Premature rupture of membranes is the early rupture (tears or bursts) of the amniotic sac, after 37 weeks gestation. Typically, a mom-to-be's water will break (or rupture) after the first stage of labor. When the membranes rupture prior to the...
Each year, 178,000 women in the U.S. die from cigarette smoking. On average, each female smoker loses 14.5 years of her life, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Twenty one million women, or 18.5 percent, continue to smoke despite...
Antibacterial products for hand sanitation have grown more prevalent in the 21st century. In an effort to control infection, millions have purchased bottles of gel or wipes and placed them in cars, handbags and diaper bags. The controversial...
Fibroids are benign tumors that can grow in the female uterus. The causes of their formation and development are unknown, although they tend to occur in women older than 30 years of age and are particularly common in African-American women....
By the time the ninth month of pregnancy finally arrives, most women are more than ready for pregnancy to be over. Every twinge, cramp and odd sensation bring the hopeful question "Is this it?" Early labor has several signs; some are subtle and...
While pregnant, it is important for you to eat a healthy diet. Proper nutrition, including the consumption of vitamin C, will support your fetus's growth and development. Vitamin C is found in fruits and vegetables, and helps form collagen for...
Elliptical workouts during pregnancy offer a low-impact way to burn calories and tone muscles. Most elliptical trainers include moving handlebars along with moving pedals to offer more workout options. Engaging in elliptical workouts will protect...
Pregnancy causes your body to change and a variety of symptoms to emerge as your baby develops. The often severe symptoms of the first trimester give way to the comfort of the second trimester, which eventually leads to the contrasting discomfort...
Having a healthy pregnancy is about caring for your body and mind in a manner that gives your baby the best start in life. If exercise was part of your stay-healthy regimen before you became pregnant, continuing to exercise offers many benefits to...
Pregnant women have health and fitness needs that differ from those of other women. Because everything you do during pregnancy affects your developing baby, you may wonder if exercising while pregnant will hurt your baby in any way. While most...
Maximum heart rate is the highest heart rate you reach during exercise. According to the Mayo Clinic, the maximum pregnancy heart rate recommended by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists was once 140 beats per minute. As of...
The physical benefits from exercise are well established, but some women refrain from such physical activity out of concern for their own health and that of their unborn baby. However, experts encourage exercise during pregnancy, indicating that...
While both men and women need to exercise on a regular basis, the question often arises whether or not they should exercise in the same way and to the same degree. In general, women may be able to exercise in much the same way as men most of the...
Smoking tobacco puts toxic chemicals into your lungs and blood stream and, therefore, into your unborn child as well. Many studies worldwide document babies born prematurely as a result of the mother's inability to stop smoking and the child's...
In the movies, labor is usually preceded by a dramatic and public breaking of the water, but in real life, only a very small percentage of women experience their water breaking before they go into labor. So if you're nervous about your water...
Distinguishing between false labor and real contractions is often challenging, particularly for first-time moms. The contractions in true labor help dilate the cervix, unlike the Braxton Hicks contractions you may feel before you actually go into...
Over 278,000 women have HIV, human immunodeficiency virus, in the United States, the March of Dimes states, and many are unaware that they're positive for the virus. Drug treatment for HIV in pregnancy drastically reduces the risk of transmission...
Your due date gives you a general idea of when your newest family member will arrive, but you can't predict exactly when your body will begin true labor. Even when the contractions start you won't necessarily rush straight to the hospital. If you...
Thrush is a yeast infection that occurs most often in the mouths of infants 2 months old and younger. Thrush may be accompanied by a diaper rash, also associated with yeast. In some babies, thrush can cause difficulty feeding due to soreness and...
There are several warning signs an expectant mother may experience that let her know something is wrong with the pregnancy. Some may be due to complications with the pregnancy itself, while other symptoms may be due to outside factors such as flu...
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble, vitamin which is not stored as readily in the body as the other fat-soluble vitamins (A, E, D and K). The uses of vitamin E in the body is extensive, its ability to prevent cataracts, impotence in men, and menstrual...
Barotrauma most often occurs during air pressure changes associated with scuba diving or flying. The tube (Eustachian tube) that leads from the inner ear to the nose and the back of the throat usually provides a space for air flow in the middle...
Smoking while pregnant is harmful to you and your baby. There is no known "safe" number of cigarettes that a woman can smoke while pregnant without causing damage. The risks increase with every cigarette smoked. Therefore, it may not be enough to...
Many expectant mothers experience uncertainty as they approach their due date, even if they have delivered a baby before. Knowing what to expect when you go into labor will help you be more prepared and calmer in the days and weeks before you...
According to the March of Dimes, more than 90 percent of the approximately 9,000 U.S. children diagnosed with AIDS since 1985 contracted the virus from their mother during pregnancy or birth. Preventative measures can greatly reduce a pregnant...
A newborn infant does not always look like the picture-perfect babies you see on television and in magazines. Bruises, which can occur for a variety of reasons, often develop on your newborn's skin. They can appear right after birth or develop in...
The nose contains cartilage and bone, with the sinus cavities lined with specialized cells that form a mucous membrane. Nose cancer, a form of head and neck cancer, arises from cells within the sinus cavity that begin to proliferate uncontrollably...
Antioxidants are an important aspect to good health in the human body. "These supplements are the good guys that the body desperately needs to do battle with free radicals caused by pollution, bad lifestyle habits, and crummy food, including food...
Acoustic neuroma, or Meinere's disease is a syndrome characterized by a pattern of symptoms including severe vertigo, intermittent hearing loss, tinnitus and a feeling of a plugged, or clogged, ear. Meinere's disease is distinguished from other...
