Clear Answers for Common Questions

For additional information, PregnancyEtc covers all aspects of pregnancy and other related issues.

• Is It Really Dangerous for Women over 35 to Have Babies?

  Though older women do have an increased risk of complications, generally speaking, it is not dangerous to have a baby after age 35 either for women who become pregnant naturally or for those who have assisted pregnancies. Though the risk for miscarriages and chromosomal abnormalities does increase at this age ...

• How can I Improve my Chances of Pregnancy?

  Starting a family is an important decision in your life. The journey through pregnancy and raising a child is indeed an exciting time for you and your partner. Keep in mind, though, that getting pregnant is not as easy as it may seem. In fact, 25% of couples have problems ...

• Can You get Pregnant with One Ovary?

  You generally have the same chances of conception whether you have one ovary or two, as long as the remaining one is attached to a fallopian tube. Missing other parts of the reproductive system can also make it harder to conceive, but pregnancy is often still possible. There are several ...

• What Causes Miscarriages?

  A miscarriage is the spontaneous abortion of an unborn child prior to the 20th week of pregnancy. Causes for are numerous. Frequently, miscarriages occur before the 12th week of pregnancy, and about 20-30% of pregnancies end in miscarriage. Some events occur so early that the pregnant woman may not ...

• What is a Missed Miscarriage?

  A missed miscarriage or incomplete miscarriage is a rare type of miscarriage where the body fails to recognize the death of an unborn child and does not simultaneously abort. Most missed miscarriages occur within the first 12 weeks after conception. They are usually identified when no fetal heart rate can ...

• Can Women get Pregnant During Menstruation?

  A woman can become pregnant from having sexual intercourse during menstruation. In fact, recent research conducted by the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggests that women have the potential to become pregnant at virtually any time during their cycle. While the chance of pregnancy is greater on certain ...

• What are Different Types of Fertility Treatments?

  There are many types of fertility treatments for those who are having difficulty conceiving a child. Success is not ensured with any of the different types of fertility treatments. As well, certain treatments are now raising ethical issues both inside and out of the medical community. A basic infertility diagnosis ...

• How do Doctors Predict a Baby's Due Date?

  One of the most common misconceptions about pregnancy is that it lasts nine months when, in reality, the average pregnancy is 266 days or 38 weeks from conception. Medical professionals typically date a pregnancy in weeks to gain a more accurate and specific age of the pregnancy. They predict a ...

• What Types of Anesthesia are Safe When Pregnant?

  As with any medical intervention performed during pregnancy, expectant mothers are concerned about the possibility of undergoing surgery or other medical procedures that require anesthesia and may not be safe when pregnant. Naturally, there is concern for the development of the fetus, as well as for the immediate safety of ...

• What Are Some Good Gifts for Pregnant Women?

  Shopping for gifts for pregnant women can be a bit challenging. On the one hand, numerous gifts for an upcoming baby are easy to find, and they can be welcomed by pregnant women, especially if they need help getting all the things that will be needed for a new baby ...

• How can I Emotionally Support my Pregnant Wife?

  You may wonder, as a husband, how you can emotionally support your pregnant wife. Obviously you can’t carry the baby, endure morning sickness for your wife, or go through the many mood swings associated with pregnancy hormones. However, you can support her in a variety of ways that will ...

• Which Foods Should I Avoid When Pregnant?

  During pregnancy, there are a number of foods and drinks that should be avoided or limited. It is very important that the body receive a well balanced diet in order for the baby to be provided with the correct nutrients. The food that is eaten while pregnant not only helps ...

• What is Pregnancy Brain?

  Pregnancy brain is a condition that affects expectant mothers, usually during the first and third trimesters. Sometimes known as placenta brain or baby brain drain, the condition is usually characterized by short-term memory loss or forgetfulness. Some medical experts say that pregnancy brain is a myth, but evidence shows ...

• What is Maternity Clothing?

  Maternity clothing is clothing which is specifically designed to be worn by pregnant women. It is designed with a loose, comfortable cut which will expand as the woman's belly grows. Most designs also include elastic, tabs, and other methods of expansion which allow shirts and pants to be let ...

• What is a Linea Negra?

  A linea negra, also commonly called a linea nigra, is a dark line on the skin that runs from the navel down to the public bone and sometimes also up to the mid-abdomen. It typically occurs in women as a result of hormonal changes, and is a frequent side ...

• What are Some Nutrition Considerations for Pregnant Women?

  If you’re pregnant, your diet needs to change to accommodate the extra energy you will need as your baby grows. You are not exactly “eating for two,” since a developing embryo is not even visible at conception. Normal birth weight is about seven pounds, so eating in excess may ...

• What is Pregnancy Counseling?

  Pregnancy counseling is a service offered to women who believe that they are pregnant. Typically, the counseling includes a pregnancy test to confirm that the women is pregnant, along with a talk session to discuss the pregnancy and the woman's options. This vital service is offered by a number ...

