An OB-GYN answers all of the most common pregnancy questions

When it comes to pregnancy, countless questions might cross your mind. From what age you should start trying to how much weight you’ll gain, it’s easy to feel confused after hearing a variety of stories from different women in your life. We sat down with Dr. Yolanda Kirkham to get answers to questions our viewers sent in about getting pregnant, body changes, length of labour and more.

If you’re on birth control, how long should you be off of it before you try to have a baby?

You might have heard the myth you need to wait an extended period of time after getting off birth control to try to have a baby. While the pill suppresses egg released, there can be rebound ovulation once you’re off of it which means your eggs will be released. For women on tone progesterone IUD, you can continue to ovulate while you have the IUD and can start trying after removal.

What is the cut-off age for women to have children?

If having children is a priority to you, you might feel pressure of the clock ticking. According to Dr. Yolanda, those that find it important to have kids should start thinking about it in their late 20s to early 30s and should be trying well before turning 42-43. During the time that you’re considering it, it’s important to get in good shape. From exercising more regularly to eating healthy, keeping your body active will pay off in the long run. It’s equally important to have regular check-ins with your doctor to ensure that you don’t have medical conditions that could complicate a pregnancy.

Do you need to be immunized during pregnancy?

There are two very safe vaccines that you can take during your pregnancy. The first one is the flu vaccine, which can be taken during any trimester. It’s extremely common for women to catch a bad flu or fever, which can cause them to be admitted due. During the last three months of pregnancy, you can get the Tetanus/Whooping cough vaccine will allows antibodies to be passed through to the baby to protect them for their first 2 months. Think of vaccines as force fields that are gifted to your baby until they’re old enough to get their own.

How much weight does one gain during pregnancy?

Each body and pregnancy situation is different. However, the average amount of weight gained during a pregnancy is about 25-35lbs. It’s important to keep in mind that how much you gain is based on your height, weight and overall health. If someone is starting their pregnancy being underweight or average, they might actually gain more others. Keep in mind that you don’t need to worry how much weight you gain in between each appointment, instead you should look at the total number towards the end.

How long will it take you to lose baby weight?

You will lose a lot of weight immediately at the birth from the placenta, amniotic fluid, etc. You will also lose some weight while breast feeding. However, the fat stores that you’ve accumulated from your pregnancy will take a little bit longer to lose. If this is something you’re worried about, try to stay as active as you can and eat clean.

What are effective ways to prevent tearing during birth?

While this isn’t a question that many people choose to talk about, roughly 90% of first-time moms will tear during vaginal delivery. A perineal massage as well as warm compresses at the time of pushing can definitely help with this. A sitz bath is another way to help with healing after delivery, as well as keeping a healthy weight during your pregnancy.

Is it normal for the epidural injection site to still be sore months after birth?

After carrying the entire labour process on your back and giving birth, it’s normal to have pains in your body. However, back pains caused directly from an epidural injection are not typical or casual. Many women attribute their pains to an epidural; however, that’s usually not the case.

What’s the average amount of time for labour?

While movies and TV shows often portray labour to be a few hours maximum, the reality is that it’ll take a lot longer. If it’s your first time going into labour, it could likely last anywhere from 14-20 hours. However, if it’s your second or third time it could be a lot shorter of a process.