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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hi my name is brad and i was just wondering how possible it is to get a woman pregnant from masturbating onto your fingers or hands and then rubbing her after youve only just wiped it off with a shirt or towel, and then fingering her afterwards...? we were just fooling around and.. she forgot her pill this morning and like i said we were just fooling around.. and i dont know much about pills or anything but i dont think forgetting it in the morning would still prevent pregnancy that day.. and im really confused and scared because im only 15 and my girlfriend is 17 and we would be completely screwed if we had a child right now...
Can anyone tell me if my ultrasound looks normal? Look at the bottom right hand corner. It looks as if there is something tucked underneath the placenta? Or is that something outside the uterus?
I am going on 31 weeks pregnant. I can hardly walk from pain in the pelvic area. I can't turn over at night without pain. Is this too early to be having these pains? Is this normal>? This is my first baby too. I have no idea what is normal and what is not... Thank you for any help.
I am 20 years old, my first pregnancy was in oct of 2010 I was 18, which ended In miscarriage and I was only 7 weeks. When I was 19 around July I was pregnant again. I only made it to 5 weeks and 2 days. I had a vagjnal ultrasound and they told me that the baby was moving down my cervix, so in conclusion that baby needed in miscarriage also. I was so historical. I didn't think that I was going to have 2 miscarriages so early in my age. But it happens to alot of women. About 2 weeks ago I tested and I tested positive, I went to the doctor right away knowing my history of 2 miscarriages, I am now 20 years old and 6 weeks and 1 day pregnant. I said this last time but I feel that this baby is going to stick, I believe that my first 2 miscarriages did not stick in to the uterus wall. Because I never had implantation bleeding but this pregnancy I did, like normal. I have tried to be so positive and hopefully, praying that everything goes good and I have a healthy pregnancy. To all you ladies, I completely understand and yes you can have 2 miscarriages in a row. Thanks everyone.
Please help...I am very confused & need as much feedback as possible, asap!! I'll begin my story from the very start detailed with bsolutely accurate dates. I apologize in advance for bombarding you with so many dates. So, here is whats happened/ing: I am currently 39. I am blessed with 2 healthy sons. My wedding anniversary was on Nov.23, 2011, & I was due for my period right at that time. I am like clockwork....hardly ever late! Knowing this, I wanted to skip my period during my anniversary. So my obyn put me on 20 mg of Junel pills. An added benefit to taking these was that I would also find some relief in my excruciating menstrual cramps. I began Junel on Nov.16th, however, doing so did not prevent my period from starting at its right time---Nov.22nd!!! I started a fresh pack on Sunday, Nov.27th. After starting this pack, everything was normal & I had a very short, but normal (3 days) period beginning on Dec. 24th, 2011. No issues or side effects so far!!!! I was relaxed & carefree. However, I got a bit too relaxed and had unprotected intercourse 3 times on January 1st, 2012---- and that was also the day I missed my pill. I did not take the pill until 8:30 PM of Jan.2nd, & I had no Idea I was supposed to double up on the dose. Though the sex was very heated & intense with amazing chemistry, he is sure he says that he did not ejaculate inside me. I realise that, doing so in itself does not always prevent pregnancy, but I was secure thinking that I am regularly taking the pill, with the exception(s) mentioned. BTW, I am also on Addurel (spelling???) 20 mg & am not sure if it reduces the pills' efficiency? Also, my daily caffeine intake is very high....don't know if that too plays an adverse role with the pills' full potential to prevent pregnancy? As it is I am on a low dose of the pill, with lesser hormones, since it was basically to ease the cramps....& of course delay the period for just the later part of Nov. which it did not do. Given this history....I really need to know what is going on with me. According to the sugar pills of the bc pack I was supposed to get my period on or of the wk of Jan.16th. Today is Jan.30.....& there has been no period. All I feel is symptoms of getting a period any minute, but that's it. This past wk I've had very, very, very slight nausea, severe cramping, been very emotional & have had an upset stomach----in that I'm usually very constipated & don't go to the bathroom more than 2ice a wk., but now I have soft stools sometimes a few times a day, especially with caffeine. I also am urninating more, though am not drinking any more fluids than usual. My stomach,to my touch,feels tighter & today I felt some very slight, fast tiny flutter in my lower abdomen. I am tired, but not overly so. A lot of gas too!!! And most importantly, I feel severe pangs of anxiety, triggering my trips to the bathroom due to an upset stomach. I rarely ever, ever get an upset stomach! I also noticed that my vaginal smell is stronger & I have white discharge. So, these are my present symptoms in a nut shell. I took a pregnancy test at the doc's office on Thursday, Dec.26th & then an ept on Saturday, the 28th--- they both were negative. I don't understand???? Could it be the pills I am taking??? So, regardless, as of today, Jan 29th, I stopped the pill. So, what do you think is going on with me? Please give me your opinions/feelings on this puzzling issue. Will I bleed now that I've abruptly stopped the pill mid-cycle?? I'm very confused...pls share your views on this with me. I thank you very much in advance for your time.