1. How much weight should I expect to gain during pregnancy? Most women with a normal body mass index gain 25
to 35 pounds during pregnancy. Women who are obese are advised to gain less weight. On the other hand, women who are underweight may gain up to 40 pounds. Women who gain excessive weight during pregnancy should see a dietitian.

2. When do I first need to see a doctor? A first prenatal visit should take place within the first trimester. If a woman is uncertain about the date of her last menstrual period, it is especially important to schedule an ultrasound appointment to accurately determine gestational dates. At the first doctor visit, a comprehensive medical history will be taken to assess any obstetrical risks and special medical needs of a patient. Simple blood work that is usually done at the first office visit includes ABO and Rh blood typing, screening for anemia, immunity to rubella, and testing for viral hepatitis and HIV. A pelvic exam, pap smear, chlamydia and gonorrhea test is also usually performed at the first visit. Urinalysis, blood pressure and weight checks, fundal height measurement and fetal heart auscultation are performed routinely at each office
visit.

3. Should I seek care from a midwife or doctor? This is a personal decision. Typically, complicated pregnancies (i.e.,
women who have certain medical conditions, smoke, have a history of miscarriages, past c-section, or have other risk factors for a complicated pregnancy) require the care of a physician. Midwives are an option for normal, uncomplicated pregnancies that do not require advanced care. Either way, a woman should seek routine prenatal care by a qualified health care provider.

4. Can I consume caffeine during pregnancy? Caffeine in moderate amounts is probably safe in pregnancy.

5. Can I use artificial sweeteners? Saccharin containing products should be avoided during pregnancy. Saccharin can
cross the placenta and enter the fetal tissue.

6. Why have I been told to avoid cats during pregnancy? Cats can carry bacteria called Toxoplasma, which can be
harmful to the developing fetus. Women should avoid changing a cat’s litter box since Toxoplasma can be found in the cat’s feces. You should discuss with your health care provider specific precautions that you need to take to avoid infection caused by Toxoplasma. Poorly cooked meats, seafood and unpasteurized milk can also be contaminated with Toxoplasma.

7. What is gestational diabetes? Some women develop diabetes during pregnancy. Most of the time, it will resolve after
pregnancy. However, these women are at a higher risk of developing diabetes in later life.

8. How do I know if I have gestational diabetes? Late in the second trimester, a one hour glucola test is performed. If this
is number is elevated, a women will undergo another test called a three hour glucose tolerance test. A woman should discuss her risks of developing gestational diabetes and this test with her health care provider.

9. Are there any foods that I should avoid during pregnancy?Canned tuna fish and farmed salmon should be eaten in moderation. Tuna steaks, swordfish, shark and king mackerel should be avoided because they can contain high levels of mercury, which can harm the fetus. Raw fish and shellfish should be avoided because they can be infected with parasites and Norwalk-like viruses.

10. Is aspirin safe to use in pregnancy? Aspirin is not safe to use during pregnancy. Aspirin is a class D medication meaning that it may cause harm to the fetus.

For 10 more answers to Common Pregnancy Questions Click Here

Pregnancy is a special time. One that brings joys and pains. Many minor, but distressing health complaints can accompany pregnancy, such as morning sickness, varicose veins, skin discoloration, hemorrhoids, constipation, folic acid anemia, iron deficiency anemia, muscle/leg cramps, backache, heartburn, fatigue and mood changes, bladder infections, and high blood pressure. What can the expectant mother use that is safe for her unborn child as well as herself?

Most women would agree that drugs are to be avoided during pregnancy. Many over-the-counter remedies, especially antihistamines, acne medicines, and laxatives, have been shown to cause birth defects in animals or humans. Antibiotics may cause fetal abnormalities and sulfur drugs can cause neo-natal jaundice. Tranquilizers and painkillers can cause birth defects and addict the fetus. Antacids can cause muscle problems in the baby and edema in the mother. (In addition, they mess up a woman’s calcium metabolism; see discussion following.)

