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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I have 2 sex partners but the 1st one I had unprotected sex and he nut inside me then 2 or 3 days later I had a. cycle... Then I had sex with my second partner after my cycle,. Missed my cycle In August... Went to the hospital now they telling me I could be 6 weeks 5 days pregnant
hi guys... im quite new here . im the impatient tye so please if anyone can answer me or give me some sort of feedback soon il really appreciate it my husband n I are TTC, its our second month that passed, my ovulation date was 17th Aug 2015. my period date was 31st Aug 2015, im always regularly on time every time. stress or no stress. but this time im on my 5th day late. but whats confusing it ive done 2 test already on the second and 4th day pass but its negative and I have no pregnancy symptoms at all. could I be pregnant????????? someone please help, waiting is so nerv wrecking
In need of answers!! Okay so me and my husband aren't trying to have kids right now but we haven't been exactly taking precautions. Last month I didn't get my full menstrual cycle and it lasted only for two days (Usually lasts for 4-5). But anyways I didn't think anything of it until a few weeks ago my breasts started to grow larger and heavier. They're still a little sore but the pain comes and goes. I have a lot of pain in my lower back and my hips feel different and so does my stomach. I haven't gotten my P get (Was supposed to yesterday Aug 31) . So I tested last night at Walmart with a First Step Pregnancy test. I only took one bc I was in a hurry but once I took the test a faint positive line showed when the pee past it then suddenly a minute later it was gone. I just want to know what you guys think? Should I test a week later or do you think its a false positive because I read an article saying there is no such thing as false positives unless if the test is expired which is wasn't. It said the pregnancy line can only show if it detects hcg in your urine. Please Help!! Freaking out
When does morning sickness start? Morning sickness which is the early signs of pregnancy typically starts around 6th to 7th week of pregnancy. It can also starts after the 6th to 7th week and end around week 12 of pregnancy. In rare cases, the signals can also persist until the end of pregnancy. Although most people think it happens commonly in the mornings. But the fact is, it can occur at different times during the day. Women who have gone through it knows that morning sickness symptoms can appear at any time of day or night or in the afternoon, Dealing with morning sickness is necessary to understand a little of what it is and how it can affect.
What is the likeliness of a pregnancy carrying full term Or atleast untill thee baby van ne born. If you have hsd a tubal and get a tubal reversal and have had a uterine ablation 5 years ago. Im 31 years old and really want a 4th baby.