A healthy pregnancy looks different for everyone, and parents-to-be often have lots of questions about what to expect. Sorting through advice from friends, family, and the internet isn’t easy, but the experts at Henry Community Health (HCH) are here to help.
If you’re a first-time mom looking for practical pregnancy advice, you’re in the right place. This guide walks you through what being healthy during pregnancy looks like, trimester by trimester. You’ll learn what to expect during visits, which screenings are essential and when they happen, and how to recognize signs that warrant a call.
We’ll also preview what giving birth at Henry Community Health looks like, from your confirmation ultrasound to postpartum support. HCH’s maternity unit is an accredited Baby-Friendly hospital (which means your care team follows proven practices for immediate skin-to-skin contact, rooming-in, and hands-on lactation support).
In the following comprehensive resource, two Henry Community Health OB/GYN providers separate myths from facts and explain what matters most, based on the latest medical research findings. Keep reading to hear directly from Dr. Chris Carls, an obstetrician-gynecologist and Chrissy Honig, a Certified Nurse Midwife, for practical advice on a wide range of topics related to having a healthy pregnancy, including:
- What does it mean to have a healthy “pregnancy”?
- The stages of a healthy pregnancy
- First trimester: Your initial appointments
- Second trimester: Energy boost & screenings
- Third trimester: Readiness & delivery planning
- Postpartum: The last trimester
- FAQs about having a healthy pregnancy
- Why give birth at Henry Community Health
What does it mean to have a “healthy pregnancy”?
A healthy pregnancy means getting care early and staying connected, making everyday choices that support your body, and knowing when to call with a concern. It also means providing the correct information to help you understand common changes to expect and the basics about risks to avoid so that you can feel confident during each trimester.
Here’s how Honig puts it: “It’s normal to have a combination of feelings, joy mixed with anxiety. Understanding what’s normal in pregnancy and what warning signs are is very refreshing for new moms, so they know what to worry about and what not to worry about.”
Dr. Carls shares a similar view, emphasizing the importance of clear guidance at every step. “Pregnancy is not a disease state,” he says. “It’s a natural part of life, and our job is to guide patients through it with the right information and support so they feel confident in their care.”
To put it simply, a strong support system is key to staying on track and having the healthiest possible pregnancy.
Pregnancy journey must-haves
You don’t have to be perfect to have a healthy pregnancy. Instead, make it your goal to be as kind as possible to yourself and your growing baby. Take time to do the little things that nourish and provide energy, like eating the right foods (and avoiding risky ones), staying active, getting enough sleep, and keeping an eye on your stress and mood—all of which are factors that can shape the way you feel when pregnant.
And, the good news is, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Your care team will be there to meet you where you are and provide extra support at every step along the way. If you have questions or if something doesn’t feel right, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Dr. Carls recommends using a physical journal or a notetaking app so that essential information and concerns you want to discuss with your provider are all in one place. “Asking questions is a great way to make each check-in more personal to you,” he says. “Bring something to write down questions as you go. After each appointment, the door’s not closed. I encourage my moms-to-be to use HCH’s patient portals to connect with me online when something comes up so they can get what they need without having to wait until their next visit.”
The stages of a healthy pregnancy
Pregnancy unfolds in distinct chapters, which we call trimesters. It’s normal to have new questions during each of these stages, and the rhythm of the care you’ll receive changes along the way, too. Here’s a breakdown of some of the things to expect during each phase.
First trimester: Your initial appointments
The first trimester lasts roughly 13 weeks. At your first official visit, after pregnancy is confirmed, a provider will review your medical history, answer any questions you may have, share details about what to expect (including information related to early lab tests and ultrasounds), and provide guidance tailored to your specific needs.
At HCH, “our patients meet with a provider for a personalized overview of what their prenatal course will look like,” says Honig. “I cover risk factors and provide resources. It can be overwhelming and a lot of information, so that’s why I’ll always continue to reinforce what was discussed during this early pregnancy stage during later appointments.”
