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You searched for prenatal-care
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Pregnancy
Although pregnancy can be an exciting time for future parents, it can also cause anxiety and raise concerns. While parents-to-be can feel reassured in knowing that most babies are born healthy, they may still want additional information about the...
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Pregnancy
As soon as most women have a positive home pregnancy test, they call their doctor to set up their first prenatal visit. This doctor is usually the same OB/GYN who has provided their well-woman care, but your options don’t end with your OB/GYN to...
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Pregnancy
Did you know that about one in every 33 babies is born with a birth defect? Although not all birth defects are preventable, a woman can take steps to increase her chances of having a healthy baby. One of these steps for all women of childbearing...
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Pregnancy
Before the pandemic, telemedicine was something that wasn’t used that often in the American healthcare system. All that changed in March 2020, however, when clinics everywhere were left figuring out how to deliver care safely to their patients....
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Pregnancy
Prenatal visits are important for many reasons: to make sure your baby is growing normally, to screen for any concerning symptoms, and to provide education about your pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period. There is a lot to cover during...
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Pregnancy
Opioids include prescription medications like oxycodone, morphine, and fentanyl. While these may be prescribed for treating problems like kidney stones or for recovery after surgery, in general the goal is to use these drugs for a brief period of...
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Pregnancy
Calcium is an essential mineral for pregnant women. As your baby develops, your body will supply between 50 and 330 mg of calcium every day to the fetus to help develop strong bones and teeth. That calcium will come from your own internal stores...
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Pregnancy
If you just found out you are pregnant and plan to see an obstetrician for your pregnancy and delivery (as opposed to other providers), you may be wondering how best to select the doctor who will be involved in this very important time in your...
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Pregnancy
Your heart is working overtime during pregnancy, supporting healthy circulation for you and your baby, so it makes good sense to take a few precautions to protect your heart health. At its most basic level, your heart is a pump that responds to the...
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Pregnancy
During amniocentesis, your healthcare provider takes a sample of your amniotic fluid to gather information about the health of your baby. The sample is removed using a fine needle and with the assistance of ultrasound. An amniocentesis can help...
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Pregnancy
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Pregnancy
Most people know that being exposed to lead is not healthy, but understanding how lead exposure affects pregnancy and developing babies might not be as straightforward. Since lead can easily cross the placenta into a growing baby’s bloodstream, and...
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Pregnancy
In the past, some healthcare professionals frowned upon pregnant women exercising, especially after the second trimester. But research is showing just how important exercise can be. One recent study has suggested that exercise could even boost a...
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Pregnancy
Amniocentesis is a diagnostic procedure that is used before birth to look for genetic problems and birth defects in the developing fetus. During the procedure, your doctor removes a small amount of amniotic fluid from the uterus using a long...
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Pregnancy
The Big Day is coming, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by everything you want to take care of before your baby is born. There are a few decisions that honestly can wait until you meet your little one: it’s not crucial you’ve got the colors of...
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Pregnancy
Domestic violence, also known as intimate partner violence, is when a person subjects their partner to a pattern of threatening or controlling behavior. This may include emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. Sadly, 1 in 3 women in the United States...
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Pregnancy
Cell-free fetal DNA (cfDNA) screening is one of the newest genetic tests on the market. It involves drawing a pregnant woman’s blood after 10 weeks gestation to detect fetal blood cells. The purpose is to screen for three chromosomal abnormalities:...
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Pregnancy
In today’s world, more women are choosing to delay childbearing until after their education is complete and their careers have been established. And we’ve all seen those stories in the media about women having babies even as late as in their...
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Pregnancy
While the common cold is always annoying, it is even more of a bother to catch one while pregnant! Pregnant women are more susceptible to infections because of their decreased immune system, so this can make colds happen more often and last longer....
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Pregnancy
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Pregnancy
If you are planning to get pregnant, have you talked to your obstetrician or midwife yet? Or do you think you don’t need to see an obstetrics provider until you see two lines on a pregnancy test? In fact, getting a clean bill of health before you...
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Pregnancy
It seems that at a woman’s first prenatal visit she is screened for everything possible—but lead testing isn’t often brought up. With the recent media coverage that lead-contaminated water has received, should it be? The simple answer is that there...
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Pregnancy
It’s normal for your system to seem a little off during pregnancy, and about half of all moms-to-be complain of constipation at some point. You might be wondering what might be causing this very common, yet annoying, symptom. Usually a few...
