Pregnancy questions

Pregnancy and childbirth raise a lot of questions, especially for new parents! Your body and your life are changing to accommodate a new little person, and that can be stressful when you don’t have all of the answers. We’ve collected years of questions from real parents and caregivers like you to create our FAQ page.

Keep in mind that The Mother Baby Center does not provide prenatal care. The Mother Baby Center is where you will deliver the baby. If you have questions about your pregnancy and health care during this time, please talk directly with your doctor, midwife or other provider.

If you’re looking for location-specific information (parking, amenities, visiting hours), please visit our locations page.

First trimester FAQs

Some home pregnancy tests say they work before a missed period, but they’re most accurate if you wait until the first day of your missed period. Your body begins producing the pregnancy hormone hCG about 10 days after conception, and the earlier you test, the harder it is to detect. If your cycles are irregular, try testing about three weeks after unprotected sex for the best results.

Yes, in most cases, staying exercise during pregnancy is safe and beneficial. Regular exercise can help boost energy, improve mood, and support a healthy pregnancy. Low-impact activities like walking, swimming, and prenatal yoga are great options. Always check with your provider before starting or continuing an exercise routine, especially if you have any medical conditions or pregnancy complications.

Pregnancy symptoms can start as early as five weeks in, or about a week after a missed period. Some of the most common early signs include nausea, tender breasts, frequent urination, and fatigue. By week eight, most people notice at least a few symptoms.

Eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, proteins (especially chicken, fish, eggs, nuts), and dairy (milk, yogurt, cheese) helps support a healthy pregnancy. Foods rich in folic acid, iron, calcium, and omega-3s are especially important for your baby’s development. Stay hydrated, and aim for a variety of nutrients to keep you and your baby healthy.

Certain foods and substances can pose risks during pregnancy. Avoid raw or undercooked seafood, deli meats, unpasteurized dairy, and high-mercury fish like swordfish and king mackerel. Limit caffeine and avoid alcohol, smoking, and recreational drugs. If you have questions about specific foods or medications, talk to your provider.

Cramping can happen early in pregnancy—even before you know you’re expecting—as the embryo implants in the uterus. It’s also common in the first trimester, especially with movement like rolling over in bed or exercising. This mild cramping is often caused by uterine ligament spasms or nearby nerve irritation and usually resolves on its own. If cramping persists or worsens, reach out to your provider right away, as it could indicate an ectopic pregnancy.

Every person and every pregnancy is different, but most people notice a growing belly between weeks 16 and 20. If you’ve been pregnant before, you may start showing earlier.

Many pregnant people experience cravings, with the majority noticing cravings by the 13th week. Some of the most common include chocolate, high-calorie carbs like pizza, fries, and chips, and protein-rich foods like chicken and steak.

Second trimester FAQs

During the second trimester, your breasts may grow due to increased fat and milk gland development. Your nipples may darken and develop small bumps, and your areolas may enlarge. Near the end of your pregnancy, you might notice a yellow, sticky fluid leaking from your nipples—this is colostrum, which will nourish your baby in the first few days after birth.

Most people begin feeling their baby move midway through the second trimester. At first, it may feel like gentle flutters. While your baby was moving before this, they were too small for you to feel. If this isn’t your first pregnancy, you might notice movement earlier.

Third trimester FAQs

In the third trimester, prenatal visits typically increase, and you’ll likely see your provider every two weeks. From week 36 until delivery, visits become weekly. These checkups are usually quick, but they’re an important part of monitoring your health and your baby’s development.

Cervical checks usually start between weeks 36 and 38. As your due date approaches, your cervix may begin thinning and softening in preparation for labor. Talk to your provider if you have questions about whether you need them.

Dilation refers to the widening of the cervix as your body prepares for labor. While it’s an important sign, being dilated doesn’t necessarily mean labor is imminent. Other signs, like losing the mucus plug, water breaking, or more frequent contractions, may also indicate labor is near, but not everyone experiences them the same way.

Labor and delivery FAQs

The average time to go into labor is 40 weeks. This is just an average, it is typical for most people to go into labor between weeks 38 and 41.

Every labor is different, but a good rule of thumb is the 5-1-1 rule: head to the hospital when contractions are five minutes apart, lasting one minute each, for at least an hour. You should also go in if your water breaks, you have heavy bleeding, or you notice a decrease in your baby’s movements. If you’re unsure, call your provider and they can help you decide if it’s time.

Your body needs time to heal after delivery, so don’t rush the process. Everyone loses postpartum weight at their own pace. Healthcare providers generally recommend aiming to return to pre-pregnancy weight within six months, but the timeline varies for each person, and it’s best to check with your provider if you’re curious.

Postpartum bleeding, called lochia, usually lasts about six weeks. It’s heaviest in the first 10 days before gradually tapering off. This is your body’s way of shedding the extra blood and tissue used during pregnancy. Contact your provider if you’re soaking a pad in an hour or passing clots larger than a quarter.

