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...
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...
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist, or ACOG, recommends exercise not only during the first trimester, but throughout your entire pregnancy. Regular exercise can reduce the risk of developing the complicating conditions of...
According to the Cleveland Clinic, nearly 20 percent of women are prescribed bedrest during pregnancy. Bedrest can take many forms -- from simply limiting your activity to being confined to bed all day every day. Bed rest is usually recommended to...
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...
A premature birth is one that takes place before 37 weeks of gestation, three weeks or more before the baby's due date. Premature babies can develop a range of health problems, which are more severe the younger the baby is when he is born. In some...
A miscarriage, also known as a spontaneous abortion, is the unexpected loss of a fetus before the completion of the 20th week of pregnancy. A miscarriage is not something any woman expects, but it happens to women from all walks of life. The...
If your baby is born prior to 38 weeks he is considered premature, or a preemie. Some women may deliver as early as 24 to 30 weeks of gestation. Their babies will spend many months in the neonatal intensive care unit. Generally, the earlier a baby...
Breaking water, also called amniorrhexis or rupture of membranes, is a normal part of labor and giving birth. The "water" is actually amniotic fluid, a straw-colored liquid with a faint odor that may be confused with urine. During...
Cervical cancer rates in the United States have dropped since the development of the Papanicolaou test, but in 2010, over 12,000 new diagnoses were made, states the National Cancer Institute. Treatments are available, but many treatments can...
A baby born before 37 weeks of pregnancy is considered premature. According to 2010 information supplied by the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford, approximately 12 percent of all babies in the United States are born prematurely. The...
Exercising during pregnancy is generally beneficial; however, there are some situations in which it can cause complications. These complications are sometimes a direct result of the exercises, but they can be pregnancy-related complications that...
Bed rest is often a necessary step to take during pregnancy to treat pregnancy-induced hypertension, incompetent cervix, placental abruption and a wide range of other conditions that can lead to preterm labor. The nature of bed rest--how strict...
Once you've hit the 35th week of pregnancy, you might not be up for some of the more strenuous exercises you did in the earlier prenatal stages of your pregnancy or before you became pregnant. Reaching a late stage of pregnancy doesn't doom you to...
According to the American Pregnancy Association, babies born before the 37th week of gestation are considered premature. Contributing factors to premature birth include maternal heart disease, diabetes, infection, incompetent cervix, preeclampsia,...
While pregnant, you should get a healthy amount of low-impact exercise. In fact, "Medline Plus" magazine says that a pregnant woman should aim for 30 minutes of exercise each day. Swimming, walking and low-impact weight lifting can all be...
Getting exercise during pregnancy can help maintain your health and the health of your baby, as well as prepare your body for labor, according to TheLaborofLove.com. While vigorous exercise can be difficult and contraindicated in pregnancy, most...
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...
While most diagnosed pregnancies proceed with little difficulty and end in the delivery of healthy babies, it’s natural for a newly pregnant mother to worry that she’s going to miscarry. Some of the signs of miscarriage are quite...
Pregnancy complications such as an incompetent cervix or pre-term contractions can make bedrest medically necessary for some women during pregnancy. Long periods of immobility can take a toll on your physical health by causing muscle weakness and...
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 your belly stretches and your body widens, finding an appropriate exercise program during pregnancy can be difficult. Yet, the benefits of exercise remain just as important during pregnancy, when your body requires extra strength, flexibility...
Women who participate in an exercise program before becoming pregnant are typically encouraged to continue their workout throughout the pregnancy. With all of the physical changes that accompany pregnancy, a mother-to-be might be uncertain whether...
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...
Regular exercise during pregnancy maintains fitness and makes it easier to get back into shape after the baby is born. However, changes that occur during pregnancy require women to alter their exercise routines as their pregnancy progresses. These...
Exercise during pregnancy provides a number of benefits. It can help to reduce backaches, constipation and bloating. It can lower blood sugar and prevent or manage gestational diabetes mellitus. Similarly, it can lower blood pressure and lower the...
Most health care providers will not advise anyone against getting some exercise, but a pregnant woman will be subject to certain limitations and precautions for the sake of both her and her baby. If you are experiencing any health or obstetric...
Pregnant women have a lot to worry about—proper nutrition, sufficient exercise, and avoiding potentially dangerous foods are just a few of the things on an expecting mom’s mind. Then, too, many women (particularly first time moms)...
Physical activity during pregnancy can help you maintain — or even slightly improve — your preconception fitness level. Regular prenatal exercise improves circulation, keeps weight gain in check, elevates mood, boosts energy levels,...
