Pregnancy Lounge

Tag: pregnant

Hemoglobin Test

A protein found in red blood cells is called hemoglobin. By measuring your hemoglobin level during pregnancy, your doctor can determine whether you have anemia.

If you do become anemic, your doctor will advise you about changes in your diet and may recommend an iron supplement.

This test is normally done during your first prenatal visit, along with other lab work, but it may be done more often if you are found to be anemic.

More Tests

—Amniocentesis
—Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)
—Contraction Stress test (CST)
—Glucose Tolerance Testing
—MSAFPT Test
—Non-Stress (NST) Test
—Rh Factor
—Triple Screen Test
—Ultrasound

January 7, 2012
Glucose Tolerance Test

This “Glucose Tolerance Test” is performed routinely to determine whether you have gestational diabetes.

Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that can develop in a pregnant woman who didn’t have diabetes before pregnancy. It is caused by changes in a pregnant woman’s metabolism and hormone production.

The risk of gestational diabetes is higher in women over 30, who have a family history of diabetes, or who are obese.

A glucose tolerance test is usually done between the 24th and 28th weeks of pregnancy. You will be asked to drink a glucose solution and after an hour, blood is drawn and the glucose level is checked. About 15 percent of pregnant women who are given a glucose tolerance test will have abnormal levels and a second test is done.

More Prenatal Tests

—Amniocentesis
—Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)
—Contraction Stress test (CST)
—Hemoglobin Test
—MSAFPT Test
—Non-Stress (NST) Test
—Rh Factor
—Triple Screen Test
—Ultrasound

January 7, 2012
Contraction Stress Test

The “Contraction Stress Test” is another prenatal test used to help evaluate the condition of your baby and is often done when a non-stress test is non-reactive, or in some high-risk pregnancies to check whether the blood flow to the baby is adequate.

Just like the non-stress test, the contraction stress test is done during the third trimester.

The CST measures your baby’s heart rate in response to contractions of your uterus. The difference is that your doctor will be looking at the heart rate during uterine contractions, rather than in response to movements.

More Tests

—Amniocentesis
—Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)
—Glucose Tolerance Testing
—Hemoglobin Test
—MSAFPT Test
—Non-Stress (NST) Test
—Rh Factor
—Triple Screen Test
—Ultrasound

January 7, 2012
Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)

Chorionic villus sampling is usually done early in pregnancy between the 9th and 13th week. This is a procedure that involves removing a sample of chorionic villi cells from the placenta at the point where it attaches to the uterine wall.

In the more common trans-cervical method, ultrasound is used to guide a thin catheter through your cervix to the placenta. A small amount of chorionic villi cells are gently suctioned into the catheter. The trans-abdominal method is similar to amniocentesis and depends on ultrasound guidance. A long, thin needle is inserted through your abdomen into the placenta, where a small sample is withdrawn.

CVS is done for many reasons, but the main reason is for early detection of chromosome abnormalities, such as Down syndrome and other genetic disorders. CVS cannot diagnose neural tube defects because it doesn’t sample any amniotic fluid for testing levels of AFP.

The risk of a pregnancy ending in miscarriage are higher with CVS (one in 100) than with amniocentesis. Recent studies suggesting an association between CVS and limb malformation have made some doctors hesitant to offer this procedure.

Since CVS provides a larger sample of cells than amniocentesis, results take a little less time to obtain. Some results may be possible within a day or two.

More Prenatal Tests

—Amniocentesis
—Contraction Stress test (CST)
—Glucose Tolerance Testing
—Hemoglobin Test
—MSAFPT Test
—Non-Stress (NST) Test
—Rh Factor
—Triple Screen Test
—Ultrasound

January 7, 2012
Amniocentesis

The amniocentesis test is a test in which a needle is used to remove a sample of fluid from the amniotic sac surrounding your baby. The amniotic fluid, which contains cell shed by your baby, is then studied in a lab for analysis. If done for chromosome analysis, amniocentesis is usually performed after the 16th week of pregnancy. If a woman needs to give birth early for some medical reason, amniocentesis might be done shortly before delivery to asses fetal lung maturity.

In the first half of your pregnancy, your doctor may offer amniocentesis if your baby is suspected to be at increased risk for chromosome abnormalities, inherited disorders or neural tube defects. A chromosome analysis will also establish the gender of your baby (but amniocentesis is not offered for gender determination along.)

