Pregnancy and Birthing

AshaLynn asked:


I’m going tomorrow to get a pregnancy test and I was wondering how they do it. Is it a blood test? And also, how long does it take for them to get the results? Thanks!
If all they do is a urine test how are they any more effective than me taking a test at home?

Derrick

patty0317 asked:


I’m in the first trimester of my 3rd pregnancy (my children are 9 and 3). I didn’t really exercise through those pregnancies, but would like to keep active during this one. Anything you have to share is appreciated!
Well, thanks for the advice everyone! There are so many good answers, that I think I’m going to have to let it go to a vote.
A couple of notes after reading all of the answers:
1) There are a lot of sex-crazed individuals on Yahoo Answers…while that won’t be something I restrict, I don’t know that I’ll count it as my “exercise”, but thanks anyway.
2) Also, someone commented that I was wanting to exercise so I wouldn’t lose my figure— no actually, this being my 3rd I know what happens and I’m not going for rock hard abs (ha, that’s a joke, really). I just want to stay HEALTHY and give myself the best shot at a good pregnancy and labor and delivery.

Thanks again for all of the advice!!

Shirley

Apurva Shree asked:


Pregnancy brings with it a lot of anxiety for an expectant mother especially pregnancy facts. This anxiety is mostly the result of curiosity over pregnancy related problems. Curiosity kills goes the saying. This stands true, especially in the context of pregnancy.

Pregnancy Counsel

There is no dearth of counsel during the pregnancy period of a woman life. A woman is flooded with a barrage of pregnancy advice with the first symptoms of pregnancy. These bits of advice are helpful, no doubt, but at times they also add to the confusion of a pregnant woman. Since one cannot make a distinction in a professional and amateur pregnancy advice, it is not advisable to act upon any of them without consulting your doctor.

Courtesy demands that one has to lend an ear to friendly counsel. But following pregnancy advice or not is left to ones discretion. However, at times, one may have to turn them down bluntly as well, if the counsel becomes too overbearing. One tried and tested formula to rein such counsel is to tell your well wishers that you are following the advice of your doctor, whom you trust the most.

Know The Facts Of Pregnancy

A few questions about pregnancy that are uppermost in the mind of an average woman are given below. Read the answers to know pregnancy facts and realities.

Pregnancy is always painful: Yes, pain is inherent to childbirth. However, as far as its intensity is concerned, it is relative. It can be more painful for some and less for others. There are certain factors that determine labor pain like, the health and capacity in a woman to resist pain.

Healthy pregnancy women give birth to healthy babies: While in most cases this is a fact, at times a healthy mother might not be able to deliver a healthy baby too, like if it is born prematurely due to sudden high blood pressure.

Pregnant women should eat for two: Pregnant women are often told that they must eat for two. However this is not true. A pregnant woman has to increase her calorie intake by just another 100 calories every month. That is more than enough to provide nutrition to the growing fetus in the womb.

Pregnant women should not do any exercise: Doctors today ensure that pregnant women know the benefits of pregnancy exercises. Often, the fear of gaining excess weight keeps haunting pregnant women. To avoid gaining excess weight, pregnant women do strenuous exercises too. However here, it is important to note that while pregnancy exercises like swimming and yoga are good during the pregnancy period, strenuous exercises like weight lifting a total no-no.

Motherhood is a cherished dream, every woman longs to experience all her life. Emotional stress and mood swings during pregnancy are part of a natural process. Rather than getting unduly worried about trivial issues, a pregnant women should learn more about pregnancy facts and enjoy the experience of transformation from a woman to mother.



Francisco

marsh asked:


Just curious:)

My first pregnancy wasn’t too bad. My biggest complaint is that I was tired all day, every day. I gained a total of 35 lbs. I didn’t have any complications.. I had the epidural & I had a vaginal delivery.

I am now 6 months pregnant.. I look like I did when I was 8 months pregnant w/ my son.. I am gaining weight much quicker. I am waddling like a duck already. I have cramps, aches & back pains. I have 3 months to go.. hopefully the delivery goes smoothly.

Mayra

Adrian Adams asked:


Teenagers have different health needs than children and adults, but they are not always aware of what makes a good health decision. The issue is further complicated by changing moods and temperaments, which could leave your steak-loving teen declaring they are now a vegetarian at any time. Fortunately, parents can take steps to help their teen stay healthy.

Physical Health

The physical health needs of a teenager are different from both younger children and adults. Between physical changes, hormonal changes, and lifestyle changes, teenagers encounter a variety of influences that have bearing on their physical health. The following can help you ensure that your teen stays physically healthy:

Discuss sexual health. Granted, this is a difficult topic for any parent to discuss with their child, but it is of vital importance. According to statistics, sexually active teens are more likely to drop out of school, as well as being more likely to use drugs and alcohol. They also face the possibility of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, some of which are treatable but not curable. Discuss abstinence, condom and birth control use, and sexually transmitted diseases with your teen. Don’t leave it to the health teacher to explain things or you run the risk of your teen getting all of their knowledge from their friends.

