Pregnancy Period

Different Faces of Pregnancy

2011-06-11T11:30:00.000-07:00

Pregnancy-The Facts About Bottle Feeding

2011-06-11T11:29:00.000-07:00

Best Photos Around the World

2011-05-30T10:57:00.001-07:00

http://bestphotosaroundtheworld.blogspot.com/

Description

2009-06-12T23:36:00.000-07:00

First month
At the end of the first month, the embryo is about a third of an inch long, and its head and trunk—plus the beginnings of arms and legs—have started to develop. The embryo receives nutrients and eliminates waste through the umbilical cord and placenta. By the end of the first month, the liver and digestive system begin to develop, and the heart starts to beat. Second month
In this month, the heart starts to pump and the nervous system (including the brain and spinal cord) begins to develop. The 1 in (2.5 cm) long fetus has a complete cartilage skeleton, which is replaced by bone cells by month's end. Arms, legs and all of the major organs begin to appear. Facial features begin to form.

Third month
By now, the fetus has grown to 4 in (10 cm) and weighs a little more than an ounce (28 g). Now the major blood vessels and the roof of the mouth are almost completed, as the face starts to take on a more recognizably human appearance. Fingers and toes appear. All the major organs are now beginning to form; the kidneys are now functional and the four chambers of the heart are complete.
Fourth month
The fetus begins to kick and swallow, although most women still can't feel the baby move at this point. Now 4 oz (112 g), the fetus can hear and urinate, and has established sleep-wake cycles. All organs are now fully formed, although they will continue to grow for the next five months. The fetus has skin, eyebrows, and hair.

The Joy Of Pregnancy

2008-10-07T09:47:00.001-07:00

Quand il s'agit de la grossesse, la plupart des premiers temps immédiatement penser à la maladie matin, les crampes, les sautes d'humeur, vos envies bizarres, et une peur mortelle de votre corps n'est pas le même jamais. Mais demander à toute femme qui a été par la grossesse et elle s'en rappellera parfaitement. Grossesse mai être une sévères changement, mais il est également l'ouverture d'une femme dans les domaines de la divinité. La grossesse est la tour de potier de la création, c'est une joie d'être célébrée. Un heureux, la santé durant la grossesse est le chemin d'accès à une vie de bonheur maternelle. Dans certaines parties du monde, la grossesse est synonyme de renaissance, parce que le moment est venu vous faire face à la plupart des changements physiques et émotionnels en vous-même, sans parler de l'évolution sociale. Vous êtes vraiment à nourrir une autre vie dans votre ventre. Vous aurez bientôt réaliser que votre capacité d'amour pour cette vie est illimitée et inconditionnelle. Il est très important de comprendre exactement ce qu'il faut faire et comment s'occuper de vous pendant votre grossesse. Il va être un merveilleux voyage que vous vous en souvenez aussi longtemps que vous vivez. Dès le moment où vous reconnaître les premiers symptômes de la grossesse au moment où il est temps de donner naissance, vous devez être au courant de tous les choix et les options dont vous disposez, de sorte que vous puissiez prendre les bonnes décisions. C'est aussi le moment où vous devriez envisager la banque de sang de cordon. Si vous décidez de stocker les prises de sang de cordon du cordon ombilical de votre bébé, vous pouvez utiliser les cellules souches si votre bébé, vous ou tout autre membre face à la menace de nombreuses maladies mortelles qui peuvent être guéris par la transplantation de sang de cordon ou de la thérapie de cellules souches . Une des premières choses à faire est d'apprendre à identifier les symptômes de la grossesse et de la façon de calculer votre date d'échéance. De nombreuses mères à se maintenir un blog à partir du moment où ils l'avis de signe précoce de la grossesse. La grossesse ne sont pas tous les symptômes sont faciles à passer par - certains sont difficiles à mettre vers le haut avec. Voici où vous pouvez connaître à quoi s'attendre et comment faire face à ces douleurs. Le droit de nutrition et régime alimentaire équilibré peut aller un long chemin pour vous aider. Découvrez ce que vous devriez éviter et ce qui est bon - tout savoir sur la grossesse gain de poids, le type. Renseignez-vous sur les médicaments à prendre et à éviter. Une femme enceinte doit se détendre; obtenir un bon sommeil et l'exercice d'avoir une grossesse en santé - Lisez à propos de conseils sur la grossesse, le droit d'exercices.

