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	Health & Fitness Needs During Lactation ť Weight reduction can be difficult for anyone at anytime, but a mother who is trying to return to her pre-pregnancy weight is also challenged with additional stresses of increased child care commitments, less rest and sleep, household responsibilities, and, possibly, returning to work outside the home. Read on....


	Diet to minimize the risk of a Miscarriage ť During the first three months of pregnancy, when foetal cells are beginning to develop into rudimentary organs, the quality rather than the quantity of the mother's food is particularly important.


	Overcoming Breastfeeding Myths ť Women on even very low calorie diets usually make enough milk, at least until the mother's calorie intake becomes critically low for a prolonged period of time. Generally, the baby will get what he needs. Some women worry that if they eat poorly for a few days this also will affect their milk.


	Ectopic Pregnancy: Causes and Treatment ť An ectopic pregnancy (also called a tubal pregnancy) occurs when a fertilized egg is implanted outside the uterus, typically in one of the Fallopian tubes. Sometimes the embryo can also occur in the cervical canal, one of the ovaries or the pelvic or abdominal cavity (abdominal pregnancy).


	Breastfeeding and HIV transmission A large study of mothers and children carried out in Zimbabwe lends further support to the view that it is probably better for mothers with HIV infection to breastfeed exclusively rather than engage in mixed feeding, as children exposed to a mixture of breastfeeding and other forms of feeding are more than four times as likely to have become infected with HIV at the age of six months when compared to infants exclusively breastfed.


	Maternal Diet Vs Fetal Growth ť Nutrition during pregnancy is serious business. Research has shown that when mothers-to-be eat poor diets, there is an increase in risk of low-birth-weight infants, particularly in women with poor health and nutrition status before pregnancy. The risk is compounded by lifestyle choices, such as smoking, that may affect pregnancy outcome.


	Managing Allergies during pregnancy ť Pregnancy is a time of intense change within the female body. The hormones of pregnancy have steroidal type effects and which can dampen down allergies.


	Anemia during Pregnancy ťAdequate iron is essential for the formation of healthy red blood cells, and for both fetal demands and the large increase in maternal blood volume. Pregnant women should eat a range of iron-rich foods in order to prevent an iron deficiency. Read on....


	Preeclampsia: a Common Pregnancy Complication ťPreeclampsia, also known as toxemia is a disease characterized by the gradual development of high blood pressure (over 140/90) that is often accompanied by protein excretion in the urine and excessive swelling of legs, hands, and face. Read on....


	Pain Relief During Labor ťDespite the arguments in favor of natural childbirth, there is no intrinsic virtue in avoiding pharmacological pain relief if you feel you need it. Read on....


	IN TOUCH WITH YOUR BABY ťWe now know that unborn babies are aware of much of their surroundings and are able to respond physically to a variety of stimuli. We also understand a great deal about the way a baby's body function in the uterus and what she can hear and see. Read on....


	Basal body temperature (BBT) ťThe normal human body oral temperature averages at about 98.6°F (37°c) but varies during the day, especially in response to exercise. A woman's body temperature not only fluctuates throughout the day, it also responds to hormonal changes throughout the month, thereby giving a valuable information about individual fertility cycle. Read on....


	Exercise Routine for Second Trimester ťWhile the first trimester is crucial for laying down the groundwork for the developing organs and concerns over the possibility of miscarriage, and the third trimester centers on the baby attaining maturity and the delivery process itself, the second trimester is a sort of reprieve during which the pregnancy can almost be enjoyed. Read on....


	Toxoplasmosis during Pregnancy ťToxoplasmosis is caused by a tiny parasite [protozoan] that spends part of its lifecycle in animals and the rest in humans. It is a common infection caused by the one-celled organism Toxoplasma gondii. Read on....


	Pregnancy and Heart Disease ťPregnancy is one of the physiological conditions that places a considerable burden on the heart, forcing it to work harder for a significantly long period - nine months. While a normal heart is quite capable of taking this extra workload right in its stride, a diseased one may not be able to cope. Read on....


	Fish to Avoid During Childbearing Years ťWhen it comes to health benefits fish continues to line up high on the positive side. Theres the omega -3 fatty acids found in all fish and especially the fatty fish. Omega 3s help promote heart health and aid in prevention of heart disease making them a positive choice. Recent FDA advisory, however, indicate that pregnant women and women considering pregnancy should not eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel or tilefish because they could contain enough mercury to harm an unborn infant's nervous system. Read on....


