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.

 

 

Discuss all your pregnancy questions with other women in the forum

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Moleen
let me introduce myself. on April i had sex three days in a row. and then my AF (aunt flow) was two days late and wasnt normal to the fullest.. now in June it was six days late but did come and I was so sure Im pregnant. please tell me whats wrong. could i still be pregnant or ?
7 years ago
Jacshe71
Hello, I'm new to the group I'm 33 years old and I had my period 27-29 it wasn't a normal period no cramps and really no flow just when I wipe it was there (sorry TMI) but a couple a days ago I go to the restroom and wipe and there's this pinkish color discharge my boyfriend and I had sex on the 31st can somebody please tell me what's going on with my body.
7 years ago
She.Sh
Hello, I have been experiencing some pregnancy symptoms over the last couple of weeks e.a.: fatigue, dizzyness, bloated feeling (more recently), a like for smells I usually cannot stand, random small cramping here and there, heartburn, freuent urination... it is all minor symtoms but added up I figured they could be pregnancy symtoms. However I had my period 2 weeks ago and last intercourse was over a month ago. My period is usually very regular (seeing as I was on birth control but I had a bad time keeping up with taking them begin april and have since stopped taking them all together. my next period should start end this month but due to having all these symptoms I think I might go for a test, even if I did have a period. Does it sound like it could be pregnancy symtoms or am I having random symptoms that could also not be related at all?
7 years ago
Happyhippy1826
Hello, my period starts 24th-28th of the end of the month and ends at the beginning of the next month 3rd-5th day so during march of 2017 i never got my period, but when i did i got it april 8th-9th of 2017 and it lasted for two days and was heavy. so during march and april ire been having lower back pain, sore breast, bad nausea and headaches and i'm not as hungry as i used to be. and now it's May and my period was late again, i was light pink spotting on wednesday, then thursday and today it got heavy. and my boobs are still sore and my lower back is hurting and i still have bad nausea, and my period is never late and need irregular it's always been light and regular, i don't know what's going on. so please help
7 years ago
Denizerer
It is good thing to read this thread. It is very helpful to every couple especially for the first time mom to be. I will definitely recommend this to my friends who are planning to get married and for me as well. Thank you this insightful thread.
7 years ago

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