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Abdominal Pain

Abdominal pressure, pain and achiness are not unusual and can have many causes.







Amniocentesis

A prenatal test in which a sample of amniotic fluid is examined to diagnose or rule out genetic diseases or chromosome abnormalities, such as Down syndrome.







Anemia

A condition that develops when a person has a lack of healthy red blood cells, usually caused by a deficiency in iron.







Back Pain

A common pregnancy ailment often caused by weight gain and other physical changes. Some pain is normal, but severe pain is not.







Birthing Class

These can help prepare you for labor, delivery and postpartum. Childbirth classes can vary in approach and philosophy.







Breech or Fetal Position

The most common suboptimal position for a baby, in which buttocks, feet or both emerge first during delivery.







Cervical Insufficiency (Cervical Incompetence)

A condition when a woman’s cervix may widen and thin too early in the pregnancy, making miscarriage or preterm delivery more likely.







Choosing a Birthing Location

Hospital, birthing center, home birth - which location is right for you?







Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)

A prenatal diagnostic test that takes a small sample of the chorionic villi from the placental walls to diagnose or rule out several chromosomal or genetic abnormalities.







Common Cold

A short-lived illness that usually pose little risk to pregnant women, but can occasionally lead to a viral or bacterial infection.







Dizziness/Fainting

A normal pregnancy symptom caused by lower-than-average blood pressure and reduced blood flow to the brain.







Doctor Choice

Family physician, obstetrician, a maternal-fetal specialist or midwife – which healthcare provider is right for you?







Epidural

A pain killer that decreases sensation in the lower half of the body during labor and delivery, without losing total feeling or muscle movement







Exercise

Doctor-approved exercise can ease aches and pains and keep you healthy during pregnancy.







Family History of Birth Defects

Some babies are born with inherited birth defects or genetic diseases. Learn what to check for in your family's medical history.







Fatigue

Women commonly feel extreme tiredness or exhaustion during pregnancy, usually caused by rapid and substantial changes in their bodies.







Fetal Nonstress Test (NST)

A simple, noninvasive test done later in pregnancy that measures a baby’s movement, heart rate and heart rate fluctuations to gauge whether a baby is healthy or if it is under fetal stress.







Flu

A contagious respiratory illness caused by a virus. Generally not dangerous, the potential complications can be severe if left untreated.







Genetic Disorders

An overview of common medical conditions or genetic diseases that are passed on from parents to children.







Gestational Diabetes

A condition that occurs in non-diabetic women when their blood sugar is too high during pregnancy. It has few symptoms.







Gestational Hypertension

A type of high pressure develops around the 20th week of pregnancy. Although temporary, it can cause complications for mother and baby.







Group B Strep

Potentially life-threatening to newborns, it can be passed from mother to baby during labor and delivery.







Heartburn

A common pregnancy ailment characterized by an unpleasant burning sensation in the chest, caused by acid moving backward from the stomach up the esophagus.







Hemorrhoids

Approximately 30%-40% of pregnant women suffer from these uncomfortable, bulging veins that occur inside or outside the rectum.







Managing Work and Life

Pregnancy brings up many issues: how to tell your boss, negotiating maternity leave, dealing with the physical effects and more.







Migraines/Headaches

Common during pregnancy, the type, severity and cause can vary. Tension and migraine headaches are most prevalent.







Mood Swings/Depression

Mood swings are not unusual during pregnancy and are linked to sleep, stress, hormones and other factors. Depression is more serious and requires treatment.







Morning Sickness/Nausea

Nausea and vomiting are characteristic of the first trimester of pregnancy and can occur at any time of day.







Nuchal Translucency (NT) Scan

A prenatal test that measures the fluid between the skin and tissue behind a baby’s neck. Babies with more fluid than average may have a higher risk of chromosomal abnormality.







Oligohydramnios (Low Amniotic Fluid)

A condition that occurs when a woman has lower than normal amounts of amniotic fluid, which may lead to complications.







Placenta Previa

A pregnancy complication that occurs when the placenta grows in the lowest part of the uterus and covers part of or the entire opening to the cervix.







Placental Abruption

A pregnancy complication that occurs when the placenta comes away from the uterine wall, partially or almost completely, before delivery.







Polyhydramnios (High Amniotic Fluid)

A condition that occurs when a woman has higher than normal amounts of amniotic fluid, potentially indicating a problem with the baby or pregnancy.







Rh Incompatibility

A condition that occurs when a mother does not have a type of protein called Rhesus (Rh) factor in her blood (she is Rh negative) but the baby does (he or she is Rh positive).







Sex

In general, sex during pregnancy is safe, although intercourse can cause some complications.







Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

Some STDs are bacterial and others are viruses. Symptoms vary, but certain STDs can cause serious complications for mothers and babies.







Smoking

Smoking causes thousands of chemicals to enter a mother's bloodstream and directly affect her baby. Complications include miscarriage, low birth weight and stillbirth.







Triple Screen or Quad Screen Blood Test

A maternal blood test done early in pregnancy to screen for genetic disorders or neural tube defects.







Ultrasound Examination

A routine text that uses high-frequency sound waves to generate an image of a baby. Doctors use it to check the baby’s progress and spot some birth defects.







Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

A bacterial infection that occurs in the urethra, the bladder, ureters or kidneys. Left untreated, it can cause serious complications.







Vaginal Bleeding

Spotting and bleeding can be normal or can signal a serious complication, such as a miscarriage.







Vaginosis

The most common vaginal infection in women of reproductive age that occurs when the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina is off balance.







Yeast Infection

A vaginal infection caused by an overgrowth of the candida organism. Although harmless, they are often uncomfortable.