Healthy Pregnancy

2008-08-25T09:52:00.000-07:00

INTRODUCTION — A normal pregnancy lasts 37 to 42 weeks, counting from the first day of the last menstrual period. A pregnancy that continues beyond 37 weeks is called a "term" pregnancy. Preterm labor is defined as labor that begins before 37 weeks of pregnancy.
Approximately 12 percent of babies in the United States are born preterm; 80 percent of these are due to preterm labor that occurs on its own or after preterm premature rupture of the fetal membranes (or "broken bag of waters"). The remaining 20 percent are planned early deliveries that are done for maternal or fetal problems that prevent the woman from being able to safely continue with her pregnancy.
Not all women who have preterm labor will deliver their baby early; estimates are that between 30 and 50 percent of women who develop preterm labor will go on to deliver their infant at term. If preterm labor leads to an early delivery, the premature newborn is at risk for problems related to incomplete development of its organ systems. These problems include difficulty with breathing, staying warm, feeding, as well as injury to the eyes, intestines, and nervous system.
Preterm birth is a major cause of newborn complications and death. Regular prenatal care can help to identify some, but not all, women at risk for preterm labor. Should preterm labor occur, measures can be taken to delay delivery and decrease the risk of newborn complications.
RISK FACTORS — It is difficult to predict who will develop preterm labor. Certain obstetrical conditions and other factors are known to increase a woman's risk. However, most preterm births occur in women who have no known risk factors.
The strongest risk factor for preterm birth is a previous preterm birth, although most women who have had a preterm birth will have a term pregnancy in the future. As an example, one study found that only 22 percent of women with a previous preterm delivery had a preterm delivery with their next pregnancy.
Other factors that may increase a woman's risk include
Use of certain illicit drugs, such as cocaine
Cigarette smoking
Some infections
Low prepregnancy weight and low weight gain during pregnancy
Being pregnant with twins, triplets, or more
A history of cervical surgery (eg, conization or cone biopsy) for abnormal Pap smears, if the amount of the cervix removed is large (eg, more than 2 cm in length)
Abnormalities of the uterus
Uterine bleeding, especially in the second or third trimester
Moderate to severe anemia early in the pregnancy
A short interval (less than 18 months) between pregnancies (deliveries)
Abdominal surgery during pregnancy
Black women appear to have double the incidence of preterm labor and delivery when compared to white women. The risk of preterm delivery is also higher in women under 18 to 20 years of age. Older maternal age alone (over 35 to 40) is not associated with an increased risk of preterm labor. However, older women are more likely to have other conditions (such as hypertension and diabetes) that can cause complications requiring preterm delivery. Infertility treatments that result in multiple gestations (eg, twins, triplets) have contributed to a increased risk of preterm labor.
CAUSES — It is usually difficult to identify the cause of preterm labor. Four general categories causes include:
Uterine bleeding — Conditions like placenta previa (when the placenta partially or completely covers the cervix) and placental abruption (when the placenta separates from the uterus before delivery) can cause the fetal membranes to rupture prematurely and can trigger preterm labor.
Stretching of the uterus — Having twins, triplets, or more, or having polyhydramnios (an excessive amount of amniotic fluid around the baby) causes stretching of the uterus, which can lead to uterine contractions and preterm labor.
Bacteria or inflammation — Bacteria or inflammation caused by an infection in the uterus can stimulate the production of hormones and other substances that trigger uterine contractions.
Physical or psychological stress — Severe stress can lead to the release of hormones that cause uterine contractions and preterm labor.
PREDICTING PRETERM DELIVERY — Research is ongoing to identify a chemical or physical marker that predicts whether and when premature delivery will occur. Two tests have been identified that may be helpful in some settings.
Fetal fibronectin — A substance called fetal fibronectin is released when the fetal membranes begin to change prior to labor. Studies have shown that if this substance is not present in high concentrations, premature delivery is unlikely. If there are high amounts of fetal fibronectin, it does not always mean that the woman will deliver prematurely.
Cervical length — Ultrasound measurement of the cervix can help to predict the risk of preterm delivery; the risk increases as cervical length decreases .
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS — The signs of preterm labor are similar to the signs of labor at the end of pregnancy:
Change in type or amount of vaginal discharge (watery, mucus, or bloody)
Pelvic or lower abdominal pressure or pain
Constant, low, dull backache
Mild or menstrual-like abdominal cramps, with or without diarrhea
Regular or frequent contractions or uterine tightening that may be painless
Ruptured membranes (broken water)
Braxton Hicks contractions (also called false labor contractions) are uterine contractions (tightening of the uterus) that occur less than eight times in an hour or four times every twenty minutes; these contractions are not accompanied by bleeding or vaginal discharge and are relieved by resting. These are normal and do not increase the risk of preterm birth. However, it is often difficult to tell the difference between preterm labor and false labor without having a pelvic examination.
In the early stages of labor, a woman may experience cramping that is relatively mild and occurs irregularly. At this stage the discomfort may be similar to menstrual cramping and may cause low back pain. As uterine contractions strengthen they usually become more painful and occur at regular and shorter intervals.
In addition, a woman may notice excessive mucus discharge from the vagina. Light bleeding or spotting is also common. The fetal membranes can rupture (known as "water breaking") before or during preterm labor. If this happens, a trickle to a sudden gush of fluid will drain from the vagina.
A woman should contact her hospital or healthcare provider immediately if she is concerned she could be in preterm labor or has other concerning symptoms. In particular, a woman should call if she has more than six contractions in an hour that continue despite lying down, if she has leakage of amniotic fluid, or has any vaginal bleeding.
The healthcare provider will perform a pelvic examination to determine if the membranes have ruptured and if the cervix is effacing (thinning) or dilating (beginning to open).
HOME MONITORING — A healthcare provider may ask a woman to monitor herself for contractions. This is best accomplished by lying down and gently feeling the uterus with the fingertips. Normally, the uterus should be relaxed, soft, and easily indented by pushing on it with the fingers. During a contraction, the uterus becomes firm and difficult to indent. The time between the start of one contraction and the start of the next indicates how often contractions are occurring.
TREATMENTS — Treatment can be given in an attempt to slow or stop preterm labor. The primary goal of treatment is to delay delivery long enough that steroids, which promote development of the baby's lungs, can be given. Delaying preterm delivery also allows the woman to be transferred, if necessary, to a facility that can provide specialized care to a premature infant.
Treatment to delay delivery is typically recommended if the woman is less than 34 weeks pregnant because infants born before 34 weeks are at particularly high risk for complications of premature birth. However, if the mother or infant's health are at risk, labor may be allowed to proceed. Labor may also be allowed to proceed if the mother is more than 34 weeks pregnant or if tests show that the baby's lungs are fully developed.
A woman in preterm labor will be admitted to the hospital for close monitoring while medications to stop labor are administered. An intravenous line will be inserted to give medications and fluids, and a fetal monitor will be used to measure uterine contractions and the baby's heart rate.
Treatments to stop labor — If the mother and baby are healthy, medications are often used to try to relax the uterine muscle and stop contractions. Medications used to stop or slow labor are called "tocolytic" agents. They include terbutaline, magnesium sulfate, nifedipine, and indomethacin. Some of these drugs are given intravenously or by injection while others can be taken orally (show table 3).
Tocolytics are usually given along with a steroid (glucocorticoid) injection (see below). Tocolytic medications are intended to delay delivery for several hours and optimally for 48 hours.
While tocolytics are used, the mother is monitored for medication side effects. If labor stops, the woman is usually kept in the hospital for a period of time to monitor for more uterine contractions. Depending upon a number of factors, the woman may be discharged home or asked to stay in the hospital. While at home, the woman may be asked to limit her activities, and she should contact her hospital or healthcare provider immediately if signs of labor return.
Treatments to help the infant — Steroids (glucocorticoids) can speed the development of a preterm infant's lungs, and are often administered during preterm labor. Steroids help the lungs mature and may promote the production of surfactant, a substance that prevents the collapse of alveoli (small sacs in the lungs where air is exchanged). Steroids also decrease the infant's risk for intraventricular hemorrhage (bleeding into the brain) and other complications affecting the bowels and circulatory system.
Steroids are usually administered if the mother is between 24 and 34 weeks gestation. Before 24 weeks gestation, the fetus is too immature to benefit from steroids. After 34 weeks, the infant's lungs are usually sufficiently developed, although steroids may be given if fetal lung tests suggest that the lungs are not mature. The most commonly used steroid is betamethasone.
The timing of the dose of steroids is important. Steroids must be given to the mother as an injection several hours before the infant is delivered. A second dose is usually given 24 hours after the first dose. There is probably some benefit from steroids, even if the woman delivers before the second dose is given. The greatest benefit is seen when the steroid is given at least 48 hours before the infant is delivered. It is not usually necessary to repeat the steroid treatment later in pregnancy if preterm labor recurs.
If the mother delivers early, a number of treatments can be given to support the premature infant. Over the past decade, significant advances have been made in the care of premature newborns. However, not all hospitals are equipped to care for them. For this reason, it is important that a woman who is at high risk for premature delivery be treated in a hospital with a neonatal intensive care unit.
PREVENTION — One of the most important things a pregnant woman can do to prevent preterm labor is to stop habits that can be harmful, such as smoking and use of illegal drugs.
Women with a history of a previous preterm birth at less than 34 weeks of pregnancy (due to spontaneous labor or premature rupture of membranes) may be offered a progesterone supplement, either as an injection or a vaginal gel, to prevent recurrent preterm labor. Progesterone supplementation is begun between 16 and 26 weeks of pregnancy and continued until 36 weeks. There is no evidence that this drug is effective in women with NO previous history of preterm labor. In addition, it has not been effective in women with multiple gestations (eg, twins).
WHERE TO GET MORE INFORMATION — Your healthcare provider is the best source of information for questions and concerns related to your medical problem. Because no two patients are exactly alike and recommendations can vary from one person to another, it is important to seek guidance from a provider who is familiar with your individual situation.

Your Baby's Due Date

2008-07-28T23:49:00.000-07:00

Two Ways to Figure the Due Date
Most women don't know the exact date their baby was conceived, but they usually know the day their last menstrual period began. The doctor subtracts 2 weeks from the date of the last period as an estimate of when conception occurred. Your estimated due date is 38 weeks after the date of conception (40 weeks after the first day of your last period).
There is a second way to determine your due date. Add 7 days to the date of the beginning of your last menstrual period, then subtract 3 months. This gives you the approximate date of delivery. For example, if your last period began on January 20, your estimated due date is October 27.

FOLIC ACID FORTIFICATION

2008-06-29T23:05:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Public Health Service recommended in September 1992 that all women of childbearing age consume 400 micrograms (ug) of folic acid daily to reduce their risk of having a pregnancy affected with spina bifida or other neural tube defects. Folic acid is a B vitamin. For women, this amount of folic acid on a daily basis spina bifida or anencephaly, both of which are neural tube defects (NTDs) in the baby.

PHS suggested several approaches by which this level could be reached:
Improved dietary habits
Fortification of the U.S. food supply
Daily use of folic acid supplements by women throughout their childbearing years.

History of Food Fortification:
Addition of iodine to salt was one of the earliest successful fortification programs. Iodine fortification was initiated in the U.S. in 1924 to prevent goiter, cretinism and other symptoms of severe iodine deficiency.
In the early 1930s, vitamin D was first added to cow's milk to aid in absorption of calcium and phosphorus, preventing development of rickets.
In 1938, voluntary enrichment of flours and breads was initiated to prevent the development of deficiency diseases in the general population. Enrichments included thiamin for beriberi, niacin for pellagra, riboflavin essential for proper functioning of vitamin B6 and niacin, and iron for iron deficiency anemia. Mandatory requirements were effective in 1943.
There are various other fortification requirements to enhance the quality of food such as vitamin A added to low and nonfat cow's milk and certain other dairy products, and lysine added to certain corn products to enhance protein quality.

Festivals in India

2008-06-23T23:58:00.000-07:00

India, the land of festivals and fairs. It is a land of festivity - religious as well as folkloristic. Whether you go to the East or the West, North or the South you would be able to enjoy every month a festival or a fair. Every day of the year there is a festival celebrated in some part of the country. Be it cultural or religious, it gives everyone an opportunity to enjoy and join the festivity. More... http://www.pagesofindia.com

Nutrition and the Pregnant Vegetarian

2008-06-23T04:09:00.000-07:00

Like all expectant mothers, vegetarians need to pay close attention to the foods they eat and the nutrients those foods contain. This need is a constant, and does not change because of a lifestyle choice. "What you consume when you are pregnant matters more because you are not only taking care of your own body, but you are starting the beginnings of a new one," says Dr. Amy Lanou, Nutritional Director for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. "The nutrients of special importance during pregnancy don't vary depending on what your diet is, they remain important."

Calcium is crucial to the development of bones and teeth. Even if a woman has an insufficient calcium intake, the baby will still get what it needs from the mother's body. Therefore to ensure her bone health, vegetarian and especially vegan women should be sure to consume calcium rich foods like kale, collards, broccoli, cabbage, legumes, enriched soy and rice milks, calcium fortified orange juice and breakfast cereals.