Most patients come in about every four weeks during the first trimester, at which time they’ll often get their preliminary labs and undergo screenings for certain infections. Optional genetic screening is offered, and an early ultrasound may be performed to confirm your pregnancy and establish a due date. For instance, that early scan can confirm a heartbeat as well as the number and location of pregnancies.
During the first trimester visits, your care team will also help you develop and refine a prenatal plan that includes nutrition, medication, supplements, and vitamins.
“We recommend a prenatal vitamin for all patients to help them have a healthy pregnancy,” Honig says. “For example, some people need extra folate based on their medical history. Others might need iron supplementation. Our approach is to provide really individualized recommendations based on what you need. We’re always checking to see if medications are necessary to see if the benefits outweigh the risks.”
What is day-to-day life like during the first trimester?
Early pregnancy symptoms can vary from person to person and change from day to day, according to Honig. Some of the things people may experience during the first trimester include:
- Mood swings
- Light spotting
- Fatigue (being tired)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sensitivity to odors
- Breast tenderness
These are just some of the first trimester’s most common symptoms, and they typically subside as pregnancy progresses.
Staying active usually helps with energy, sleep, and mood. If nausea makes eating tricky, small adjustments can make a difference. Dr. Carls often suggests trying smaller, more frequent meals because aversions can change by the hour.
When to call your provider in the first trimester
Knowing when to call is essential. “We always want to know if a patient is having bleeding or cramping,” says Honig. “If you’re really struggling and unable to keep food or water down for 24 hours, there are things we can do to help, like IV hydration. If something doesn’t feel right, that’s why we’re here. You’re not bothering anyone. Call us.”
It’s easy to feel like one wrong bite or a missed vitamin will undo everything you’ve done to have a healthy pregnancy. Honig’s approach is to minimize fears by sharing appropriate information: “Pregnancy is supposed to be a joyful experience. You don’t have to restrict everything. Our goal is just to make sure you’re informed about the steps you can take to feel your best, stay healthy, and reduce the risk of complications.”
Second trimester: Energy boost & screenings
The second trimester spans from approximately week 14 through 27. This is the stretch when many patients start to feel better, which is why Dr. Chris Carls calls it the honeymoon trimester. In addition to energy often being picked up, your baby’s growth will be easier to see, and this is also the time when “[weight gain] starts to happen, and that’s a good thing.”
During this period, check-ins get farther apart, but that doesn’t mean the conversation has to stop. “This can be the trimester where people feel the least supported because they only really come in two or three times,” says Dr. Carls. “I encourage my patients to stay connected and keep talking to me as things come up, using the online portal to share updates and send me questions outside the office.”
If you prefer to speak with a provider by phone, call the OB/GYN office at 765-512-1217. If you are calling after hours, you will be connected with a triage nurse. If you’re experiencing an emergency, call 911 or visit our emergency room.
What is a baby anatomy scan?
One of the most significant in-person checks during the second trimester of a healthy pregnancy involves the anatomy scan, which usually occurs between 18 and 22 weeks. This is a detailed ultrasound that captures precise images of the brain, heart, spine, kidneys, stomach, limbs, placenta, and umbilical cord.
Your provider will explain what the measurements mean, note what appears complete, inform you if any images require a second review, and answer your questions. If follow-up is needed, they’ll explain why and go over next steps and timing so you know what to expect.
Gestational diabetes screening: timing and what to expect
During the second trimester, you’ll also have an initial gestational diabetes screening, which is called an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). This morning-time blood test, which is typically scheduled between 24 and 27 weeks (but sometimes as late as 28 weeks), is completed after you’re given a glucose drink. Your provider may ask you to fast before the screening, though it isn’t required.
If the first result is higher than expected, your care team may schedule a follow-up. When numbers run high, we’ll provide nutrition counseling and plan tweaks to protect you, help you have a healthy pregnancy, and support your baby.
Related to this, Dr. Carls also recommends that, toward the end of the second trimester, patients keep track of when their growing babies are most active so they can recognize and be familiar with typical movement patterns.
What is day-to-day life like during the second trimester?
Staying active during the second trimester can help improve sleep, mood, and back comfort. Most people can continue with familiar activities with minor adjustments. If you feel dizzy, have chest pain, bleed, or think you’re leaking fluid, stop and call for advice.