Amniocentesis is considered to be a relatively safe procedure. The risk of miscarriage caused by amniocentesis ranges from one in 200 to one in 400. In the rare instances tat amniocentesis causes a miscarriage, it is usually because an infection develops in your uterus, the water breaks or labor is induced prematurely. It is not uncommon for women to experience mild complications such as cramping or water leakage or discomfort around the needle site.

The procedure takes about 45 minutes. Your abdomen is cleansed with antiseptic. Some doctors offer a local anesthetic, which can be injected near the site to numb your abdomen. A long, hollow needle is placed through your abdominal wall and into your uterus. A small sample of fluid is withdrawn. Usually the results are back within a few days, although some require up to a week to obtain.

More Prenatal Tests

—Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)
—Contraction Stress test (CST)
—Glucose Tolerance Testing
—Hemoglobin Test
—MSAFPT Test
—Non-Stress (NST) Test
—Rh Factor
—Triple Screen Test
—Ultrasound

January 7, 2012
Prenatal Tests

The use of prenatal tests has become available since the 1980s and it can provide valuable information about the health of your baby.

Prenatal testing can be helpful in determining any special care your baby may require during pregnancy and after he or she is born.

Knowing about birth defects before your baby is born can also help you and your partner prepare for any challenges ahead.

As you consider which prenatal tests are appropriate for you, think about the risks and benefits of each.

Types of Prenatal Tests

—Amniocentesis
—Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)
—Contraction Stress test (CST)
—Glucose Tolerance Testing
—Hemoglobin Test
—MSAFPT Test
—Non-Stress (NST) Test
—Rh Factor
—Triple Screen Test
—Ultrasound

January 7, 2012
Morning Sickness Remedies

Diet is the best tool to minimize morning sickness discomfort and make it more bearable. Sometimes you may reduce nausea and vomiting by making changes in your diet and eating habits.

Keep a few simple snacks by your bed, such as soda crackers, graham crackers, granola bars, rice cakes, dry cereal or pretzels. Eating carbohydrate-rich foods and foods high in protein, especially right before you get up in the morning, may help combat nausea. Nibble a few crackers and then rest for 20- 30 minutes before getting out of bed. Snacking on crackers may also help you feel better if you wake up feeling nauseated in the middle of the night.

Due to increased estrogen levels, pregnant women are particularly sensitive to smells. Try to avoid the sight, smell, and taste of foods that bother you and make you queasy. Many pregnant women want to avoid any activity that has to do with food when they are feeling sick, including cooking meals and grocery shopping. Have your partner prepare meals and shop for food, when possible. Also, when cooking (or when your partner is cooking), make sure to keep windows open and have a fan on to minimize food odors that might trigger nausea.

The nausea experienced during pregnancy is one of the few that is relieved by having food in the stomach. Eat before nausea strikes, because food will be easier to get down and that way, you may be able to prevent an attack. Eat small, frequent meals or snacks throughout the day (as often as every 1-2 hours if necessary), so that your stomach is never empty, since an empty stomach tends to make morning sickness worse. Low blood sugar levels, resulting from long stretches between meals, can trigger nausea, as can eating too much at one meal. Large meals are to be avoided.

Women with a higher intake of fat may be more likely to suffer morning sickness than those with less saturated fat. Limit or eliminate fatty, greasy and fried foods, which take longer to digest, particularly during pregnancy when your stomach takes longer to empty. Try to avoid spicy foods which can irritate your stomach and digestive system. Stick to good old bland foods.

It’s best to avoid fluids at meal time. Drink small amounts of fluids primarily in between meals instead. Don’t drink so much at once that your stomach feels full, as that will make you less hungry for food, although make sure you get plenty of water throughout the day to keep yourself well-hydrated, especially if you are vomiting. Sometimes drinks at cold temperatures help curb nausea better than hot drinks. Fruit juices, Gatorade and popsicles are helpful, as well as sucking on ice chips (an ice pack on your forehead might even help!) Keep caffeine intake to a minimum as it can make you feel worse, contribute to dehydration and further irritate nausea.

Many pregnant women crave sour or bitter tastes like lemon, which may have a therapeutic effect and can calm your system. Drinking lemonade or lemon water, smelling lemons, or just a small taste of lemon will normally calm an upset stomach. You can put slices of lemon in your iced tea, sparkling water or even simply suck on a lemon wedge.