Folate or folic acid is instrumental in neural development. Vegetarians have a tendency to have a higher folate intake than do omnivorous people, because their diet often includes folate rich foods such as dark green leafy vegetables and legumes. If a woman is concerned about her folate consumption, she can always take a supplement.

Iron is needed to make hemoglobin for both mother and child. During pregnancy, iron supplements are commonly recommended in addition to iron-rich foods such as whole and enriched grains, legumes, soy products, nuts, seeds, dried fruits, andvegetables.

Vitamin B-12 plays an important role in fetal brain development, normal cell growth and protein synthesis. While not a lot of B-12 is needed, vegans need to pay special attention to this need. Omnivorous or vegetarian people usually meet their B-12 requirement because it is rather ubiquitous in animal based foods, but vegans don't have a dietary source of vitamin B-12. For these women, enriched or fortified soy or rice milk, nutritional yeast, and supplements are the best sources of B-12.

Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, and a woman's need for Vitamin D doubles during pregnancy. Vitamin D doesn't exist in that many foods naturally. Therefore, it is important for pregnant vegetarians and vegans to incorporate fortified milk, soy and rice milk, cereals and orange juice into the diet.

Fetal development in the first trimester

2008-06-04T04:26:00.000-07:00

You're pregnant. Congratulations! You'll undoubtedly spend the months ahead wondering how your baby is growing and developing. What does your baby look like? How big is he or she? When will you hear the heartbeat?
Fetal development typically follows a predictable course. To help answer some of these questions, check out this weekly calendar of events for your baby's first three months in the womb.
Week 1: Getting readyIt may seem strange, but you're not actually pregnant the first week or two of the time allotted to your pregnancy. Yes, you read that correctly!
Conception typically occurs about two weeks after your period begins. To calculate your due date, your health care provider will count ahead 40 weeks from the start of your last period. This means your period is counted as part of your pregnancy - even though you weren't pregnant at the time.
Week 2: FertilizationThe sperm and egg unite in one of your fallopian tubes to form a one-celled entity called a zygote. If more than one egg is released and fertilized, you may have multiple zygotes.
The zygote has 46 chromosomes - 23 from you and 23 from your partner. These chromosomes contain genetic material that will determine your baby's sex and traits such as eye color, hair color, height, facial features and - at least to some extent - intelligence and personality.
Soon after fertilization, the zygote travels down the fallopian tube toward the uterus. At the same time, it will begin dividing rapidly to form a cluster of cells resembling a tiny raspberry. The inner group of cells will become the embryo. The outer group of cells will become the membranes that nourish and protect it.
Week 3: ImplantationThe zygote - by this time made up of about 500 cells - is now known as a blastocyst. When it reaches your uterus, the blastocyst will burrow into the uterine wall for nourishment. The placenta, which will nourish your baby throughout the pregnancy, also begins to form.
By the end of this week, you may be celebrating a positive pregnancy test.
Week 4: The embryonic period beginsThe fourth week marks the beginning of the embryonic period, when the baby's brain, spinal cord, heart and other organs begin to form. Your baby is now 1/25 of an inch long.
The embryo is now made of three layers. The top layer - the ectoderm - will give rise to a groove along the midline of your baby's body. This will become the neural tube, where your baby's brain, spinal cord, spinal nerves and backbone will develop.
Your baby's heart and a primitive circulatory system will form in the middle layer of cells - the mesoderm. This layer of cells will also serve as the foundation for your baby's bones, muscles, kidneys and much of the reproductive system.
The inner layer of cells - the endoderm - will become a simple tube lined with mucous membranes. Your baby's lungs, intestines and bladder will develop here.
Week 5: Baby's heart begins to beatYour baby at week five (three weeks after conception)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At week five, your baby is 1/17 of an inch long - about the size of the tip of a pen.
This week, your baby's heart and circulatory system are taking shape. Your baby's blood vessels will complete a circuit, and his or her heart will begin to beat. Although you won't be able to hear it yet, the motion of your baby's beating heart may be detected with an ultrasound exam.
With these changes, blood circulation begins - making the circulatory system the first functioning organ system.
Week 6: The neural tube closesYour baby at week six (four weeks after conception)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Growth is rapid this week. Just four weeks after conception, your baby is about 1/8 of an inch long. The neural tube along your baby's back is now closed, and your baby's heart is beating with a regular rhythm.
Basic facial features will begin to appear, including an opening for the mouth and passageways that will make up the inner ear. The digestive and respiratory systems begin to form as well.
Small blocks of tissue that will form your baby's connective tissue, ribs and muscles are developing along your baby's midline. Small buds will soon grow into arms and legs.
Week 7: The umbilical cord appearsYour baby at week seven (five weeks after conception)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seven weeks into your pregnancy, your baby is 1/3 of an inch long - a little bigger than the top of a pencil eraser. He or she weighs less than an aspirin tablet.
The umbilical cord - the link between your baby and the placenta - is now clearly visible. The cavities and passages needed to circulate spinal fluid in your baby's brain have formed, but your baby's skull is still transparent.
The arm bud that sprouted last week now resembles a tiny paddle. Your baby's face takes on more definition this week, as a mouth perforation, tiny nostrils and ear indentations become visible.
Week 8: Baby's fingers and toes formEight weeks into your pregnancy, your baby is just over 1/2 of an inch long.
Your baby will develop webbed fingers and toes this week. Wrists, elbows and ankles are clearly visible, and your baby's eyelids are beginning to form. The ears, upper lip and tip of the nose also become recognizable.
As your baby's heart becomes more fully developed, it will pump at 150 beats a minute - about twice the usual adult rate.
Week 9: Movement beginsYour baby at week nine (seven weeks after conception)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Your baby is now nearly 1 inch long and weighs a bit less than 1/8 of an ounce. The embryonic tail at the bottom of your baby's spinal cord is shrinking, helping him or her look less like a tadpole and more like a developing person.
Your baby's head - which is nearly half the size of his or her entire body - is now tucked down onto the chest. Nipples and hair follicles begin to form. Your baby's pancreas, bile ducts, gallbladder and anus are in place. The internal reproductive organs, such as testes or ovaries, start to develop.
Your baby may begin moving this week, but you won't be able to feel it for quite a while yet.
Week 10: Neurons multiplyYour baby at week 10 (eight weeks after conception)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By now, your baby's vital organs have a solid foundation. The embryonic tail has disappeared completely, and your baby has fully separated fingers and toes. The bones of your baby's skeleton begin to form.
This week, your baby's brain will produce almost 250,000 new neurons every minute.
Your baby's eyelids are no longer transparent. The outer ears are starting to assume their final form, and tooth buds are forming as well. If your baby is a boy, his testes will start producing the male hormone testosterone.
Week 11: Baby's sex may be apparentYour baby at week 11 (nine weeks after conception)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From now until your 20th week of pregnancy - the halfway mark - your baby will increase his or her weight 30 times and will about triple in length. To make sure your baby gets enough nutrients, the blood vessels in the placenta are growing larger and multiplying.
Your baby is now officially described as a fetus. Your baby's ears are moving up and to the side of the head this week. By the end of the week, your baby's external genitalia will develop into a recognizable penis or clitoris and labia majora.
Week 12: Baby's fingernails and toenails appearTwelve weeks into your pregnancy, your baby is nearly 3 inches long and weighs about 4/5 of an ounce. Your baby's head is nearly half the size of his or her entire body.

What Increases Your Risk

2008-05-17T02:59:00.000-07:00

It is hard to predict who is at risk for preterm labor. Some women with risk factors do not have early labor. Others with no known risk factors do have early labor.
Related Articles
Preeclampsia and High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy - What Increases Your Risk
Preterm Labor - Topic Overview
» More birth Articles
Of all women who see a health professional about their preterm contractions (before 37 weeks, without preterm premature rupture of membranes (pPROM), about half will actually deliver at full term.

Preterm labor and preterm birth

Most premature births happen after naturally occurring, or spontaneous, preterm labor (as opposed to a medically necessary preterm birth, when the baby must be delivered as quickly as possible to prevent harm to mother or baby).
Experts say that spontaneous preterm labor is often the result of a combination of factors. The most common medical risk factors for a spontaneous preterm birth, in order from most to least risk, are:6
Pregnancy with twins, triplets, or more. (Use of assisted reproductive technology (ART) or superovulation increases the risk of multiple pregnancy, which carries a high risk of premature birth and resulting medical complications.7)
In vitro fertilization (IVF), a type of ART. IVF twins tend to be born earlier than naturally-conceived twins.7
A past preterm delivery.
Vaginal bleeding in the second trimester.
Infection in the urinary or reproductive tract, including the vagina.
Age younger than 18 years.
Mother's low body weight for height (body mass index).
Cigarette smoking during pregnancy.
Frequent contractions.
Other factors that increase your risk for premature labor include:
Use of cocaine or methamphetamine.
Too much amniotic fluid (polyhydramnios).
A significantly shortened cervix, as seen on ultrasound.
Less common conditions linked to spontaneous preterm labor include:
A cervix that doesn't stay tightly closed until near your due date (incompetent cervix).
A history of two or more induced abortions. Risk increases with each additional abortion.8
A new pregnancy within 3 months of the end of your last pregnancy.
Problems with the uterus, such as an abnormally-shaped or overstretched uterus (too much amniotic fluid or twins or more can overstretch the uterus and rupture the amniotic sac).
Previous surgery on your cervix, such as a cone biopsy. Having a loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) also raises preterm labor risk.9
Exposure to the drug DES (diethylstilbestrol) before your own birth.
Low prepregnancy weight or low weight gain during pregnancy.
Not eating a balanced diet.