	Postnatal Yoga (Birth to six weeks) ťGiving birth can be a very demanding physical event. It can also give rise to strong emotional and spiritual experiences. Read on....


	Cervical Cancer and Pregnancy ťCervical cancer occurring coincident with pregnancy is, fortunately, quite rare, probably less than 1 in 10,000 pregnancies. Pregnancy and cervical cancer can be categorized under two categories for a better understanding. Read on....


	Sleeping During Pregnancy ťDuring pregnancy, inadequate sleep is a common complain made by women, mostly, due to the result of anxiety and stress, hormonal fluctuations, and physical discomfort. Read on....


	Obesity: A Health Risk during Pregnancy ťOverweight is defined as being 10% to 15% heavier than recommended for a woman's height, or having a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 30. Obese was having a BMI of 30 or more. Read on....


	High-Risk Pregnancy: Hydramnios ťHydramnios is a condition in which there is too much amniotic fluid around the fetus. It occurs in about 3 to 4 percent of all pregnancies. It is also called polyhydramnios. Read on....


	High-Risk Pregnancy: Oligohydramnios ťOligohydramnios is a condition in which there is too little amniotic fluid around the fetus. The condition is often the result of a tear or rupture in the amniotic membrane, causing it to leak amniotic fluid and thus lower the level of fluid still surrounding the baby It occurs in about 4 percent of all pregnancies. Read on....


	The Stages of Labor & Delivery ťThe first stage of labor consists of an early phase that begins with the onset of contractions and the gradual effacement (thinning out) and dilation (opening) of the cervix, followed by an active phase in which the cervix begins to dilate more rapidly and contractions are longer, stronger, and closer together The active phase ends with a "transition period" as the cervix fully dilates to 10 centimeters. Read on....


	Attending to Your Baby's Needs ťBefore you rush out to buy lots of baby clothes, a roomful of toys, and several packs of diapers, ask friends and family if they have any baby clothes or toys they can pass on to you, and which diapers they recommend. Read on....


	Hydrosalpinx ťA hydrosalpinx is a fallopian tube that is filled with fluid. Injury to the end of the fallopian tube, the ampulla, and its delicate fingers, the fimbria, causes the end of the tube to close. Glands within the tube produce a watery fluid that collects within the tube, producing a sausage shaped swelling that is characteristic of hydrosalpinx. Read on....


	CHORIOAMNIONITIS ťChorioamnionitis is an infection of two membranes of the placenta (the chorion and the amnion) and the amniotic fluid that surrounds the baby. Chorioamnionitis can cause bacteremia (blood infection) in the mother and may lead to preterm birth and serious infection in the newborn baby. Read on....


	Breech Presentation ťMost babies are born headfirst, but at the end of pregnancy, around 3-4% are found to be breech. Before term, which is defined as 37 weeks, it doesn't matter if the baby is breech, as there is always a good chance that she will turn spontaneously. Read on....


	Psoriasis During Pregnancy ťIt seems pregnancy brings more than a "healthy glow." It might also help clear psoriasis for those who have the skin disease. A study showed that psoriatic women who have high estrogen levels during pregnancy experience significant improvements of their psoriasis. Read on....


	Retinitis Pigmentosa ťAn inherited progressive degeneration in the retina, the light - sensitive membrane at the back of the eye. Speaking, generically it can be described as a progressive cause of visual loss, which is attributed to the loss of viable photoreceptors.


	Heartburn during Pregnancy ťOne possible cause of heartburn in pregnancy; is the extra pressure on the stomach (during the third trimester) exerted by the growing baby. Also, during pregnancy, the placenta produces the hormone progesterone, which relaxes the smooth muscles of the uterus. Read on....


	Choosing Contraception ťThe most common reason for failure of a contraception method is not using the method properly and consistently. Because of this, it's recommended that you choose a method you feel comfortable using on a regular basis. The most popular and effective contraceptive methods available around the world. Read on....


	Approaches to Childbirth ťAs modern society increasingly comes to accept childbirth as a natural process, you will find a growing number of options available for giving birth.


	Watch out for pregnancy after age of 40 ťWith all the advances in medical care and technology, it is safer today than ever before for most women in later age to become pregnant. There are still some increased risks associated with later-age pregnancy that you should know if you fit into this category. Read on....


