Pregnancy Tips: Video Series

A labor and delivery nurse goes to school for three or four years to become an RN, which requires a prospective nurse to pass the NCLEX board certification. Find out how labor and delivery nurses manage the care of prenatal patients with help from a labor and delivery nurse in this free video on nursing and obstetrics.

In order to figure out how far along a woman is in her pregnancy, it can be helpful to think of the date of her last menstrual period. Discover how ultrasounds can help to determine the duration of a pregnancy through amniotic fluid and the size of the baby with help from a labor and delivery nurse in this free video on pregnancy and obstetrics.

The body goes through many changes during pregnancy, including backaches, headaches, hormonal imbalances, shortness of breath, stretch marks, mood swings and possible itching and swelling. Look for the body's growth and the pressure of holding a baby to affect the body with help from a labor and delivery nurse in this free video on pregnancy and obstetrics.

It can be difficult to tell if breast soreness is a symptom of pregnancy, because some of the symptoms of pregnancy are the same symptoms of that of a regular menstrual period. Learn about breast soreness and other hormonal changes that can happen during pregnancy with help from a labor and delivery nurse in this free video on pregnancy and obstetrics.

A woman who is breastfeeding might not experience a lack of menstruation, so better indications of pregnancy include nausea, vomiting, vaginal spotting, breast tenderness and fatigue. Find out how breast milk may change because a woman is pregnant with help from a labor and delivery nurse in this free video on pregnancy and obstetrics.

Condoms are effective, but they are not 100 percent effective in preventing pregnancy, so people can still get pregnant when using condoms. Find out how condoms should be used to prevent STDs with help from a labor and delivery nurse in this free video on pregnancy and obstetrics.

An OB nurse, or obstetrics nurse, must have gone to nursing school, which can be done with either an associate's degree or a bachelor's degree. Learn about the NCLEX, which a person must pass to become a board certified nurse, with help from a labor and delivery nurse in this free video on nursing and obstetrics.

In order to become a nurse midwife, a person must go to school for about two years, and then they must take part in a year-long apprenticeship. Learn about the American College of Nurse Midwifes board exam with help from a labor and delivery nurse in this free video on nursing and midwifery.

When preparing for a pregnancy, it's important to be in a position to raise a child financially, to be in good health and to take prenatal vitamins. Get tips on raising a baby in a stable environment with help from a labor and delivery nurse in this free video on pregnancy and obstetrics.

An IUD releases a hormone that makes it difficult for an embryo to attach to the lining of the uterus, so it's recommended that an individual waits at least one menstrual cycle for their body to return to normal before attempting to get pregnant. Find out how long it takes for hormones to clear the body with help from a labor and delivery nurse in this free video on pregnancy and obstetrics.

Depo-Provera is a hormone shot that is a contraceptive to prevent pregnancy, and a woman needs six to eight months to let the hormone clear before she will be able to conceive. Learn about possible side effects of Depo-Provera with help from a labor and delivery nurse in this free video on pregnancy and obstetrics.

Sleeping comfortably while pregnant can be achieved with a body pillow, a maternity pillow or other pillows made specifically for women who have extra weight in front. Discover why pregnant women should never sleep on their backs with help from a labor and delivery nurse in this free video on pregnancy and obstetrics.

Achieving a good pregnancy can be done by drinking lots of water, taking food-based prenatal vitamins, resting appropriately and exercising. Learn about the benefits of a diet that is based on fruits and vegetables with help from a labor and delivery nurse in this free video on pregnancy and obstetrics.

There are several possible causes of fatigue during pregnancy, including nausea, vomiting and an increased level of progesterone hormones. Discover how frequent use of the restroom at night can cause fatigue during pregnancy with help from a labor and delivery nurse in this free video on pregnancy and obstetrics.

Signs of pregnancy in the first trimester might include nausea, vomiting, backache, headache, fatigue, mood swings, food cravings, sore breasts and a darkening of the areola. Look for signs of weight gain and swelling in the feet or ankles during the initial stages of pregnancy with help from a labor and delivery nurse in this free video on pregnancy and obstetrics.

After a pregnancy, losing weight should be held off for two to three months, at which point it's important to eat healthy and get plenty of fluid. Find out why it's unhealthy to exercise immediately after a pregnancy with help from a labor and delivery nurse in this free video on pregnancy and obstetrics.

The hormone that determines if a woman is pregnant or not can be detected in the blood six to eight days after conception. Wait a week after a missed menstrual cycle to have a blood test for a pregnancy with help from a labor and delivery nurse in this free video on pregnancy and obstetrics.

In pregnancy, there are four potential causes of the breaking down of red blood cells that signify jaundice. Find out how to treat each cause of the breaking down of red blood cells during pregnancy with help from a labor and delivery nurse in this free video on pregnancy and obstetrics.

Hives can often be a reaction to an allergen, so it's important to determine where the hives have originated in a pregnancy. Find out how hives during a pregnancy can be treated with a simple antihistamine with help from a labor and delivery nurse in this free video on pregnancy and obstetrics.

Headaches during pregnancy are often caused by dehydration, so it's important for pregnant women with headaches to immediately drink one to two glasses of water. Discover why it's okay to take Tylenol during pregnancy with help from a labor and delivery nurse in this free video on pregnancy and obstetrics.

A lower backache in a pregnancy can be caused by bad posture, so one way to treat it and strengthen muscles is by standing up straight. Discover how to treat a backache during pregnancy with exercise and massage with help from a labor and delivery nurse in this free video on pregnancy and obstetrics.

A pregnancy can usually be detected by a blood test six to eight days after conception, and a home pregnancy test will usually detect the HCG hormone a week after a missed menstrual cycle. Learn about the symptoms that lead up to pregnancy with help from a labor and delivery nurse in this free video on pregnancy and obstetrics.

In order to become a neonatal nurse, a person must go through a nursing program, they must pass the NCLEX board certification exam, and they would have to go through an orientation in a hospital's NICU. Learn about the mentor program that new neonatal nurses must go through with help from a labor and delivery nurse in this free video on neonatal nursing requirements.

A nurse midwife is someone who is already licensed as an RN, and who has experience in labor and delivery before going to school for two to three years to become a nurse midwife. Learn about the exam that a nurse midwife must pass with help from a labor and delivery nurse in this free video on nursing and midwifery.

The best way to determine if a woman is pregnant is by having her blood tested, or she can take a home pregnancy test and look for first trimester symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, fatigue, headache and hormonal changes. Wait a week after a missed menstrual period to take a pregnancy test with help from a labor and delivery nurse in this free video on pregnancy and obstetrics.