A woman’s first inclination that she might be pregnant often comes when she misses a period. This is the inextricable link between the menstrual period and pregnancy. Read more »

When working properly, the human body’s ability to maintain health and heal itself when confronted with disease and injury is nothing short of miraculous. One of the less talked about ways the female body maintains a healthy reproductive system is by producing fluid within the glands of the cervix and vagina to cleanse the system. Read more »

Obviously being pregnant is a very happy time in many women’s lives, but this doesn’t mean its all sunshine and roses. Most women could do without the back aches, swollen feet, morning sickness, exhaustion and hemorrhoids. Yes, I said hemorrhoids. Many women experience hemorrhoids while pregnant. It really is no wonder that so many women experience this condition while pregnant, because pregnancy although completely natural is still hard on the body. The main reasons that pregnant women are susceptible to this conditon are because of constipation, a vaginal birth and fetal development. Read more »

Antenatal yoga is a form of yoga for pregnant women that provides a lot of fantastic benefits for the mom-to-be.  Because yoga is all about relaxation, and balance, these core principles carry over into prenatal exercises well.  Also, through these stretches, it can enhance the woman’s ability to give labor more easily than if their body hasn’t been stretched properly. Read more »

Pregnant women always want to know why hemorrhoids are so common during pregnancy. The easy answer is that being pregnant is hard on the body. Of course the female body is designed for fetal development, but this doesn’t mean it doesn’t put stress on all aspects of the body. The primary reasons that pregnant women seem to have a high incidence of hemorrhoids are related mainly to three things, constipation during pregnancy, a vaginal birth and pressure on the anal canal from the growing fetus. Clearly not all of these problems are avoidable, so the best that most pregnant women can do is to reduce their symptoms and manage the conditions as best as possible.  Read more »

During the first trimester of a pregnancy it is not uncommon for a woman to experience bleeding.

Unexplained bleeding should never be overlooked or taken for granted, but it is not necessarily a cause for alarm either. During the early stage of pregnancy, there are several explanations for this occurrence. Of course, the appearance of blood could be a sign of a serious problem so a doctor should be consulted immediately. Even if there is nothing wrong, an examination can help to alleviate an expectant mother’s fears and help her to relax. The importance of a calm mother should not be underestimated when talking about the health of the baby. Read more »

The first trimester of pregnancy can be an exciting time. Every child bearing stage is different, but there are some common things that all women may experience and enjoy at this time. Read more »

Spotting is an early sign of pregnancy as it can indicate a missed period, but can also continue throughout pregnancy. It is most common during the first trimester. It can be caused by implantation of the embryo into the uterine wall. This can be normal in many cases. If vaginal bleeding is persistent or heavy it could indicate a more serious problem that needs attention. Read more »

Weight loss in our society has become a large topic of discussion, specifically weight loss after pregnancy. Having a baby is one of the hardest things a woman can do, especially dealing with all the weight problems that naturally come along with it. Fear not, for you are not alone in this matter. There are some things in which you can do to lose weight after having a baby. Read more »

Let’s face it; the questions regarding giving birth to a baby and all that encompasses are endless. No article can begin to answer half the inquiries of expectant parents. In this article we will take a look at a couple pregnancy questions of future moms and dads. Read more »

Rocking your body back and forth is a natural, instinctive response to the emotions of fear, pain, grief or loneliness. While pregnant you might feel one, all, or a combination of any of those emotions. Fear that you won’t be able to handle the demands of a newborn, grief or loneliness because your family or your significant other is unable to be with you. How soothing it would be to go into your baby’s nursery and rock until you are the confident mother-to-be once more. Read more »

Premature Ovarian Failure (POF) is when the ovaries stop working. For most women, this process happen naturally in their early 50’s and is referred to as menopause, so Premature Ovarian Failure is essentially a type of early onset menopause. The average age of women experiencing this is 27. It results in a loss of estrogen production and a rise in follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). The only way to be correctly diagnosed with this condition is to be without a period for 4 months and have two follicle-stimulating hormone test done one month apart that show elevated levels and you must also be under the age of 40. Read more »

Is spotting during pregnancy normal? The answer to this question is: It depends on what is causing the break through bleeding. Read more »

Many of us have a picture that pops in our mind when we think of pregnancy. That image is somewhere along the lines of a happy smiling young couple, a nice cozy home and all the perks that middle class America has to offer. Read more »

If all goes well, about 40 weeks after conception, a baby will emerge into the world via the mother’s birth canal. Regrettably, all does not always go well. Pregnancy complications sometimes arise and adjustments have to be made. Read more »

Weight gain during pregnancy is natural, but there is a limit to what is healthy and what is simply too much.
The right amount of weight gain singles that a mother is getting all the foods and nutrients she needs and that the baby is receiving what is needed for healthy development and growth. Read more »

Most pregnancies end well. Even when pregnancy complications develop, health care workers are often able to help mother and child come through in good condition. Read more »

Pregnancy is a big event in the lives of most women. When a woman thinks that she may be pregnant, she wants to know as soon as possible. Though every woman is different, there are some earliest signs of pregnancy. Read more »

Almost every woman is blessed with the capacity to bear a child at least once in her lifetime. It is considered to be one of the greatest gifts. Upon learning that the woman is pregnant, many couples start planning for the child bearing and eventual childbirth.

In preparing for a healthy birth, a change in the future mother’s lifestyle may be needed. Smoking cigarettes is a definite no-no, as is the consumption of alcohol. These habits can affect the health of the mother-to-be and her unborn baby. A woman might need to lose or gain weight. Being overweight or too thin might bring complications for both the woman and the baby as well. Read more »

As the saying goes, “We are women. We are not afraid of a little blood.”

Once a girl begins to have her period she becomes accustomed to the monthly blood flow. During pregnancy, there still are times when the appearance of blood is not unusual. This is especially true during the early stages of pregnancy, the first trimester. However, when a woman experiences spotting second trimester or heavier bleeding in this period this is reason for concern or at least reason to take precautions. Read more »