Nursing@Georgetown’s Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy

Having a baby is one of the most special times of many women’s lives. However, the process can be complicated and stressful at times. During each month of pregnancy, the woman’s body goes through drastic changes to adapt to and accommodate a growing baby. Besides understanding and coping with the physical hallmarks of each week, month, or trimester, an expectant mother must also manage her own life and prepare for a new member of the family.

This guide is designed to help future mothers plan and prepare for a healthy pregnancy by demystifying each step of the process, so they can focus on the joy of having a baby without worrying about the complicated details.

Relevant material for expectant mothers and their support network was made possible thanks to the contributions of Georgetown University’s School of Nursing & Health Studies faculty, particularly Nurse-Midwifery and Women’s Health Program Director Julia Lange Kessler, DNP, CM, FACNM, and Professor Mary Brucker, PhD, CNM, FACNM, FAAN.

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This guide is based on the model of care provided by Nurse-Midwives and includes generous resources provided by The American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM)  in addition to the Mayo Clinic and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health (OWH). Consult the footnotes throughout the guide for more information on each month.

Please note that this guide is for informational purposes only. Individuals should consult their health care professionals before following any of the information provided.

Nursing@Georgetown does not endorse any organizations or web sites contained in this guide; however, every attempt has been made to select credible organizations and stable web sites.