Pregnancy

Dilation and effacement of cervix Stages of Labor You'll find that the medical community uses a lot of jargon while you're in labor. We'll try to clear up some of what you're likely to hear and what it means throughout this chapter. There are three s...

Dilation and effacement of cervix Stages of Labor ...

Your skin may have gone through various changes during pregnancy. You may have developed acne, even if you never had it before. It's a way the body reacts to fluctuating hormones; your skin should begin to clear up now. Or you may develop acne after ...

Your skin may have gone through various changes du...

What causes postpartum depression? Women who have been depressed in the past are more likely to end up with PPD, and women who have had PPD with previous pregnancies have a 70 percent chance of having it again. Those with marital problems, abusive sp...

What causes postpartum depression? Women who have ...

Your postpartum assessment In the first couple of months following the birth of their baby, the majority of women don't experience any major health concerns and will revert back to their prepregnant health status. However, it's good practice to have...

Your postpartum assessment In the first couple of...

Symptoms of PPD During your pregnancy, you knew from your reading to expect emotional changes, but now you may be overwhelmed by worry and sadness. Where is the happiness you know you should be feeling? The fact that it seems beyond your grasp makes ...

Symptoms of PPD During your pregnancy, you knew fr...

Know your rights, moms and dads Your rights When you have a baby, you can take up to 12 weeks off work during a 12-month period and retain your right to return to the same, or an equivalent, position, including equivalent pay and benefits, if you ar...

Know your rights, moms and dads Your rights When ...

Pregnancy; maternity leave The difficulty of being pregnant while holding down a fulltime job is that your life as a working person trudges on, but your body (and mind) may have a hard time keeping up. For example, in the first trimester, you may hav...

Pregnancy; maternity leave The difficulty of being...

Postpartum Depression After my third child was born I developed what I thought was postpartum depression. I was in a stressful second marriage and noticed that all during this pregnancy (following so quickly on the heels of my second child's birth) I...

Postpartum Depression After my third child was bor...

Going back to work Before returning to work, consider the following: Will life as a working mom be easier if you switch to a flexible working arrangement, such as a job share or part-time work? Give your employer ample time to consider any request....

Going back to work Before returning to work, cons...

After your baby is born, you may be surprised by some of the emotions you feel. You have waited so long for this wonderful new life and have anticipated feelings of great joy and happiness. You may be surprised if you find yourself feeling sad or unh...

After your baby is born, you may be surprised by s...

The placenta plays a vital role in pregnancy, delivering nutrients and oxygen to the babies and removing their waste. In a multiple pregnancy, each baby may have his own placenta, or two babies may share a single placenta. Either way, if something go...

The placenta plays a vital role in pregnancy, deli...

Preterm labor, or the onset of cervical dilation before a baby is considered full term, is a major source of concern because it can lead to premature delivery. The fact that preterm labor is more prevalent in multiple pregnancy makes it a focus of co...

Preterm labor, or the onset of cervical dilation b...

The fact that you're over 35 and reading this puts you ahead of the game already. The biggest reproductive problem faced by older women is getting pregnant in the first place, largely due to decreased fertility. So having cleared that hurdle, your ne...

The fact that you're over 35 and reading this puts...

How will you know if preterm labor starts during your pregnancy with multiples? There are some clues, but they might not be obvious until it's too late to stop a delivery: That's why it is so vitally important to know the signals, and to contact your...

How will you know if preterm labor starts during y...

Multiples are particularly at risk for intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), also known as intrauterine growth retardation. Essentially, this very wordy terminology is used to describe a small baby, a baby that is not growing at a "normal" rate acc...

Multiples are particularly at risk for intrauterin...

Why miscarriage happens? An early miscarriage is usually due to a problem such as a chromosomal or structural abnormality in the fetus. It may also be caused by a fibroid (a non-cancerous growth in the uterus), an infection, or an immune system diso...

Why miscarriage happens? An early miscarriage is ...

Women who experience a pregnancy loss quickly learn that our society doesn't understand the pain of this loss. Well-meaning friends might say, "It was probably defective in some way so this is actually a blessing." Or, "You'll get pregnant again." Or...

Women who experience a pregnancy loss quickly lear...

Different terms are used to describe miscarriage, depending on what is found during an ultrasound scan or an internal examination. Threatened miscarriage is the term given to bleeding early in pregnancy, but in which the cervix remains closed. In th...

Different terms are used to describe miscarriage, ...

Constipation, hemorrhoids, indigestion, heartburn, flatulence, and belching are all part of the fun of pregnancy. There's nothing to be embarrassed about here—it's a fact of life. Constipation Most of the digestive problems of pregnancy begin with co...

Constipation, hemorrhoids, indigestion, heartburn,...

Everyone knows that when your monthly bleeding stops, it's a common sign of pregnancy. So what does it mean when a pregnant woman starts to bleed? Well, it can mean a number of things, so don't automatically panic and assume your pregnancy is in dang...

Everyone knows that when your monthly bleeding sto...

Breasts and Waist If you've ever wondered what it would be like to try on a different body and maybe have a new personality for a while, here's your wish come true. During the nine months of pregnancy, your body will do things you never thought it co...

Breasts and Waist If you've ever wondered what it ...