Pregnancy

Placenta previa is a pregnancy complication where the placenta sits low in the uterus, covering the cervix. It may be complete, covering the whole cervix or partial, where only part of the cervix...

There are many methods and tips available on the internet for women who are trying to conceive. Most of them are the obvious things, eating healthy, taking folic acid before and during conception,...

Although some women experience bleeding during pregnancy, this should not be mistaken for a period. A menstrual cycle and pregnancy cannot occur at the same time. Pregnancy bleeding is common and...

In the last trimester of pregnancy, time seems to pass incredibly slow. If you've gone overdue, which happens in many first pregnancies, you may find the wait (and weight) unbearable! Many people...

Sonograms, or ultrasounds, bounce sound waves off organs to create a picture. During a pregnancy, a woman typically has two sonograms, but may have more if she or the doctor feels it's necessary.

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...

The journey from individual cell to an individual is a fascinating one. A normal pregnancy lasts for 39 to 40 weeks. The stages of development are fertilized egg, blastocyst, embryo and finally a...

When you first become pregnant, fatigue, tender breasts and upset stomach are typical symptoms. It is usually common in the first trimester for women to experience morning sickness and the nausea...

One of the most common signs that you're pregnant is a missed menstrual period. Although you may be familiar with this sign of pregnancy, many women don't understand exactly why the menstrual...

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...

Labor is the natural process in which mothers deliver their baby vaginally through contractions of the uterus and dilation of the cervix. Sometimes labor can be a quick process for moms-to-be,...

From the moment of conception the human fetus begins to grow and change at a rapid rate. During the first trimester, or first 12 weeks of pregnancy, the fetus transforms from an egg and sperm to a...

The male sperm and female egg contain 23 chromosomes each that together will enable fetal development. Over a period of about nine month's a fetus undergoes rapid change and growth, from a small...

According to the Mayo Clinic, placenta previa occurs when the placenta attaches to the lower part of the uterus during pregnancy. It may cover the cervix partially or completely, and can cause...

Any pain during the first half of pregnancy can be alarming, but abdominal pain in particular may cause you to imagine all sorts of scary scenarios about your pregnancy and unborn baby. Although...

For many couples, in vitro fertilization, frequently called IVF, is the only option available for them to conceive their own child. During IVF, sperm and an egg are manually combined in a...

C-sections and vaginal births both require healing time. Most doctors recommend four to six weeks without intercourse after a vaginal birth. C-sections also require a significant delay.

Now that you're 36 weeks pregnant, you're heading down the homestretch toward labor and delivery of your little one. In only one more week, your baby will be considered full-term and may arrive at...

At 19 weeks gestation, your baby is growing and developing at a substantial rate. You are midway into the second semester and may feel slightly off balance due to the baby growing inside. Standing...

Perhaps your period was a couple of weeks late and just as you were about to take that pregnancy test, you've started spotting. Or maybe you already got a plus sign on a pregnancy test but this...

The fetus is full term at week 37 says the Mayo Clinic and can be born safely at any time from that point on. Many of the fetal developments during this stage are a preparation for life outside of...

The cervix is the lower portion of a woman's uterus, located at the top of the vagina. It is somewhat doughnut-shaped, with an opening in the center that can stretch open and close tightly. Though...

Twenty weeks marks the halfway point of a pregnancy. An ultrasound about this time may indicate the sex of the fetus and the mother starts to feel definite, stronger movement of the baby inside...

Pregnancy pushes internal organs and abdominal muscles out of place. Once the baby is born, the stomach is left feeling jiggly and strange. Most women want to get their tummies back to normal as...

Early in pregnancy, women are capable of wearing their usual attire. Pants, tops and skirts fit about the same in the beginning, but there comes a time when all of that changes. As the pregnancy...

Abdominal pain during pregnancy can cause alarm for any woman, even those who've already experienced pregnancy. As an expectant mother, it is important for you to know the normal reasons for...

Stillbirth is the death of a fetus after a given point in the pregnancy. It is important to monitor your baby's activity level if you are pregnant and concerned about a stillbirth. If you notice...

Some women seem to know almost immediately when they become pregnant, while others may not know until they miss their first periods and take a pregnancy test to confirm their suspicions. While...

Have you ever wanted to know if you were measuring large or small for your due date during your pregnancy? Here is a way you can check!

Pregnancy brings about a wide array of brand new aches and pains. The most common complaints usually center on muscle cramps and spasms. As the belly grows, nearly all pregnant women suffer from...

Finding out that you're pregnant is an exciting moment. Your next nine months will be filled with many different changes. It is good to know what to expect. Knowing how many weeks pregnant you are...

An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that has already begun. An egg has been fertilized and an embryo has begun to develop. The embryo begins its journey from the ovary into the uterus, but gets...

Though your only sure-fire way of knowing if you are pregnant is a pregnancy test, there are many signs that will point to the new life growing inside of you.

Sleeping positions while pregnant are important to consider, as sleeping on the back can constrict blood flow to the uterus. Try various positions on the left side with helpful information from a...

Until a woman tests positive for pregnancy, she may not know that she is with child. But there are a variety of physical signs that indicate that a woman is pregnant.

Of the many forms of birth control, the most common is the pill. The pill is a doctor-prescribed plan that is administered in either a 21- or 28-day cycle. A pill is taken at the same time each...

Child birth comes with a lot of pain. During pregnancy, your uterus expands from the size of an apple to the size of your baby. Now, during labor, the uterus contracts repeatedly to push the baby...

Abdominal cramping is something that is normal during the first trimester of pregnancy. In fact, slight cramping can be common throughout the entire pregnancy. The cramps are simply your uterus...

The third week of pregnancy is when your body is undergoing massive changes but you may not even realize you are pregnant. Early signs and symptoms may appear as your baby is just starting its...

Placenta previa is a condition in which the placenta attaches low on the uterus and partially or completely covers the cervix. If the placenta does not move out of the way as the uterus expands,...

In this article the average c-section will be broken down into steps from the time you enter the operating room to the time your patient enters recovery.

The dilation and curettage procedure is better known as a D and C. With this procedure, the cervix is dilated, and an instrument is used to scrape the contents of the uterus. This procedure is not...

The suction procedure is the most common surgical abortion performed. The doctor stretches the cervix, so a general anesthesia is usually used. The suction will remove the fetus. A curette may...

When labor begins before the 37th week of pregnancy, it is considered preterm labor. Preterm labor can cause complications for your unborn baby whose lungs and other body systems may be too...

Incomplete miscarriages make up approximately 20 percent of all miscarriages. These losses occur most often between the 6th and 13th weeks of pregnancy. In incomplete miscarriages, not all...

A molar pregnancy, or abnormal tissue growth in the uterus, is a serious complication of pregnancy that occurs in approximately one out of every thousand pregnancies. Often, genetic defects cause...