Pregnancy

Endometriosis occurs when cells similar to those that line the uterus grow elsewhere in the body. It can cause chronic pelvic pain and a variety of other symptoms. But what is the link between endometriosis and pregnancy? Becoming pregnant may be more difficult for women with endometriosis. However, many women with endometriosis do get pregnant

Most of the time, bleeding is the first sign of a miscarriage. However, a miscarriage can occur without bleeding, or other symptoms may appear first. Many women prefer the term pregnancy loss to miscarriage. Pregnancy loss is most common within the first weeks of pregnancy, and the risk steadily declines as the pregnancy progresses. It

Women can get their water to break with the help of a doctor, but it is not safe for them to attempt to break their water at home. However, there are many natural methods that women can use to encourage labor to begin once the pregnancy has reached full term. In this article, we cover

The pattern of a person’s menstrual periods changes during perimenopause. Cycles can become longer or shorter, and sometimes, people may skip periods altogether. The lead-up to menopause is called perimenopause. Changing hormone levels during this time can alter the frequency, symptoms, and regularity of a person’s periods. How do periods change during perimenopause? Menstrual cycle

Baby dropping is when a baby’s head moves lower down into the pelvis ready for labor. It usually happens towards the end of the third trimester of pregnancy. Also called lightening, baby dropping is a sign that a baby is nearly ready to be born. Before dropping, the baby may rotate, so the back of

Learning the sex of the fetus can be one of the most thrilling aspects of pregnancy. It is no surprise that there are so many purported methods of figuring this out. According to folklore, everything from the position of the bump to the severity of symptoms can indicate the fetus’ sex. In this article, we

The health of both mother and baby are essential during any pregnancy. If labor or birth is likely to occur at 36 weeks, it is crucial to understand all the risks and benefits. Delivering a baby at 36 weeks, which is known as late preterm, can happen spontaneously or may require induction. A doctor might

During pregnancy, many women feel pressure, or heaviness, around the vagina. This is normal and can happen in the first, second, or third trimester. A pregnant woman’s uterus will expand from the size of an orange to the size of a watermelon or larger. Her body will not only need to provide space and nutrients

Every woman’s experience of miscarriage is different. Some people might want to know how long the process lasts so that they can prepare both mentally and physically. Miscarriage, or pregnancy loss, is classified as a pregnancy that ends before 20 weeks. It is more common than many people think, occurring in about 8–20 percent of

It can be hard to know what to expect from labor pains and contractions, especially if it is a woman’s first pregnancy. Pregnant women may wonder if they will recognize their contractions when they begin, or if what they are feeling is premature labor. While contractions can vary widely, there are some common symptoms of

As pregnancy progresses, a woman may have difficulty catching her breath after carrying out routine tasks, such as climbing the stairs. According to a 2015 study, an estimated 60 to 70 percent of women experience shortness of breath during pregnancy. Doctors often attribute this to the growing uterus pushing upward on the lungs and making

Many pregnant women experience bellybutton pain during the second and third trimester. The bellybutton, or navel, is the attachment point for the placenta in the womb. It is not attached to any part of the abdominal cavity after birth. Most causes of bellybutton pain are harmless and will disappear when the baby is born. This

During pregnancy, the body’s blood volume increases. The heart needs to pump faster to circulate the extra blood, and this can lead to a faster resting heart rate. Sometimes, the extra exertion on the heart can lead to palpitations. A heart palpitation may feel as though the heart is: skipping beats racing flopping in the

Some people believe that nipple stimulation can induce labor. However, while nipple stimulation can release hormones that cause uterine contraction, most studies show that it does not bring about the onset of actual labor. Most doctors do not recommend nipple stimulation to induce labor, but some anecdotal evidence exists for its effectiveness. In this article,

Apart from having a doctor’s opinion during an ultrasound, is it possible to predict a baby’s sex? Friends and family may point out signs of having a girl or boy, but most of these will probably be based on folklore rather than science. An ultrasound at 20 weeks into the pregnancy is the most reliable

A pregnant woman will notice many different movements as the baby develops, and these movements are likely to get stronger with each trimester. As well as kicks, rolls, and jabs, a woman may also notice fetal hiccups. Identifying fetal hiccups can be difficult. A woman may notice, however, that the sensation of hiccups is more

Cystic hygromas are fluid-filled sacs that occur most commonly on the head or neck of a baby. They are a result of blockages in the lymphatic system. Doctors can sometimes detect cystic hygromas using ultrasounds during pregnancy. They can also diagnose them after the baby is born. Some cystic hygromas may not appear until the