Deciding what to do about an unexpected pregnancy can be very difficult. There is a lot to think about. You have to make a decision that is right for you. Consider your personal situation and your beliefs. You have several options: You

[Read the Article]

Pregnancy can be a very emotional time in your life. If the pregnancy is unexpected, you may be feeling scared or confused. You may not know what to do. It is important to remember that you have options. But first, you need to make sure you're pregna

[Read the Article]

  Factors Underlying Autism Make for Difficult Births By Daniel DeNoon WebMD Medical News  

[Read the Article]

The first stage is the longest part of labor and can last up to 20 hours. It begins when your cervix starts to open (dilate) and ends when it is completely open (fully dilated) at 10 centimeters. When the cervix dilates from 0 to 3 or 4 centimeters,

[Read the Article]

The second stage of labor begins when your cervix is fully dilated at 10 centimeters. This stage continues until your baby passes through the birth canal, vagina, and is born. This stage may last two hours or longer. Contractions may feel different

[Read the Article]

The third stage of labor begins after the baby is born and ends when the placenta separates from the wall of the uterus and is passed through the vagina. This stage is often called delivery of the "afterbirth" and is the shortest stage of l

[Read the Article]

The best time to administer regional anesthesia varies depending on you and your baby's response to labor. Your health care provider will determine the best time for you to receive the anesthesia. Will the Anesthesia Affect My Baby? Considerable r

[Read the Article]

What Is the Difference Between an Epidural and Spinal Anesthesia? With a spinal, the medication is injected inside the dura, the tough coating surrounding the brain and spinal cord and located right next to the spine. During an epidural, medication

[Read the Article]

There are three main ways to provide pain relief during labor: Local anesthesia may be used by your health care provider during delivery to numb a painful area or after delivery if stitches are necessary. Local anesthetic medications do not re

[Read the Article]

Women experience and tolerate pain differently. For some women, focused breathing is all they need to get through labor; but for others, numbing of the pain is desired. There are a number of different medications a woman can take during childbirth.

[Read the Article]

The rupture of the amniotic membrane (the fluid-filled sac that surrounds the baby during pregnancy) may feel either like a sudden gush of fluid or a trickle of fluid that leaks steadily. The fluid is usually odorless and may look clear or straw-colo

[Read the Article]

Before "true" labor begins, you may have "false" labor pains, also known as Braxton Hicks contractions. These irregular uterine contractions are perfectly normal and may start to occur in your second trimester, although more commo

[Read the Article]

The first question most women have is, Am I pregnant? The question that usually follows is, Whats labor and delivery like? This information will help answer the most common questions about labor, especially if this is your first pregnancy. For detail

[Read the Article]

Yes. Most women who have an ectopic pregnancy have subsequent normal pregnancies and births. If a fallopian tube had to be removed, you can still get pregnant since the remaining fallopian tube should function normally. Discuss the timing of your n

[Read the Article]

Once you arrive at the hospital, a pregnancy test, a pelvic exam and an ultrasound test will be performed to view the condition of the uterus and fallopian tubes. If an ectopic pregnancy has been confirmed, the health care provider will decide on t

[Read the Article]

If one of the fallopian tubes is damaged, it may not allow the fertilized egg to pass to the uterus causing the egg to implant in the fallopian tube or elsewhere. What Are the Risk Factors for Ectopic Pregnancy? Risk factors for ectopic pregnancy i

[Read the Article]

An ectopic pregnancy is a life-threatening condition that requires emergency treatment. It predominantly occurs when the embryo implants in one of the fallopian tubes instead of the uterus. Rarely, the embryo can attach to an ovary or other abdominal

[Read the Article]

Spotting and mild discomfort are common symptoms after a miscarriage. If you have heavy bleeding, fever, chills or pain, contact your health care provider right away. These may be signs of an infection. Can I Get Pregnant Following a Miscarriage? Y

[Read the Article]

Your health care provider will perform a pelvic exam and an ultrasound test to confirm the miscarriage. If the miscarriage is complete and the uterus is clear, then no further treatment is usually required. Occasionally, the uterus is not completely

[Read the Article]

The medical term for a miscarriage is spontaneous abortion, but the condition is not an abortion in the common definition of that term. The causes of miscarriage are not well understood. Most of the miscarriages that occur in the first trimester ar

[Read the Article]

A miscarriage is the loss of a baby before the 20th week of pregnancy. According to the March of Dimes, as many as 50% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage -- most often before a woman misses a menstrual period or even knows she is pregnant. About

[Read the Article]

The following substances have the potential to harm a developing baby when used in a concentrated formulation (not as a spice in cooking). Some are thought to cause birth defects, and some to encourage early labor. Avoid these oral supplements:

[Read the Article]

As with certain medications, there are many alternative therapies deemed unsafe for pregnant women. Before taking an alternative remedy, be sure to talk with your health care provider. Nausea: Acupuncture, acupressure, ginger root (250mg capsul

[Read the Article]

Here are some questions to ask your health care provider about labor and delivery: At what point do you recommend that I come to the hospital/birth center? How soon after I come to the hospital will my health care provider see me?

[Read the Article]

Vaginal delivery is the most common and safest type of birth. When necessary in certain circumstances, forceps (instruments resembling large spoons) may be used to cup your baby's head and help guide the baby through the birth canal. Vacuum delivery

[Read the Article]

Healthy eating in pregnancy, and enough of it, is very important for your baby to grow and develop. You should consume about 300 more calories per day than you did before you became pregnant. Although nausea and vomiting during the first few months

[Read the Article]

Eat a variety of foods to get all the nutrients you need. Recommended daily servings: 6-11 servings of breads and grains, two to four servings of fruit, four or more servings of vegetables, four servings of dairy products, three servings of protei

[Read the Article]

Yes, here are some of them: Avoid alcohol during pregnancy. Alcohol has been linked to premature delivery, mental retardation, birth defects and low birth weight babies. Limit caffeine to no more than 300 mg. per day. The caffeine conten

[Read the Article]

During pregnancy you may have morning sickness, diarrhea or constipation. You may find it hard to keep foods down, or you may feel too sick to even eat at all. Here are some suggestions: Morning Sickness. Eat crackers, cereal or pretzels befor

[Read the Article]

Low carbohydrate diets, such as Atkins and the South Beach Diet, are very popular. There have been no studies of the effects of a low carbohydrate diet on pregnancy, so its effect on the fetus, if any, are unknown. While you are pregnant, you should

[Read the Article]