The most common symptoms of a UTI (bladder infection) are urinary frequency and painful urination. Typically the woman will complain that she voids small amounts of urine extremely frequently (several times per hour). She usually also complains that it hurts to urinate. Typically the pain is in the bladder and/or the suprapubic region. Sometimes a vaginitis will also give you painful urination, but in that case, the pain is usually locally on the vulva where the urine touches the skin.

If you think you have a UTI, you should call the doctor as the infection can usually be treated fairly easily with antibiotics.

After you’ve reached the point in the pregnancy where you’ve been feeling the baby move regularly (usually around 24 weeks), you should be concerned if you do not feel the baby move for a significant period of time, or if the movement decreases. Sometimes this is simply a matter of being distracted and not paying attention. If you eat or drink something that will raise your blood sugar and lie down and pay attention, most times you will begin to feel the baby move. If you do not, you should call the office (in the daytime) or come to labor and delivery.

The other time to go to the hospital is if you are in labor. If you are pre-term (before 37 weeks) you should come to the hospital if you are having regular contractions, less than 10 minutes apart, for an hour or more, particularly if accompanied by a change in vaginal discharge. Sometimes Braxton-Hicks contractions can seem pretty regular. If you are not sure, you could try drinking 32 oz of fluid and lying down. If the contractions persist, it would be best to come to the hospital for evaluation.

If you are at term (37 weeks or beyond), you should come to the hospital when the contractions are regular, coming at least every 5 minutes, and persistent for at least an hour. If you had a fast labor last time, you might want to discuss with the doctor when to come to the hospital.

Whether term or pre-term, you should come to the hospital if you experience rupture of membranes or have any significant amount of vaginal bleeding, whether or not you think you’re in labor.

Back pain in pregnancy is common and is caused by loosening of the joints and support ligaments of the pelvis, combined with the extra weight of the pregnancy and the shifts in the center of gravity caused by the pregnancy protruding from the front of your abdomen. There are several things that will help.

1. Pay attention to your posture. Slumping posture aggravates the tension in your back. Also, the American habit of standing on one leg creates uneven forces on your pelvis, further aggravating the situation. Try to stand and sit straight whenever possible. Try not to stand on one leg or lean to one side when sanding or sitting.
2. Lift with your legs and not you back. Squat to lift rather than bending from the waist.
3. Wear a pregnancy support belt. These belts, widely available in maternity stores, help to support the pregnancy and help to shift your center of gravity back toward your middle. If you have back pain, you should wear one whenever you will be on your feet for any length of time.
4. Back exercises will help to strengthen the muscles in you back. Click here (http://www.spine-health.com/wellness/exercise/strengthening-exercises-back-pain-during-pregnancy) for exercises to strengthen the muscles in your back. Click here (http://www.spine-health.com/wellness/exercise/stretching-exercises-back-pain-during-pregnancy) for stretching exercises which will improve flexibility and help to relax overburdened muscles.

If back pain is severe, or these measures do not help, be sure to discuss the issue with your doctor.

Generally, birth control pills are most effective, and easiest to remember if you take them at the same time each day. Also, associating taking your pill with something else you do each day at about the same time will make it easier to remember.

If however, you forget to take your pill on a given day, take it as soon as you remember. If it’s still the same day that the pill was due, there will be only a minor fluctuation in hormone levels and minimal chance of pregnancy.

If however, it’s the next day before you realize you’ve forgotten your pill, you can take the pill you missed, plus the pill for that day. This, however, will increase the risk of ovulation (and pregnancy) due to fairly dramatic hormonal shifts, and you may wish to use a back up method of birth control (such as condoms) for the rest of that cycle of pills.