Amniocentesis is a prenatal test that allows gathering information about the baby’s health from a sample of your amniotic fluid. Usually the amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus contains skin cells and other substances such as alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). The sample of the fluid is removed through an ultrasound guided needle and sent to laboratory for analysis.
Many pregnant women experience miscarriage during their pregnancy. Abortion is accompanied with physical and emotional distress. It is the spontaneous end of a pregnancy before a fetus can survive. The cause of miscarriage is not always determined.
Gestational diabetes is a high blood sugar level that starts during pregnancy. All pregnant women should be screened for diabetes. An oral glucose tolerance test is done between the 24thand 28thweek of pregnancy.Usually this condition disappears after delivery but your chances increase in developing gestational diabetes during your future pregnancies.
Many women feel by intuition that they are pregnant. Maybe this is related to the excessive production of progesterone and the human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (HCG). Every pregnant woman will discover a new world the minute her pregnancy is confirmed.
As soon as you confirm your pregnancy, it is important to schedule an appointment with your doctor for a physical examination. Your first visit would be the longest visit during your pregnancy.
More than half of pregnant women experience morning sickness. Nausea and vomiting are the first signs of pregnancy. They can occur at any time during the day, and mostly in the morning. This nauseated feeling stops around the 12thweek of pregnancy.
Preeclampsia occurs usually in the later part of the second trimester, in the third trimester until going to labor, and in the 48 hours after delivery. Preeclampsia consists of high blood pressure with high level of protein in the urine. Pregnant women will often have swelling in their feet, hands and face. If untreated, preeclampsia can turn into eclampsia which is a very severe phase during which coma and death may happen for the mother and baby.
Striae Gravidarum or stretch marks are the biggest challenge of every pregnant woman. These marks appear often during the last trimester of pregnancy. Some women start having them as soon as their bellies start growing. They appear as reddish or violet lines along the belly skin. Over time they become as white scars with a visible texture.
Excited to confirm your pregnancy? Cannot wait for your doctor’s appointment? There are many techniques that you can use at home to know if you're pregnant. Most of test devices can be purchased from any pharmacy without any medical prescription. Many women prefer to do the test at home. It is a quick test and gives a qualitative result: positive or negative.
On your first prenatal appointment your doctor will prescribe you several tests and will perform several physical exams to make sure that you and your baby are safe.
During the first trimester, pregnant women tend to sleep a lot due to the rise in the levels of progesterone and HCG which may cause tiredness and sleepy feeling continuously. Use this period to get into the habit of sleeping on your side.
This tenderness is related to hormonal changes that increase blood flow and causes a change in the breast tissue. Starting from the second month, your breasts start getting bigger, you may see veins under the skin, your nipples start to grow and get darker. All these changes prepare your breasts for nursing your baby.
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