• What are the Early Signs of Pregnancy?

  There are several early signs of pregnancy that, considered individually, may be attributed to other conditions, but taken together can be pretty clear indicators that a woman is expecting. A missed period, fatigue, nausea, and food cravings or food aversions can all be early signs. Generally, a woman may be ...

• What is Gestational Diabetes?

  Gestational diabetes is a condition experienced by pregnant women who develop high blood sugar, or glucose, levels. It is usually diagnosed by the 28th week. Nearly four percent of pregnant women are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, which equals approximately 135,000 women in the United States annually. Gestational diabetes occurs ...

• What is a Maternity Pillow?

  Anyone who has survived the joys of pregnancy will know the value of a good maternity pillow. The maternity pillow was designed to help alleviate the comfort and medical issues a pregnant woman faces while attempting to get a good night's sleep. As a pregnancy progresses, the increasing weight ...

• What are Braxton Hicks Contractions?

  Braxton Hicks contractions are contractions of the uterus during pregnancy. They are characterized by a painless tightening of the uterus, occurring sporadically and infrequently from approximately the sixth week of pregnancy, although many women do not notice them until more than half-way through the pregnancy. These contractions were first ...

• What is a Midwife?

  A midwife is a person trained to assist woman in the labor and delivery of their babies. For centuries, women have relied solely on a midwife to bring their children into the world. Traditional views held that men should never attend childbirth. Upon the birth of the medical field known ...

• What is a Sympathetic Pregnancy?

  A sympathetic pregnancy, also known as Couvade syndrome occurs when a woman's male partner feels the effects of her pregnancy. The word Couvade comes from the French word couver, meaning 'to hatch'. Although the condition is rare, it occurs in some men. There has been much skepticism over whether ...

• What is Cholestasis of Pregnancy?

  While many pregnant women experience annoying itchiness at some point during their pregnancy, the problem is usually superficial. Cholestasis of pregnancy, however, is a type of liver disease that causes severe itching. It only occurs in pregnant women, typically late in the pregnancy. The hormones associated with pregnancy affect the ...

• What Causes Morning Sickness?

  Morning sickness is the standard term applied to nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Though it’s called morning sickness and many women find the nausea and vomiting are worse in the morning, it can occur at any time of the day. Morning sickness usually disappears at the end of the ...

• What is a Doula?

  A doula is a woman who provides physical and emotional support to a woman before, during and after childbirth. The Greek word doula means “servant-woman” or “slave,” and often referred to the most important female servant in an ancient Grecian household, who likely assisted the lady of the house ...

• What is a Gender Prediction Test?

  A gender prediction test is a test done on or by pregnant women to determine the sex of babies. The traditional medical methods for determining gender in the past, and presently include chorionic villus sampling (CVS), amniocentesis and ultrasound. Prior to these methods evolving, a number of folklore based concepts ...

• What is an Ectopic Pregnancy?

  An ectopic pregnancy, also known as a “tubal” pregnancy, occurs when a fertilized egg is implanted outside of the uterus. Surprisingly, this occurs in one out of 50 pregnancies. Unfortunately, all end in termination of the pregnancy. In a normal pregnancy, a fertilized egg makes its way down the Fallopian ...

• What is a Cervical Cerclage?

  A cervical cerclage is a procedure in which a doctor surgically sews a pregnant woman’s cervix closed. This is done in order to allow the woman to carry the baby as close to full term as possible, which is at least 37 weeks gestation. The cervix is the part ...

• What is an Ultrasound Scan?

  One of the most useful diagnostic tools to come along in the past 100 years is the ultrasound scan. While most people think about it in terms of pregnancy, the ultrasound scan is useful in detecting and diagnosing many other conditions, as well. An ultrasound scan is the evolved version ...

• What is a Sonogram?

  A sonogram is a medical procedure that uses ultrasound waves to create a picture of something that is happening within a person’s body. This is a very common procedure in pregnancy, and is what produces the black-and-white fetal pictures that so many new parents proudly display to ...

• What is the Bradley Childbirth Method?

  The Bradley Childbirth Method was developed by Robert Bradley, an American obstetrician, in the late 1940s. Bradley’s belief is that childbirth is a natural process, and women can prepare themselves mentally, physically, and emotionally to avoid routine medical interventions and pain medication during labor and delivery. The duration of ...

• What is a Birthing Ball?

  A birthing ball is an accessory used to provide comfort during and after pregnancy, as well as to assist women during the labor of childbirth. A birthing ball is a large rubber ball that is strong enough to support the weight of large adult. Birthing balls were originally designed for ...

• What Are the Stages of Fetal Development?

  A baby undergoes rapid fetal development in the nine months he spends in his mother’s womb. A pregnancy is usually measured in 40 weeks of gestation, but many people prefer to measure it in months. The three main stages of development are ovulation/conception, embryonic development and development of ...

