Pregnancy 

Medical tests such as a pregnancy ultrasound can help your health care provider monitor your baby's development, while more specialized pregnancy tests such as chorionic villus sampling (CVS) can help detect conditions such as Down syndrome and cystic fibrosis.  

In our section devoted to pregnancy, learn more about these types of pregnancy tests as well as the importance of prenatal care.  Also get information about pregnancy discomforts and multiple pregnancies.

Determining Your Baby’s Health

A considerable number of pregnancies are unplanned. In fact, around 50% or 1 in 2 of women falls pregnant without having planned to have a baby.

In such cases, it is impossible for couples to have a full health evaluation before trying for a baby in order to assess their genetic health and determine whether the baby they conceive will inherit any family diseases.

However, for the couples who are planning and trying for a baby, there is what is known as preconception genetic testing- this is ideal if you want to try to ensure the baby conceived is free of certain chromosomal abnormalities and hereditary diseases.

Your doctor or prenatal care specialist will first and foremost assess you and your partner’s family medical history to see whether there are any illnesses which seem to run in the family. Further to this, they may suggest carrying out genetic health testing to see whether you and your partner carry the disease causing gene.

Following this, they will discuss the likelihood of the disease being passed on to the baby, any likely complications and so forth. Couples can then decide, based on the risk evaluation, whether to have a baby of their own and adopt.

Prenatal Testing

A range of screening tests including ultrasounds are used to indicate whether there is anything wrong with the baby and monitor the health of the baby closely as pregnancy advanced.

Unfortunately, when it comes to certain conditions such as Down syndrome, a screening test such as an ultrasound will not provide a confirmation. So, if any traits associated with Down syndrome are spotted during a routine ultrasound, the expectant mother may be advised to undergo an amnio.

Amniocentesis and other diagnostic tests such as CVS carry certain risks such as miscarriage or injury to the fetus’ limbs. Pregnant women may be given the option of non invasive prenatal testing which is carried out with 0 risk using just blood samples from the mother.

The fact that the test is done using blood samples collected from the mother means that, unlike amniocentesis or CVS, there is not puncturing of the amniotic sac or tissue biopsy. Non invasive prenatal testing is offered also for paternity and a number of companies, including Genetic Testing Laboratories. The test is done using a kit and blood collection tubes. The blood is collected by a medical blood draw and a medical professional will need to do this.

Prenatal Care, Stages of Pregnancy and Teen Pregnancy

Taking care of your health is essential to the well being of your growing baby. Prenatal care means finding the right care giver for you as well as attending regular prenatal medical checkups.

Here you'll also find information on finding a doula and midwife, as well as questions to be sure to ask your health care provider.

Welcome To Pregnancy. Are You Ready?

Learn about the stages of pregnancy and follow your baby's development with our very own pregnancy calendar. Discover how to calculate your baby's due date and find fun ideas on how to announce your pregnancy.  

Also get information about the what your baby may look like week to week during your pregnancy and find out more about the differences in your body and your pregnancy during the different trimesters of pregnancy.

Teen pregnancy brings with it its own unique set of challenges. Learn about pregnancy myths and facts as well as teen pregnancy statistics. Here you'll also find advice on how to tell your parents that you are pregnant and about your options after your pregnancy is over.

Pregnancy Discomfort And Multiple Pregnancy

Experiencing discomfort during pregnancy is something all moms-to-be go through.

Learn about how to alleviate common pregnancy symptoms such as morning sickness, cramps and swelling, as well as how to minimize the appearance of stretch marks and varicose veins.

Eating for more than two? Being pregnant with twins or multiples is an exciting time for moms-to-be that can also bring with it special concerns.

Learn about staying healthy during a multiple pregnancy as well as information on how to reduce the risk of complications.

If you're a mom-to-be, working during pregnancy can be a challenge. Find out about how to stay safe from workplace hazards for pregnant moms as well as how to talk to your boss about going on maternity leave.

Staying Healthy During Pregnancy

Don't forget the importance of a healthy diet and exercise to your growing baby. Discover easy tips on eating right and staying fit during your pregnancy so that both you and baby stay healthy!

One common concern moms-to-be have is about sex during pregnancy. Learn about when sex during pregnancy can be unsafe and about comfortable sex positions, as well as changes in your libido during pregnancy.

 

 

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jjleilei
Let me lay it down, i had sex on the 7th of May with my ex...had my period on time which was on the 10th of May, that lasted 5days (as usual)... had sex with my current bf on the 19th of May. Found out i was pregnant in June. Had an ultrasound stating i conceived on the 15th of May and that my due date is Feb 5. Im confused on who da father of my baby is. Help Me pls.
13 years ago
Hanna009
hi I'm 24, and my last period date was 28 june to 3rd july,after 14 days of my period i had last sex, we didn't use a condom and that time i was also severly suffering from typhoid with fluid formation in my left pelvis and taking medication also. Is there any chances of pregnancy because now my period due date is gone and I'm worried that I am pregnant because I don't want to conceive right now. Are these signs of pregnancy? And should i do a test?
13 years ago
kitty20111
i had my dating scan 12/1/2011 it said i was 11 weeks + 4 days when did i conceive ???
13 years ago
kitty20111
hi my due date was the 30th july 2011 still no baby yet . can anyone tell me when i got pregnant? im no longer with my bf we split the end of oct 2010 . i met someone new we had sex the 16th nov 2010 but used a condom . realy confused please help x
13 years ago
Mamamialove87
Hi ladies im new to this site but have read through some of the posts and love it already because I myself am having issues.. Im a mama of a 4 year old beautiful boy and the boyfriend and I have been ttc for off and on of almost a year and a half.. It took me a year and a half to conceive my son in the past. So onto the body issues :) I had my period on the 9th of July and im not exactly sure of when i ovulated so we kept up with the trying incase. For about two weeks now ive had pregnancy symptoms.. Mainly first noticing my eating habits changed to eating a TON all throughout the day which is not normal for me myself followed by the mood swings and cravings.. I have had like i said the eating more,cravings,extreme exhaustion and i mean EXTREME(almost like when i was preg with my son),BAD mood swings,some nausea,some heaviness in my lower abdomen and cramping(like a smaller version of menstrual cramps)and so it keeps on and yesterday morning i took an early response and got a very faint positive in less than a minute before the control line even popped up which was a shocker for me because im one to always get my hopes up and a neg test and i wouldnt be that far along but the result line later faded :( .. What do u guys think-preg?? Crossed fingers!! :) Btw-had gotten pregnant after my period
13 years ago