1

COUNTDOWN TO

DELIVERY

You have now progressed through half of your pregnancy. We

want to give you an update on important things to remember

as you approach delivery. This booklet is meant to complement

the information you received in your first pregnancy guide, so

we recommend that you continue to reference that booklet as

well. The information in this booklet will be especially helpful

2

• Persistent and worsening abdominal pain not relieved by a bowel movement

• New onset severe nausea, vomiting or diarrhea (severe is several times within one hour)

• Visual disturbances such as blurred or double vision

• New severe or persistent headaches lasting more than three hours after taking Tylenol®, as directed on

the packaging

• Change in the color of nasal drainage

• Gush or steady leaking of fluid from the vagina, even if you are not having contractions

• Lack of fetal movement or major deviations in your kick counts

• If you think you are in labor at any point, come to the hospital

CONTACT INFORMATION

call 911.

OB/GYN Prenatal Services Available at:

Emory Clinic,

Building A*

1365 Clifton Road, NE

4th Floor

Atlanta, GA 30322

*Located on Emory

University Hospital campus

Emory Clinic, Emory

University Hospital

Midtown

550 Peachtree Street NE

Medical Office Tower,

8th Floor

Emory Clinic*

5673 Peachtree

Dunwoody Road

Suite 700

Atlanta, GA 30342

*Located on Emory Saint

Joseph’s Hospital Campus

THIRD TRIMESTER PREGNANCY CONSIDERATIONS

Fetal Movement: You probably began feeling the first flutters of your baby’s movements around 20 weeks.

These movements should become regular around 28 weeks of pregnancy. Monitoring these movements is

a simple way of checking on the health of your baby between office visits. Most babies tend to have a pattern of

movement that you will begin to notice. Some are more active after meals, while others move around at night.

If following your baby’s movements, you should try to monitor them at the same time each day once they

become regular. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that you sit or

lie down comfortably, and count the baby’s movements until you reach 10 kicks, flutters or rolls. Healthy

babies should perform 10 “kicks” within two hours. You can keep track of your counts by using the kick

3

FMLA Paperwork: If you or your partner are currently employed, you may need to fill out Family Medical Leave

Act (FMLA) paperwork. FMLA provides unpaid, job-protected leave while you are delivering and caring for your

newborn. Our department is happy to complete any medical leave certification forms that your employer may

require. You can bring your paperwork to the front desk of either clinical site at one of your prenatal appointments.

We will certify that it is medically necessary for you to care for yourself and your baby. You should contact

your human resources office to discuss your employer’s family leave policy. There is not a standard amount

of time for parental leave.

Please allow seven to 10 business days for our department to complete this paperwork. We will return the

documents to you via the patient portal, or you can pick them up at the front desk where you submitted

them. You may complete this process at any time during pregnancy, and we encourage you to provide us

Healthcare patient, there are two types of cord blood banking available to you: public and private.

Public cord blood banking provides a donation to a patient in need, just like donating blood at a local blood

drive. Working together with the Cleveland Cord Blood Center, Emory offers free cord blood collection for

this public bank. Cord blood collected at Emory has already been used to save lives.

Private banking offers a guarantee that your cord blood collection will be available for your usage. There are

several companies available for private banking, and there will be a cost to you. You should explore options

and offers from multiple companies. If you choose a private cord blood bank, you will need to bring the collection

kit with you to the delivery. You should verify with the nurse and doctor what should be collected, per the

collection kit’s instructions. After collection, you or a family member should again verify that the collection

is complete.

It is not necessary for your pediatrician to see your newborn in the hospital. The hospital has pediatricians

who will take care of your baby until you are discharged. Choosing a pediatrician is as personal as choosing

you obstetrician, and there are many options. We recommend beginning your search with considering which

health insurance plan will be covering your child’s care. Look into the listing of in-network pediatricians,

and explore which office and provider works best for your family.

4

• Insurance card and government-issued photo ID

card

• Favorite music

• Lip balm

• Comfortable items that will help you relax such

as an extra pillow or lotion

• Comfortable clothes

• Camera and batteries

• Snacks or change to buy them from the hospital

vending machine

• Cell phone with charger

• Sleepwear, if you prefer to wear your own

• Toiletries

• A few comfortable bras, including nursing bras

• Going home outfits for mom and baby

Infant Car Seats: Georgia law requires that all children under the age of eight use a car seat, so your baby

must be in a car seat when you leave the hospital. You will need to bring the car seat into the hospital with

you, and it must be installed in your car before you can be discharged. Emory Healthcare does not provide

car seats, and we cannot assist you in installing your car seat.

Please follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for installing the car seat. Be sure that you and your

uterus. These pains go through periods of strong cramping, alternating with relaxation. Contractions may

signal that your body is in labor (starting the birthing process), but they could also just be false labor known as

Braxton-Hicks contractions. It’s important to tell the difference between true labor and false labor.

False Labor

• Braxton-Hicks contractions are irregular

• They do not get stronger with time

• They do not get closer together with time

• Walking, moving or changing position can relieve or stop the contractions

True Labor

• Labor contractions are stronger than Braxton-Hicks contractions

each experience is unique. The contractions can also cause back and lower abdominal pain.