TOP Websites

2008-04-04T23:33:00.000-07:00

Pregnancy.org
Preconception, Pregnancy and Early Childhood ...If you're trying to get pregnant, pregnant or have a family, we're the best resource for Pregnancy and Baby. We cover Getting Pregnant, Pregnancy, ...www.pregnancy.org/

Pregnancy: Humorous week-by-week calendar and free pregnancy tickers
Humorous week-by-week pregnancy calendar and pregnancy tickers - 100% http://free.pregnancy.baby-gaga.com/

Pregnancy Info: Birth, Baby, and Maternity Advice
Making sense of the confusing symptoms and signs of pregnancy.
www.pregnancy-info.net/

Healthy PregnancyPregnancy can be a joyous time.
But it also can be a time of uncertainty and worry. Getting informed is the first step in keeping yourself and your baby ...
www.4woman.gov/Pregnancy/

Parent

2008-04-02T05:19:00.000-07:00

A parent is a father or mother; one who sires or gives birth to and/or nurtures and raises an offspring. The different role of parents varies throughout the tree of life, and is especially complex in human culture.
Mother
A mother is the biological or social female parent of a child or offspring. The maternal bond describes the feelings the mother has for her (or another's) child. In the case of a mammal such as a human, the mother gestates her child (called first an embryo, then a fetus) in the uterus from conception until the fetus is sufficiently well-developed to be born. The mother then goes into labour and gives birth. Once the child is born, the mother produces milk to feed the child.

Quitting Smoking May Be Harder If Mom Smoked During Pregnancy

2008-03-25T02:27:00.000-07:00

Quitting smoking may be more difficult for individuals whose mothers smoked during pregnancy, according to animal research conducted by Duke University Medical Center researchers.

Prenatal exposure to nicotine is known to alter areas of the brain critical to learning, memory and reward. Scientists at the Duke Center for Nicotine and Smoking Cessation Research have discovered that these alterations may program the brain for relapse to nicotine addiction. Rodents exposed to nicotine before birth self administer more of the drug after periods of abstinence than those that had not been exposed.
The study suggests that pregnant women should quit smoking to avoid exposing their unborn children to nicotine, and that they should do so without the use of nicotine products such as patches or gums that also present a risk to the baby, the researchers said.
"Smoking during pregnancy can harm the baby in ways that extend far beyond preterm delivery or low birth weight," said lead study investigator Edward Levin, Ph.D., a professor of biological psychiatry. "It causes changes in the brain development of the baby that can last a lifetime."
Results of the study appear this week in the online issue of the journal Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior. The work was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and Philip Morris USA.
Levin's team exposed pregnant rats to nicotine. Once the offspring grew to adolescence, they were allowed to self administer nicotine as often as they wanted. To self administer the drug, the rats pressed a lever that caused a dose of nicotine to be delivered intravenously. Each push of the lever was roughly equivalent to a hit from a cigarette.
The researchers studied two groups of rats: those that had been exposed to nicotine prenatally and those that had not. Initially, both groups of rats consumed nicotine at the same rates -- about ten hits per session. After four weeks, the researchers forced the rats to go "cold turkey" for a week, during which they had no access to nicotine.
Once the scientists restored access to nicotine again, they witnessed a dramatic difference in the rates at which the two groups resumed the habit. The rats that had been exposed prenatally took nearly double the nicotine hits compared with those that had not.
While the rates of smoking in the United States are declining, approximately a quarter of Americans have mothers who smoked during pregnancy, Levin said. Previous studies have shown these individuals have a higher chance of sudden infant death syndrome, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, obesity and even of becoming a lifelong smoker themselves, Levin said.
"It is easy to quit smoking -- anyone can do it, for a brief time," Levin said. "But not taking it up again -- that is the part that has proven so difficult for most people, especially those who have been exposed to nicotine before birth."
Levin and his colleagues say that different smoking cessation approaches should be taken in individuals who have been exposed to nicotine prenatally. Whether or not a person has been exposed to nicotine while in the womb becomes another part of their medical profile that helps doctors tailor treatment to the specific needs of the patient, Levin said. Some other factors shown to influence a person's ability to quit include gender, age, state of mental health and genetics, he added.
Other researchers participating in the study were Susan Lawrence, Ann Petro, Kofi Horton, Frederic J. Seidler and Theodore A. Slotkin.

Should I Change My Diet During Pregnancy?

2008-03-24T01:56:00.000-07:00

Good nutrition before you’re pregnant will mean a healthier you and baby. If you’re already eating a well-balanced, nutritious diet now few, if any, changes will be necessary during pregnancy. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, also referred to as the ACOG, recommends that pregnant women increase their pre-pregnancy servings of the four basic food groups to include the following:

At least four servings of fruits and vegetables. This is important for making sure you consume enough vitamins and minerals through food, in addition to any prenatal vitamins your health care provider has suggested during your pregnancy.
At least four servings of whole-grain or enriched bread and cereal to ensure you have enough energy during your pregnancy.
At least four or more serving of milk and dairy products (not including butter or margarine) for the calcium you need during pregnancy.
You’ll also need to consume at least three servings of meat, fish, poultry, chicken, eggs, nuts, dried beans, or peas to ensure an adequate level of protein in your diet.
A well-balanced diet during pregnant helps ensure that both you and your baby are healthy.

The only necessary recommended daily allowance or RDA that is difficult to achieve through diet is iron. In most cases, your physician will prescribe an iron supplement during pregnancy. Also, be sure to follow any additional diet or vitamin supplementations recommendations that your personal physician recommends during your pregnancy.

Meat and Meat Alternatives

2008-03-20T02:18:00.000-07:00

5.5 ounce equivalents (or the amount of a food that has a similar nutrition value as 5.5 ounces of meat)

Count as 1 ounce equivalent: 1 ounce lean meat, fish, or poultry; 1 egg; 1 slice lunch meat; 1 tablespoon peanut butter; 1/4 cup cooked kidney, pinto, or garbanzo beans.

Fruit Group—2 cups
Count as 1 cup: 1 cup (8 ounces) 100% juice; 1 large banana or orange; 1 small apple; 1 cup canned fruit. Include one Vitamin C source such as an orange or orange juice every day.

Vegetable Group—2.5 cups
Count as 1 cup: 1 cup cooked vegetables; 2 cups raw leafy vegetables; 1 cup (8 ounces) 100% juice. Include one serving of a dark green leafy vegetable every day.
Grain Group—6 ounce equivalents (or the amount of a food that has a similar nutrition value to 6 ounces of a grain)
Count as 1 ounce equivalent: 1 slice 100% whole grain bread; 1 cup whole grain, ready-to-eat cereal; ½ cup cooked cereal, rice, or pasta, ½ “mini” bagel, 1 small tortilla, 6 inches in diameter; 1 pancake, 4½ inches in diameter.
Oils and Solid Fats—use sparingly
Common portions: 1 tablespoon corn, safflower, or cottonseed oil; 1 tablespoon margarine; 1 tablespoon mayonnaise; 1 ounce nuts; and 4 large olives.
Most cakes, pies, cookies, soft drinks, sugar, honey, candy, jams, jellies, gravies, butter, and sour cream have either an oil or solid fat and may be loaded with simple sugars. Eat them in moderation; save them to eat only if you need extra calories after eating the basic needed foods.

Recommended Servings

2008-03-18T22:02:00.001-07:00

*Based on a 2000 calorie diet. Your needs may vary depending on age, sex, and activity level.
Dairy Group—3 cups per day; be sure to choose lower fat selections
Count as 1 cup: 1 cup (8 ounces) 1% or skim milk; 1 cup low-fat yogurt; 2 cups low-fat or fat-free cottage cheese; 1½ cups low-fat or fat-free ice cream; 1½ ounces of low fat hard cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, Swiss, or parmesan); 1/3 cup shredded cheese; 2 ounces processed cheese (American); 1 cup pudding (made with milk).

