Pregnancy & What to Expect

An ultrasound is a way to see your baby before birth. It is also a way for doctors to see how the baby is developing inside the womb. Today, 3D and 4D ultrasounds are newer technology that are...

Many women are exhausted during their first trimester of pregnancy. An absolutely normal pregnancy symptom, fatigue can be debilitating. There are many reasons for this frustrating symptom, but...

Fetal monitoring is defined by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality as "The use of an instrument to record or listen to a fetus' heartbeat during pregnancy and labor." One such...

When women become pregnant, some experience many symptoms, while others feel almost none at all. Pregnancy symptoms vary from woman to woman, but are somewhat similar and predictable.

Pregnancy is one of the most exciting and nervous times in a woman's life. Every mother worries throughout her pregnancy about whether the baby is progressing normally in the womb. After all, it's...

The fetal heartbeat beats an average of 120 to 160 beats per minute and starts beating at about 22 days after conception, which is about the fifth week after the last menstrual period (LMP). Fetal...

An embryo actually begins to move around the 7th week of pregnancy, but fetal movements are often not felt until the 15th week. Women who have given birth before tend to notice movement earlier...

Morning sickness is considered a common symptom of pregnancy in the first trimester. Many, but not all, pregnant women experience nausea with or without vomiting for several weeks, usually...

Most healthcare professionals use "Naegele's Rule" to calculate pregnancy due dates, which is a simple mathematical formula that adds 280 days (40 weeks) to the date of the first day of a woman's...

Pregnancy is a special time that signals the ushering in of new life. Commemorating this period with pregnancy photos can help you recall your experience, and allow you to share it with friends...

A normal fetal heartbeat can range between 110 to 160 beats a minute, compared to 60 to 100 beats per minute in adults. You can't hear the fetal heartbeat from outside the womb without using...

Research shows that a lack of B vitamins during pregnancy can be as dangerous for the unborn baby as a lack of folic acid, so pregnant women should talk to their doctor about how to go about...

Nothing is more exciting that the first glimpse of your baby on an ultrasound machine. This moment can help alleviate fears about the fetus and show any potential problems with a pregnancy. It...

During pregnancy, high levels of estrogen can cause nasal congestion. This can be uncomfortable; even worse, most cold medications are off-limits for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Vicks...

The news of a pregnancy is very exciting. When you finally let people know you are expecting, the first thing nearly everyone will ask is, "When is the baby due?" While it is true that the average...

Fetal heart rate is an important indicator of how a baby is doing inside of the womb. Because the only way to keep track of fetal well-being prior to birth is through ultrasounds and monitoring,...

When you're six months (24 weeks) pregnant, you should know the signs of preterm labor such as abdominal pain and cramping, vaginal bleeding and an increase in pressure. Contact your doctor if you...

Lap bands are designed to help a patient lose weight. For women, this can increase their chances of becoming pregnant if their fertility and hormones were affected by the excess weight. Lap bands...

As a woman gains weight during pregnancy, the fat cells underneath the skin become slightly bigger. As a result, the skin stretches to accommodate for this growth, resulting in cellulite. Although...

Laser hair removal uses intense pulsed light to damage the hair and the follicle that produces it. When treatments are successful, the result is reduced hair growth that lasts longer than other...

During pregnancy, elevated levels of estrogen can cause nasal congestion. This condition is called rhinitis of pregnancy. Many cold remedies such as antihistamines that can help ease nasal...

Pregnancy is a time of joy and anticipation for the future. For many women, it is also a time to worry and fret about the appearance of stretch marks. Americanpregnancy.org reports that...

A due date is easy to calculate if you keep track of the dates of your menstrual cycle. If you have irregular cycles or have been using certain types of birth control, the estimated due date will...

HCG, or human chorionic gonadtropin, is a hormone only present when a woman is pregnant. During the first few months of pregnancy, HCG increases at an exponential rate. Home pregnancy tests can...

The average gestational period for a woman is about 40 weeks, or approximately nine months. The pregnancy is divided into three trimesters, each of which is three months in duration. Developmental...

During pregnancy, your immune system is even more active than normal. Your body is charged with the protection of both mother and baby. Since ensuring a healthy pregnancy is also important, it can...

There's no set number of times to constitute what exactly makes for "frequent urination" in the early days of your pregnancy. If you notice you go to the bathroom markedly more often than normal,...

Women trying to conceive a baby often track their ovulation, the time at which their body releases a fertilized egg, by monitoring their body's fertility signs such as the quantity and texture of...

After a woman gives birth, hormones within her body will begin to return back to normal levels, which can often lead to hair loss. Typically, hair loss will begin about 3 to 4 months postpartum...

Waiting for your next obstetrician appointment to know your baby is safe is the hardest part of pregnancy. A fetal Doppler safely gives you the peace of mind you need.

The anticipation of a new baby is one of the greatest feelings imaginable. Now with at-home technology you can quickly listen inside the womb for the reassurance you seek whenever you would like.

Having a sonogram is standard during prenatal care visits with your obstetrician. Between 16 and 20 weeks of pregnancy, the obstetrician will schedule the expectant mother for a sonogram with a...

A popular theory of baby gender prediction states that the gender of a baby can be determined by the heart rate.

During pregnancy, high levels of estrogen can lead to uncomfortable water retention. Changes in prostaglandins during pregnancy change the rate at which water is processed, causing it to be stored...

Acid reflux occurs when the acidic contents of the stomach flow into the esophagus, causing a burning feeling in the chest and throat. Unfortunately, acid reflux often becomes worse during...

When you feel your little one move and jump around inside you, it's hard not to wonder what your unborn baby looks like. Are her eyes open or closed? Are his fingers developed yet? Fortunately,...

Progesterone supplements are often used when trying to conceive. Taking progesterone lengthens the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, which gives a fertilized egg a chance to implant. Women with...

Although you actually become pregnant 14 to 16 days after the first day of your last period, most doctors start counting pregnancy from the first day of your last period. A normal pregnancy lasts...

Morning sickness is a common term used to describe the nausea or vomiting women experience during pregnancy. However, this expression does not aptly describe the all-day nausea that is common...

If you have had sex and are noticing physical changes in your body, you might be wondering if you are pregnant. While symptoms of pregnancy can indicate that you might be pregnant, the best way to...

Once you've confirmed that you're pregnant, the next step is to determine how many weeks you are into the pregnancy. This can be determined by counting back from the date of ovulation or by...

Home pregnancy tests are the most popular method women use to determine if they are pregnant or not. Found in any drugstore, most of the tests are inexpensive and feature a small window that will...

With the news of a pregnancy, one of the first things you need to know is when your bundle of joy will arrive. Pregnancies are based on a 40 week schedule, yet only 5 percent of babies will arrive...

Although nursing acts as a form of birth control for some women, it is still possible to get pregnant while breastfeeding. Some women become fertile soon after delivering and can even become...

Fetal ultrasound is used primarily to examine the fetus and detect any possible risks for the infant and mother. Ultrasound is one of the safest ways to examine the fetus for possible problems,...

An ultrasound done during pregnancy is a diagnostic tool used to examine a baby while in the womb. It uses sound waves to project a picture onto a screen. To health professionals, it's a very...

Many women experience back and knee pain during pregnancy. The extra weight that comes with pregnancy, the loosening of joints and the softening of ligaments are factors.

Monitoring your weight gain during pregnancy is most easily done if you simply take note of your weight at the doctor's office and ask if you are on track. During pregnancy, the average woman...

Most parents want the best for their children and hope to teach them as much as possible. What some parents may not realize, however, is that teaching your child can begin in the womb. By using...