• Is It Safe to Give Birth at Home?

  Under certain circumstances, it is safe to give birth at home, but it is important to plan carefully and take precautions in order to ensure the safety of both the mother and child. In the case of unexpected complications during a home birth, the mother should be able to be ...

• Are Identical Twins Really Identical?

  Identical twins, also known as monozygotic twins, are born when a mother’s single fertilized egg is split into two parts after conception. Since they are formed from the same zygote, their DNA is almost indistinguishable. While these twins have the same basic genetic makeup, however, it is interesting to ...

• Why do Doctors Induce Labor?

  There are many reasons why a healthcare professional may choose to induce a woman’s labor, including because the mother wishes it or because of a medical emergency. Although it is usually a safe medical intervention, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommend against elective induced labor before ...

• What are Labor Pains?

  Labor pains in pregnancy are the pains associated with the labor process and contractions that occur to prepare the body for giving birth. The contractions are what cause the pains, and they prepare the uterus for delivery by causing the cervix to thin and soften before birth and then later ...

• What are Prenatal Tests?

  For women living in a developed country, with access to medical care, pregnancy most likely means undergoing significant prenatal testing. Prenatal tests are meant to determine if a mother is healthy and free from diseases or disorders that may affect her or the baby during pregnancy, and that the baby ...

• What is a Birth Center?

  A birth center is an option for a mother who wants a more intimate, natural labor experience than in a hospital, but with more assistance than at home. At a birth center, a healthy woman with no pre-existing medical conditions can expect a delivery without the medical interventions common ...

• What is Natural Childbirth?

  Natural childbirth is giving birth with only minimal medical intervention. It posits that women have given birth for thousands of years without pain relief, and that it is not a medical process, but rather, a natural one. Instead of offering drugs for the pain of labor, women are often trained ...

• What is a Home Birth?

  For many, the idea of childbirth conjures up images of a sterilized hospital room, with the mother attended by nurses and doctors, while friends and relatives pace the waiting room. In our modern times, hospital birth seems like the only safe option expectant mothers have for delivery. Proponents of home ...

• What is a Caesarean Section?

  A Caesarean section is a medical procedure that involves cutting the abdomen and womb in order to deliver a baby. Around 20% of babies are born through this procedure. Some women choose this procedure as a personal preference, but there are many other reasons a doctor might perform a Caesarean ...

• What are Preterm Infants?

  A preterm or premature infant is one who is born too soon. An infant is called preterm if he or she is born before 37 weeks of gestation. To be considered full-term, an infant must spend between 37 and 42 weeks in its mother's womb prior to birth ...

• What is a VBAC?

  A VBAC, or vaginal birth after cesarean, is when a mother delivers her baby vaginally after having previously delivered a baby via cesarean, or c-section. Until the late 1970s, mothers could not hope to deliver a baby vaginally after having a c-section, due to the limits of medical ...

• What is Ectopia Cordis?

  Ectopia cordis is an extremely rare congenital heart malformation that remains very difficult to treat. Occurrence is .79 in every 10,000 births. In ectopia cordis, the heart forms outside of the chest wall, so it is not protected by the skin or sternum. Other organs may also have formed ...

• What are Preemies?

  In humans, a premature infant or preemie is a child born after less than 37 weeks of gestation. The typical gestation for humans in 40 weeks, although perfectly normal babies are born anywhere between 38-42 weeks. Preemies can develop into healthy full grown adults, although they require extra care ...

• How Common is Postpartum Depression?

  Postpartum depression is caused by the drop in pregnancy hormones, which begins to occur shortly after a baby is born or a woman suffers a miscarriage. All women will have this drop in hormones, and some women experience the symptoms of depression. The American Psychiatric Association currently estimates that about ...

• What is Maternity Leave?

  Maternity leave is the time one takes slightly before and/or after the birth of a child to recover from birth and to care for the new child. People may also take maternity leave if they are adopting a child. Often, in the US, the term maternity leave is now ...

• What is Cord Blood?

  Cord blood is blood contained in the umbilical cord and placenta after birth. It is a popular substance because it is rich in stem cells, a very basic building block of the body. They can be used to treat some diseases because they have the potential to convert themselves into ...

• What is Male Post Natal Depression?

  Post natal depression in women is a widely recognized condition, but a lesser-known condition is male post natal depression. The main reason that this condition is lesser known is that men often find it difficult to talk about. Some men do not realize that they are suffering from the ...

• What is Postpartum Psychosis?

  Postpartum psychosis is a rare but serious mental stress disorder triggered within a few months after childbirth. A mother suffering from this condition may experience hallucinations, irrational thoughts, sleep deprivation or eating disorders. She may even consider killing herself or her newborn child. It is important for family members and ...