Archive for the ‘Pregnancy’ Category

Complications of Pregnancy

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011

Complications of Pregnancy

What are some of the more common complications of pregnancy?

Although the majority of pregnancies are uneventful, sometimes complications do occur. The following are some of the more common pregnancy complications:

amniotic fluid complications
Too much or too little amniotic fluid in the membranes surrounding the fetus may indicate a problem with the pregnancy. Too much fluid can put excessive pressure on the mother’s uterus, leading to preterm labor, or can cause pressure on the mother’s diaphragm leading to breathing difficulties. Fluids tend to build up in cases of uncontrolled diabetes, multiple pregnancy, incompatible blood types, or birth defects. Too little fluid may indicate birth defects, growth retardation, or stillbirth.

bleeding
Bleeding in late pregnancy may be a sign of placental complications or a vaginal or cervical infection. Women who bleed in late pregnancy may be at greater risk of losing the fetus and hemorrhaging (bleeding excessively). Bleeding at any time during the pregnancy should be reported to your physician immediately.

ectopic pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy is the development of the fetus outside of the uterus. An ectopic pregnancy can occur in the fallopian tubes, cervical canal, or the pelvic or abdominal cavity. The cause of an ectopic pregnancy is usually a blocked fallopian tube. The risk of ectopic pregnancy is increased in women who have had tubal sterilization procedures, especially for women younger than age 30 at the time of sterilization.

Care during pregnancy

Thursday, May 19th, 2011

Care during pregnancy

If there is one time in the life of a woman when it is absolutely essential to take the utmost care of overall health, it is during pregnancy. This is because it is not only the pregnant woman’s health in question but also the health and development of the fetus, or the unborn baby in the womb. With all the hormonal changes going on in a woman’s body during the time of pregnancy, it is absolutely important to take care, especially in case of diet and nutrition, weight gain, development and management of health conditions if any, and so on. Here are some of the aspects of pregnancy care one must not overlook.

Safe weight gain during pregnancy: Gaining weight during pregnancy is important but many pregnant women gain additional weight because of the belief that they must eat for two. To understand how much weight you can safely gain during pregnancy, you need to be aware of your BMI (Body Mass Index) before pregnancy The higher your BMI – or ratio of weight in kilograms to height in square meters – the lower the amount of weight you can add while pregnant.

While in the first trimester you need no additional calories; only in the second and third trimesters will you need 100 – 200 calories more than your regular intake. Ensure this with healthier options such as fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, nuts and complex carbohydrates like whole grains.

Vital Information About Ectopic Pregnancy

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011

Vital Information About Ectopic Pregnancy

What is Ectopic Pregnancy? Ectopic may be defined as an organ or body part existing in an unusual form or position. Ectopic pregnancy is one which is developing in the wrong place. In an ectopic pregnancy, the fertilized egg or ovum fails to move down through the fallopian tube to the uterus. Instead, it develops outside the womb. The ovum may attach itself to the fallopian tube, the ovary, cervix, or any other organ within the pelvic and abdominal organ. Most ectopic pregnancies lead to immediate miscarriage, while others need medical attention.

Reasons for Ectopic Pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancies occur in women with damaged fallopian tubes. A history of pelvic inflammatory disease, previous surgery, scar tissue, endometriosis, or previous ectopic pregnancies increases the likelihood of such a pregnancy. Chances of ectopic pregnancies increase if you become pregnant while using a contraceptive-coil or a progestogen only contraceptive pill. Even in-vitro fertilizations are known to be ectopic despite the fact that the ovum is directly placed into the womb. The ovum may attach itself somewhere else, leading to ectopic pregnancy. Sometimes, women suffer from this despite not having any of the above risk factors.

Symptoms of Ectopic Pregnancy

Unusual Early Pregnancy Symptoms ? Strange Pregnancy Symptoms

Thursday, March 3rd, 2011

Unusual Early Pregnancy Symptoms ? Strange Pregnancy Symptoms

You must have heard of those common pregnancy symptoms and must have been mentally prepared for them. But, are you prepared for one of those highly unusual early pregnancy symptoms? At times, pregnancy symptoms can be extremely varying and unpredictable. Those symptoms raise height of anxiety and confusion, making it very difficult for women to detect their pregnancy. Many expecting mothers also get confused if those symptoms indicate complications or not, while some even fail to notify their doctors being unaware of their influence on pregnancy. Hence, getting familiar to the strange early pregnancy symptoms is important for all women who are expecting.

