Sleep During Pregnancy
... The hormonal changes and physical discomfort associated with pregnancy can affect a woman’s quality of sleep. Each trimester of brings its own unique changes, including changes in sleep. According to ...

Exercise After Delivery
... If you’re ready to start a fitness routine, check with your health care provider to make sure its safe for you to begin exercising. If your goal is weight loss, consistent exercise and a healthy diet ...

Exercise During Pregnancy
... A regular exercise routine throughout your pregnancy can help you stay healthy and feeling your best. How can I stay fit? Regular exercise during pregnancy can improve your posture and decrease some c...

Kegel Exercises
... Kegel exercises, also called pelvic floor exercises, help strengthen the muscles that support the bladder, uterus and bowels. By strengthening these muscles during pregnancy, you can develop the abili...

Choosing a Car Seat
... Choosing a car seat for your newborn is one of the most important things you’ll do before your baby arrives. By law, you will need to have a properly installed car seat in your car before you can take...

Choosing A Pediatric Care Provider
... Choosing a primary care provider (pediatrician or family doctor) for your baby is not easy. That is why it is very important to do proper research before your baby arrives. Be prepared to interview mo...

Labor and Delivery
... The excitement of your child''s birth often makes you wonder what labor will be like. It is normal for you to feel both excited and scared about labor and delivery. This information will help answer t...

Newborn Appearance
... Discuss with your health care provider some of the things that you should expect about the appearance of your new baby. This list may help set your mind at ease, especially after the birth of your fir...

Newborn Behavior
... Many new parents may not know what is considered "normal" newborn behavior. Babies develop at different rates, but they still display many of the same behaviors, so don’t be alarmed if your ...

Pregnancy: What to Take to the Hospital
... Going into labor is an exciting time, and you have a lot to do to prepare for the big day. One important thing you’ll need to do is pack your bags for the trip to the hospital. Your bags should alread...

What to Expect After Delivery
... Right after birth, you will be able to hold your baby. In most cases, your baby will be weighed and examined in the labor and delivery room right in front of you. If you or your baby have special medi...

Pregnancy Resources
... Government Agencies Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality--AHRQ 201 East Jefferson Street Suite 501 Rockville, MD 20852 E-Mail: info@ahrq.gov www.ahrq.gov Information to help you stop smoking Aut...

Midwife Services
... The Philosophy of the American College of Nurse-Midwives: The practice of nurse-midwifery encourages continuity of care; emphasizes safe, competent clinical management; advocates nonintervention in no...

Avoiding Illicit Drugs During Pregnancy
... Pregnant women should remember that whatever they eat, smoke, or drink could affect the developing baby. Pregnant women should avoid alcohol and tobacco. In addition, no drug or medication should be t...

What You Need to Know About Benzocaine Spray
... Common brand name: Dermoplast Why is benzocaine spray prescribed? Benzocaine spray is a topical local anesthetic (pain-relieving) spray used for the temporary relief of pain and itching associated wit...

Caring for Your Health After Delivery
... The first month of having a newborn at home can be quite overwhelming. You may feel like all of your time is focused on caring for your newborn, but don’t forget to take care of yourself. Your baby ne...

Colds and Flu During Pregnancy
... Why are pregnant women more prone to colds and flu? The immune system is lowered slightly during pregnancy in order to stop a pregnant woman’s body from rejecting the unborn baby. Pregnant women may b...

How to Cope With the Physical Changes and Discomforts of Pregnancy
... Your body will be constantly changing during pregnancy, which might cause some discomforts. Some discomforts might occur in the early weeks of pregnancy, while others will occur only as you get closer...

Creating A Birth Plan
... What is a birth plan? A birth plan is a simple, clear, one-page statement of an expectant mother’s preferences for her birth experience. Copies of a birth plan may be added to an expectant mother’s me...

