According to a 2006 study published in "National Vital Statistics Reports," at least 10 percent of women smoke while pregnant. Exposure to smoke prenatally increases the risk for several adverse outcomes for the fetus, including miscarriage and...
An average pregnancy lasts 40 weeks and is divided into three periods of time called trimesters. During each of these stages a baby undergoes incredible growth to transform itself from a fertilized egg into a human being.
Pregnancy is an exciting time for a new mother. It is natural to wonder how your baby is growing and developing as your body is drastically changing. A baby's growth during pregnancy follows a predictable course from fertilization, to the forming...
During pregnancy, you should avoid eating items you're allergic to. Depending on your reactions' severity, you risk endangering your health, which could put your baby at risk. Still, you need quantities of certain nutrients to ensure your baby has...
Mederma Stretch Marks Therapy is a cream-based treatment for stretch marks caused by various factors. It is designed to work on newly formed stretch marks, according to Mederma, and has the best results if applied when marks first appear on the skin.
The ingredients found in energy drinks affect not only you but also your unborn baby if you consume them during pregnancy. Many energy drinks contain more caffeine than a cup of coffee, according to the Centers for Science of the Public Interest....
Even though a growing belly might be the only change you notice from the outside, your baby's development changes dramatically over the duration of your pregnancy. Although babies in utero, like those outside the womb, grow and develop at slightly...
There seems to be one common theme when it comes to pregnancy diets, which is, eating a well-balanced, healthy diet that promotes the unborn baby's growth and development. Dietary reference intakes during pregnancy are higher for many nutrients. A...
Pregnancy cravings are different for every woman. Maybe you have a sudden urge to enjoy a peanut butter and jelly sandwich like you did when you were a child. There's nothing wrong with indulging your craving, especially since there is nothing...
Monitoring the fetal heart rate is essential to tracking your baby's growth and development during pregnancy. While in the womb, your baby's heart rate should be 120 and 160 beats per minute, according to MedlinePlus. The heart rate may rise when...
Pregnancy is usually associated with weight gain to accommodate a growing baby, but not all women do gain weight. Some women actually lose weight during pregnancy, which may be alarming. Weight loss during pregnancy can have multiple causes, some...
Regular monitoring of you and your baby is the best way of preventing intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), or at least catching it early on. Intrauterine growth restriction cannot always be prevented. However, there are some risk factors that...
Uterine cancer, the most common cancer of a woman's reproductive system, accounts for 6 percent of all female cancers in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute. The uterus is a hollow organ that sits in the pelvis and...
Your unborn baby's growth and development is dependent on your nutrition during pregnancy, and fruit provides many of the nutrients that you both need. Some fruits, like strawberries and oranges, are sources of vitamin C that help develop your...
While you are pregnant, it is important that you consume proper nutrition to promote healthy development of your unborn child. You must increase your caloric intake to support a proper growth rate for your baby. You must also ensure that you...
Newborns come in all different shapes and sizes. Full-term babies, babies born between 37 and 40 weeks, normally weigh between 6 lbs., 2 oz. and 9 lbs., 2 oz. According to website Kids Health, it is normal for a newborn to drop a few ounces after...
Iodine is a dietary element. It is a compound found naturally in the environment, and it is critical to your health and well-being. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, iodine deficiency is a serious health concern that is common around the...
The uterus is a pear-shaped muscular organ that measures roughly about 7.5cm in the non-pregnant state. It serves as the vessel for a baby's growth and development during a normal pregnancy. The uterus is not usually palpable, or felt, as it sits...
During your pregnancy, your baby will grow from a microscopic fertilized egg to an average of about 8 lb at birth. Fetal development follows predictable stages and milestones, with some individual variance. Throughout your pregnancy, your health...
Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, is the most common metabolic problem in newborns. Numerous maternal and newborn conditions, from mild to life threatening, can cause hypoglycemia by affecting a baby's ability to maintain a stable blood sugar...
As a pregnant woman, you know that the foods you eat and the substances you are exposed to can influence your baby's growth and development. If you consume caffeine during pregnancy, your baby may experience certain problems with his development,...
Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) is a condition of high blood pressure during pregnancy. Expectant mothers with a blood pressure of 140/90 or higher, which occurs two or more times after 20 weeks of gestation, are usually diagnosed as having...
Consuming protein during your pregnancy is important both for your baby's health and for yours as well. There is one formal high protein pregnancy diet, called the Brewer Diet. This diet requires pregnant women to eat a very healthy and well...
Your sciatic nerve starts in your lower back, runs through your hips and down the back of your legs. Uterine growth during pregnancy and the baby's position may place pressure on your sciatic nerve, causing dull pain, aching, burning or tingling...
Aspartame is an alternative to sugar and is often chosen by women who are watching their caloric intake. Artificial sweeteners like aspartame are made from two amino acids called phenylalanine and aspartic acid, Baby Center reports. When you are...
During pregnancy, rapid growth is necessary to ensure the complete development of a baby within the 40 week gestational period. Pregnancy is broken up into three trimesters, each which feature significant developmental stages for babies.
Prenatal vitamins can put you on the right track to helping your baby develop properly. Taking prenatal vitamins can have some side effects that may leave you feeling sick to your stomach. Remembering to take your prenatal vitamins every day is...
During pregnancy, the foods that you eat can directly affect your baby's growth and development. Celery is not bad for you to eat during pregnancy. In fact, eating stalks of celery offers many benefits and contributes to your vegetable intake....
During your pregnancy, your obstetrician monitors your baby's growth, development and heart rate through ultrasounds. During these exams, a fetal doppler or probe is used. It's a hand-held device that emits high-energy sound waves to help detect...