Unexpected Pregnancy Symptoms That You May Expect During Pregnancy

Many pregnant women report that they have not come across any of those prevalent pregnancy symptoms like fainting or dizziness or even bleeding. Dies it mean, they were not sent any signs of pregnancy by their body. Probably, they have been. Probably, they have failed to comprehend those signals as positive signs of pregnancy. Therefore, as soon as you get to know what unusual early pregnancy symptoms you are likely to come across, you will be prepared for them and can consult your doctor, accordingly. A list of those symptoms is given below –

Secrets of Pregnancy Without the Pounds

Sunday, February 27th, 2011

Secrets of Pregnancy Without the Pounds

Nurturing another life within your body and giving birth are the most miraculous things that could ever happen to a woman. While pregnancy is a wonderful thing, going through with it put women into a lot of stress, pains and insecurities with the way they look. For most women pregnancy is a struggle. Women always find it hard to look good and feel good during and after pregnancy. Pregnant women have to battle with stretch marks, sagging breasts, morning sickness, and gaining weight. Women gain weight during pregnancy and have trouble shredding the extra weight after birth. They often wonder how to have pregnancy without the pounds.

During pregnancy it is recommended to gain some pounds needed to nurture your baby but most pregnant women find themselves gaining excess pregnancy weight and became overweight. Instead of striving for pregnancy without the pounds, women find themselves gaining excess pregnancy pounds.  Gaining too much weight can be harmful to you and the baby, there are studies that babies born to overweight mothers have more tendencies to have birth defects. Monitoring your weight and staying on the required weight during pregnancy is very important for your health and the baby and yet most of the time women get overweight during pregnancy. You don�t have to make pregnancy an excuse to eat all you want and feel fat or overweight later and worst endanger your health and the baby. Discipline during pregnancy when it comes to gaining weight is needed for you to stay healthy and in shape while pregnant and enjoy pregnancy without the pounds.

Symptoms of Pregnancy ? Make Note of Each Symptom of Pregnancy

Saturday, February 26th, 2011

Symptoms of Pregnancy ? Make Note of Each Symptom of Pregnancy

If you are expecting pregnancy then look for a symptom of pregnancy to appear. Take a closer look and do not ignore a single bodily change. It can be a feeling of nausea, exhaustion, short term, light vaginal bleeding or vaginal discharge etc. Most of the expecting mothers assume an overdue period is the first sign to watch out for and this symptom summons rest of the pregnancy symptoms. However, as per medical experts a missed period is not likely to be the first sign of pregnancy. Rather, as per their understanding a woman might be already few weeks pregnant until she observes her period is overdue. Therefore, start keeping note of all signs of pregnancy and create a pregnancy calendar.

Possible Signs Of Pregnancy

Making a weekly pregnancy calendar is a good way to check progress of pregnancy. It is as well a good idea for detecting pregnancy as you tend to observe Every symptom of pregnancy arrive gradually. In this regard, a pregnant woman should be aware of the fact that sequence of pregnancy symptoms extensively vary from one woman to another. So if you have not come across a particular symptom, do not start panicking as it may appear later. For example, many women experience swollen and tender breasts as the first sign of pregnancy whereas some feel nausea or dizziness throughout the day before as the primary sign of pregnancy. Hence, chart each sign sent by your body in detail and the symptoms with which it appears to consult your gynecologist and confirm pregnancy. Symptom of pregnancy that you are likely to expect if you are expecting pregnancy after conceiving can be the following –

Very Early Signs Of Pregnancy Can Help To Confirm Suspicions Of Pregnancy Early

Sunday, February 13th, 2011

There are many very early pregnancy symptoms and how can you tell if they are a sign of pregnancy? The more of these symptoms you have that are listed below then the higher probability there is that you are pregnant. Read through the list below and see how many of these very early pregnancy symptoms you have.