Help with food choices. Most teens do not get enough calcium or iron, but they get too much fat and sugar. Their food choices not only affect them now, but they can lead to high blood pressure, diabetes, anemia and osteoporosis later. Make sure you have healthy food choices, like fruit for snacks, available in the home. While talking to them about future risks can help them choose wisely, you will get more results if you show them how healthy choices will help them now. For example, point out that a healthy diet and plenty of water will help them have clearer skin.

Give them vitamins. Sometimes, teens simply have less-than-ideal diets. Make sure you keep a good multi-vitamin, preferably one with calcium, available for your teen. While it is a good idea to suggest or encourage taking vitamins, remember that pushing the issue will only cause your teen to refuse.

Encourage exercise. Teens need more physical activity than pushing buttons on a cell phone. Encourage your teen to be physically active. For some, the easiest way to ensure exercise is to allow them to participate in team sports. Another method of getting your teen moving is to have family activities, like volleyball, basketball, or bicycling.

The physical health of your teen influences their physical health as an adult, so it is important that you help them maintain their physical health. Remember that one of the best ways of helping your teen stay physically healthy is to set a good example with your own choices.



George

??sing?? asked:


Do women have to do anything to prepare for pregnancy? Just to be safe? For and during pregnancy? Because im sure what you do to yourself (food, excersize, etc) is important to the health of your unborn child right?
Thank you everyone for the answers!

Geoffrey

Groshan Fabiola asked:


Before giving birth to a child, a woman must go through different stages during labor and childbirth. These stages are three and consist of: the first stage begins with the onset of the contraction and gradual effacement and dilatation of the cervix. While the cervix dilates the contractions are longer and stronger. The last part of active labor which is the end of the first stage the cervix dilates to 10 centimeters. This last part is called transition.

Afterwards the second stage of labor begins after the full dilatation and ends after the birth of the baby. This stage is also known as the pushing stage.

The final stage begins after the birth of the baby and involves the separation and the delivery of the placenta.

For women that are facing the first birth labor and delivery lasts about 15 hours. There are many cases of women that give birth in more than 20 hours. Few of them are lucky and deliver more quickly. For women who gave birth before the average period for a delivery is around 8 hours.

The premier phase in the first stage is called early labor. This phase consists of regular contraction and progressively cervix dilatation. This stage occurs at 37 weeks after the conception. If the contractions occur before this time the future mothers should ask a specialist that can determine if it is preterm labor. As we said before the contractions begin to be longer and stronger. The contractions might come from ten to ten minutes and might last about 30 seconds. Sometimes these early labor contractions are quite painful.

During this phase women can experience increasing mucousy vaginal discharge which may be tinged with blood. This is a normal thing but if more than a tinge of blood is seen, a doctor should be called.

Active labor is the second phase in the first stage. In this phase contractions become frequent and the cervix begins to dilate faster going from 3-4 centimeters to 10. Toward the end of the active labor the baby might deign to descend.

This phase lasts different from woman to woman. For a woman that has his first baby this phase might last about six hours until she will get to full dilation.

The last part of the active phase is transition. This period marks the transition to the second stage of labor. This phase is the most intense part of the labor because the contractions begin to be stronger, coming about every two or three minutes. This phase might last from a few minutes to a few hours.

Pushing, the second stage comes, after the transition.

In a few minutes after giving birth the uterus begins to contract. The first contraction separates the placenta from the uterine wall. This phase usually lasts a few minutes.

For more inforamtion about teenage pregnancy please visit ectopic pregnancy or http://www.pregnancy-1st-guide.com/



Josue

southernchick asked:


Hi,
i am about 10 weeks pregnant, and i have heard so many different stories about stretch marks during pregnancy. some people say it is all based on genetics(if your mother had them, then you will too) but others say the can be prevented with certain types of belly cream or lotion. i really reallly want to avoid them if at all possible. can anyone tell me what they know about preventing stretch marks and if it is possible. and also if anybody who answers this has been through pregnancy wihtout getting them could you please include the lotion you used during pregnancy.
thanks.

Lacey

emily asked:


If I conceieved Feb 11-16 when will I start showing signs? When can I take a pregnancy test? Help! I am so excited but very scared too, this is a big year for me my boyfriend and I are getting married this summer, and now maybe a child.

Aubrey

amberwavesofgrain2000 asked:


I suppose this would be considered the “solution” to the teen pregnancy problem. And yes, I am aware of constitutional impediments to restricting procreation and religious opposition to birth control in general. Thoughts?
follow-up: wouldnt be so silly to assume that kids would be responsible for taking birth control on their own. This would be a highly regulated activity–likely using the shots, to eliminate (as much as possible) the chance of a lapse. Again, this is just an idea. Lots of legal issues to consider.

Santiago