Drinking decaffeinated herbal teas (be careful, some herbal teas may be harmful during pregnancy) may help relieve morning sickness. Teas like peppermint, mint, chamomile, red raspberry leaf and ginger can be calming in reasonable and small doses. Ginger is thought to settle the stomach and help relieve queasiness. Ginger ale (made with real ginger), ginger tea (grated fresh into hot water), ginger candies, dried ginger and ginger cookies may all help relieve nausea. Powdered ginger root capsules are another option. It is always advisable to speak to your doctor or midwife first before taking any herbs.

Sometimes, iron can be hard on your digestive system and become bothersome during pregnancy. Avoid extra iron supplements, especially in your first trimester, unless you are anemic. If you think your morning sickness may be related to your prenatal vitamins, talk to your doctor or midwife. They may switch you to a prenatal vitamin with a lower dose of iron for the first trimester. You might find that taking your prenatal vitamins later in the day, rather than in the morning may help. Also, taking them with food, possibly with dinner may be best, if they cause your stomach to be upset. Never stop taking your prenatal vitamin supplement, unless you’re advised by your doctor to do so.

Vitamin B6 eases nausea in some women and can be helpful in low doses. Increase vitamin B6 in your diet by eating whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes. Talk to your doctor or midwife about possibly taking a vitamin B6 supplement, because he or she can tell you how much to take and whether or not the amount in your prenatal vitamin should count as one of the doses. (The amount of vitamin B6 in supplements varies by brand.) Sometimes a combination of Vitamin B6 and Unisom are even more helpful in easing morning sickness. Never take any extra vitamin supplement without your doctor’s approval.

More Articles on Morning Sickness

—Morning Sickness
—Morning Sickness Help
—Diet and Morning Sickness
—Morning Sickness Alternatives

January 7, 2012
Morning Sickness: Acupressure and Acupressure

Avoid taking medications for morning sickness if you possibly can to avoid any risk or danger to your baby. Non-food, alternative medicine approaches that may help include acupressure wristbands and acupuncture are what some women use to relief their discomfort.

Acupuncture may be helpful in relieving nausea. The acupuncture point is on the inside of the forearm, two thumbs up from the inside of the wrist crease between the two tendons. If you are considering acupuncture, talk to your doctor or midwife first and seek an acupuncturist that has been specially trained to work with pregnant women.

Acupressure wristbands are soft cotton bands with a plastic bead, which were designed for sea sickness and travel sickness. They provide pressure, without any needles. They have helped many pregnant women through morning sickness (although some studies suggests that it may be largely a placebo effect, opinions are mixed). The plastic bead presses on an acupressure point on the underside of your wrist and works on a similar principal as acupuncture, reducing nausea. They are simple, inexpensive and are sold at many drug, health and boating stores.

Morning sickness begins during the first trimester, when the your baby is most vulnerable to developing birth defects. Therefore, medications are best avoided during that time unless the benefit outweighs any possible risk to the baby. For the most severe, persistent nausea and vomiting that is causing dehydration or weight loss (hyperemesis gravidarum), your doctor or midwife may prescribe an anti-nausea medication for you that is not known to cause any risk to your unborn baby.

Since the disaster of Thalidomide in the 1950s and 60s, the use of medical treatments have been commonly avoided when possible, out of concern about the medications’ safety. Thalidomide was used by some pregnant women in over 50 countries, mainly Europe and Canada (but not in the US) to treat morning sickness and was banned worldwide, because women who took the drug in early pregnancy gave birth to children with tragic birth defects. According to the March of Dimes, more than 10,000 children around the world were born with major malformations, many missing arms and legs and most not surviving past their first year. Thalidomide was not tested for effects on unborn babies before it was prescribed to pregnant women. The more reassuring news is that the FDA now requires companies to test drugs for harmful effects on unborn babies before putting them on the market.

No drugs are currently FDA-approved for the treatment of morning sickness. However, conventional treatment for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy includes medications such as Dramamine, Unisom, Benadryl, Tigan, Zofran, Phenergan, Anergan, Reglan, Prednisone, Zantac, Tagamet, Pepcid, Prevacid and sometimes a combination of Unisom and vitamin B6. DO NOT take motion-sickness or nausea medications of any kind without your doctor’s okay.