Guide to Good Eating During Pregnancy

2008-03-17T01:38:00.000-07:00

Eat a variety of foods.
Choose foods with a lot of fiber—fruits, vegetables, dry beans, whole grain breads and cereals, and other whole grain products.
Exercise in moderation on a regular basis (ask your doctor).
Drink plenty of fluids (64 ounces per day or eight, 8-ounce glasses)
Eat 3 to 5 meals and snacks per day.
Pregnancy increases the need for calories and most nutrients. Starting with the second trimester, you need to increase your normal calorie level by 300 calories to provide the extra energy your body needs. Remember, this is not a lot of food. 300 calories is equal to a small snack, such as a half of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a glass of 1% milk.
The amount of suggested weight gain depends upon your weight before pregnancy (ask your doctor).

Nutritional Needs of Pregnancy

2008-03-15T03:31:00.000-07:00

Updated by: Jaime Foster, Extension Associate, Human Nutrition, February 2006

Pregnancy is the most nutritionally demanding time of a woman’s life. Your body needs enough nutrients every day to support the growth of your baby and the maintenance of your own body. All the nourishment this developing baby needs comes from you, either through the foods you eat or the supplements you take.
Pregnant women need more essential nutrients than other women. From the beginning of the second trimester until delivery, your body needs an additional 300 calories each day to support the growth of your baby. It is important to eat the right foods every day since tissues and organs develop during certain weeks of your pregnancy. Your own health depends on your diet, too. While your body is supplying the nutrients your baby needs, your body still needs the same nutrients as before you were pregnant.
MyPyramid helps you choose healthy foods to meet your needs. Increase your intake of nutrient-dense foods. Nutrient-dense foods are packed with more nutrients for the calories than other foods that are mostly calories with few other nutrients. Nutrients are also called vitamins and minerals. By following MyPyramid recommendations based on age, sex, and activity level while adding the additional 300 calories per day at the start of the second trimester, you can get the nourishment you need.
Protein is needed for the buildup of your muscles, uterus, breasts, blood supply, and baby’s tissues. Low protein intake is related to smaller-than-average weight babies who may have health problems. Pregnant women need around 60 grams of protein per day.
Folate is a vitamin that is required to build protein tissues. Low folate levels are linked to birth defects, such as spina bifida. These defects form early in pregnancy, often before women know they are pregnant. It is important to eat enough foods high in folate like broccoli, dark green vegetables, and oranges both before and during pregnancy. The dietary reference intake for folate is 400 milligrams per day.
Calcium is needed by your baby for strong bones. If calcium is not supplied by the mother’s diet, calcium is taken from the mother’s bones for the baby. The dietary reference intake for calcium is 1,000 milligrams per day or 1,300 milligrams per day for women under 18 years of age.
Low Zinc levels during pregnancy can cause long labor and small babies who may have health problems. The dietary reference intake for zinc is 11 milligrams per day or 12 milligrams per day for women under 18 years of age.
Iron deficiency is common in pregnant women. Both mother and baby need iron for their developing blood supplies. A developing baby also stores iron for use after birth. This increases the mother’s iron needs. It is practically impossible to get enough iron from food. Doctors usually recommend supplements. The dietary reference intake for iron is 27 milligrams per day for all pregnant women.
A good diet takes planning. Pregnant women should make sure to include:
Enough calories for adequate weight gain.
A variety of foods from each food group, with limited use of the oils and solid fats group.
Regular meals and snacks.
30 grams of dietary fiber every day.
8 or more cups of water each day.
Salt to taste.
No alcoholic beverages, including beer.
Prenatal vitamin once a day, if prescribed by your doctor.
No one can guarantee a baby will be born healthy and strong. However, these are steps mothers-to-be can take to make the best baby possible. Nothing offers greater benefits to mother and baby than good nutrition.

Coughs and Colds

2008-03-14T04:30:00.000-07:00

Pregnancy can cause your mucous membranes to swell. This can make it more difficult to get rid of coughs, colds, etc. Prevention is key here. Eat well, and get plenty of rest and exercise. Also avoid people who are contagious if possible.

Suggestions:

Well balanced diet
Increase Vitamin C foods
Eating garlic or onions can help with infections
Zinc and Vitamin C supplements will help increase your resistance
B vitamins help if you are under stress
Use a humidifier
Use Aconite 6X every two hours for 24 hours at the first sign of a cold
Allium Cepa 6C three times daily for a streaming head cold
Eucalyptus, lavender, lemon and tea tree: 2 drops pf each oil into a bowl of water, inhale steam for 10 minutes Do not use in conjunction with homeopathic remedies.

Backaches

2008-03-13T00:51:00.000-07:00

Backaches can be particularly annoying. They can be caused by poor posture, inappropriate lifting techniques, lack of exercise, or the weight of the baby and the stretching ligaments.

Suggestions:
Utilize good posture
Use proper lifting techniques
Pelvic rocking
Massage
Sleep with pillows supporting your legs and back
Wear flat heeled shoes that offer good support
Heat (bath, shower, pad, sock)
Swimming
Don't move in a jerky fashion
Stretch daily
Herbal Liniments may help
St. John's Wort tincture, 15-25 drops in a glass of water every few hours as needed
For severe pain add 3-5 drops of Skullcap tincture to the above
Chiropractic help may be of use as well

First Baby - 18 Weeks

2008-03-12T00:58:00.000-07:00

Leg Cramps

2008-03-11T03:28:00.000-07:00

Cramps in your muscles are common during pregnancy. They may be caused by the weight you are carrying, circulation changes, or calcium deficiency.
Suggestions:
Regular exercise
Adequate calcium intake
When the cramp begins, bring your toes towards you, and massage the muscle
Dissolve four tablets of Magnesia Phosphorica 6X in a small glass of warm water

Women's Day or farce?

2008-03-07T20:38:00.000-08:00

4 Mar 2006, 2312 hrs IST,Shobhaa De,TNN

Everyday's Women's Day. A woman has to make her own day, and do so with confidence and courage. To ear-mark one day of the year for the occasion is to insult women who do not possess calendars and have absolutely no idea that the rest of the world is 'celebrating' their gender.

There is no celebration in the lives of those women who have no access to education, to personal liberties and even to their own thoughts. Most of them are born as 'accidents'. Unwanted even by the woman in whose womb they've grown.

They are resented at birth, unsafe in their own homes. Their lives are valued at less than a price of a bicycle or a goat. Money? Forget it. They have to earn it through hard labour, carrying stones to build roads that women like you and me drive on in our fancy cars. But even that money does not belong to them. Nothing does.
Not even their name, which is changed when they marry strangers. Husbands, who are bought at a price by impatient fathers anxious to off-load their 'burdens'. Everything is 'given' to them and that includes the two stale rotis they eat.
source: http://www1.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1438227.cms

Constipation and Hemorrhoids

2008-03-07T04:54:00.000-08:00

Constipation can become a problem in pregnancy due to hormonal changes affecting the digestive system. However, iron tablets can also lead to constipation as well as a lack of fiber in your diet. Hemorrhoids are varicose veins of the rectum which are associated with pregnancy. Preventing constipation is a good start to preventing hemorrhoids.

Suggestions for constipation:
Regular exercise, especially squatting
Plenty of fruits and vegetables in your diet
Drink plenty of fluids
Drink prune juice
Nux Vomica 6X three times daily
When you have to go..GO! Do not delay the urge to defecate.
Avoid straining your bowels (This will also help prevent hemorrhoids.)

Suggestions for Hemorrhoids:
Avoid straining
Apply baking soda wet or dry to take away the itch, even add some to your bath water
Hamamelis 30X
Witch hazel or lemon juice to reduce swelling or bleeding
Comfrey or Yellowdock Root ointment
Herbal sitz baths

Fainting and Dizziness

2008-03-05T00:54:00.000-08:00

Fainting is common during pregnancy. the blood may pool in the lower body and the brain may become temporarily deprived of oxygen, causing fainting or dizziness.

Suggestions:

>> Avoid standing for long periods of time
>> While standing practice contracting and relaxing your leg and buttocks muscles to help blood return to your head
>> When resting lay on your side as opposed to your back
>> When sitting return to standing slowly
>> Don't get out of a hot bath too quickly
>> Keep cool in hot weather
>> If you feel faint, sit to avoid injury and place your head lower than your body, kneeling on all fours works too
>> Take a few drops of Bach Rescue Remedy as soon as your start to feel faint
>> Make sure you blood sugar isn't low, eat small protein rich snacks throughout the day
>> Shiatsu points Lung 9 (LU9) and Heart 7 (HT7) together, if done by someone else, or separately if alone, for 5-7 seconds, repeat three times, then do the same to the opposite arm

Search Engine Optimization and SEO Tools

2008-03-05T00:53:00.000-08:00

Search Engine Optimization and SEO Tools

Heartburn

2008-03-04T01:01:00.000-08:00

Hormones released during pregnancy allow the softening of the sphincter between the esophagus and stomach. This lets stomach acids back up into the esophagus, causing a burning sensation. This may also occur in the latter months of pregnancy as your baby pushes all of your organs upward.

