Delivery before 37 weeks of pregnancy, known as preterm delivery, occurs in 10 percent of pregnancies, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists states. Preterm delivery has many risks for the newborn---preterm babies can have...
Smoking is commonly known to be "bad for you." What is perhaps less known is that when a woman smokes during her pregnancy, she is increasing the risk for a variety of potentially tragic outcomes--both for herself and her unborn baby. According...
Pregnant women need to ensure that they drink enough water during pregnancy. Water helps carry vitamins, trace elements, minerals and hormones to your unborn baby. It breaks down waste products and helps flush them from the kidneys. It can help...
Hypertension is defined by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists as blood pressure readings greater than 140/90 mm Hg. According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, hypertension occurs in 6 to 8 percent of all...
Bacterial vaginosis is an infection that occurs when the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina is disturbed, allowing harmful bacteria to enter the vagina and spread throughout the reproductive tract. Symptoms may include watery discharge,...
Fifty-nine percent of Americans consume diet soft drinks, according to the Calorie Control Council. NationMaster.com reports that the United States leads the world in soft drink consumption, with an average per-person consumption of 216 liters of...
Nearly 4 percent of pregnant women in the United States take illicit drugs during pregnancy, the March of Dimes says, and even more are addicted to legal but potentially harmful drugs such as alcohol and nicotine. Most drugs easily cross the...
When you're eating for two, the food you consume takes on extra importance. Your diet can affect your baby's growth and development, both in the womb and after birth. By making smart choices and filling your diet with diverse, nourishing foods,...
Fish oil contains large amounts of the omega-3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, and eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA. Outside of fatty fish, few foods supply an adequate amount of DHA and EPA. Supplements of DHA in particular may benefit...
Vanishing twin syndrome is a rare, poorly understood pregnancy complication first recognized in 1945, explains the American Pregnancy Association. This syndrome occurs when one fetus in a set of twin or multiple fetuses disappears from a woman's...
LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, is a combination of fat and protein that delivers cholesterol and other fats to the cells in your body. If you have too much LDL, plaque may form on your artery walls, increasing your risk for a heart attack or...
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...
Having chronic hypertension that starts before pregnancy or during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy can cause complications. Chronic hypertension can have harmful effects on a fetus, and it also increases the risk of developing other diseases in...
The health benefits of drinking diet soft drinks are hotly debated. Some bloggers, nutritionists and media health commentators have claimed that diet soft drinks pose a health risk, while others contend that high-calorie drinks are the true...
The thyroid gland produces hormones that regulate growth and metabolism. Approximately 2.5 percent of women have an underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism, during pregnancy, according to the American Thyroid Association. Pregnancy appears to...
Placenta previa, which occurs in one in 200 births, can be a serious complication of pregnancy. Placenta previa means that the placenta, the organ that supplies nutrients to the growing fetus, implants low on the uterine wall, partially or...
While breast milk is best for your baby's nutrition and development, the nipple stimulation that naturally occurs when breastfeeding can have effects on your own body. Your nipples are covered in nerves that respond to the natural and gentle touch...
An abnormally high number of platelets in pregnancy is far less common than low platelet levels. High platelet levels are either essential, or primary, meaning that an excess of platelets are being made in the bone marrow. Reactive, or secondary,...
Fibroids, also known as leiomyomas or myomas, are benign or non-cancerous growths that occur in the walls of the uterus; according to the Office on Women's Health. About 20 to 80 percent of women develop these growths by the age of 50. As noted on...
Nausea while pregnant is known as morning sickness, which peaks during the first trimester and disappears during the second trimester for most women. While you’re experiencing morning sickness, food is the last thing on your mind, and the...
In 1998 the Centers for Disease Control issued a special set of recommendations on treating iron deficiency in the U.S., paying particular attention to the need for supplemental iron intake by pregnant women in order to minimize the risk for...
Women who abuse drugs during pregnancy face increased risks for many different problems for both themselves and their babies. Four of the most common complications associated with substance abuse are miscarriage, fetal growth restriction, preterm...
Eating a healthy diet while pregnant is very important, because your unborn baby gets all her nutrition from you. You want to eat a balanced diet that includes lots of whole grains, lean protein, vegetables and fruits. There are some nutrients...
Most fetal growth follows a prescribed pattern. But between 3 to 10 percent of fetuses develop intrauterine growth retardation, often referred to as IUGR, the University of California San Francisco reports. Babies with IUGR, who are smaller and...
Drinking any kind of alcohol during pregnancy is believed to be a leading cause of birth defects. Fetal alcohol syndrome causes babies to be born small and underweight. They can have small eyes and small heads. Other defects can include delayed...
During pregnancy, you must pay close attention to good nutrition including increased vitamin and mineral intakes to assure healthy fetal development. During pregnancy, a woman's dietary reference intakes or DRIs are higher for many nutrients,...
Eating a balanced diet is never as important as it is during pregnancy. An expecting mother must ensure that both she and her growing baby get an adequate supply of the key nutrients needed for fetal development. These important nutrients,...
Nicotine is a known carcinogenic connected to a variety of health problems, yet people, including pregnant women, continue to smoke. Nicotine is highly addictive, and many women are unwilling or unable to give up their dependence on nicotine...
Professional opinions on the effects of heavy exercise on the incidence of pregnancy are divided. Most health care professionals agree that light to moderate exercise is beneficial to the expected mother and the infant upon birth. However, heavy...
