Pregnancy Guide: Your Roadmap to Nine Months and Beyond
At Simmonds, Martin & Helmbrecht, we believe an informed patient is a confident patient. This comprehensive guide was created by our team to walk you through every stage of your pregnancy — from your very first prenatal appointment to the weeks after you bring your baby home. Whether you’re a first-time parent or expanding your family, you’ll find clear, practical answers to the questions that come up along the way.
This guide is available in both English and Spanish. Para descargar la guía en español, haga clic aquí.
Getting to Know Your Care Team
Learn about our collaborative practice of physicians, certified nurse-midwives, and nurse practitioners, and discover our philosophy of shared decision-making, family-centered care, and respect for your personal preferences throughout labor and delivery.
Your Prenatal Visit Schedule
A detailed, visit-by-visit breakdown of what to expect from your initial appointment through delivery — including bloodwork, ultrasounds, glucose testing, the Group Beta Strep test, and more — so you always know what’s coming next.
Genetic Screening Options
Understand the differences between first-trimester screening, cell-free fetal DNA (NIPT) testing, and diagnostic testing like CVS and amniocentesis, along with carrier screening recommendations based on personal or family history.
Everyday Pregnancy Essentials
Practical guidance on the topics that matter most day to day, including:
- Dental care and safe treatments during pregnancy
- Nutrition, hydration, vitamin and iron supplementation, and safe exercise
- Recommended weight gain based on your pre-pregnancy BMI
- Foods and drinks to enjoy, limit, or avoid — including a safe seafood list
- A full medication safety chart covering common ailments like colds, heartburn, allergies, and pain
- Recommended vaccines (flu, Tdap, COVID-19) and important information about Zika virus
- What to know about falls during pregnancy and when to seek care
Common Discomforts & When to Call
Clear explanations of normal pregnancy symptoms — like round ligament pain, swelling, varicose veins, and morning sickness — alongside the warning signs that warrant a call to our office, such as decreased fetal movement, signs of preeclampsia, or unusual vaginal discharge.
Labor & Delivery
An inside look at our birth philosophy and routine labor practices, including delayed cord clamping, skin-to-skin contact, and minimizing unnecessary interventions. You’ll also find guidance on recognizing true signs of labor, what to expect upon hospital arrival, available pain medication options, and typical length of hospital stay.
Life After Birth
Support doesn’t end at delivery. This section covers postpartum appointments, physical recovery and healing, returning to intimacy, and the importance of mental health during the postpartum period — including access to our in-house clinical social worker for new parents navigating postpartum depression or anxiety.
Feeding Your Baby
Whether you choose to breastfeed, formula feed, or both, you’ll find helpful tips, the benefits of breast milk for you and your baby, and guidance for a smooth feeding journey — always with the reassurance that we support whichever method works best for your family.
Get Ready with Our Birth Preparation Checklist
A printable checklist to help you prepare for delivery day, including what to pack for the hospital and what to have ready at home — from infant car seat installation to nursing bras and sitz baths.
Additional Resources
We’ve also compiled trusted websites, recommended books, local mental health crisis line numbers, and links to our own patient resources, so support is always within reach.
Download the guide today (English version) and carry it with you throughout your pregnancy journey. And remember — if you ever have questions or concerns, our team is just a phone call away at (301) 414-2300.
Para descargar la guía en español, haga clic aquí.