Suggestions:

Eat smaller, more frequent meals
Remain upright for an hour after eating, lying down can irritate the problem
Eating yogurt or drinking milk can help
Avoid spicy or greasy foods
Try a tablespoon of honey in a glass of warm milk
Mercurius Solubilis 6C three times daily

Nausea

2008-03-03T02:38:00.000-08:00

This is also known as morning sickness, but can strike at anytime of the day. These symptoms of nausea and vomiting generally go away by the end of the first three months. Things that irritate the condition: low blood sugar, low blood pressure, hormonal changes, emotional ambivalence, deficiency of vitamin B6 and iron, or excessive amounts of grease or certain spices. Vomiting that is excessive needs medical attention.

Suggestions
Deep breathing may help, as well as relaxation exercises
A protein snack before bed will help low blood sugar in the morning
Get up slowly out of bed
Take a walk everyday
Anise, dried peach tree leaves, fennel seed, red raspberry or ginger teas
A teaspoon of cider vinegar in a cup of warm water
Infusion of ginger root
Smelling ground ginger
Increase iron rich foods in your diet
Ipecacuana 6X three times daily for 5 days
Nux Vomica 6X
Slippery Elm tablets, two before each meal
Aromatherapy: lavender, rose, or chamomile for a massage oil

Liz Lange on Easy Pregnancy Style

2008-03-02T23:20:00.000-08:00

Feeling good and looking good go hand in hand, so you've got to love the wardrobe wisdom that comes from a mom who's been there, done that ‑- and built a company around it. We asked maternity-wear designer Liz Lange, a woman who certainly puts the "style" in stylish pregnancy, for some tips on pregnancy wear that works.

We all want to be fashionable and comfortable ‑- without spending a ton of money. What are your maternity wardrobe must-haves?
These days, every woman needs denim. It's perfect. It comes in so many washes and can be worn in so many ways. Get a great-fitting pair of jeans in a cut that you like. Darker jeans are the most versatile, as you can dress them up more. The same thing goes for T-shirts. They're a staple. Get one with short or long sleeves, in a neckline that you like to wear. Wear it alone or under a shirt. Try a button-front shirt in a stretch cotton, cut like ones in your husband's closet. Get a tunic ‑- they've moved from trend item to maternity basic. You can find cute ones that are embellished or plain. A great-fitting pair of black pants is a must, because you can dress them up or dress them down. Get a little ‑- or not so little ‑- black dress. It's all about versatility. And when it comes to seasonal stuff, you can't go without some kind of sweater. I like a black turtleneck. And a twin set is an incredible item. You can wear it as an underpinning with suits or with the cardigan. And you can wear the cardigan with sleeveless items or with nothing on under it. And of course, in the summer, a bathing suit and sundress.

Maternity Dresses for Hot Mamas-to-Be

2008-03-01T02:58:00.001-08:00

It's the Murphy's Law of pregnancy:
Just when you can't imagine wearing anything but the grungiest of sweats and most comfy of slippers, a special event calls for getting all maternity-dressed up. Over the course of nine months, it's hard to avoid donning a maternity dress for one party or another. Take inspiration from the celebs proudly sporting their bumps red-carpet-side: There's no need to go the hausfrau muumuu route. If recent award seasons have shown anything, it's the glamour of the empire-waist maternity dress.

Since all eyes will be on your belly (and away from other trouble spots), you can be a bit more daring in your style choices ‑- and in showing off some of your other pregnancy, um, assets. We've rounded up some stylish maternity dresses to wear on any occasion when you need to dazzle ‑- weddings, work events, whatever.

The shelf life of these formal maternity dresses is pretty short, though, so shop smartly. For onetime events such as weddings, look for pieces that make you feel like the elegant expecting mom that you are. For less-formal occasions, choose dresses that you'll want to wear more than once and that you can mix and match with your shoes, blazers, jewelry and other accessories for a variety of looks.

Shopping While Pregnant

2008-02-29T02:33:00.000-08:00

by Melissa Kagan (see more from this expert)
http://beauty.ivillage.com/rantsraves/0,,7z77w11x,00.html

Nobody prepares you for the emotions you experience when you first become pregnant. I knew that. What took me by surprise were the emotions I experienced the first time I went shopping for maternity clothes.

I had accepted the fact that I was going to wear pants with paneling, skirts with elastic waistbands and some "tunic style" tops. But when I walked into my first maternity store, it was as if I had stepped onto another planet, a planet where none of the clothes seemed anything like me. Planet Pregnancy.

left the planet immediately. But when I was about four months pregnant, the selection of my jeans and skirts I could squeeze into was becoming quite limited. My T-shirts were becoming "Britney Spears" tight, and my jeans were cutting off my circulation.

So I took a deep breath, ate a cookie, ate another cookie and then braced myself for feeling lost in space. The store was huge and there were not just clothes. There was a maternity spa. There was a maternity accessories shop. (And by accessories, I don't mean cute shoes and handbags. I mean baby carriers and "boppies." If you don't know what a boppy is, don't worry about it - I still don't.)

Not Now, We're Bonding

2008-02-28T03:37:00.000-08:00

When baby arrives, so do the guests. How do you get what you need—and discourage what you don’t—in those first few weeks at home?The time: two weeks postpartum. The players: me, my husband, our new baby...and our friends just in from Boston for the weekend. The scene: me, determined to wow ’em with Bolognese, crawling on all fours to gather a pound of spilled spaghetti, while everyone else laughs over drinks in the living room and our friends’ 5-year-old polishes off the Godiva truffles

—my Godiva truffles.Let’s face it, babies are magnets. It’s like Bill Gates announcing he’s giving away Microsoft shares to all comers—the hordes descend. But, after 40 weeks of pregnancy, interminable hours of labor, and that long final push or C-section, you’re not exactly in party mode. How do you cope? Know what you need—and what you don’t need. Then make a plan to whip those visitors into shape.

Pregnancy - identifying fertile days
Definition
Fertile days are the days a woman is most likely to get pregnant.
See also: Infertility
Information
When trying to conceive a baby, many couples plan intercourse around days 11 to 14 of the woman's 28-day cycle. However, it is often difficult to know exactly when ovulation is going to occur. Doctors recommend that couples who are trying to have a baby have intercourse between days 10 and day 20 of a woman's menstrual cycle. Studies have shown that having intercourse every other day works just as well as having intercourse every day in order to become pregnant.
If you have an irregular menstrual cycle and are no sure when or if you are ovulating, ovulation predictor kit can help. These kits, which can be bought at most drug stores, check for LH (luteinizing hormone) in the urine.

There are other various methods to help detect when you are most likely to be able to conceive a baby.

Evaluating Your Cervical Fluid
Cervical fluid plays protects the sperm and helps it move through the cervix toward the uterus and fallopian tubes. Cervical fluid changes in preparation for ovulation. You will notice clear differences in how it looks and feels over the course of the cycle. Menstrual period occurring (no cervical fluid is present) Vagina is dry (no cervical fluid is present) Sticky/rubbery fluid

Wet/creamy/white fluid -- FERTILE
Slippery/stretchy/clear "egg white" fluid -- VERY FERTILE
Dry (no cervical fluid)

The cervical fluid will be slippery and stretchy on your most fertile days. You can use your fingers to check the consistency of your cervical fluid. Find the fluid inside the lower end of the vagina. Tap your thumb and first finger together -- if the material stretches while you spread your thumb and finger apart, this could mean ovulation is near.

12 Tips for Coping With Stress During Pregnancy

2008-02-26T22:42:00.000-08:00

From Henry Lerner, M.D., OB/GYN
About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

How to Gain Control of Your Life
As a psychologist friend of mine once told me if you don't feel stress in your life you're not paying attention. Everyone experiences stress, even pregnant women. What is not clear, however, is whether stress can have harmful affects on pregnancy.

For years obstetricians have looked to see whether an increase in stressful events can either cause miscarriage, result in preterm delivery, or in some other way harm a fetus. Up until recently the consensus had been that while excessive physical work can bring on preterm labor, emotional stress did not seem to have negative effects on pregnancy outcomes. This conclusion, however, has recently been challenged. There now is information to indicate that stress can cause the body to produce certain hormones that can perhaps cause miscarriage and that very likely can bring on preterm laborAdditionally, even if doctors have no "smoking gun" linking stress with negative pregnancy outcomes, pregnant women would want to decrease the amount of stress they have to contend with just because of how unpleasant it makes them feel. These emotional consequences of stress can range from a mild sense of being overwhelmed to severe episodes of depression. They can eventually lead to pregnant women feeling withdrawn and being unable to function.