This is also often the time during your pregnancy when it might make sense to start sketching out the support you’ll need after you give birth, from planning for parental leave to thinking through everything involved with labor and delivery, including who you want by your side on the big day.
Third trimester: Readiness & delivery planning
The third trimester spans approximately from week 28 to birth. Appointments usually pick up in frequency as your due date approaches. During these last visits, your care team checks your baby’s growth and position. They’ll also discuss your delivery and delivery plans and ensure you know when it’s time to head to the hospital.
You’ll have a Group B strep screen, which involves a simple swab, near the end of the third trimester. If the results are positive, your provider will plan for antibiotics to be administered during labor to protect your baby. Around this same time, your provider will check fetal position and talk about what it means if the baby is head-down, breech, or still turning.
Cervical checks happen only when they’re helpful for decision-making or at your request. This is also the time when you’ll hear about induction criteria and how decisions are made together if you go past your due date or if there’s a medical reason for inducing labor to eliminate surprises.
Do I need a birth plan?
A flexible birth plan is an integral part of comprehensive, healthy pregnancy care. It can help make sure that everyone at the hospital is on the same page. “Your birth plan documents all of your desires for delivery,” Honig says. “It’s not a contract, but in essence a useful way to have an open discussion based on risks and benefits before labor and delivery. Every patient should be able to make choices about their own care during labor and delivery, as long as their requests are safe.”
What’s the difference between a midwife and a doula for support during childbirth?
The third trimester is also the ideal time to consider who you want in the room during labor and delivery and what their role will be. A midwife is a medical provider who can lead hospital care and deliver babies, whereas a doula offers non-clinical labor support and advocacy.
Honig’s shorthand helps patients sort this out: “A midwife provides labor support and has received specialized medical training in vaginal deliveries, but a doula is only trained in support and advocacy during labor, so they can’t provide clinical care.”
If you’re considering having a doula at your hospital birth, be sure to inform your care team early so that details on how everyone will work together can be adequately documented in your birth plan.
What is day-to-day life like during the third trimester?
Your body will definitely feel a lot different by now, and its growing belly can cause heartburn, swelling, pelvic pressure, and even shortness of breath when you go up stairs. Side-lying sleep and propping yourself up with pillows can often make it easier to sleep. “We’ll explain at your appointments everything that’s happening so you know what’s going on with your body,” says Honig.
This can also be a time when you’re likely to feel a mixture of excitement and anxiety. You can relieve some of that pressure and feel more confident for go-time by getting prepared. Tasks to get scheduled and handled during the third trimester before labor and delivery begin include:
- Touring the birth care center
- Packing a hospital bag and setting this tote of essentials by the door
- Installing a car seat for your baby and having it checked ahead of time, if possible
- Preregistering (if it’s available) so your arrival at the hospital goes as smoothly as possible
What are some signs your body is getting ready for labor?
Pre-labor symptoms that you may notice that are signs your body is getting close to being ready for childbirth often include:
- Sensing that your baby has dropped lower
- Softening and thinning of your cervix
- Noticing a mucus plug
- Feeling a burst of organizing energy
True labor is different from pre-labor during a healthy pregnancy. With actual labor, your contractions will get stronger, closer together, and won’t fade with rest or hydration. Practice contractions (often called Braxton Hicks) tend to be irregular and ease up when you change positions.
Dr. Carls encourages patients to trust what they’re noticing. Toward the end of pregnancy, begin to learn your baby’s usual active times so you recognize your pattern. If that pattern changes and you’re uneasy, reach out.
How do I know when to call or come in?
“Pay attention to your body,” says Dr. Carls. “You’re going to know if something’s up.”
During a healthy pregnancy, if your water breaks, that’s a sign it’s time to call to determine the next steps and come in, even if your contractions are mild. If you’re having regular, stronger contractions and they’re getting closer together, it’s time to check into the hospital. Call for bleeding that’s more than light spotting or any time when your baby’s movements feel different from the usual pattern.