Don’t expect to bounce back in a few days. Women typically feel better in six to eight weeks. Your provider can help you develop a recovery plan that works for you.

Provider FAQs

To find a provider who delivers at The Mother Baby Center location of your choice, please visit the Find a Provider tool. All our providers are listed, including midwives. If you are interested in more than one location, be sure to check that the provider can deliver at either location.

When you choose a provider, you are usually selecting the group practice rather than a single physician or midwife for your prenatal care. We recommend asking how the clinic/practice will provide support to you during pregnancy and labor to see if it’s a good fit.

When choosing a provider, you should confirm the specific provider also has delivery privileges at the center you are interested in. If you are interested in more than one location, be sure to check that your provider can deliver at either location.

If your provider or one of their partners are unable to deliver the baby at The Mother Baby Center, then the on-call obstetrician from The Mother Baby Center will deliver your baby. We recommend that you check with your doctor to ensure that your medical records have been forwarded to us so that our staff has the necessary information for baby’s delivery.

If you are interested in transferring to a provider who delivers at The Mother Baby Center, please see our Find a Provider information. Once a provider/clinic is chosen, they will be able to help guide you in getting your medical records transferred to us.

Since transferring processes vary from clinic to clinic, please speak with your current facility and follow the recommended registration process. Request that your medical records be transferred ahead of your due date.

Insurance FAQs

Please talk with your care provider to discuss related insurance issues. There are a variety of payment options available.

Allina Health manages the labor and delivery part of The Mother Baby Center, therefore the delivering caregiver would be a patient of Abbott Northwestern Hospital, or United Hospital, or Mercy Hospital, which are Allina Health hospitals. You can find the major health plans and products that Allina Health accepts online by clicking here.

Please note that plans and products listed online are subject to change and may not be reflected until the next update. We strongly recommend confirming any health insurance coverage information directly with your health plan/insurer for complete accuracy. See other billing and paperwork related questions.

Check for mail that may be arriving from Allina Health or Children’s Minnesota (if applicable). Please call Allina Health billing services at 612-262-9000 or 1-800-859-5077.

You can also email us at [email protected].

To contact Children’s Minnesota’s billing office, call 952-992-5650.

If you go into labor in the Twin Cities metro and decide to deliver at one of The Mother Baby Centers we would be proud to provide you with care. Keep in mind, you should check with your insurance provider to ensure we are within network, however we will never turn away any laboring patient, no matter the individual’s insurance coverage.

Breastfeeding FAQs

Please visit our FAQ page to learn about breastfeeding, including hand-expressing milk and using a breast pump. Breast pump and breastfeeding supplies are available through Allina Health Home Oxygen & Medical Equipment, however, there are many brands available online and in stores that are great for various uses. For brands and other questions, please call:

Minneapolis: 612-863-5967

St. Paul: 651-241-8469

Coon Rapids: 763-236-7147

Yes. But first you need to be approved to donate through Minnesota Milk Bank for Babies. To become an approved donor:

  1. Contact Minnesota Milk Bank for Babies at [email protected] or 763-236-7430.
  2. Once you’re approved to donate, the affiliated milk bank will send you a kit explaining how to get the required blood testing done – all paid for by the milk bank.
  3. Start pumping and freezing your milk donation.
  4. After you drop your milk off at one of our depots (at our three locations), it will be safely and securely stored in our freezer. We will take care of shipping your milk for you.

Miscellaneous FAQs

Unfortunately, The Mother Baby Center does not offer prenatal care; but it is where you will deliver the baby. However, pregnancy and prenatal care are offered in our Allina Health clinics by either an obstetrician/gynecologist (OB/GYN), a family medicine doctor or a certified nurse-midwife. To find an Allina Health obstetrics provider who delivers at The Mother Baby Center, please visit our Deliver Here page.

Minnesota Perinatal Physicians, part of Allina Health, offers expert and personalized high-risk obstetrical care in the upper Midwest. Patients must be referred by their primary care provider. To make a referral or schedule an appointment at any clinic location, call our centralized scheduling department at 612-863-4502. You can learn more about caring for high-risk pregnancies at our Minnesota Perinatal Physicians web page.

We sincerely apologize if there is an error on your child’s birth certificate. To discuss your situation, please directly contact one of our locations where you delivered the baby.

We sincerely apologize if there’s an issue with your child’s Social Security card. Unfortunately, due to privacy issues, the hospital cannot resubmit it to the Social Security (SSN) office. If you did not receive a card, you may need to bring your child’s birth certificate to the SSN office and obtain a card. If there’s an error on the card, please contact the SSN office.

If you need any medical records for the SSN card, please contact Allina Health Medical Records (HIM) department directly at 612-262-2300 to request a copy of your records, or with any other release of information questions. Online information can be found here.

We appreciate your generous offer; however, we already provide hats for all babies born at The Mother Baby Center.

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