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Pregnancy
Pregnancy causes profound changes in your body, including ones that affect your heart as your body works to produce and supply enough blood to keep your developing baby healthy. During the first 5-8 weeks of pregnancy, the total amount of blood in...
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Pregnancy
Do yoga exercises promote a healthier, more relaxed pregnancy? Although the jury is still out with a definitive answer, recent research indicates that yoga has multiple benefits for pregnant women. In one recent study, practicing yoga was...
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Pregnancy
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Pregnancy
Many women leave their OB/GYN’s office with a list of do’s and don’ts after their first prenatal visit. One common thing pregnant women are told to avoid eating is cold cuts. But why? The main concern with cold cuts in pregnancy is that they can...
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Pregnancy
Almost every pregnant woman has the same fear: that their bag of water will break in some public place and leave a huge, embarrassing trail of fluid for all to see. Luckily that isn’t the case for many, but here’s a look at what amniotic fluid is...
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Pregnancy
Pregnancy changes all parts of a woman’s body, and the skin is no exception! Many of these conditions are related to the hormonal changes associated with pregnancy, and while some are just a nuisance, a few of these can actually make your pregnancy...
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Pregnancy
A seizure is when brain activity becomes abnormal and can cause abnormal movements, awareness, or emotional states. Epilepsy, which is only one type of seizure disorder, tends to be the most well-known. This occurs when there is no known cause for...
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Pregnancy
Ideally, all women who are planning for pregnancy should have a preconception check-up to make sure they are in good health and have all the information they need to get their pregnancy off to a good start. However, if that is not possible, it is...
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Pregnancy
When you go to a hospital or birth center when you are in labor, your baby’s heart rate can be monitored to make sure he or she is tolerating the labor appropriately. This is a longer version of when your doctor or midwife checks on your baby’s...
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Pregnancy
The practice of storing cord blood dates back decades but the idea of banking placental tissue is relatively new, and has some important differences when compared with storing cord blood. The placenta is a highly specialized organ that develops...
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Pregnancy
Many women report uncomfortable and unpleasant first trimester symptoms, so it can be a wonderful relief to enter the second trimester and realize that many of the worst symptoms are fading. Oftentimes, women in the second trimester report feeling...
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Pregnancy
Pickles and ice cream. Chicken nuggets dipped in chocolate syrup. Mashed potatoes slathered in butter and Tabasco sauce. And plain old dirt. Pregnancy cravings can be funny, a little gross sounding, or just plain weird, but you might wonder: is...
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Pregnancy
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Pregnancy
Smoking cigarettes and pregnancy do not mix. While most expectant mothers know this, it can still be hard to quit. The good news is that many women find being pregnant is the final motivator they need to kick the habit. In fact, almost half of...
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Pregnancy
The term “fetal kick counts” refers to a pregnant woman consciously monitoring her baby’s movements, usually over a specific period of time, to determine whether or not her baby is moving normally or not. This is done to reassure the mother and her...
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Pregnancy
While the second trimester probably left you energized and nausea-free, for many women, the last trimester can herald the return of a few unwanted pregnancy symptoms. Some women experience all of these, while others only notice one or two. And if...
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Pregnancy
Appropriate exercise provides numerous benefits to pregnant women and their developing babies. Women who exercise in the first and second trimester reported that they felt better in the third trimester. However, not all exercise is equally healthy...
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Pregnancy
At some point, many pregnant parents-to-be will hear about the potential benefits of banking cord blood. This service is offered through public cord blood banks, where parents can donate cord blood anonymously for general use, or they can bank...
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Pregnancy
Both your period and pregnancy cause fluctuations in hormones. Because both events can bring on their own unique set of challenges, it’s easy to wonder if you can expect to get your period—or something like it—while you’re pregnant. About 25-30...
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Pregnancy
As soon as some women have a positive pregnancy test, they experience every symptom in the book. Others don’t feel a single twinge and wonder if something is wrong. Here’s a breakdown of what can be normal to experience, but remember: not having...
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Pregnancy
Getting enough calcium during pregnancy is important to support both you and your baby. Your body always needs calcium, but many moms don’t realize that calcium requirements go up significantly during pregnancy, when calcium is used to help build...
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Pregnancy
During your first trimester of pregnancy, your hormones might seem like they’re out of control. Levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), estrogen, and progesterone are rising, which can sometimes lead to increased nausea and morning sickness....
