Expecting Better, Emily Oster

Yes during pregnancy

• Kegels
• Drugs in A/B list
• Eat/drink small amount during labor
• Doula
• Intermittent monitoring

Okay in Moderation

• Coffee
• Alcohol

No

• Smoking
• Raw eggs
• Raw fish
• Raw shellfish
• Unwashed fruit/veg
• Raw meat
• Smoked fish
• Pate
• Raw milk (and its soft cheese)
• Deli meat
• Gardening
• Drugs in D/X list
• Episiotomy

Nausea

• Tends to peak at 8-9 weeks then decline around 13-14
• 5% throw up once a day for a month
• 1% are hospitalized
• B6 helpful. Ginger doubtful

Safe drugs

• Claritin
• Benadryl
• Tums
• Pepcid AC
• Tylenol

Screening

• Cell-free fetal DNA via blood test (NIPS/NITS) - quite accurate, not always covered by insurance.
• Ultrasound (NT) + blood test (quad screen) - less accurate, cheaper
• CVS/amnio - accurate, small increased risk of miscarriage (1 in 800)