Health & Pregnancy

Pregnancy can be an exciting and overwhelming time! This article describes how to make the next nine months go smoother by choosing the right Midwife or Obstetrician for your maternity care.

If you are considering having your first child and find yourself frozen out of fear of childbirth, you are not alone. Several women find themselves in this position, including experienced mothers....

You may be eating for two, but you're not growing an adult in that belly of yours. Pregnancy is not an excuse to eat twice as much, but it is an excuse to eat a bit more than usual. Healthy weight...

The "AIDS test" is a test to detect the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV. People who have HIV often go on to have AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), but some people live with HIV for...

Deciding whether to have a natural childbirth is a relatively new phenomenon. Until the 20th century, women always had natural childbirths and local women called midwives attended them or women...

Approximately 10 percent of pregnant women are smokers, according to the March of Dimes. Not only are they putting their lives at risk by smoking, they are negatively affecting the life of their...

Late menopause is a time when most women don't expect to be--expecting. As unusual as it may be, it can happen. There are several things the menopausal mother, or mother to be, needs to know about...

If you have flu symptoms and are pregnant, call your doctor right away. This flu season it is more important than ever to do so because the H1N1, or swine flu, is more severe in pregnant women....

Uterine fibroids are large masses of tissue cells from the uterus that may range in size from a few centimeters to 15 centimeters or more. Most women with fibroids who become pregnant have normal,...

Pregnancy is an amazing time in a woman's life. Bringing a new child into the world is an exciting journey, and choosing how to reveal the big news is just one of the many decisions to be made....

Expectant mothers can benefit from federal government resources that will assist them during and after their terms of pregnancy. The government offers these programs to help pregnant women with...

Abortion is a medical procedure much like other surgeries. Even though not all women will experience problems with abortion, it is important to be aware of the problems and side effects that can...

The Epilepsy Foundation states that approximately one third of women who have a seizure condition and become pregnant experience an increase in seizures. Although there are risks associated with...

Chiropractors are health professionals that align the joints and spine to relieve pain and stress to maintain health, without the use of medication. Pregnant women may use chiropractic care during...

Smoking has a negative effect on nearly every part of the body, including the reproductive system. Conceiving children is harder for smokers. Pregnant women who smoke or are exposed to secondhand...

Tegretol is a commonly prescribed anticonvulsant medication used to help sufferers of epilepsy prevent seizures. Like any drug, it has certain side effects and may pose some risks to the patient,...

Astragalus is the common name given to a group of plants used for alternative and complementary medicine. It has been the subject of numerous scientific studies on its effectiveness in treating a...

Having children is a joy and a blessing. The chance to conceive and bear children is an opportunity that not many women pass up. The sad part comes when trial and error conclude with no results...

Pregnancy is a time of many changes in a woman's body. Although often women are excited and happy for the birth of the baby, depression during pregnancy is possible.

Weight gain and pregnancy go hand-in-hand, however, for some women this is a common yet sometimes unpleasant side effect. While an increase in weight is natural, there are situations in which...

According to the American Pregnancy Association, between 50 and 70 percent of women experience back pain during pregnancy. Back pain can occur as one of the very first symptoms of pregnancy and...

Gallstones can be painful and are responsible for one of the most common surgical procedures in the U.S.--gallbladder removal. Women who are pregnant should be particularly aware of the symptoms...

Fifth disease is a viral infection common in childhood, although people of all ages are susceptible. While usually mild, it can pose serious health risks to a fetus who contracts the disease from...

Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, or PCOS, may experience more health problems during pregnancy than the average healthy pregnant woman. Understanding this, if you are pregnant with PCOS you...

Though medical professionals encourage you to develop healthy eating habits and maintain a reasonable weight at any time in your life, following these guidelines during pregnancy is especially...

Endurox is a line of exercise supplement products made by PacificHealth Labs. Though expectant mothers are urged to take vitamin supplements in the form of prenatal vitamins, they should use...

Metformin, also known as Glucophage, is commonly prescribed to women who are having difficulty ovulating due to polycystic ovarian syndrome. Though it can provide various benefits during...

During pregnancy, blood volume increases by up to 50 percent, putting a significant strain on the heart as it works to pump the additional blood, says the Cleveland Clinic. Heart conditions are...

Women will often report having a period while they are pregnant. Sometimes bleeding occurs during pregnancy that resembles a period. The reasons behind the bleeding range from normal, mild side...

Hyperemesis is a condition related to the changes happening during pregnancy. The symptoms and complications of hyperemesis differ in every pregnant woman. Intensive care early in pregnancy is a...

When performed in a sterile environment by a trained professional, there are few risks associated with abortion. In the United States, less than one percent of those who have abortions experience...

More than 50 percent of women will develop some sort of fibroid tumor in their life time according to PregnancyInfo.net. It's common for a woman to be unaware of the tumor until she becomes...

Pregnancy can be one of the most joyful times in a woman's life. However, with pregnancy comes an almost endless number of questions. Some of the most common questions relate to adopting healthy...

Since pregnant women have a weakened immune system, they are at a high risk of contracting the flu. It is strongly recommended that all pregnant woman get a flu shot, especially if they have a...

One of the perks of pregnancy is having great hair. Many women are excited to see fuller, shinier locks after becoming pregnant. While a woman's hair may be better during pregnancy, many women are...

During pregnancy, blood clots more easily than usual, putting pregnant women at a greater risk for developing blood clots, according to the American Society of Hematology. Increased clotting...

Women who exercise during their pregnancy might have an easier labor and faster delivery, maintain muscle tone and flexibility, and return more quickly to their pre-pregnancy weight while also...

Glucophage, also known as metformin, is an oral medication used to lower glucose levels in diabetics and those with insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is common in women who have PCOS...

Many women prepare themselves and anticipate the pain felt by labor contractions. But often times pregnant women do not consider the widespread occurrence of back pain with labor. Talk to your...

While symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease usually disappear naturally after childbirth, the painful heartburn and acid reflux suffered throughout a woman's pregnancy can be eased by the...

Since pregnancy affects the method in which the body processes sugar, pregnant women commonly suffer from low blood sugar episodes if they wait too long to eat between meals, eat too little or...

March of Dimes reports that 10 percent of pregnant women in the United States are smokers. Smoking exposes your body to more than 2,500 chemicals that can be harmful to you and your unborn child.

Candida albicans is a fungi that can cause yeast infections, a common vaginal infection in women. According to BabyCenter.com, researchers believe that increased estrogen can lead to higher...

Many women suffer from postpartum joint pain thanks to natural posture changes to accommodate a growing belly, loosened ligaments throughout the body during pregnancy, and the constant physical...

Spotting during early pregnancy is considered to be normal. Unlike a menstrual period, spotting typically consists of a small amount of vaginal discharge that may contain a little blood. The...

If you are interested in watching women give birth videos, then it is wise to choose videos which will be most helpful to your unique situation. Whether you are currently pregnant or just...

The Lamaze technique is an approach to pregnancy and childbirth that emphasizes natural health care and pain management methods. Many people associate Lamaze with the controlled breathing...

Epidural anesthesia is the most popular form of pain relief used during labor, with over half of all women giving birth at hospitals using it. Epidurals are usually administered by inserting a...

Pregnant women often follow the development of their pregnancy on a weekly basis and educate themselves on the growth of their unborn baby. While unexpected complications can occur at any point...

While no one can really say that giving birth is going to be easy, it can be made easier through preparation. Regular exercise as well as some specific exercises pregnant women can perform on a...