Hospital labor and delivery: Giving birth at HCH
Upon your arrival, you’ll be greeted and brought to triage, where a nurse will review your history, check your blood pressure and temperature, and use a monitor to listen to your baby.
Once you’re admitted and set up in your room, the maternity care team will do everything possible to help make you comfortable while also keeping you updated on your labor progress. Throughout the entire childbirth journey, clear and regular communication is our primary goal at HCH.
“It’s our job to keep you in the loop so you always know what’s happening during labor and delivery, especially if there is an unanticipated issue requiring a change to your birth plan,” says Honig.
What does HCH do as a Baby-Friendly hospital?
“The golden hour is such a special time with lots of quiet bonding time for the family,” says Honig. Because HCH follows Baby-Friendly practices, during this 60-minute window after childbirth, you can expect evidence-based practices—such as skin-to-skin contact, delayed cord clamping, and help with that first feed—along with medical assessments.
Postpartum: The last trimester
Those first weeks after birth are a precious period of healing and learning. Your body is recovering from its healthy pregnancy experience, and you’re getting to know your baby. Most physical recovery occurs over the first six weeks, although the timeline is personal. Expect vaginal bleeding that starts bright red and gradually lightens. It may ebb and flow as you move more. Call right away if you’re soaking a pad in an hour, passing large clots, feeling faint, or just have a strong “something isn’t right” feeling.
Your care team will also review warning signs before discharge. Call for a severe headache that doesn’t improve, vision changes, chest pain, shortness of breath, one-sided leg swelling or pain, fever, or heavy bleeding. You don’t have to wait and see. That’s what we’re here for.
Breastfeeding support
HCH patients will receive hands-on help with feeding from the start, covering everything from early latch coaching and lactation support to positioning guidance and tips for reading your baby’s cues.
“If you’re struggling, let us know. Everyone here has lactation training and we’re all ready to help you, whether you’re a first-mom or it’s your sixth time breastfeeding a new baby.”—Chrissy Honig, Certified Nurse Midwife
Emotional recovery
Big feelings are common in the fourth trimester. Many parents notice the “baby blues” in the first two weeks, which typically lift as sleep and hormones settle. If those feelings stick around or intensify, or if anxiety, panic, racing thoughts, or low mood make daily life hard, that could be postpartum depression or anxiety. HCH can connect you with counseling and peer support, as well as provide medication options as needed, if appropriate.
Follow-up appointments
Before you leave the hospital, your care team will walk you through what’s next for you and your baby. Most newborns see their pediatric clinician within the first few days after discharge, then again soon after. Your own postpartum care includes an early check-in to discuss bleeding, pain, feeding, sleep, and mood, followed by a comprehensive visit in the next few weeks.
If you had a vaginal birth, perineal tenderness usually eases with time, rest, and simple comfort measures. Keep the area clean and give your body space to heal. Watch for new redness, swelling, drainage, fever, or increasing pain.
Pain control matters because comfort enables you to move, eat, and sleep. If the plan isn’t working, that’s a reason to adjust it. Let us know. If you had a cesarean section during labor and delivery, we’ll provide guidance around activity limitations and incision care while healing. You’ll also get scheduled follow-up care as necessary.
With each patient, we provide guidance for pelvic-floor recovery and contraception options, as well as information about when it’s safe to ease back into exercise or sexual activity.
FAQs about having a healthy pregnancy
Here you’ll find quick answers to questions many first-time mothers ask about staying healthy throughout pregnancy.
How often should I see my OB during pregnancy?
Most patients are initially seen about every four weeks, and visits become more frequent in the third trimester. Your schedule can be adjusted based on your needs. Ask your team for their recommendations.
Who will deliver my baby if my regular doctor isn’t on call?
You’ll be cared for by the on-call HCH provider. That’s why our maternity care team encourages each patient to meet everyone during pregnancy so the face you see at delivery is familiar. “It’s OK to schedule with whoever you want, but we do recommend you strongly consider meeting everyone once,” says Dr. Carls.
Is acetaminophen ok to take during my pregnancy?
