Pregnancy Complications

Most mothers begin pregnancy assuming that they will give birth after nine months to a healthy, full term baby. But the statistics tell a different story and all expecting mothers should be...

A woman may develop hypothyroidism during pregnancy. In fact, hypothyroidism is one of the most common types of thyroid disease that surfaces during pregnancy, according to Pregnancy Info. Knowing...

Pregnancy complications caused by early labor can be very scary to deal with. However, early detection of preterm labor can help a mother carry their pregnancy to full term. This is why it is...

Next Choice, also known as the morning-after pill, is an emergency contraceptive used to help prevent pregnancy up to 72 hours after unprotected sex. Next Choice can also be used if another form...

No one talks about it. No one wants to go through it. Having a miscarriage is definitely not easy but you can do it.

Enoxaparin sodium is the generic name for Lovenox. This anticoagulant is used to treat deep vein thrombosis blood clots. While enoxaparin does not cross the placenta, due to the lack of...

Abdominal pain during pregnancy is a common occurrence. Fortunately, in most cases, abdominal pain turns out to be nothing serious. Knowing the difference between harmless and serious pains during...

Blood transfusions are meant to treat patients who are sick or injured. During pregnancy, proper care of the mother is an important concern. When that care involves a blood transfusion, there is...

Gastroschisis is a birth defect that causes a baby's intestines to extend outside of the body through a hole in the abdomen. About 1,500 babies are born with gastroschisis every year in the United...

At 11 weeks into a pregnancy, a baby no longer is in the embryonic stage. She now is a small human being who fits into the palm of your hand. At this stage, there are some risks that pregnant...

Cervical cancer usually is derived from human papillomavirus and develops when cancerous tissues begin to form in the cervix. Cervical cancer usually develops quite slowly and with no symptoms but...

While most pregnancies yield healthy babies, there are things that can put a fetus at risk. Prior pregnancies, genetics and outside factors can cause the fetus to be at a higher risk for...

A couple is considered infertile if they are under 35 and have been trying unsuccessfully for at least on year to get pregnant; or are over 35 and have been trying for six months to get pregnant....

The placenta is the life support system for a fetus; it connects the growing fetus to the mother and supplies nutrients and oxygen and removes waste. According to the American College of...

You're probably concerned about the risks to your baby and your health if you have high blood pressure during pregnancy--either because you have chronic high blood pressure or because you've...

During pregnancy many women have thicker and healthier hair because estrogen levels are high. This increased estrogen means hair remains in its growing phase longer, leaving fewer hairs in the...

Excited about your impending little bundle of joy, but less excited about not being able to wear that bikini again? These are the methods I used during pregnancy to avoid stretch marks- and I am...

Some birth defects are preventable while others are caused by genes. There are no guarantees but here are some things you can do to reduce the chance of birth defects for your child.

Even with all the joys of pregnancy, urinary tract infections can put a damper on your fun. Urinary tract infections are able to strike at any time during your pregnancy and can lead to serious...

The joys of pregnancy---feeling the baby kick, watching the belly grow, preparing for a welcome addition to the family---at times can be overshadowed by common complaints, such as headache, muscle...

Low platelet counts often happen for unknown reasons. A standard platelet count falls between 150 and 400 million per milliliter of blood, though the exact number may vary from person to person....

Sometimes a ring can get stuck on a persons finger. It is not uncommon for a pregnant woman's hand to swell slightly during pregnancy. Here is a common scenario; a woman in her third trimester...

Giving birth to a stillborn baby can be one of the most heartbreaking, difficult things you can go through as a woman and a mother. Some women try to get pregnant again right away and some wait...

Fallopian tubes are essential to the natural pregnancy process. A woman, however, can still become pregnant with none, or only one fallopian tube. Once an egg is released from an ovary, it is sent...

Benzoyl peroxide is a chemical that is most commonly used in acne medications. The chemical is the primary ingredient in many creams and gels that can be applied to the skin for acne treatment....

