Pregnancy

When you found out that your wife was expecting, many emotions and thoughts probably went through your head all at once. As the title of the popular book suggests, pregnancy is a time of great...

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...

Research suggests that there are things that a parent can do to encourage brain development in the womb. You may feel silly talking to your baby or playing music for him while he's still inside...

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...

Some women consider learning the gender of their baby prior to birth akin to opening a present before Christmas, while others can scarcely wait to know. Until the rise of modern technologies such...

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...

Stretch marks are caused when growth takes place beyond the skin's ability to stretch and give. This causes the skin to tear. Scar tissue is formed when the skin heals, creating stretch marks. In...

Exercising during pregnancy offers great benefits. According to the Mayo Clinic, it can increase your energy, ready you for labor and delivery, and lessen the severity of negative side effects...

While every pregnancy is different, there are some simple ways you can help ensure you have a healthy nine months of pregnancy.

If you are pregnant or are planning to get pregnant, it is important that you eat nutritiously and take prenatal vitamins for your health and the health of your unborn child.

A pregnancy is described as high risk when certain factors put either the mother's or the baby's life at risk. A woman who is planning to get pregnant should be in the best health possible to...

If you are trying to get pregnant or have recently found out that you are pregnant, talk with your doctor about taking prenatal vitamins to make sure you and your baby get off to a healthy start.

Though there are no studies that support playing music while pregnant will make your baby more intelligent, there is some evidence babies can remember music heard in utero. A study from Leicester...

Having a healthy immune system during pregnancy is important to the health of both mother and baby. A healthy immune system can help prevent minor illnesses. Because the immune system is more...

With hospital births being so expensive, and some feel dangerous, many women are rethinking the paradigm and choosing home births. If your pregnancy is low risk, here is the woman-to-woman guide...

If you are pregnant and thinking of hiring a midwife, then you probably have some questions about the kind of care you will receive during your pregnancy, labor and postpartum period.

Determining the sex of a baby in a pregnant woman can be easily done by a doctor or sonogram technician. In addition, if you have some prenatal testing done, such as amniocentesis, the baby's DNA...

Postpartum depression is discussed a lot in the media and by health care professional. But, just as dangerous to child and mother but not discussed as much is prenatal depression. Coping with...

Eating a healthy pregnancy diet is important to both you and your baby. Your baby needs specific vitamins and minerals to properly form and grow while you need to eat healthy foods that help you...

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.

Prenatal vitamins are key to the health of a pregnant woman and her unborn child. However, taking them from before conception to well after birth can be an expensive undertaking. Knowing the most...

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...

Prenatal massage reduces stress and improves blood circulation. Less stress means hormonal imbalances during pregnancy will be reduced. Healthy stress management keeps pregnancy and birthing...

Morning sickness is the most common symptom of pregnancy. More than half of all pregnant women suffer from it and symptoms range from mild nausea to severe nausea and vomiting. First-time...

Coping with extreme fatigue in pregnancy is not an easy task. Most mothers feel extremely tired during the first trimester of pregnancy. This is when all of your hormone levels are increasing to...

Having a baby can be exciting and scary at the same time. Whether you have been trying to get pregnant or your pregnancy is a surprise, there are many things you can do to prepare yourself when...

Women trying to conceive often ask their doctors when they should begin taking prenatal vitamins. It is common for a doctor to recommend taking prenatal vitamins while trying to become pregnant...

According to Pregnancy.org, morning sickness affects one-third to one-half of all pregnant women. It usually starts in the first trimester and, for the majority of women, will improve or end by...

As someone once told me, even if you've been trying to conceive, a pregnancy is always a surprise. So, if you've just found out about an unplanned pregnancy, calm down and follow the steps below...

As if morning sickness, weight gain, mood swings and swollen ankles aren't enough, some pregnant women have to contend with the painful affects of sciatica. According to the Mayo Clinic, "The...

Regardless of whether you're expecting twins, triplets or even more babies, knowing basic information about multiple pregnancies will help you become better informed and more relaxed about your...

If you're often lightheaded or dizzy upon standing, you might have low blood pressure. Although not as dangerous as high blood pressure, low blood pressure can signal several problems in your body...

When expecting, it's important to give your baby the healthiest start possible. Abstaining from tobacco, alcohol and high levels of caffeine are important cornerstones to prenatal health. However,...

Any female can potentially become pregnant after her first menstrual cycle. Currently, the average age of menarche is around 12 years old in the United States, but that number is steadily...

When most women find out that they are pregnant, there a number of things that they desire to take care of or plan in preparation for their anticipated due date. This article will highlight some...

To improve the chances of a healthy pregnancy, receiving regular prenatal care from a health care professional, being informed and living a healthy lifestyle is very important, according to The...

Exercise should be an important part of your pregnancy, and something encouraged by health practitioners. Exercise strengthens your cardiovascular system, so you don't tire as easily, according to...

You can experience a range of emotions during your first visit to the doctor during your pregnancy, particularly if you're not sure what to expect. Many questions begin spinning through your head...

The more a woman knows about her pregnancy, the better off she will be. By proper care, nutrition, planning and prenatal care, a woman will be doing she can to ensure a safer pregnancy.

Being pregnant with twins can be a double miracle. Having twins requires more special care during a twins pregnancy than a normal pregnancy. By eating right when pregnant with twins insures that...

If a woman has had more than one sexual partner around the time of conception, she may wish to take a paternity test to determine the identity of her baby's father. Such a test, known as a...

While most women fully expect that labor and childbirth will be painful, many are surprised to learn they can experience pain during pregnancy as well. From back and abdominal pain to headaches...

Practicing yoga during pregnancy not only helps prepare you for the rigors of childbirth, but it can also help ease the aches and pains of pregnancy. Practicing yoga will strengthen your...

Having a baby is a big decision. There are lots of things to consider and prepare for, one of the most important being your health and that of your baby. To give your baby the best chance to...

Although many women worry about gaining too much weight during pregnancy, some end up having trouble gaining any weight at all. While no woman wants to pack on the pounds while she is expecting,...

For many women, one of the happiest times of their life quickly becomes stressful when they face the enormous costs of a pregnancy without insurance. With the soaring cost of healthcare, prenatal...

Prenatal care is the health care, education, counseling and resources provided for a mother and her unborn child during pregnancy. Prenatal care is critical to the health and safety of mother and...

Prenatal yoga exercises are extremely beneficial to expectant mothers who want to prepare their bodies for the labor and birthing processes, as well as give themselves a foundation to continue...

Vitamins and proper nutrition is essential during pregnancy. A fetus needs vitamins and nutrition to thrive, both physically and mentally. Many vitamins can be found in fresh vegetables and...

A healthy pregnancy lasts 9 months, or 40 weeks as it is usually counted. Each week is critical in either physical or mental development of a fetus. Having a healthy pregnancy helps to have a...