You should plan to go to the hospital when your water breaks or your contractions are approximately

five minutes apart and increasing in intensity. You do not need to rush to the hospital as soon as you

begin labor because the process can take time—especially if this is your first baby. Waiting at home until

your contractions become closer together or your water breaks can make for a more comfortable labor

experience overall.

If you are unsure whether you are having true labor or false labor, you can call our office at 404-778-3401. If

you think you are in labor or your contractions are approximately five minutes apart, come to your chosen

Emory Labor and Delivery location. Our team is at the hospital 24 hours a day and is ready to help you at

any time.

5

that can help you as you plan your birth. Although having an idea of what to expect is important, remember

that deliveries can often be unpredictable, and you may need to deviate from the plan. Your doctor and

nurses at the hospital will be sure to take your preferences into consideration and explain to you any

necessary changes.

Parking: When you come to deliver, park in the available patient parking. If you are concerned about

being able to walk from the parking deck, please utilize our emergency department entrance. Our hospital

personnel will be able to assist you to the Labor and Delivery unit.

Support Person and Visitors: Because we strive to provide patient and family-centered care at Emory

Healthcare, we understand the important role that a support person can play during labor. This person

could be the baby’s parent, your partner, a close family member or a friend. Someone who attended

childbirth education classes with you would be a great choice. Be sure to communicate in advance with your

Johns Creek, GA 30097

2701 North Decatur Road

Decatur, GA 30033

6

LABOR

Together you, your physician and your primary nurse will decide the best rules for visitation in the Labor and

Delivery suite, so you have the support you need without becoming overwhelmed. As a rule, we recommend

no more than three support persons in your labor room at any given time. The number of people allowed in

the hospital as support may also change depending on current events such as community illness.

When you come to our Emory Labor and Delivery, one of our physicians will be at the hospital to take care

of you. Our Emory physicians are always present to monitor your progress and well-being.

7

8

Parents sometimes worry because their babies want to breastfeed/chestfeed more than they expect. Parents may also

wonder if their baby is getting enough milk. Early, frequent feeding helps your body establish your milk supply. Most birth

parents make the right amount of milk for their infant without the need to supplement with formula. Learning about hand

expression of colostrum before delivery can also be a very valuable resource for you, so you have some tools to troubleshoot

trained to help and have access to lactation consultants if the need arises.

There are several other important aspects of breastfeeding/chestfeeding that you can expect to discuss with your health care

• Common discomforts and relief methods

• Comfortable positions

• Time and frequency of feedings

circumcision. Many newborn boys in the United States are circumcised, though numbers are decreasing. For some people,

circumcision is part of religious practice.

Circumcision only takes a few minutes. It is recommended that an anesthetic be used for pain relief, and either topical or

injected lidocaine for pain relief may be used. The penis is cleaned, and a special device is used to help protect the penis and

assist in the removal of the foreskin. After the procedure, petroleum jelly is used to help protect the area from rubbing.

After each diaper change, petroleum jelly should be placed on the head on the penis while healing. In most cases, the penis

will heal in seven to ten days. It is normal to see some yellow fluid and some swelling during the healing process. Use mild

soap and water to remove any stool from the penis if necessary. Infection is rare, but if you have any concerns, please

contact your pediatrician.

GOING HOME

9

Contraception After Birth: At the time of hospital discharge and your first postpartum visit, we will discuss options for

birth control. If you desire contraception, please know that there are many methods of birth control that are safe while

breastfeeding. We will work with you to find a contraceptive method that you feel comfortable using.

Post-Partum Visit: You should return for a postpartum visit in our office four weeks after delivery. You may be asked to come

for a visit sooner than four weeks if there were any medical complications that arose during or after the birth. If you have

any concerns after delivery, please call for an earlier appointment as we wish to address these concerns as soon as possible.

At this postpartum visit, your provider will discuss when to resume routine care such as your well gynecologic exam. The

timing will be different for each woman, depending on factors such as medical history and ongoing conditions.

Postpartum Blues & Depression: Very soon after delivery—about two to three days—a new parent may feel anxious,

The postpartum blues are quite common, and in most cases, they pass quickly. However, if these feelings persist or interfere

with daily tasks, you should call our clinic for assistance. If you are having any thoughts of harming yourself, your baby or

someone else, please go immediately an emergency room. There are mental health professionals that can help you.

Exercise: Though some new moms wish to resume normal exercise immediately after delivery, your body will need time to

recover, especially your core abdominal muscles. Soon after returning home, you should be able to start with light walking.

Give yourself four to six weeks before starting heavy exercise, and when restarting exercise, take it slow and listen to your

body. Be patient and know that you will be able to get back to full activities in time.

Driving: After you deliver, you should give yourself time to recover before attempting to drive. Driving while taking narcotic

pain medicine is not permitted. You should be able to twist at the waist to see behind you and easily lift your foot in a seated

position before driving. Recovering the ability to drive may take a full week after vaginal delivery or two weeks following a

have concerns about resuming sexual activity, please discuss them with your provider at your postpartum visit.