It is difficult to know when a baby is in distress during pregnancy. Without being able to monitor the heartbeat, the mother must rely on her own feelings of wellness, cramping or fetal movement....

Patanol provides relief for itchy, red eyes. Allergy sufferers rely on the medicine to control symptoms, relieve the pain or discomfort and provide clearer vision. The health effects of Patanol on...

Indigestion is a very uncomfortable condition that occurs in most pregnancies. Indigestion can range from mildly uncomfortable to extremely painful. Regardless of the discomfort level, it can...

Placenta previa is a pregnancy complication that occurs when the placenta attaches to the lower wall of the uterus. The low-lying placenta may cover all or part of the cervix, and it may detach...

While pregnant women hope for a healthy baby, one in every 160 pregnancies results in a stillbirth, according to the March of Dimes. Stillbirth symptoms can include vaginal bleeding, reduced fetal...

Although sex during pregnancy is usually alright, there are a few restrictions. Knowing your risk factors, talking to your doctor or midwife and listening to your body are the first steps....

Spotting is a light amount of blood that passes through the vagina. It is not uncommon for women to have spotting during the first trimester of pregnancy, but spotting during the second and third...

Alcohol and pregnancy do not mix. Alcohol will have the same effect on a pregnant woman as on anybody else -- but the biggest risk is to the fetus she is carrying. Getting drunk increases the risk...

Pregnancy at the mature age of 40 is still entirely possible thanks to modern medicine and even natural means. That said, it can seem overwhelming when you consider the statistics that at age 40...

Hydropnephrosis, or swelling of the kidneys, can affect pregnant women and their fetuses. According to the Merck Manual, the condition can occur in pregnant woman when an enlarged uterus prevents...

Indigestion during pregnancy can be so awful that it can make women not want to get pregnant a second time. I know for me it was so bad that I could barely eat or drink anything. But once I...

Gestational diabetes is one of the most common problems that women experience during pregnancy. Immediate treatment for this condition is necessary in order to avoid complications during pregnancy...

Although menopause signals the end of a woman's childbearing years, it does not happen all at once. You may be excited at the idea of not having to use any more contraceptives or you may even be...

Pregnant women often inappropriately use hot tubs during pregnancy. They may view the use of a hot tub as a way of eliminating or relieving back pain or swelling of the feet. Although the...

Finding a birth injury attorney is not something that anyone expects to do when they are planning for their new baby. When the unthinkable happens, however, it is critical to understand the ins...

Pregnancy ushers in a time of excitement and preparation that can be strenuous on a woman's body. After nine long months of carrying a baby, it is not uncommon for a woman to seek out some...

In vitro fertilization, commonly known as IVF, involves the manual implantation of a male sperm and a female egg in a laboratory. The embryo is then placed in the uterus. Used as a fertility...

Complications of pregnancy that involve the placenta, such as placenta accreta and placenta previa, are serious conditions. The placenta is the life support system for the fetus, forming a...

There are different problems that can occur when a woman is pregnant. These problems can be minor with no lasting effects, or they can be major with life-long effects or even death of the mother...

Most women who become pregnant will have no complications and will give birth to healthy babies. In the past it was believed that the baby was completely protected while growing in the uterus. We...

Gestational diabetes, which affects the way that blood sugar is processed in the body, only appears in a woman during pregnancy. This form of diabetes doesn't pose a large risk to the mother, but...

According to the American Cancer Society, cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, many of which are quite toxic. While you may be well aware that cigarette smoking is harmful for your...

Pregnancy is a natural process for women, and while most mature women can handle a pregnancy with minimal complications, a variety of risk factors are associated with teen pregnancy. These are...

Pregnancy brings many aches and pains. It is sometimes hard to tell what pains are normal and which could be signs of a miscarriage.

Toxemia is when a pregnant woman's blood pressure becomes elevated and protein begins to be excreted in the urine, usually in the second half of a pregnancy. Toxemia is also commonly called...