What are the prenatal tests I should expect?

You asked and you shall now receive. It’s only fair for us to share all of this stored up knowledge about having a baby and what is going on with your body during those nine (really ten) months. We now will answer, in a very public forum, all of those burning questions about having a baby. Each Monday, we will tackle a commonly-asked-question from the point of view of an expectant parent. Chiming in to give her feedback will be three women who have been there and done that: an expert (you know someone who does this for a living), a mom from our community (for the “best” friend advice you need) and a babybites’ team member (someone who will promise to give you the REAL deal and no fluff). Earmark, share and add your own input to today’s question; it’s good karma.

What are the prenatal tests I should expect?

Expert: Renee Sullivan

Such an exciting time! Now that you have found out you’re expecting – what’s next? From peeing in cups, to drinking a flat tasting syrupy soda on an empty stomach – prenatal care today is thorough and sophisticated – helping us bring a healthy baby into the world. A great website from Pregnancy, Birth, and Beyond for detailing out what to expect.

Mom: Ann Pennington

Every person will face something different. The biggest one for me was asking my husband for help and trying to not do everything myself. By asking for help it brought my husband and I closer together and made parenthood fun and easier.

Mommybites’ team: Heather Ouida

I was very nervous about knowing what tests I would need to take, when I would need to take them and how to interpret the results. Here’s a great link from WebMD that lists many of the common tests. Also, make sure you keep your doctor informed on how you are feeling and if you experience any sensations that just don’t feel right to you as there are some tests your doctor will only perform based on mom input. After weeks of having extremely itchy hands and feet during the last trimester of my pregnancy I finally told my doctor. After doing some tests it turned out I had Cholestasis (a pretty rare condition that affects the liver).

About our team:

Renee Sullivan

Renee Sullivan, parent coach and Mommybites support group director, works with moms each week to create their own personal parenting plan that is right for them, while making sure that each mom gets the support, resources, and community they need for their parenting journey. Drawing from her experience as an birth coach and educator, she guides moms – new, seasoned and expectant through the never – ending array of decisions that come with having a child. Before joining Mommybites, she narrowly escaped the trenches of Corporate America where she was a Senior Project Manager for The New York Times, Morgan Stanley, and Pfizer. She lives in New York City and is the mom of one happy kindergartener.

Ann Pennington

Ann is a new mother of her first child, Crawford, who was born in September 2011. Before becoming a mom, Ann was a fashion set stylist for Toni & Guy, Hong Kong.

Heather Ouida

Heather co-owns Mommybites with business partner Laura Deutsch. She is responsible for managing, growing and overseeing Mommybites nationally as well their flagship city of Manhattan. Heather’s favorite parts of her job include hosting “Mommybites Live” an educational talk show with parenting luminaries, writing her blog which varies between sappy, educational and downright snarky, interviewing parenting experts for Mommybites’ regular tele-class series and facilitating some of the Manhattan working moms support groups. Prior to co-founding Mommybites, Heather was a learning specialist where she taught in London for many years as well as at The Dalton School in Manhattan. Heather holds a BA in psychology from Hobart and William Smith Colleges, an MA in child development form Tufts University and acquired her learning specialist degree form York University in England. Heather currently resides in Manhattan her husband, two boys, two fish and pet turtle. Heather’s hobbies include, hot yoga, Nutella eating, writing, Bravo watching, reading and sharing inappropriate jokes with girl friends. To learn more about Heather’s mission to support follow-moms in non-judgmental ways please click here.