Anorexia nervosa is a type of eating disorder that involves dieting or starving oneself obsessively to avoid gaining weight. Anorexia can be a lifelong, chronic condition, but can also become a problem during pregnancy. Between 85 and 95 percent...
Cymbalta is an antidepressant medication classified as an SNRI (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor), which means it increases levels of both serotonin and norepinephrine. Cymbalta is a Class C drug for use in pregnancy, which means that...
Many women opt not to use any medications during pregnancy, but there are times when they're needed. Tylenol is recommended by the March of Dimes as a safe and effective medication to take during times of mild illness while pregnant, as long as...
For a pregnant woman diagnosed with cancer, chemotherapy may be life-saving for her but could be life-threatening to the fetus. A woman can be faced with a devastating choice. Chemotherapy can't always be delayed until after delivery, depending on...
According to the March of Dimes, 30% of young women younger than 20 years of age become pregnant at least once. Because of the wide-ranging effects to the individual mothers and children as well as society as a whole, programs to help prevent teen...
Most pregnant women worry about the effects of taking medication on the growing fetus. When medications are available over the counter, many pregnant women assume that they're safe to use without asking a medical provider. But many...
Many women are exposed to low levels of radiation during pregnancy. In most cases, the amount of radiation exposure is too low to cause any problems for the pregnancy. However, in rare cases, adverse effects can occur. As a precaution, women are...
Progesterone is a hormone produced by the ovaries of a woman. According to Association of Women for the Advancement of Research and Education, progesterone levels rise and fall during the menstrual cycle. The production of this hormone begins...
Approximately 8 percent of women develop urinary tract infections, or UTIs, during pregnancy, reported lead author John Dalzell, M.D., in "Urinary Tract Infections during Pregnancy," published in the American Family Physician on February 1, 2000....
PCOS, or polycystic ovarian syndrome, is a hormone imbalance that affects 5 to 10 percent of women, according to BabyCenter. Women with PCOS have significant fertility challenges, specifically a failure to ovulate most menstrual cycles. Once a...
Asthma is an increasingly common problem among pregnant women. A study published in 2003 in the journal “Annals of Epidemiology” noted that up to 8.4 percent of pregnant women suffer from asthma and the numbers increase each year. As a...
Hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, is one sign of diabetes. Hyperglycemia in pregnancy can affect women with pre-existing Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, or can develop during the pregnancy. Hyperglycemia that develops during pregnancy, known as...
Most women who have a common cold or even the flu during pregnancy never have any negative consequences on themselves or their unborn children. But the flu can also have brutal outcomes for both the mother and the fetus. That is why doctors highly...
Metformin is an oral medication called a hypoglycemic, which is used to lower blood sugar in patients with diabetes. Metformin can also be used to treat polycystic ovarian syndrome. Like any medication, metformin should be used under the careful...
Fetal exposure to radiation can harm your pregnancy by causing pregnancy loss, birth defects, mental retardation, intrauterine growth retardation and increasing your baby's risk of cancer. The type and degree of harm to your baby depends on the...
Percocet is a combination drug consisting of oxycodone and acetaminophen. Percocet works as a pain reliever, fever reducer and calming agent. Although acetaminophen is widely regarded as being safe during pregnancy, the risks of oxycodone are less...
Teenage pregnancy is a serious issue that may seriously impact the future of a young woman. Any teen pregnancy will be a challenge as teens typically lack skills needed to handle a pregnancy and motherhood. Patience, maturity and ability to handle...
Hypothyroidism is the medical term used to describe an abnormally low level of thyroid hormone. Low levels of thyroid hormone result in a slowed-down metabolism and may result in such symptoms as fatigue, weight gain and decreased ability to...
Recommendations for pregnant women with epilepsy have changed considerably over the past few decades. Once discouraged from getting pregnant at all, women with epilepsy now have a 90 percent chance of having a normal pregnancy and a healthy baby,...
HPV, or human papillomavirus, is a sexually transmitted disease where certain strains can cause genital warts or cervical cancer in women. According to Dr. Arthur Schoenstadt, author of the eMedTV.com article "HPV and Pregnancy," no research shows...
Effexor, also known by the generic name venlafaxine, is an antidepressant used to treat depression, anxiety disorder, and panic disorder. Because depression affects up to 20 percent of pregnant women, there is great need for medications that can...
Patients who have cancer or certain autoimmune diseases, such as psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis, may find relief using a prescription medication called methotrexate. It is part of a class of drugs called antimetabolites, which work by...
Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) is a naturally occurring hormone that is found in pregnant women. It is often used to detect pregnancy. Some women may not make enough HCG on their own, which can result in a miscarriage. In this case, a...
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...
Bactrim, chemically known as sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim, is an antibiotic used to treat various infections of the urinary tract, ear and respiratory tract. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration categorizes Bactrim as a pregnancy category C...
Lovenox (enoxaparin) is a blood thinner, often referred to as a low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), that's given by daily injection. LMWH's offer a more stable and predictable course of action in the body and therefore minimize the bleeding risks...
Heparin is a prescription drug classified as an anticoagulant. It is used for the treatment and prevention of deep vein blood clots. Heparin is the medication that is preferred during pregnancy. Medications given during pregnancy, however, always...
Expecting a baby can be an exciting time, but you will also be responsible for nurturing your little one's growth. This requires a balanced and nutritious diet. Iron is one nutrient you need more of while you're pregnant. The National Institutes...
Your body goes through many changes during pregnancy -- many that you can see and feel and many that you cannot. Your cardiovascular system, which goes through many changes during pregnancy, includes the heart, blood, veins and arteries. It is...
Exercising during pregnancy can help provide a more healthy pregnancy period. Learn how to exercise during pregnancy from an exercise professional in this video.
Lateral pull down exercises are a safe and effective way for pregnant women to strengthen arm muscles during pregnancy. Learn how to do lateral pull-down exercises in this pregnancy video.
Lateral pull down exercises are a safe and effective way for pregnant women to strengthen their arm muscles during pregnancy. Learn how to do lateral pull down exercises in this pregnancy video.