Group B Streptococcus and Pregnancy
... What is Group B Streptococcus? Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a common bacteria (germ) that is present in up to 40 percent of pregnant women. A woman with GBS can pass the bacteria to her infant while...

Limiting Weight Gain During Pregnancy
... How much weight should I gain? Gaining the right amount of weight during pregnancy by eating a healthy, balanced diet is a good sign that your baby is getting all the nutrients he or she needs and is ...

Medical Care During Pregnancy
... Why is prenatal care important? Regular appointments with your health care provider throughout your pregnancy are important to ensure the health of you and your baby. In addition to medical care, pren...

Newborn Care
... Bathing Give your baby a sponge bath every one to two days until the umbilical cord falls off. Choose a place that is safe, warm and free from drafts. Before starting, make sure you have the following...

Pain Relief Options During Childbirth 
... What will labor be like? Each woman''s labor is unique, and each woman experiences labor discomfort differently. Pain during labor is caused by uterine muscle contractions and by pressure on the cervi...

Preparing for Pregnancy Before Conception
... Why is preconceptional care important? Caring for your health before you become pregnant -- called preconceptional care -- will help you learn about any risk factors and treat any medical problems tha...

Pregnancy Bed Rest
... What is bed rest? Bed rest can mean literally resting in bed or just restricting your activity. Nearly 20 percent of pregnant women are prescribed some form of bed rest each year. If you have been pre...

Prenatal Care: Your First Visit
... Why is prenatal care important? Regular appointments with your health care provider throughout your pregnancy are important to ensure the health of you and your baby. In addition to medical care, pren...

Prenatal Ultrasound
... What is ultrasonography? In ultrasonography, or ultrasound, high-frequency sound waves, inaudible to the human ear, are transmitted through your abdomen via a device called a transducer. The echoes ar...

Sex During Pregnancy
... Can I have sex during pregnancy without harming my baby? Yes. There is no reason to change or alter your sexual activity during pregnancy unless your health care provider advises otherwise. Intercours...

The Role of the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist
... Obstetrics is one area in medicine that has been greatly influenced by new technology and discoveries. Not only has there been an explosion of new information regarding normal physiology and pathology...

True Vs. False Labor
... 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 o...

Vaccination During Pregnancy
... Why is vaccination necessary? Vaccines strengthen people’s immune systems so that their bodies can fight off serious infectious diseases. Vaccines also benefit society by preventing the spread of comm...

Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC)
... What is VBAC? Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC) is defined as vaginally giving birth after having one or more cesareans. It was previously thought that once a woman has a cesarean delivery, all foll...

Weight Gain During Pregnancy
... How much weight should I gain? Gaining the right amount of weight during pregnancy by eating a healthy, balanced diet is a good sign that your baby is getting all the nutrients he or she needs and is ...

When to Call Your Health Care Provider During Pregnancy
... Call your health care provider right away if you have: Unusual or severe cramping or abdominal pain Noticeable changes in your baby’s movement after 28 weeks gestation (if you don’t count 10 movements...

A Healthy Mouth for Your Baby
... Before your baby is born What you eat when you are pregnant is important. Eating right will help you and your growing baby stay healthy. Follow your doctor''s advice for eating the right foods and tak...

Increasing Calcium in Your Diet During Pregnancy
... Why do I need calcium? Calcium is a nutrient needed in the body to build strong teeth and bones. Calcium also allows blood to clot normally, muscles and nerves to function properly, and the heart to b...

Increasing Iron in Your Diet During Pregnancy
... Why do I need iron? Iron is a mineral that makes up an important part of hemoglobin, the substance in blood that carries oxygen throughout the body. Iron also carries oxygen in muscles, helping them f...

Nutrition During Pregnancy
... Healthy eating during pregnancy, and eating enough, is very important for your baby to grow and develop. You should consume 200 to 300 more calories than you did before you became pregnant. Although n...