Are there things pregnant women can do to reduce the stress they have and to change how it makes them feel? The answer is yes. Below are listed several techniques that both women and the clinicians who care for them have found useful in helping to relieve the sense that life is getting out of control. I have divided these techniques into two groups: (1) readjusting your lifestyle to reduce stress and (2) specific maneuvers and activities you can do to change how you feel -both physically and emotionally-about the stress you are under.

Gaining control of your life:
1. Take a close look at your lifestyle. Make yourself do this on paper. Look at your work activities, home and family responsibilities, other obligations (church, community activities, clubs and organizations to which you belong). Then look to see how "doable" it is. Make sure you include in your calculations time for yourself for such activities as exercise, down time, and socializing Once you have done this, be honest with yourself as you ask the following: Is this schedule achievable? Sustainable? Satisfying? If not, accept the reality that you have to change the schedule.

2. Accept the fact that even if you currently can thrive on your busy and demanding lifestyle, you likely will not be able to sustain it as pregnancy progresses and makes more physical demands on you. Therefore prepare yourself to cut back on what you're doing and to allow yourself more time for rest and relaxation. You will need to sleep more. You will need to change the time you a lot for meals to make sure that you are able to eat a balanced diet. You will feel better if you allow time to engage in a reasonable exercise program. Finally you will need to allow yourself some "mental growth" time. This is time for reading, thinking, and planning for the new, incredibly important role of mother you will soon assume.

3. Be prepared to give up some control over the life-style you have worked so hard to attain. Many things about pregnancy are not in your control. You may experience severe morning sickness. You may have overwhelming fatigue. You may develop a pregnancy complication requiring hospitalization or home bed rest. For many women, especially those who have demanding jobs, the thought that biology might interfere with their responsibilities borders on the intolerable. But it happens. Be prepared to accept this.

The Latest Spin on Pregnancy

2008-02-25T04:14:00.000-08:00

The Latest Spin on Pregnancy

Many women find spinning classes to be a great form of exercise when they are
pregnant. When a woman is set-up correctly on the bike, there shouldn't be any
impact on her body or joints. Some women even attend classes right up to their
due date. Some spinning classes are designed for pregnant women. Those that
aren't can easily accommodate pregnant women. Many expectant moms also enjoy the
camaraderie of an exercise class with other pregnant women.

Source: Leanne Delap, Globe and Mail

Pregnancy 'Is Trigger For Abuse'

A survey of midwives in Scotland has noted that there are a notable number of
pregnant women who are victims of domestic violence. Researchers are disturbed
by the findings. However, the midwives believe that the pregnancy itself is a
trigger for the violence.

Source: Daily Record (no writer given)

Bias Against Pregnancy Foul and Distressing

In Britain, it has been found that approximately 1,000 women are fired each year
from their jobs because they are pregnant. One women in Wales was ordered by her
superiors to get an abortion.

Source: David Williamson, The Western Mail

Montreal Researchers Identify Maternal Factors that can Lead to Bullying
Offspring

A study done at the Universite de Montreal identified four family traits that
children with aggressive behavior shared. These traits included a mother who is
young, quits school after a series of problems, is poor and smokes. These traits
combined gave a child a ten time greater risk of having higher aggression
levels.

Source: CanWest News Service, National Post

http://www.pregnancy-info.net/in_the_news.html

Good Unplanned Pregnancy Links

2008-02-22T03:21:00.000-08:00

good links

Germs and Your Children

2008-02-22T03:09:00.000-08:00

Germs Lead to DiseasesIt's important to teach children the association between germs and diseases. Remind them of a time when they were sick with the flu or a cold. Ask them to recount what it made them feel like and help them remember what it did to them physically. Once that illness is refreshed in their mind, tell them that germs are what caused those illnesses and can cause many others.
Try to explain what a germ is: that you can see it under a microscope; that they come in different shapes and sizes; and that there are germs on our hands, clothes and surroundings. Let your child look at her hands through a magnifying glass and point out all the wrinkles and little crevices, explaining that this is where germs can lurk. Ask them to think up places where they can pick up germs (bathroom, kitchen counter, playgrounds, sidewalks, floors, etc).

Teaching Children About Germs
A fun experiment will catch your child's attention and provide a good introduction to germ information. You will need: three bowls (1/4 cup of water will go in each bowl) and three packets of yeast (and sugar if the yeast needs activation). Fill the first bowl with boiling water, the next with room temperature water and the last with ice-cold water. Dissolve the yeast and wait for it to activate. The bowl with room-temperature water will produce the most germs. Teach them that this means germs thrive at room temperature, on hands and surfaces. You can also point out that one way to kill germs is to boil infected objects or that hot soapy water helps keep your hands germ-free.

Prenatal development and sonograph images

2008-02-22T02:57:00.000-08:00

Prenatal development is divided into two primary biological stages. The first is the embryonic stage, which lasts for about two months. At this point, the fetal stage begins. At the beginning of the foetal stage, the risk of miscarriage decreases sharply, all major structures including hands, feet, head, brain, and other organs are present, and they continue to grow and develop. When the fetal stage commences, a fetus is typically about 30 mm (1.2 inches) in length, and the heart can be seen beating via sonograph; the fetus bends the head, and also makes general movements and startles that involve the whole body. Brain stem activity has been detected as early as 54 days after conception,and the first measurable signs of EEG activity occur in the 12th week. Some fingerprint formation occurs from the beginning of the fetal stage.

Embryo at 6 weeks after fertilization	Fetus at 8 weeks after fertilization	Fetus at 18 weeks after fertilization	Fetus at 38 weeks after fertilization
Relative size in 1st Month (simplified illustration)	Relative size in 3rd Month (simplified illustration)	Relative size in 5th Month (simplified illustration)	Relative size in 9th Month (simplified illustration)
7 weeks	13 weeks	17 weeks	20 weeks

Does The Fetal Heart Rate Change During The Second Trimester?

2008-02-22T02:55:00.001-08:00

Does The Fetal Heart Rate Change During The Second Trimester?

The fetal heart rate will change during the second trimester, just as it changes throughout the various stages of pregnancy. In fact, the fetal heart rate can change on a moment-by-moment basis, in response to various stimuli or various conditions that can be affecting your baby. While your baby's heart rate does tend to spike briefly around the age of ten weeks of pregnancy, by the time that the second trimester rolls around, your baby's heart rate will not change much until after your baby is born.The fetal heart rate can, typically, be heard at around eight to ten weeks of pregnancy, depending on the mother's body size and the method used to find the fetal heart rate, whether a transvaginal ultrasound or a Doppler or some other method. At around the tenth week of pregnancy, roughly three weeks before the second trimester begins, the fetal heart rate will peak at around 175 beats per minute. By week fifteen, which is during the very early part of the second trimester, the fetal heart rate will have dropped down to around 140 beats per minute.It was once thought that the fetal heart rate could predict your baby's gender. It was thought that, if a baby's heart rate was under 140 beats per minute that it would be a boy, and that if it was over 140 beats per minute it would be a girl. The theory behind this idea was that, because women usually have a higher metabolic rate than men, that unborn girls would have a slightly higher pulse rate than unborn boys. However, most research does seem to disprove this idea, and demonstrate that there is not necessarily a connection between the fetal heart rate and the gender of your baby.If you have concerns about your fetal heart rate, you should speak with your health care provider. Your health care provider can help to interpret what a high or a low fetal heart rate might mean, as well as help to figure out if it indicates some sort of a problem that will need to be addressed.

Help! Nothing is helping with this all day morning sickness!

2008-02-22T02:53:00.000-08:00

Help! Nothing is helping with this all day morning sickness!
Morning sickness affects more than seven out of every ten pregnant women. For many of these women, morning sickness comes out as an occasional nausea, that might hit for a few minutes a day and then pass. However, for some women, morning sickness will last all day. When this happens, it can be difficult to find anything that can help with the morning sickness. Fortunately, there are things that you can try to help with your all day morning sickness.The first thing that can help with your all day morning sickness is changes in diet. You should avoid foods that are high in fat, especially foods that are high in saturated fats. You should also avoid foods that have strong smells, which might trigger nausea. You should try, if at all possible, to eat small frequent snacks over the course of the day, rather than having three larger meals every day. This will help your stomach from being either too full or you getting too hungry, either of which can help to trigger morning sickness.There are other things that you might try that may be able to help with your all day morning sickness. Some women find relief through ginger products, such as ginger tea or ginger root supplements. You might have some help from sea bands or motion sickness bands. You might try rice cakes or crackers when you start to feel your morning sickness.Your all day morning sickness may be caused by your prenatal vitamin. In some cases, the high iron content in prenatal vitamins may lead to nausea and your all day morning sickness. If you think that this may be the case, however, it is important that you don't just stop taking your prenatal vitamins. You might speak with your health care provider about other options in prenatal vitamins.If you have severe nausea and vomiting, or if you have vomiting that lasts for more than 24 hours, you should talk to your health care provider immediately. If nothing at all can help with your all day morning sickness, your health care provider may decide that it is actually safer to prescribe an anti-nausea medication rather than running the risk of dehydration due to the constant vomiting.