Very Early Pregnancy Symptoms:

Most pregnant women have some very early pregnancy symptoms. On the rare occasion some women have no symptoms of early pregnancy except that them miss their menstrual period. Some women are so busy in their lives that they are unaware that their menstrual period was due and forget they did not get their periods.

Ectopic Pregnancy – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Friday, January 28th, 2011

Ectopic Pregnancy – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Ectopic pregnancy is a condition in which a fertilized egg settles and grows in any location other than the inner lining of the uterus. About 1% of pregnancies are in an ectopic location with implantation not occurring inside of the womb, and of these 98% occur in the Fallopian tubes. In a typical ectopic pregnancy, the embryo does not reach the uterus, but instead adheres to the lining of the Fallopian tube. The implanted embryo burrows actively into the tubal lining. Most commonly this invades vessels and will cause bleeding. This bleeding expels the implantation out of the tubal end as a tubal abortion. Some women thinking they are having a miscarriage are actually having a tubal abortion. There is no inflammation of the tube in ectopic pregnancy. The pain is caused by prostaglandins released at the implantation site, and by free blood in the peritoneal cavity, which is locally irritant. Sometimes the bleeding might be heavy enough to threaten the health or life of the woman. Usually this degree of bleeding is due to delay in diagnosis, but sometimes, especially if the implantation is in the proximal tube it may invade into Sampson artery , causing heavy bleeding earlier than usual. An ectopic pregnancy can’t proceed normally. The developing embryo can’t survive, and the growing placental tissue may destroy important maternal structures. Without treatment, life-threatening blood loss is possible. About one in every 40 to 100 pregnancies is ectopic. Thanks to earlier diagnosis and treatment, the chance for future healthy pregnancies is better than ever before.

Healthy Pregnancy Week By Week Tips

Wednesday, January 5th, 2011

Pregnancy is a memorable and joyous experience. For each of the forty weeks of pregnancy, you’ll find information about baby’s development, the types of changes that happen inside your pregnant body, ideas for expecting dads, and any other important facts needed for pregnancy. However, you must first know how to keep your pregnancy within the healthy zone.

Maintaining good health practice during your pregnancy week by week until your due date is necessary to ensure a successful pregnancy. This includes proper nutrition and exercise which are important to everyone’s good health. During pregnancy, eating well and getting the right exercise are absolutely essential for your health and the well being of your baby. Another consideration to achieve a healthy pregnancy is regular prenatal consultation to your doctor, being aware of the possible risks and as well as planning and preparing ahead for your pregnancy.

Pregnancy Week By Week Health Tips

Good Nutrition

Mother’s nutrition is a priority during pregnancy. Expectant mothers need dietary reserves in the form of calories, protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, and minerals. The best way to get the proper nutrients for you and your unborn child is to each variety of nutritious foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, low-fat dairy products and lean protein. Vegetables like lettuce and is not overcooked contain the B-Vitamins and Folic Acid which can help to prevent neural tube defects.

Ten Skin Problems Of Pregnancy

Monday, December 27th, 2010

Pregnancy brings with it many changes, emotionally, physically, and mentally. From a mental and emotional standpoint, you’re preparing to adopt a new role of parent, with all its accompanying responsibilities. Physically, of course, you’re dealing with changes in the shape, function, and movement of your body. While we have a society-wide belief that pregnant women are always glowing, that, unfortunately, is not always the case. No where is this more evident than in the skin problems of pregnancy.

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “the eyes are the window to the soul”. If this is true, your skin is the window to your current state of health and the changes taking place on the inside. During pregnancy, aside from all the other issues, you may also have to deal with a variety of skin changes, including rashes, acne, stretch marks, breaking nails, hair growth or loss, and dark blotches on the skin.

Most of these changes are directly linked to the enormous amount of hormonal fluctuations women experience during pregnancy. During pregnancy, there are all kinds of changes which can have impact on your skin, leading to new skin problems or worsening of existing ones. In some cases, pregnancy may actually help improve existing skin conditions. Let’s look at various skin conditions in more detail, defining the main ten skin problems of pregnancy.

Alexa