Nutrition During Pregnancy for Vegetarians
... Types of vegetarians Vegan -- This diet includes fruits, vegetables, beans, grains, seeds, and nuts. All animal sources of protein — including meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, cheese, and other dairy ...

Prenatal Vitamins
... What are they? For a mother''s health, and the health of her baby, she is advised to take so-called "prenatal vitamins." These are specially formulated multivitamins that make up for any nut...

Syphilis
... WHAT IS SYPHILIS? Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI), once responsible for devastating epidemics. It is caused by a bacterium called Treponema pallidum. The rate of primary and seconda...

PREGNANCY AND A HEALTHY DIET
... When you become pregnant, what you eat isn't only important for your own health, but for the health of your baby. Healthy foods are the building blocks for your growing baby since pregnancy is a c...

Pregnancy and the Drug Dilemma
... By Michelle Meadows Jennifer, 25, of Baltimore wishes she only had to deal with the basics of pre-pregnancy planning, like going for a routine checkup and taking prenatal vitamins. "I get discouraged ...

Pregnancy, Breast-Feeding, and Travel
... Pregnant women considering international travel should be advised to evaluate the potential problems associated with international travel as well as the quality of medical care available at the destin...

Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Bladder Control
... Yes. But don't panic. If you lose bladder control after childbirth, the problem often goes away by itself. Your muscles may just need time to recover. If you still have a problem after 6 weeks, ta...

Breast Cancer and Pregnancy
... The PDQ cancer information summaries are reviewed regularly and updated as new information becomes available. This section describes the latest changes made to this summary as of the date above. Edito...

Pregnancy Tests
... All pregnancy tests look for a special hormone in the urine or blood that is only present when a woman is pregnant. This hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), is also called the pregnancy hormo...

Preguntas Frecuentes acerca de la Atención Prenatal
... Atención prenatal significa atención médica durante su embarazo antes de que nazca su bebé. Cuídese y cuide a su bebé haciendo lo siguiente: Obteniendo atención prenatal en forma temprana. Si sabe que...

Preguntas Frecuentes acerca de las Pruebas de Embarazo
... Todas las pruebas de embarazo buscan detectar una hormona especial que sólo se encuentra en la orina o en la sangre cuando una mujer está embarazada. A esta hormona, la gonadotropina coriónica humana ...

Preguntas Frecuentes acerca del Ácido Fólico - Fácil de Leer
... El ácido fólico (o folato) es una vitamina. Las vitaminas se encuentran en los alimentos y ayudan a que su cuerpo funcione correctamente. Cuando está embarazada, el ácido fólico puede ayudar a evitar ...

Preguntas Frecuentes acerca del Embarazo y los Medicamentos
... Planear con exactitud el momento en que va a quedar embarazada para evitar tomar medicamentos puede ser difícil. Por lo general, los medicamentos que toma una mujer embarazada no ingresan al feto, per...

Prenatal Care
... Prenatal care means health care during your pregnancy before your baby is born. Take care of yourself and your baby by: Getting early prenatal care. If you know you are pregnant, or think you might be...

Highlights of FDA Food Safety Efforts: Fruit Juice, Mercury in Fish
... By Raymond Formanek Jr. Strict rules for egg producers and makers of fruit or vegetable juices, and consumption limits for pregnant women and women considering pregnancy on fish containing high levels...

Breast Cancer and Pregnancy
... Breast cancer is the most common cancer in pregnant and postpartum women, occurring in about 1 in 3,000 pregnant women. The average patient is between 32 to 38 years of age and, with many women choosi...

Folic Acid
... Folic acid is one of the B vitamins. Folate, the natural form of folic acid, is found in orange juice, other citrus fruits and juices, leafy green vegetables, beans, peanuts, broccoli, asparagus, peas...

Hodgkin''s Lymphoma During Pregnancy
... Note: A separate PDQ summary on Adult Hodgkin's Lymphoma Treatment is also available. Since Hodgkin's lymphoma affects primarily young adults, most oncologists will eventually face the dilemma...