How Do Your Senses Change During The Second Trimester?

2008-02-22T02:52:00.000-08:00

How Do Your Senses Change During The Second Trimester?
It is not uncommon at all for your senses to go through certain changes during the second trimester, as well as through out the rest of your pregnancy. While it is true that those sensory changes typically happen earlier on in pregnancy, during the first trimester, many women don't experience changes to the senses until some time during the second trimester. Of all of the senses that change during the second trimester, the sense of smell and the sense of taste seem to be the most pronounced, although changes to the other senses during the second trimester are not uncommon at all.The hormonal changes that your body goes through during the second trimester, as well as during the other trimesters of pregnancy, will often affect your senses. This is especially true for your sense of smell. A pregnant woman's sense of smell becomes highly sensitive during the second trimester, and even before. In fact, some experts believe that the increased sense of smell is, at least in part, responsible for morning sickness.Taste also often changes during pregnancy, often during the second trimester. You may discover that you start to crave certain foods during the second trimester, or that you have a strange metallic taste in your mouth. While the metallic taste can often be due to other factors, such as your prenatal vitamins, the fact of the matter is that you are probably more sensitive to in during pregnancy. The heightened sense of smell that occurs during pregnancy may be connected to the changes in taste that often occurs during the second trimester, as much of our taste comes from the smell of food.Finally, your other senses may change as well during the second trimester. You may find that your vision becomes worse during the second trimester, or at another point during pregnancy. As it turns out, the changing levels of hormones can actually affect the shape of the eye during pregnancy, causing a bit of blurriness. Your sense of touch can change during the second trimester too, as you may find that you are increasingly sensitive in terms of touch. Some women even report a change to their sense of hearing during the second trimester.

How Much Does My Baby Weigh During The Second Trimester?

2008-02-22T02:51:00.000-08:00

How Much Does My Baby Weigh During The Second Trimester?

Your baby will, obviously, gain some weight during the second trimester. As a matter of fact, at the beginning of the second trimester, your baby can weigh as little as just two ounces. By the end of the second trimester, however, your baby may weigh as much as 20 times more, and be right around two pounds or even more!Every day during the second trimester, your baby will be gaining weight. His organs are developing more and more. He is starting to move, and his tiny muscles are adding mass to his body. In addition, your baby is going through all sorts of other growth and development during the second trimester. By the end of the second trimester, his lungs will inflate and deflate, her hand will be fully formed, as will her eyes (although her eyes won't be open yet). It is important to recognize that, for your baby to grow and develop properly, you are also going to gain some weight during the second trimester. By the end of the second trimester, you should be gaining in the neighborhood of a half a pound to a pound each and every week. Obviously, not all of this weight is baby. Much of this weight goes to the placenta, and to the uterus, and to an increased blood volume. You need to keep in mind that, just because your baby is only going to weigh a couple of pounds, you should have gained between fifteen and twenty pounds by the end of the second trimester.During the second trimester, your health care provider might want to make certain measurements of your baby. Your health care provider may decide to use an ultrasound to determine how big your baby is, and to figure out how much that she weighs. Your health care provider will probably take some measurements of your abdomen, as well, to make sure that everything is growing along the path that it needs to be. You may be able to get your health care provider to help you figure out exactly how much your baby weighs during a second trimester prenatal visit.

Pre-Term Labor During The Second Trimester

2008-02-22T02:50:00.000-08:00

Pre-Term Labor During The Second Trimester
Going into pre-term labor during the second trimester is never an easy thing. The fact of the matter is that going into pre-term labor is risky for both the baby and for the mother. Any number of things might cause a woman to go into pre-term labor during the second trimester. Pre-term labor is defined as labor that begins any time between the 20th and the 37th week of pregnancy. While the causes of pre-term labor can vary greatly from one case to another, the fact of the matter is that sometimes a cause can't be determined at all. Pre-term labor during the second trimester may be caused, for example, by a problem with the placenta, such as placental abruption. Pre-term labor during the second trimester can be caused by having an incompetent cervix. It can also be caused by drug or alcohol abuse, or even something as simple as the mother having an infection.When a woman goes into pre-term labor during the second trimester, a health care provider will typically try to assess the cause of the pre-term labor, and then to help figure out whether you should go through with labor or whether she should try to delay your labor. While it is not uncommon to let labor proceed later on in the third trimester, typically if you go into pre-term labor during the second trimester your health care provider will attempt to delay your labor.If you go into pre-term labor during the second trimester, it is imperative that you see your health care provider immediately. She will check the state of your cervix, to see if it is an incompetent cervix, and possibly perform a cervical cerclage, in which stitches are placed in the cervix to help keep your baby in place. Your health care provider will probably also check the growth and position of your baby, and may look at the amount of amniotic fluid. While pre-term labor is never desirable, the prospects are much better today than they were just a few years ago. Most babies that are born sometime after the middle weeks of pregnancy are in a good position to survive. While it is true that not all pre-term babies will make it, many do, and are able to develop normally and grow up to live happy and healthy lives.

Progesterone Levels During The First Trimester

2008-02-22T02:47:00.000-08:00

Progesterone Levels During The First Trimester
To understand what progesterone levels during the first trimester of pregnancy mean, it is important to understand exactly what progesterone is, where it comes from, and what its function is during the first trimester, as well as during the rest of your pregnancy. In many cases, your health care provider may wish to check your progesterone levels during the first trimester, particularly during the first half of your first trimester. If your progesterone levels are too low during the first trimester, your health care provider may want to do more testing, and may take certain precautions to help you avoid a miscarriage.Progesterone is produced in the ovaries. Specifically, something called the corpus luteum produces the progesterone. Later on, the placenta will take over the role of trying to maintain the progesterone levels during the first trimester. Progesterone has a specific role to play in the pregnancy process. Progesterone helps to prepare the lining of the uterus for the implantation of a fertilized egg, for example. Progesterone helps to provide a lining in the uterus that is rich in nutrients for your baby. Progesterone also helps to create the mucus plug during pregnancy. Progesterone even plays a role in helping to raise the basal body temperature after you ovulate.During the first trimester, progesterone levels will rise. They will be at approximately 1 to 1.5 ng/ml during the first two weeks of the first trimester, right after conception. During weeks 2 through 4 of the first trimester, the levels of progesterone will rise to somewhere between 2 and 28 ng/ml. Progesterone levels will continue to rise during the first trimester, reaching a level somewhere between 9 and 47 ng/ml by the end of the first trimester. During the second trimester, progesterone levels will be in the 17 to 147 ng/ml range, and they will be between 55 and 200 ng/ml during the third trimester of pregnancy.Low levels of progesterone during the first trimester can indicate that there is a threatened miscarriage. If you are concerned about your progesterone levels during the first trimester, you should speak with your health care provider.

Pregnancy Stages

2008-02-21T09:24:00.000-08:00

Important Information About First Trimester Pregnancy

You may have recently heard the words from your doctor, “Congratulations, you are pregnant!”. Or perhaps you have seen positive results from your pregnancy test this morning. You are now ready to embark on your first trimester of pregnancy no matter how the results came to light. Since you will be seeing a host of changes in your body over the next few months you will probably have many questions and even more concerns.

What Can You Expect During First Trimester Pregnancy? The advantage is the fact that there are many resources available to help educate yourself about what is coming. Because of the risk of complications and the uncomfortable symptoms you may experience the first trimester of a pregnancy can be the most difficult. However, you can take heart since the first trimester pregnancy only lasts about twelve weeks and the second trimester often has less symptoms. During these first weeks of adjusting to being pregnant it can be a good idea if possible to take it a little easier on yourself and your body.

Fatigue, nausea, light-headedness and breast tenderness are some of the symptoms that come with a first trimester pregnancy. If possible this is a good time to squeeze in a little extra sleep. Some extra rest right now will definitely benefit your body.

To help you throughout the pregnancy it is also a good time to start developing some good nutrition habits. You will probably start feeling better in a few short weeks even if nausea curbs your appetite right now and you can get through the rest of your nine months with a good diet.
You may only see your doctor every four weeks during the first trimester of your pregnancy.Using an Early Pregnancy Test You doctor will make sure the early development of your baby goes smoothly by screening you for potential risks and complications. You will probably be scheduled for many other routine tests to ensure that both you and your baby progress normally after the first trimester pregnancy. It will usually be early enough if problems are detected to alleviate the risk to mother and child.

There are things you can begin to do during the first trimester of your pregnancy to prepare for the birth of your baby even if nine months seems like a long time. You can begin by reading any of the many pregnancy books to inform yourself of what is coming. You can start window shopping for maternity clothes, plan a budget for a larger family and work on travel plans around your pregnancy.