of any questions that you would like answering as there will be a lot of information that you will need on your first visit, especially if this is your first child.

• Advice for the second month
  

  Childcare
  If you are considering returning to work after the birth of your child, you will need to think about creches. Many childcare establishments allow you to register your child as soon as you are pregnant.

• Advice for the third month
  

  Inform your employer
  From a legal point of view, you must inform your employer as soon as your pregnancy is confirmed: as soon as possible and, at the latest, eight weeks before the expected delivery date. It is advisable to inform your employer earlier than this. Many women do so during their third month of pregnancy or after their first scan.
  
  Your employer can thus review the nature of your tasks and possibly alleviate them if your health or your baby's is at risk. He can also arrange to have you replaced during your maternity leave in order not to disrupt work schedules.
  
  Losing your job?
  Future mothers are protected against dismissal. Pregnancy cannot serve as a reason to refuse employment. Furthermore, you are not required to say that you are pregnant during a recruitment procedure.

• First hospital visit
  

  Your first check-up will be the most in-depth one of all and will usually last half an hour. Your doctor or your gynaecologist will ask you a lot of questions in order to assess the problems likely to arise during your pregnancy or the delivery.
  
  During the first visit, the doctor will examine your medical history and ask you to take several tests. The doctor or obstetrician will proceed with a routine examination that can vary depending on the doctor. He will take your blood pressure, measure your height and weight and will take a urine sample for analysis. A blood sample is often taken to identify your blood group and your Rhesus factor. He will also test for HBsAg (contagious hepatitis), syphilis, and German measles as well as look at iron and glycaemia levels.
  Your doctor or gynaecologist will also determine the expected delivery date.

• Questions to ask during your first appointment
  

  During the first appointment, the doctor or the gynaecologist will look at your case history, so it is best to get ready in advance. In general, you should ask your own mother about this.
  
  The questions:

  • Your personal medical history (chronic diseases, serious illnesses, previous operations, current medication or medication taken during conception, known allergies (also to medication))
  • Your family’s medical history (hereditary and chronic diseases).
  • Social history (age, profession, habits such as smoking and drinking alcohol, physical exercise, diet).
  • Gynaecological and obstetrical history (age when your periods started, the usual duration of your menstrual cycle, duration and regularity of your periods, abortions, miscarriages and previous births, history of previous pregnancies, contractions and giving birth).

  He will carry out a physical examination and prescribe analyses (smears, determination of your blood group, detection of anaemia and urine analysis). These examinations may vary from one doctor to another.

• Confirmation of pregnancy
  

  The doctor or obstetrician will examine you and check all the visible signs of pregnancy, the date of your last period, your uterus and how far pregnant you are. In case of doubt, he will prescribe a new pregnancy test.

• Support
  

  The obstetrician will accompany you throughout your pregnancy if all goes well. They will take care of your health and your baby’s and will make sure the foetus is growing properly. They will give you advice on a healthy diet and lifestyle during pregnancy and will be available to answer your questions. They will also be able to advise you on maternity and the methods of giving birth. They will also provide reassurance concerning childbirth.
  Regular visits to the gynaecologist are an important part of pregnancy.