Alright, let’s see a show of hands—who’s guilty of a selfie here or there? Since being added to the dictionary this year, there’s been a lot of commotion regarding the simple act of taking a picture of yourself. Perhaps the biggest wave came when celebrities everywhere began posting pictures of their post-pregnancy bodies on social […]
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Once they find out they’re pregnant, many first-time moms-to-be get swept into a whirlwind of excitement. Having a baby, especially a first one, is pretty awesome after all. While they always wonder if they’ll be great parents, for most of them, the fear of miscarriage isn’t part of the picture. But miscarriage does happen. According […]
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For most women, pregnancy is a time of unbridled joy. But it’s also a time of anxiety, especially for new mothers. While it may not be a matter of life or death, one of the issues that women find most anxiety-inducing is weight gain. And that’s understandable — it’s difficult to adjust to radical changes […]
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If you love your mother, food, and babies, you should know: World Breastfeeding Week is almost here! August 1 – 7 Marks the 21st Annual World Breastfeeding Week In 1991, the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) was formed to act on the 1990 Innocenti Declaration “to protect, promote, and support” breastfeeding. Initially, WABA wanted […]
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Changes to a woman’s body begin very early in pregnancy. In fact, it seems that just about everything changes. Understanding these changes is important, as they will help you realize what is normal or abnormal. Only if you understand the normal are you able to understand and recognize an abnormal change that might happen. This […]
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Anemia of Folate Deficiency is a form of megaloblastic anemia caused by a lack of folic acid in the diet. This deficiency causes a decrease of red blood cells, which are crucial to the transportation of oxygen through the blood stream. What Are the Symptoms? Many people may be asymptomatic. However, when symptoms do occur […]
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You may or may not be noticing changes in your body at this point. Early changes for pregnancy include breast tenderness or you may be feeling a bit nauseated during the day or evening. Keep eating right and exercising. If you are still smoking or drinking — STOP! Your baby will have the best chance […]
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Suspicions confirmed? Whether you have used a home pregnancy test or just have a sneaking suspicion that you may be pregnant, now is the time to start planning the best pregnancy for you and your child. The embryo is embedded deeply into the lining of your uterus. Amniotic fluid is starting to fill the amniotic […]
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This is actually the first week of pregnancy since fertilization occurred around the middle of the monthly cycle (2 weeks before the next period). The embryo is about 0.006 of an inch long-about the size of a pinhead. You won’t be experiencing any noticeable changes right now. As a matter of fact, few women know […]
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Emily Alexander is 29 years old and works in the healthcare industry. She and her husband, Don, have been married for 1 year. Though they weren’t really trying to get pregnant, Emily had gone off the pill (after 12 years on) to give her body a rest and to prepare for conception. Her periods become […]
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What Is an Anal Fissure? Anal fissures are painful tears or ulcers on the lining of the anus. Anal fissures occur most often in infants and the incidence decreases rapidly with age. What Are the Symptoms? Painful bowel movements, blood on toilet tissue, blood on the surface of stool (but not mixed in with stool), […]
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Many women experience bleeding early in pregnancy. If you are in your first trimester and notice bleeding, you should contact your physician. There are several possible causes of bleeding in pregnancy. Of utmost importance is determining whether you have an ectopic pregnancy, are having a miscarriage, or have a normally developing pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy […]
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What Is It? An episiotomy is a small incision made at the bottom of the vaginal opening, through the perineum. This incision is intended to prevent tearing of the vaginal wall and perineum during childbirth. What Conditions Is It Designed to Treat? If a woman’s vaginal opening has not relaxed enough to accommodate the child’s […]
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A cesarean delivery (Cesarean section or “C-section”) is the delivery of the baby through an incision in the abdomen and through an incision in the uterus. Much has been written in the lay press about C-section and the number of C-sections performed in the United States. Nationally, about 20% of pregnancies are delivered by C-section. […]
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There are many hematologic problems that may be present in pregnancy. These include anemia, sickle cell disease, thalassemia, and thrombocytopenia. Anemia Anemia is a fairly common condition among women. Due to physiologic changes seen in pregnancy, anemia is even more common. Anemia is defined as low hemoglobin concentrations. There are multiple causes of anemia in […]
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What Is a Cervical Cerclage? Cerclage is the placement of a stitch around the opening of the cervix. This obstetrical procedure is used to prevent pregnancy loss in a woman who has an incompetent cervix. The stitch is made with non-absorbable material and is removed when the pregnancy is at full term to allow labor […]
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How do you know when it is not Braxton Hicks and time to go to the hospital? This is my third child, both of my previous were preemies and my water did not break on them. Braxton Hicks contractions are also known as false labor. They usually begin sometime after the 20th week of pregnancy. […]
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One of a woman’s greatest concerns is “How will I know if I am in labor?” This is especially true in first pregnancies. There are several signs of labor or pregnancy emergencies that should cause you to phone your physician or head to the hospital. The first sign of labor is uterine contractions. Uterine contractions […]
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Is it safe to get a flu vaccine during pregnancy, even if I have never gotten a flu vaccine before? Are there any risks to mother or baby with the vaccine? Are there any risks to mother or baby from the flu? Vaccination against influenza has been shown to be safe in pregnancy. In fact, […]
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What are Amniotic Constriction Bands? Amniotic Constriction Bands are created with the placenta (amnion) is damaged during pregnancy and produces fibrous bands that can entrap the fetus—thereby causing deformities of the face, abdominal or chest walls, club foot, or missing limbs or digits. Also known as Amniotic Band Dysruption Sequence Syndrome. What are the symptoms? […]
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