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Pregnancy
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Pregnancy
Almost every pregnant woman notices swelling at some point in her pregnancy, whether it is in her feet, legs, hands, or face. It’s important to know that while most of the time this swelling is not a problem, there are a few signs you should not...
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Pregnancy
During pregnancy, many women focus on their health and nutrition like never before, and rightly so: you want to feed your baby the very best nutrients possible! However, there are some foods you stay away from as they can carry an increased risk to...
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Pregnancy
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Pregnancy
Thanks to your growing baby’s need for calcium and other minerals, pregnancy and breastfeeding can place some pretty heavy demands on a mom’s bones — not to mention all the other changes going on in your body during pregnancy. Here are five steps...
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Pregnancy
With the COVID pandemic continuing and flu season starting, it’s the perfect time to brush up on how to best support your immune system in pregnancy. Pregnancy is a time when your immune system is actually somewhat suppressed, so these tips are...
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Pregnancy
Having just finished Emily Oster’s new book Expecting Better, I’m happy to share my thoughts. Her book has stimulated a national conversation about safe pregnancies. I think it’s a good thing anytime a book comes out that forces us to step back and...
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Pregnancy
Preeclampsia is a complication of pregnancy that is diagnosed based on having high blood pressure along with certain abnormal lab tests or symptoms such as headaches, vision changes, or abdominal pain. With preeclampsia complicating 5 to 8 percent...
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Pregnancy
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a disease that affects a person’s lungs, digestive system, and reproductive systems. It can lead to thickened secretions, which can result in recurrent lung infections, digestive issues, and infertility. CF is genetic, which...
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Pregnancy
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Pregnancy
Pregnant moms have been told for years to take extra calcium to protect their bones. Now, research is showing that it’s also important to get enough fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin D and vitamin K, not only for their effect on calcium metabolism...
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Pregnancy
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Pregnancy
There are few things as exciting for an expectant parent as seeing the first ultrasound images of their developing baby. Ultrasound is a simple and safe technology that uses sound waves to visualize the baby in the uterus. Ultrasounds are routinely...
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Pregnancy
When you learn you are expecting, you’re naturally going to have many questions. Besides the gender of your baby, one of the most common is: “When is the baby due?” Assigning a due date gives you something to look forward to and plan for, but this...
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Pregnancy
With the legalization of marijuana in more and more states, some worry this will create the perception that marijuana is a safe drug. And for some pregnant women who have smoked marijuana prior to becoming pregnant, the concern is they will...
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Pregnancy
With up to 75 percent of all pregnant women experiencing back pain at some point in their pregnancy, many want to understand why this happens and how to make it better. Back pain can leave you sore, short on sleep, and unable to enjoy your normal...
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Pregnancy
As of 2015 in the United States, about 9.5 percent of all babies are born preterm, meaning they were born at less than 37 weeks gestation. We know that being born preterm can lead to multiple complications for a new baby, such as problems with...
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Pregnancy
The question of Team Pink or Team Blue is one that expectant parents often get from family, friends, and every curious stranger. If you are thinking of becoming pregnant and are wondering when you might be able to know for sure, read on. But the...
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Pregnancy
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Pregnancy
A cervical exam is when your doctor or midwife inserts two fingers into your vagina to assess your cervix. This can be done at a prenatal visit if you are having contractions or are close to your due date, or when you are in labor to see how your...
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Pregnancy
When it comes to pregnancy, women tend to fall into one of two groups: those who will only follow their doctor’s recommendations and are wary of trying anything deemed “alternative” for fear of harming their babies, and those who would prefer...
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Pregnancy
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Pregnancy
Approximately 35 percent of adult Americans, or 1 in 3 people, are now obese. Obesity is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above. While we know many complications associated with obesity, being pregnant and obese has its own...
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Pregnancy
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Pregnancy
For many people, a cup of coffee or tea in the morning is a must-have to get going. In fact, as many as 90 percent of the people in the world use caffeine in one form or another, and in the United States 80 percent of adults consume caffeine every...
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Pregnancy
Once you get a positive pregnancy test, you will probably start wondering how your new baby is going to affect all the aspects of your life. For women who work outside the home, many start to think about when to tell their bosses they are pregnant...
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Pregnancy
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Pregnancy
Welcome to Week 3! It might not feel like much of anything has changed so far—perhaps the only sign you’re pregnant at all is a positive pregnancy test. But rest assured: amazing things are happening. Your baby is already developing and is...