Pregnancy

Outside of a protruding abdomen and expanding uterus, a dead giveaway for determining if a woman is pregnant is the positive indication on a home pregnancy test that detects the hormone hCG. Besides a plus sign or double lines from a urine…

Fetal growth varies with every woman and every birth. If there is any concern on the size of your growing baby your doctor will advise you. However, there is an average size of the growth of the fetus at every stage of development. The…

Stretch marks -- the pink, purple or brown streaks that can appear on a pregnant woman's belly, breasts, hips, thighs and bottom -- are one unpleasant side effect of pregnancy. Unfortunately, avoiding stretch marks proves difficult. As many…

Fetal presentation refers to the part of the fetus that is felt at the cervix during a vaginal exam. Fetal presentation is important to note because it can determine if a vaginal delivery is an option. There are three types of presentation…

You've spent nine long months incubating your baby. You've felt it growing and kicking and gotten a thrill from everyone who tells you about the maternal glow you've developed. At some point, you might think that enough is enough and turn…

Pregnancy is an exciting and terrifying time of life. Some people plan their pregnancies while others find themselves caught off guard. Sore breasts, nausea, and fatigue are all symptoms that point to pregnancy. They are, however, also…

It can be hard to be an expectant father. Most of the attention is focused on your partner's pregnancy. People want to know how she is feeling and how the baby is doing. But oftentimes the dad gets lost in the shuffle. You, too, are nervous…

It can be a daunting task for a pregnant woman to avoid all the substances that might be harmful to her baby. It's commonly known that street, or illegal, drugs can be harmful if used during pregnancy. Unfortunately, many prescription and…

Pregnancy requires women to make a lot of changes in their lives. Along with developing better eating habits and healthier sleeping patterns, it's important to the baby's health and growth for women to stop smoking. Smoking deprives a…

The majority of pregnant women will have to deal with Braxton Hicks contractions at some point during their pregnancy. These contractions, sometimes referred to as "false labor," are most often felt during the second and third trimesters.…