More Articles on Morning Sickness

—Morning Sickness
—Morning Sickness Help
—Morning Sickness Remedies
—Diet and Morning Sickness

January 7, 2012
Morning Sickness Diet

Women with a higher intake of fat may be more likely to suffer morning sickness than those with less saturated fat. Limit or eliminate fatty, greasy and fried foods, which take longer to digest, particularly during pregnancy when your stomach takes longer to empty. Try to avoid spicy foods which can irritate your stomach and digestive system. Stick to good old bland foods.

It’s best to avoid fluids at meal time. Drink small amounts of fluids primarily in between meals instead. Don’t drink so much at once that your stomach feels full, as that will make you less hungry for food, although make sure you get plenty of water throughout the day to keep yourself well-hydrated, especially if you are vomiting. Sometimes drinks at cold temperatures help curb nausea better than hot drinks. Fruit juices, Gatorade and popsicles are helpful, as well as sucking on ice chips (an ice pack on your forehead might even help!) Keep caffeine intake to a minimum as it can make you feel worse, contribute to dehydration and further irritate nausea.

Many pregnant women crave sour or bitter tastes like lemon, which may have a therapeutic effect and can calm your system. Drinking lemonade or lemon water, smelling lemons, or just a small taste of lemon will normally calm an upset stomach. You can put slices of lemon in your iced tea, sparkling water or even simply suck on a lemon wedge.

Drinking decaffeinated herbal teas (be careful, some herbal teas may be harmful during pregnancy) may help relieve morning sickness. Teas like peppermint, mint, chamomile, red raspberry leaf and ginger can be calming in reasonable and small doses. Ginger is thought to settle the stomach and help relieve queasiness. Ginger ale (made with real ginger), ginger tea (grated fresh into hot water), ginger candies, dried ginger and ginger cookies may all help relieve nausea. Powdered ginger root capsules are another option. It is always advisable to speak to your doctor or midwife first before taking any herbs.

Sometimes, iron can be hard on your digestive system and become bothersome during pregnancy. Avoid extra iron supplements, especially in your first trimester, unless you are anemic. If you think your morning sickness may be related to your prenatal vitamins, talk to your doctor or midwife. They may switch you to a prenatal vitamin with a lower dose of iron for the first trimester. You might find that taking your prenatal vitamins later in the day, rather than in the morning may help. Also, taking them with food, possibly with dinner may be best, if they cause your stomach to be upset. Never stop taking your prenatal vitamin supplement, unless you’re advised by your doctor to do so.

Vitamin B6 eases nausea in some women and can be helpful in low doses. Increase vitamin B6 in your diet by eating whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes. Talk to your doctor or midwife about possibly taking a vitamin B6 supplement, because he or she can tell you how much to take and whether or not the amount in your prenatal vitamin should count as one of the doses. (The amount of vitamin B6 in supplements varies by brand.) Sometimes a combination of Vitamin B6 and Unisom are even more helpful in easing morning sickness. Never take any extra vitamin supplement without your doctor’s approval.

More Articles on Morning Sickness

—Morning Sickness
—Morning Sickness Remedies
—Morning Sickness Help
—Morning Sickness Alternatives

January 7, 2012
Morning Sickness Help

Morning sickness is usually connected to the sight, taste and smell of certain foods and other irritants such as cigarette smoke. It’s best to avoid strong odors, by keeping rooms well-ventilated and staying clear of second-hand smoke. Surround yourself with pleasant scents. It may help to keep air freshener handy to combat unpleasant odors. Certain toothpastes can increase queasiness, so try and find one that you can handle.

Fatigue tends to aggravate morning sickness and makes it worse. Rest as much as possible and take cat naps during the day, if you can. Try to lie down when nausea strikes and make sure you’re getting plenty of sleep. Rushing tends to aggravate nausea. Don’t get out of bed quickly, instead stand up slowly and keep morning activities slow and calm.

Some researchers theorize that stress and emotions may also play a role in morning sickness. Try to minimize stress as much as possible, by giving yourself time to relax. Watching a movie, visiting with a friend, talking to another mom-to-be are all good stress-relievers.

Other things you can try include: medications, acupressure, acupuncture and dietary strategies.

