Michael Roizen - You - Having a Baby - The Owner’s Manual to a Happy and Healthy Pregnancy

7 to 11:Your interest in sex is about what it was before you got pregnant. All of those changes in your body haven’t dampened your sexuality. Enjoy.

12 to 15:You’re showing less interest in sex than you may be used to. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Your body is going through a lot of changes. If you are feeling a much lower interest in sex even during the second trimester, you might want to check out our strategies for adding sensuality into your life, starting on page 172.

Answer each of the following questions on a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being this is Very True of Me:

There seems to be little that is helpful about difficulties making decisions, remembering, and concentrating, particularly for women who are trying to maintain a high level of job performance during pregnancy. As frustrating as these experiences may be, think of them as evidence of the transformative power of pregnancy. Plus, they may be good for a few laughs when it’s all over.

If your score is:

3 to 6:Congratulations. Even though you’re pregnant, you’re sharp as a cat’s claw. Somehow, being pregnant has given you laser focus.

7 to 11:Chances are, you’re having a few lapses in thinking. You may feel more indecisive than you did before you got pregnant, and you may have more trouble remembering things than usual. That’s quite normal during pregnancy, though it can be annoying.

12 to 15:You seem to be having a lot of trouble thinking since you got pregnant. Some moderate thinking problems are quite common in pregnancy. If you feel that you have slipped quite a bit, then you need to review aspects of your lifestyle. Are you eating properly? Are you getting enough sleep? If you have other kids already, are you getting some help taking care of them?

Answer each of the following questions on a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being this is Very True of Me:

During pregnancy, it’s crucial that you get good nutrition. Your body is working overtime to keep up your energy and to help you build the brain and body of your developing baby. Pregnancy is not necessarily a time to be adventurous about food. Indeed, in evolutionary terms, there is probably good reason to eat only the foods that you’ve eaten successfully in the past. Morning sickness actually evolved as a protective adaptation. Early in pregnancy, your body is protecting your baby from anything that might be harmful to it. Still, even if you are experiencing a lot of nausea, you need to do your best to feed your baby and to take your prenatal vitamins.

If your score is:

4 to 30:You are probably eating fairly well. Do keep track of how much you’re eating and focus on foods that will give you energy and also help your developing baby. If you do experience some nausea, remember that it is quite normal. See our plan in chapter 3 to help you figure out your diet and do your best to provide your baby with the building blocks for a healthy brain and body. And don’t forget your vitamins.

31 to 50:Nausea is affecting your eating. You may not be making the best choices about your food, so it’s important to listen to your body. At the same time, there may be simple changes you can make to your diet that will make you feel a bit better and will give your baby the nutrients needed for development. See chapter 3 to help you plan your diet. And don’t forget your vitamins.

51 to 70:you’re experiencing moderate nausea, which is affecting the way you eat. In addition, you may be having some cravings. It might be time to make a few midcourse corrections and to work on your diet to give your baby the nutrients needed for healthy brain and body development. Chapter 3 will give you some great suggestions to get started. And don’t forget your vitamins.

71 to 100:Nausea is having a huge effect on what you eat. Pregnancy can be hard on your body and on your frame of mind. It’s hard to think happy thoughts with your head in the toilet bowl. If you’re in your first trimester, remember that that’s when the nausea is usually worst. If you can get through it, you can face anything. You’ll need to make the best choices you can about foods. See chapter 3 to help plan your diet. And don’t forget your vitamins.

Answer the following questions about your feelings in the last four weeks (using the scale indicated)

8 to 16:You don’t seem to be at all worried about your body. In many ways, that is good. Make sure, though, that you are still keeping in shape. Eat balanced meals and nutritious foods. Exercise is good for you and for your baby. See page 310 for our exercise plan.

17 to 32:You have a small amount of concern about your body image, but it is not excessive. Pregnancy is a time of changes in your body. At the same time, you do need to make sure to take care of your body. A healthy body is good for you and your baby, and it will make it easier for you to have a body you like after you give birth. Make sure that you eat balanced meals and nutritious foods. Remember that exercise is good for you and for your baby.

33 to 48:You have quite a bit of concern about your body. It’s really crucial that you exercise during pregnancy and that you eat balanced, nutritious meals. You are eating for you and for your baby. It is possible that you have gained too much weight and that your doctor may recommend ways to help solve any problems that have come up. However, it is also possible that your weight gain is quite normal. (See page 68 for guidelines for gaining weight.)

To get a sense of how you’re doing overall right now, we’re going to create a total score for Quality of Life. Enter the scores from the four tests that make up the Quality of Life survey in the boxes as shown below.