Women World

When your child is sick or injured, it's natural to panic and head straight for the emergency room (ER), because you know that you can get care, regardless of the time, day, or severity of your child's injury. In some cases, it is a true medical emer...

When your child is sick or injured, it's natural t...

Awaiting the birth of a baby is an exciting time, and a busy one. Along with considering baby names and buying a crib, choosing the right health care provider should be on your to-do list, too. Your Options When it comes to medical care for kids, the...

Awaiting the birth of a baby is an exciting time, ...

Not that long ago, doctors and nurses would write notes in a patient's chart — often a sheaf of papers fastened to a clipboard — during an office visit. These notes then would be added to the patient's ever-expanding medical file, which was physicall...

Not that long ago, doctors and nurses would write ...

From the flu to broken bones, illnesses and medical emergencies seem to be inevitable parts of raising kids. It can be stressful any time your child needs medical attention, but even more so when you're worried about where to get that care and how mu...

From the flu to broken bones, illnesses and medica...

Numerous medical advances have helped health care professionals manage, lessen, and prevent certain side effects of cancer treatments. But parents whose kids need chemotherapy — one of the most common treatments for childhood cancer — often have many...

Numerous medical advances have helped health care ...

Why you need phosphorus Phosphorus is a mineral that helps build strong bones in you and your developing baby. (About 85 percent of your body's phosphorus is found in bone.) It's also important for muscle contractions, blood clotting, kidney function...

Why you need phosphorus Phosphorus is a mineral th...

What are preterm labor and preterm birth? // If you start having regular contractions that cause your cervix to begin to open before you reach 37 weeks of pregnancy, you're in preterm labor. (It's also known as premature labor.) If you deliver your b...

What are preterm labor and preterm birth? // If yo...

Why you need protein during pregnancy The amino acids that make up protein are the building blocks of your body's cells – and of your baby's body as well. It's important to get enough protein throughout your pregnancy, but especially during the secon...

Why you need protein during pregnancy The amino ac...

What is a miscarriage? Miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy in the first 20 weeks. (In medical articles, you may see the term "spontaneous abortion" used in place of miscarriage.) About 10 to 20 percent of known pregnancies end in miscarriage, and ...

What is a miscarriage? Miscarriage is the loss of ...

Why you need vitamin A during pregnancy Vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin stored in the liver, is important for your baby's embryonic growth – including the development of the heart, lungs, kidneys, eyes, and bones, and the circulatory, respiratory, a...

Why you need vitamin A during pregnancy Vitamin A,...

What is stillbirth? When a baby dies in utero at 20 weeks of pregnancy or later, it's called a stillbirth. (When a pregnancy is lost before 20 weeks, it's called a miscarriage.) About 1 in 160 pregnancies ends in stillbirth in the United States. Most...

What is stillbirth? When a baby dies in utero at 2...

Why you need vitamin D during pregnancy Your body needs vitamin D to maintain proper levels of calcium and phosphorus, which help build your baby's bones and teeth. A vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy can cause growth retardation and skeletal def...

Why you need vitamin D during pregnancy Your body ...

Is it okay to have sex during pregnancy? In most cases, yes. Assuming that you don't have certain complications, having sex shouldn't pose a risk to you or your baby. Your baby is surrounded and cushioned by amniotic fluid, and protected by your uter...

Is it okay to have sex during pregnancy? In most c...

You should avoid exposing yourself to lead during pregnancy. If you have lead-based paint in your home, use cookware containing lead, work with lead solder, or come into contact with art or cosmetic products that contain lead, you might be at risk. I...

You should avoid exposing yourself to lead during ...

Yes, if you're having a healthy, normal pregnancy, sex is safe – although as your third trimester progresses and you get bigger, you may have to be creative about your positioning during sex to avoid discomfort. On the other hand, sex may not be safe...

Yes, if you're having a healthy, normal pregnancy,...

Yes — in moderation. Seafood is an excellent source of nutrients, but it can contain contaminants (a fact that's received a lot of alarming attention in the press recently). These chemicals include methyl mercury and, to a lesser extent, dioxins, PCB...

Yes — in moderation. Seafood is an excellent sourc...

Carrying a toddler during pregnancy probably isn't a good idea. As your belly expands, your center of gravity shifts. This puts lot of pressure on your lower back. Also, body changes early in pregnancy can make you more prone to feeling lightheaded w...

Carrying a toddler during pregnancy probably isn't...

We don't have any evidence that bleaching your teeth during pregnancy poses any risks to you or your baby. However, there isn't enough data to tell us for sure whether it's safe or not. Because of this, healthcare providers recommend that you wait un...

We don't have any evidence that bleaching your tee...

Many pregnant women get heartburn, sometimes referred to as acid indigestion or acid reflux. This condition is generally harmless, but it can be very uncomfortable. Fortunately, most cases can be safely treated with over-the-counter remedies, along w...

Many pregnant women get heartburn, sometimes refer...

Extreme stress, yes; a quick "boo!" to scare away the hiccups, no. Studies have not found any link between the ordinary stresses and frustrations of modern life (like those from a hard day at work or a traffic jam) and miscarriage. Likewise, being st...

Extreme stress, yes; a quick "boo!" to scare away ...

Why you need zinc during pregnancy Your body needs zinc for the production, repair, and functioning of DNA – the body's genetic blueprint and a basic building block of cells. So getting enough zinc is particularly important for the rapid cell growth ...

Why you need zinc during pregnancy Your body needs...