More Articles on Morning Sickness

—Morning Sickness
—Morning Sickness Remedies
—Diet and Morning Sickness
—Morning Sickness Alternatives

January 7, 2012
Morning Sickness
Nausea and morning sickness is common in early pregnancy, typically beginning about 3-4 weeks after conception and diminishing later in pregnancy, usually by the start of the second trimester. Some women continue to experience morning sickness well into their second trimester and even beyond. Despite its common name, morning sickness can occur at any time of the day, although it tends to be the worst early in the day.

Morning sickness has long been believed to be a sign of a healthy pregnancy and is linked to a lower miscarriage rate. There is some evidence that pregnancies affected by morning sickness do better than pregnancies in which there is no nausea at all. As you?re hunched over the toilet bowl, you can cling to that knowledge and maybe it will make you feel a little better.

The cause of the nausea and vomiting during pregnancy remains unknown, although it appears to be related to the production of pregnancy hormones, particularly HCG (human chorionic gonadotrophin) and also high levels of estrogen. Other possible causes include fluctuations in blood pressure, rapid lowering of blood sugar levels, carrying multiple babies, emotional stress, an enhanced sense of smell, excess acid in the stomach and a high-fat diet.

In most cases, morning sickness won?t harm you or your unborn baby. However, morning sickness can become more of a problem if you can’t keep any food or fluids down and begin to lose a lot of weight. Should your vomiting become severe, you should notify your doctor or midwife if you are unable to keep anything down for 24 hours. This degree of vomiting may require IV hydration. The most severe morning sickness is called hyperemesis gravidarum, which sometimes requires hospitalization.

Women that experience morning sickness are likely very interested in finding ways to cope with it and minimize the nausea. There is no single guaranteed remedy for morning sickness, but there are a few things you can try.

More Articles on Morning Sickness
January 7, 2012
Adoption Options

There are technically three basic adoption options for birthmothers to choose from: confidential (or closed) adoption, mediated (or semi-open) adoption and fully disclosed (or open) adoption. These options are categorized by the different degrees of openness achieved, as well as the amount of information exchanged between the birthparents and the adoptive parents. Many birthmothers like the freedom of being able to choose one of these adoption options because it gives them more flexibility and control over their situation. The decision is completely the birthmother’s to make, depending on which option she is the most comfortable with. No matter which option the birthmother chooses, it’s important to remember that all varieties of adoption- whether closed, semi-open or open- are permanent.

Closed Adoption

A closed adoption refers to a confidential adoption process where the identities of the birthparents and the adoptive parents may not be shared. No identifying information such as names, addresses or phone numbers is exchanged between families, but limited non-identifying information such as physical characteristics and medical history may be provided to both parties. There is no contact between the birthparents and the adoptive parents before or after placement and no on-going information of the child is shared. In a closed adoption, the birthmother generally doesn’t choose the adoptive parents and relies on the experience of the adoption professional to select the best adoptive parents.

Semi-open Adoption

A semi-open adoption refers to an adoption process where some limited identifying information may be shared between the birthparents and the adoptive parents, such as first names, possibly pictures and letters following the birth and sometimes gifts. Information is usually shared through a mediator (adoption agency personnel or attorney) rather than direct contact between the two parties. Sometimes, birthparents and adoptive parents may meet face-to-face, usually before the delivery or at the hospital. There is no direct contact after placement. Semi-open adoption makes it possible for the birthmother to play an active role in choosing the adoptive parents.

Open Adoption

An open adoption refers to an adoption process where full disclosure of identifying information between the birthparents and the adoptive parents are shared and there are no limits placed on how much can be exchanged, as long as it is mutually agreed upon. In open adoption, the birthmother can select the adoptive parents from a group of screened families. Many times, the two parties have direct contact and develop a trusting relationship. The birthparents and adoptive parents may communicate with each other by telephone calls, letters and are often encouraged to meet in person. On-going contact may occur after placement including letters, photographs, e-mails, phone calls and sometimes even actual visits. Adoption professionals generally moderate the degree of openness between the two parties, based upon their mutual wishes and what works for them. The level of openness should be decided on a case-by-case basis and the birthparents need to understand that both parties must agree on the level of on-going communication between them post-placement, although the agreement isn’t legally binding.

January 7, 2012