Pregnancy is an exciting time full of anticipation and joy. In the 21st century it's common for women to exercise during their pregnancy, yet old fashioned notions about exercise and miscarriage exist causing concern for any mother-to-be. Now is...
A miscarriage is usually preceded by one or more warning signs that indicate that the developing fetus may not survive. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists reports that miscarriages occur in about 15 to 20 percent of...
Even during pregnancy, it is possible to catch a cold. Because pregnancy has an impact on your immune system and hormones, cold symptoms may worsen or last longer than normal. Unfortunately, certain treatments and medications are not recommended...
Many women worry about gaining weight during pregnancy, but it's just as important to assess your body weight and fat levels before trying to conceive. Both overweight women and women with low body fat face special challenges in becoming pregnant...
Is it healthier to be overweight or underweight? Both of them have advantages, as well as disadvantages. A person who is overweight will be more likely to survive with a shortage of food, but will be at higher risk for some diseases. On the other...
Caffeine is a bitter-tasting stimulant that naturally occurs in certain plants and is also added to certain foods and drinks. Coffee, non-herbal tea, soda and chocolate are major food and drink sources of caffeine. And although consuming a small...
Miscarriage is a devastating emotional event, and traumatic both mentally and physically to a woman. It is an event that no woman wants to experience, and to worry if a miscarriage is happening or not makes the entire process more difficult. There...
During the second trimester of pregnancy, women have the opportunity to have a blood test to screen for birth defects. This is called the maternal serum triple or quadruple screen. This test only involves drawing blood from the mother and does not...
Mumps is caused by a viral infection and is highly contagious. It can be contracted by breathing in saliva droplets that are disbursed through the air when an infected person sneezes or coughs. Since a mumps vaccine was introduced in 1967, the...
Some hormonal deficiencies are easier to spot than others. Unfortunately, progesterone deficiency, while detrimental to your pregnancy, isn't likely something you'll know about until it's too late. For this reason, your obstetrician most likely...
You can use an aloe gel for topical use or take a substance orally made from dried aloe or aloe juice to treat certain conditions. Although proponents recommend aloe for everything from minor skin irritations to cancer prevention, not enough...
There are many common discomforts that arise during pregnancy as a result of changes in your body chemistry. Because you should avoid prescription and over-the-counter drugs as much as possible when you're pregnant, you might be tempted to look...
Juniper berries are used in herbal medicine, and also flavor certain foods and gin. Although they are called berries, they are part of the cone and not a true berry. Most people can safely consume juniper berries in the amounts used in food, but...
Complications of an enlarged uterus are normally due to the disease or condition responsible for the enlarged uterus. Usually, an enlarged uterus is caused by one of two conditions: noncancerous tumors called fibroids or adenomyosis, a thickening...
Losing a child at any time is one of the most difficult experiences for a parent. When parents lose a child during the prenatal phase, it can lead to feelings of confusion, guilt, loneliness and depression. While it is normal to pass through the...
The effects of secondhand and thirdhand tobacco smoke on infants and children are serious. Health problems can develop with any level of exposure, according to the U.S. Surgeon General. Childhood issues caused by cigarette smoking may begin even...
Ten to 25 percent of all clinically recognized pregnancies will end in miscarriage, reports the American Pregnancy Association. It is important to realize, however, that many women who experience some, or even all, of these symptoms may go on to...
Pregnant women often suffer from nausea with or without vomiting in their first trimester, a condition we know as morning sickness. Although certainly unpleasant, in most cases morning sickness has no harmful effects on you or your baby. It will...
Home pregnancy tests use urine or blood to detect the pregnancy hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG. The hormone is created by the placenta and enters in the blood as soon as the embryo attaches to the uterus, according to the University...
Unintentional weight loss refers to weight loss that occurs without effort or for no discernible reason. The potential causes for unintended weight loss are virtually endless and include conditions ranging from appetite loss to cancer....
Although an early period can signify nothing more than an especially stressful month or a change in your diet, it can also be an early sign of pregnancy or an indication of a hormonal imbalance. By paying attention to the type of bleeding you...
Uterine ablation is a medical procedure that helps relieve heavy or irregular menstrual bleeding, a condition called dysmenorrhea. Uterine ablation permanently removes the lining of the uterus and stops or decreases the menstrual cycle. Special...
Once you've made the decision to conceive, you may be hoping to get pregnant as fast as possible. While there's no "silver bullet" that will ensure you become pregnant in a timely manner, making sure that you're healthy can certainly increase your...
If you are pregnant, you may have wondered about the effects of herbal supplements on your pregnancy. Many women believe that herbal supplements are healthier because they come from a tree or plant. Licorice root is an herb that people have used...
When you are pregnant, anything you consume will pass through the placenta to the fetus. Because caffeine is a drug, most experts recommend that you limit your intake until you give birth. Since it is present in such a wide variety of products, it...
The development of a fetus is an exquisitely choreographed series of events that need to occur at the right time in order for the baby to grow properly. Radiation can have a multitude of effects on this. The timing of the radiation exposure and...
Rubeola, commonly referred to as the measles, is a contagious viral infection. The infection spreads by breathing in droplets of moisture after an infected person coughs. Symptoms of rubeola include a red, itching rash, fever and a cough. A...
Carac (fluorouracil) topical cream treats precancerous skin lesions called actinic keratosis. Also called solar keratosis or sun spots, this skin malady tends to break out on areas of the skin most exposed to sunlight, such as the face, ears,...
The flu, also known as influenza, is a highly contagious respiratory illness which can be spread from person to person through sneezing or coughing. It may also be spread by touching the surface of an item that an infected person touched or...