And it is well accepted that the drug-like actions of alcohol, tobacco, and coffee are best avoided both before conception, during pregnancy, and while lactating.

Few women, however, understand that vitamin/mineral supplements are more drug-like than food-like. Though they are widely recommended, even by orthodox MDs, supplements are problematic for pregnant women and ought to be avoided. A study of 23,000 pregnant women, reported in The New England Journal of Medicine (1995) found 4.8 times more birth defects among the children of women who consumed 10,000 IU or more of vitamin A in supplemental form. And if that isn’t enough to make you hesitate before reaching for the pills, consider this: the amount of iron in four prenatal-formula tablets can kill a child under the age of three.

In addition to drugs and supplements, many common herbal remedies, including golden seal, and flax seed are best avoided during the weeks of gestation. See below for herbs that may be problematic during pregnancy.

So you have decided you want to get pregnant but you can’t seem to make it happen on your own. You talk to your doctor, you talk to your spouse, you talk to your mother and then you decide to research fertility. While fertility is not one of those things you are likely to talk to with anyone, you still go to the internet for advice and there, you’ll likely find the advice of anyone.

You’ll learn about all of the latest treatments, you’ll find out about what seems to be the best technology now for various treatments and you will find out about a new drug many call the miracle drug or the fertility pill. You’re overcome with joy now because this little pill is going to do the trick. However, remember the pill is designed for women who do not ovulate.

Before you paint the nursery in pink and blue, there are a few things you should know. The first thing you should know is that the fertility pill isn’t going to guarantee you a pregnancy. The second thing you need to know is there are a lot of other things which go along with the fertility pill to ensure a pregnancy.

Egg quantity and egg quality are two entities used to determine fertility. Fertility tests must do both effectively in order to determine a woman’s chance for becoming pregnant. There are some problems with fertility testing and this is one thing medical biologists and scientists are trying to improve in the areas of female health.

Fertility testing isn’t fun for the couple who is experiencing the pain of not being able to conceive on their own. No one wants to think of something as private as conception suddenly becoming a public affair involving doctors, needles and testing in a cold medical environment. However, if couples can not conceive on their own, then they likely will find themselves in a medical facility undergoing fertility testing and then fertility pills and many other things they would normally hope to avoid.

Your “Real” Reproductive Age

Up until 2001, there were no clinical guidelines to characterize our reproductive life span. Finally, representatives from esteemed organizations, including the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), the National Institutes of Health, and the North American Menopause Society, pooled their knowledge and developed the STRAW system. STRAW stands for the Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop in which it was developed, under the direction of Dr. Soules.

The beauty of STRAW is that you can get a sense of what stage you are in based on your menstrual patterns, symptoms, and the overall characteristics of a stage, rather than just a certain hormone range or chronological age. Looking at the whole picture makes it clearer that reproductive capacity is unique for each individual, explains Dr. Soules. After all, there are a great number of variables in each woman’s genetic makeup, health, and lifestyle habits that carry her more quickly or slowly from one reproductive stage to another… read more about fertility tip…

For the more than 10 million couples in America who are trying-to-conceive a baby, accurately predicting ovulation - a woman’s most fertile time of the month – is the key to success. Now, with a new and innovative diagnostic tool called Fertile Focus, baby-making just got a whole lot easier. Fertile Focus, an ovulation microscope, pinpoints the ideal time to conceive. (PRWEB) March 25, 2004 — For the more than 10 million couples in America who are trying-to-conceive a baby, accurately predicting ovulation - a woman’s most fertile time of the month – is the key to success. Now, with a new and innovative diagnostic tool called Fertile Focus, baby-making just got a whole lot easier. Created by Fairhaven Health and WebMD’s Dr. Amos Grunebaum, Fertile Focus is a personal ovulation microscope… Read more about fertility treatment