Generally, yes, with common-sense caution. “If you choose to use Tylenol, use the lowest dose that’s effective,” says Dr. Carls, noting that studies haven’t shown a statistically significant link to specific harms. Talk to your provider about what’s right for you if you’re unsure or have more questions about using acetaminophen as part of a healthy pregnancy.
What foods should I avoid while pregnant?
Keep it simple and check labels. “There are very few foods we actually say to stay away from,” Dr. Carls explains. For instance, leftovers are usually safe when appropriately reheated, but there are risks associated with consuming unpasteurized soft cheeses and certain types of fish.
Can I exercise while pregnant, and what activities are considered safe during pregnancy?
Yes, if your provider says it’s okay. “It’s important to maintain the lifestyle you had before pregnancy and listen to your body,” says Honig. “For example, many runners continue to run all through their pregnancies.”
Is it safe to travel during pregnancy, and when should I reconsider doing so?
Often, yes—short trips usually go fine if you feel well and your provider is on board. Reconsider or check in before traveling if you have any complications, feel unwell, or are nearing your due date.
What’s the difference between a midwife and a doula?
A certified nurse-midwife is a medical provider who delivers babies in a hospital setting. A doula offers non-clinical labor support and advocacy. Learn more about the differences between the two.
How do I know when labor has really started?
True labor contractions get stronger and closer together and don’t ease with rest or hydration. If you think your water broke, you’re bleeding more than spotting, or movement feels off, call your provider.
What can partners do to support a healthy pregnancy day-to-day?
Know the patient’s wishes and preferences, learn a few comfort measures and hands-on skills, and be a steady voice in the room advocating on behalf of the mom-to-be you’re supporting.
Can poor sleep harm my pregnancy?
Absolutely. Poor sleep can make everything feel harder, and it can often exacerbate stress and nausea as well. Inform your provider if you’re having trouble getting a good night’s rest so that they can offer recommendations and support.
At HCH, what types of pain relief are available during labor?
You can use movement, position changes, water, counter-pressure, and focused breathing; medications, such as IV options and epidurals, are also available. “If you’re having a vaginal birth, our midwife will be at your bedside, coaching positions and helping you work with your body for the best experience,” says Dr. Carls.
What warning signs should prompt an immediate call to my provider?
Heavy bleeding, severe headache, vision changes, chest pain, shortness of breath, one-sided leg swelling, fever, or a clear drop in your baby’s usual movement pattern. If something feels wrong, trust that feeling and call.
Does HCH support birth plans, and how flexible should mine be?
Yes. Bring a birth plan and keep it flexible so your team can match your preferences with what’s safest in the moment.
If I need an induction or cesarean, how will HCH support my preferences?
“I’m here to provide guardrails for the safety of you and your baby,” says Dr. Carls. “And, within reason, a lot of people can have a lot of options for what their childbirth experience looks like.” Using a birth plan to stipulate your preferences in advance will get your entire care team on the same page and give them a starting place for a discussion to go over options for next steps if induction or cesarean is deemed necessary.
Why give birth at Henry Community Health
Here, you’re not a number on a monitor. You’re a person with a story, a family, and a set of hopes we take seriously. The HCH maternity care blends everyday kindness with evidence-based care. We’re an accredited Baby-Friendly hospital, which means that skin-to-skin care, rooming-in, and hands-on lactation support are the norm, not the exception.
Our experienced staff includes board-certified physicians, NICU-trained pediatric hospitalists, professional nurses, and a certified nurse midwife (CNM), ensuring that every HCH patient receives consistent support from prenatal visits through delivery and beyond, including postpartum care and feeding.
Here, your maternity care stays connected from the first visit through birth and the weeks and months after. That continuity matters for the practical stuff (appointments, test results, portal questions, etc.) and for the challenging moments when reassurance is the treatment you need most.
Ready to take the next step?
Schedule a prenatal appointment with Henry Community Health’s maternity care team today by calling us at 765-521-1217.
Last updated: October 2025.
OB/GYN medical reviewers: Chris Carls, DO; Chrissy Honig, CNM.
Additional sources: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); Baby-Friendly USA.
