Each month the uterus builds up a lining to prepare for the implantation of an embryo. If a woman is not pregnant, she sheds the lining in a process commonly referred to as a menstrual period. When a woman is pregnant, she stops having this...
Sex can reduce tension, improve sleep, release emotions and express intimacy during pregnancy. The physical and psychological changes that occur in women at this time encompass a wide range of normal feelings, emotions and desires.
As a pregnant woman's due date approaches, she may begin to wonder if she will be able to recognize the signs of labor. While the only sure indications of labor are killer contractions and the amniotic sac rupturing, there are signs that occur as...
The cervix is the lower portion of the uterus. It protrudes into the upper end of the vagina and its opening connects the uterus to the vagina. The cervix is lined with a mucous membrane, but, unlike the vagina's membrane, the cervical mucous...
Your baby's placenta attaches to the inside of your uterus early in pregnancy. As the uterus grows, the placenta attachment site typically moves away from the cervix, or opening to the uterus, and toward the top, or fundus, of the uterus. However,...
Pregnancy is often a joyous time in a woman's life as she and her partner begin to create a family. The joy can become challenging and a point of concern very quickly if medical complications lead to bed rest. Bed rest during pregnancy ensures...
Infection is the number one cause of cervicitis. Infections can be caused by sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) as well as non-sexually transmitted infections. The STDs that cause cervicitis fall into two categories--bacterial and viral....
When a pregnant woman has placenta previa, the placenta attaches itself to the lower part of the uterus either near or covering the cervix. This condition can cause heavy bleeding during pregnancy or delivery and presents a serious risk for both...
The placenta provides the vital physical connection between a pregnant woman and the fetus. It delivers nutrients and oxygen from the mother's circulation and allows removal of waste products from the fetus. Placenta previa is a rare but...
One of the advantages to labor induction is that you can plan ahead and prepare yourself mentally and physically for your induction. If you require an induction of labor for medical reasons or because you are past your due date, your midwife or...
You can use the fertility awareness method of birth control, also called natural family planning, to either help you get pregnant or avoid pregnancy, but before you begin, you need to determine how many days are in your menstrual cycle. Keep a...
Pushing is the final stage in labor before you meet your baby. This period of labor and delivery may be the most painful or the greatest source of apprehension as a woman worries if she will know what to do. It is difficult to describe the...
The causes of miscarriage are varied. It is estimated that 15 to 20 percent of all known pregnancies end in miscarriage, 80 percent of which occur during the first 12 weeks of gestation. Some early miscarriages result from maternal hormonal or...
If you're trying to get pregnant or avoid pregnancy using natural methods, you'll need to be well acquainted with your body's fertility cycle. Knowing when you're fertile is the first step. During the course of your fertility cycle, certain...
A woman can use the ovulation method of fertility awareness to avoid or achieve pregnancy easily and naturally. This method can be up to 99.5 percent effective, according to a study cited by the Woomb website.
Once you and your partner make the decision to have a baby, confusion often sets in on how to go about conceiving quickly. It may seem impossible with all of the elements involved. Knowledge is the key to increasing the chance of conception and...
The art of conception for a woman is a delicate thing. The process is a complicated one which involves several steps. The woman's body must help the sperm travel into the fallopian tubes, make sure an egg is there to be fertilized, and make sure...
When a fetus is measured via ultrasound and discovered to be below the 10th percentile of weight for its age, fetal growth restriction is typically diagnosed. Also called intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), this condition is caused by a lack...
Smoking and alcohol are contraindicated during pregnancy, but unfortunately, many women continue to smoke and drink alcoholic beverages throughout their pregnancy. Smoking and alcohol are dangerous in and of itself as they can lead to heart...
A miscarriage refers to the loss of a fetus before 20 weeks of pregnancy. Most miscarriages occur before the 12th week in pregnancy, as stated by the Mayo Clinic. Miscarriages generally occur from abnormalities to the fetus and certain maternal...
The normal human gestation period is 40 weeks. Delivery of an infant prior to 37 weeks is considered a premature birth. Premature birth places the child at greatly increased risk of death or permanent physical, learning and behavioral...
Occurring most often in women over the age of 30, cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers to affect a woman's reproductive organs. According to the Mayo Clinic, the death rate from cervical cancer has decreased significantly over the...
A female condom, or femidom, is a fine, loose fitting and flexible polyurethane sheath worn by women during sex to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. The round, closed end of the sheath covers the cervix and prevents the sperm...
Many wanted pregnancies terminate early due to issues beyond a parent's control. Sometimes fetal death in utero necessitates early termination of the pregnancy. Other times, early pregnancy termination stems from maternal health conditions that...
A female condom is worn inside of a woman's vagina. It can also be worn by either men or women inside the anus for protection during anal sex. Female condoms are made out of either latex or polyurethane and nitrile. The purpose of the female...
In many cases, the reasons for birth prior to 37 weeks gestation are not known. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), premature birth occurs more frequently in blacks than whites and is more common in women who are younger than 18 or...
LEEP is an abbreviation for the medical term loop electrosurgical excision procedure, according to Ohio's Cleveland Clinic. LEEP is a surgical procedure that is used to detect and treat abnormal cervical cell growth. LEEP is performed following an...
Weight gain is an inevitable and necessary part of pregnancy. But if you're starting out overweight or obese, you may worry about gaining more weight and are consider starting an exercise program. Obesity increases your risk for complications in...
Spermicide is considered to be a safe method of birth control, with few side effects. However, this method alone is not as effective as other methods as preventing pregnancy. It is much more effective when combined with other methods, such as...