	Asthma and Pregnancy ťPregnant women with asthma are not necessarily high risk patients. In fact, asthma can follow a curious pattern in pregnant patients. One third of women experience no change in their asthma during pregnancy, one third actually notice an improvement when they are pregnant, and one third may experience a flare-up of their asthma during this time. Since there is no index to predict which way a patient will react, it is necessary to closely follow every pregnant asthma patient. Read on....


	Chlamydia- The Silent Epidemic ťA bacterium called chlamydia trachomatis causes chlamydia. This infection has become the most common cause of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in the Western world. Chlamydia infection may be symptom less in women the whole time that it is causing damage, but there may be some tell-tale signs. Women with chlamydia may be some increased or altered vaginal discharge and get a cervical infection that can spread up into the rest of the pelvic organs. Read on....


	Recovering after Caesarean birth ťIf you have had caesarean section, you will be very aware of the discomfort of the incision, not to mention the difficulties of getting in and out of bed, moving around and finding a comfortable position for breastfeeding.


	Breathing For Labor and for Life ťLearning to breathe differently may sound difficult, but in fact, certain breathing techniques can become second nature, given time and practice. In order to learn therapeutic ways of breathing, however, we have to become aware of what we are doing. Read on....


	CHILDCARE : THE OPTIONS ťStart thinking about your options for childcare now, before you start finalizing your own career plans. There are few rights and wrongs when it comes to childcare - but there is a right way for your baby, you, and the other members of your family.


	Pregnancy and Multiple Sclerosis ťMultiple Sclerosis is more prevalent in women of childbearing age than in any other group. When young women receive a diagnosis of MS, they frequently have questions about the effects of the disease on childbearing and vice versa. Read on....


	Emotional Fitness a factor in Conception ťWhile good physical health -including healthy diet and avoiding hazards like smoking, drugs, and irradiation - is vital to successful conception and pregnancy, so too, is the emotional state. Read on....


	Amniocentesis: learning more about the fetus ťWith all the advances in medicine, doctors and their patients can learn a lot about the development of a fetus, and one of the tools that's commonly used is amniocentesis. Read on....


	Maternity Dressing Up ťThe rule of thumb for expecting moms is wear whatever makes you feel good and comfortable. Read on....


	PREMATURE RUPTURE OF MEMBRANES (PROM) ťDuring pregnancy, the developing baby is protected by a fluid-filled sac called the bag of waters, or the "membranes." This bag usually stays intact until several hours before labor starts-or even for a while after labor has begun-but it can burst or start leaking any time during the pregnancy. Read on....


	AFTER THE BABY ARRIVES ťAfter delivery the first question naturally is how is my baby? The second question asked by workout - alcoholics often is "When can I begin exercising now that Ive given birth?" Read on....


	Living With Changes ťThroughout pregnancy, your growing and changing shape makes it important to alter the way you perform a number of everyday tasks and movements. Read on....


	Defining Postpartum Fitness Regime ťEach of the positions should be achieved by slow movements and held at a point short of stretch pain for 1530 seconds. Read on....


	Micronutrients During Pregnancy And Lactation ťOverdose of certain vitamins, particularly the fat-soluble vitamins, can be deleterious in pregnancy. Read on....


	A Complete Body Workout for Pregnant Women(Part-Ii) ť This is the concluding part of complete body workout for pregnant women comprising of Lower Body workout aiming to workout the pelvic floor, stomach , legs, hips and thighs. Read on....


	A Complete Body Workout for Pregnant Women (Part-I) ťAt no point in a woman's life is general fitness more important than during pregnancy. The advantages of having a regular exercise routine during pregnancy are almost endless. Exercising will give you more energy, help you remain flexible and carry your baby with ease. Read on....


	Folic: The Great Protector ťFolic acid is critical to the overall synthesis, repair and protection of DNA, the body's genetic blueprint molecules. Everyone's diet should contain foods rich in folic acid. Read on....


	Planning a Fit Pregnancy ťPregnancy places great physical demands on the body, but the fitter you are, the better you will be able to cope. Supple joints & groin and buttock muscles make it easier to adopt useful position such as squatting during labor and birth...Read on.


	Pregnancy and Exercise ťPregnancy is a highly complex physiologic state, and precautions are needed during pregnancy to ensure that your exercise program does not contribute to complications.