Pregnancy

If your pregnancy is healthy, it’s usually safe to travel by plane. Follow these tips when traveling by air: Ask your airline if they have a cut-off time for traveling during pregnancy. You can fly on most airlines up to 36 weeks of pregnancy. But i...

If your pregnancy is healthy, it’s usually safe to...

What causes ankle swelling during pregnancy — and what can I do about it? Various factors contribute to foot and ankle swelling during pregnancy. For starters, your body produces and retains more fluid during pregnancy. Also, your growing uterus pu...

What causes ankle swelling during pregnancy — and ...

Most women can continue working during pregnancy. Being pregnant, however, might present challenges at the workplace. To stay healthy and productive on the job, understand how to alleviate common pregnancy discomforts — and know when work tasks might...

Most women can continue working during pregnancy. ...

Cervical length: Why does it matter during pregnancy? During pregnancy, what's the significance of cervical length? Cervical length during pregnancy is sometimes associated with preterm labor — labor that begins before week 37 of pregnancy. If you h...

Cervical length: Why does it matter during pregnan...

Antidepressants are a primary treatment option for most types of depression. Antidepressants can help relieve your symptoms and keep you feeling your best — but there's more to the story when you're pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant. Here's...

Antidepressants are a primary treatment option for...

mail this page to a friend Bookmark & Share Printer-friendly version Growing a baby is hard work. Your body will go through a lot of changes as your baby grows and your hormones change. Along with the other common symptoms during pregnancy, you will...

mail this page to a friend Bookmark & Share Printe...

Sudden unexpected infant deaths are defined as deaths in infants less than 1 year of age that occur suddenly and unexpectedly, and whose cause of death are not immediately obvious prior to investigation. Each year in the United States, more than 4,5...

Sudden unexpected infant deaths are defined as dea...

Is smallpox vaccine safe for women who are breastfeeding? Women who are breastfeeding should not get the vaccine. This advice is true even if women are pumping and then bottle-feeding breast milk. It is unknown whether the vaccine virus or antibodies...

Is smallpox vaccine safe for women who are breastf...

Should pregnant women receive the smallpox vaccine? No. Women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant within 4 weeks after vaccination should NOT get the smallpox vaccine. In addition, anyone who has a close contact who is pregnant should not...

Should pregnant women receive the smallpox vaccine...

These questions and answers have been updated to include new information on 2009 H1N1 flu in pregnant women. Both seasonal and 2009 H1N1 flu viruses will circulate during the 2009-2010 flu season. A pregnant woman who thinks she has the flu should ca...

These questions and answers have been updated to i...

Importance of Newborn Screening All babies are screened, even if they look healthy, because some medical conditions cannot be seen by just looking at the baby. Finding these conditions soon after birth can help prevent some serious problems, such as ...

Importance of Newborn Screening All babies are scr...

Reasons for Genetic Counseling There are many reasons that people go for genetic counseling, such as: A family history of a genetic condition To learn about genetic screening for diseases that are more common in certain ethnic groups (e.g., sickle c...

Reasons for Genetic Counseling There are many reas...

Q: How can we find out whether or not our child will be born with a genetic disease or condition? A: The best source to help you find out whether or not you may have a child that is affected with a genetic disease or condition is your doctor. If you ...

Q: How can we find out whether or not our child wi...

Note: If you are pregnant (or if you are thinking about getting pregnant) and you have questions about how radiation exposure could affect you or your pregnancy, you should talk with your doctor. Your doctor can help you better understand the risks o...

Note: If you are pregnant (or if you are thinking ...

Talk with your doctor if you are pregnant and you have taken any medication or are thinking of taking any medication. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medications, as well as dietary or herbal products. Pregnant women should not stop o...

Talk with your doctor if you are pregnant and you ...

Diabetes is often diagnosed in women during their childbearing years and can affect the health of both the mother and her unborn child. Poor control of diabetes during pregnancy increases the chances for birth defects and other problems for the baby....

Diabetes is often diagnosed in women during their ...

You can prevent infections and help keep your unborn baby safe. Here’s how:1- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially when… Using the bathroom Touching raw meat, raw eggs, or unwashed vegetables Preparing food and eating Gardening or to...

You can prevent infections and help keep your unbo...

Flu is more likely to cause severe illness in pregnant women than in women who are not pregnant. Changes in the immune system, heart, and lungs during pregnancy make pregnant women more prone to severe illness from flu as well as hospitalizations and...

Flu is more likely to cause severe illness in preg...

Risk to a developing fetus from vaccination of the mother during pregnancy is theoretical. No evidence exists of risk to the fetus from vaccinating pregnant women with inactivated virus or bacterial vaccines or toxoids. Live vaccines administered to ...

Risk to a developing fetus from vaccination of the...

What causes constipation in pregnancy?Increased levels of progesterone slow the digestive system, and extra iron from prenatal vitamins can harden the stool. In the third trimester, the pressure of the uterus on the intestines and the rectum can add ...

What causes constipation in pregnancy?Increased le...

What Are Eating Disorders? According to the American Psychiatric Association, there are two primary eating disorders: anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Anorexia, often characterized by a weight that is 85 percent or less than what is expected for...

What Are Eating Disorders? According to the Americ...