Yeah, Baby!
A Trimester-By-Trimester Guide
Pregnancy and parenting advice you actually need, from the experts
Each day, week and trimester bring you one step closer to meeting your baby. But they also bring new questions, changes and things to do to get ready.
That’s why we worked with our OB/GYNs, pediatricians and other experts to create Yeah, Baby! – a trimester-by-trimester guide to pregnancy and newborn care. It features info on everything from nutrition and newborn care to breastfeeding and picking a pediatrician, so you feel confident and informed at every step. We’ll even send you emails (not too many, promise!) with guidance specific to where you are in your journey.
Call 704-512-3997 for help finding a pediatrician.
“Pregnancy is a time of immense changes in your body that will feel abnormal but are completely normal,” says Portia Cohens, MD, of Atrium Health Women’s Care.
From what you eat to how you feel, the first trimester can bring lots of changes. We’re here to help you navigate these early weeks with ease and feel comfortable with your changing body and growing baby.
First trimester topics include:
- Expected and not-so-expected pregnancy symptoms
- What you can and can’t eat during pregnancy
- What to expect at each prenatal visit
“Pregnancy is a time of immense changes in your body that will feel abnormal but are completely normal,” says Portia Cohens, MD, of Atrium Health Women’s Care.
From what you eat to how you feel, the first trimester can bring lots of changes. We’re here to help you navigate these early weeks with ease and feel comfortable with your changing body and growing baby.
First trimester topics include:
- Expected and not-so-expected pregnancy symptoms
- What you can and can’t eat during pregnancy
- What to expect at each prenatal visit
As you get closer to the middle of your pregnancy, you might feel more like yourself – well, except for that sweet growing bump, of course. The second trimester comes with new tests and ultrasounds, including one where you see your baby, and we’ll help you prepare for all of it.
We’ll even help you start thinking about your birth plan, like how you want to manage pain and who you want to be there. “It’s never too early to begin learning about your options and thinking about your wishes,” says Hannah Steele, MD, of Atrium Health Women’s Care.
Second trimester topics include:
- How to create a birth plan
- What to expect at ultrasounds
- Food cravings and aversions
- Gestational diabetes and who’s at risk
As you get closer to the middle of your pregnancy, you might feel more like yourself – well, except for that sweet growing bump, of course. The second trimester comes with new tests and ultrasounds, including one where you see your baby, and we’ll help you prepare for all of it.
We’ll even help you start thinking about your birth plan, like how you want to manage pain and who you want to be there. “It’s never too early to begin learning about your options and thinking about your wishes,” says Hannah Steele, MD, of Atrium Health Women’s Care.
Second trimester topics include:
- How to create a birth plan
- What to expect at ultrasounds
- Food cravings and aversions
- Gestational diabetes and who’s at risk
Things get really real in the third trimester. We’ll get you ready for your baby’s arrival with labor and delivery tips, breastfeeding advice and more.
As you go through your final to-dos, don’t forget to find a pediatrician before your baby is born. “Every family has different needs, but fortunately, there’s a great pediatrician for everyone,” says Reema Puri, MD, a pediatrician at Atrium Health Levine Children’s.
Third trimester topics include:
- How to prepare for labor and delivery
- Tips for finding a pediatrician
- Breastfeeding basics
- Safe sleep and sleep routines for newborns
Things get really real in the third trimester. We’ll get you ready for your baby’s arrival with labor and delivery tips, breastfeeding advice and more.
As you go through your final to-dos, don’t forget to find a pediatrician before your baby is born. “Every family has different needs, but fortunately, there’s a great pediatrician for everyone,” says Reema Puri, MD, a pediatrician at Atrium Health Levine Children’s.
Third trimester topics include:
- How to prepare for labor and delivery
- Tips for finding a pediatrician
- Breastfeeding basics
- Safe sleep and sleep routines for newborns
Maternity care doesn’t stop when your baby is born, and neither does our guide. We’re here to help you navigate those first few months at home, with expert tips for taking care of yourself and your newborn.
In fact, even your baby’s pediatrician will be there for you. Just ask Arthur Spell, MD, a pediatrician at Atrium Health Levine Children's. “One of the struggles with parenthood is knowing if you’re making the right decisions for your baby. We want to make sure that we’re available to you and open to your questions even outside of well visits,” he explains.
Fourth trimester topics include:
- Pediatrician appointments and milestones in the first year
- Feeding and bathing your baby
- How to conquer common breastfeeding challenges
- Self-care and how to recognize postpartum depression and anxiety
Maternity care doesn’t stop when your baby is born, and neither does our guide. We’re here to help you navigate those first few months at home, with expert tips for taking care of yourself and your newborn.
In fact, even your baby’s pediatrician will be there for you. Just ask Arthur Spell, MD, a pediatrician at Atrium Health Levine Children's. “One of the struggles with parenthood is knowing if you’re making the right decisions for your baby. We want to make sure that we’re available to you and open to your questions even outside of well visits,” he explains.
Fourth trimester topics include:
- Pediatrician appointments and milestones in the first year
- Feeding and bathing your baby
- How to conquer common breastfeeding challenges
- Self-care and how to recognize postpartum depression and anxiety
Looking for an OB/GYN?
If you’re pregnant or planning to be, you want to feel confident you and your baby are in the best hands.
Atrium Health is the only health system in the region recognized by U.S. News & World Report for maternity and newborn care, and we have more maternity hospitals awarded by Newsweek than anyone else in the area. Whether you’re seeking routine prenatal care or top fertility and high-risk pregnancy specialists, count on us to be there every step of the way.
Find an OB/GYN