What are the essential dietary restrictions, hormonal markers, and physical recovery strategies for a healthy pregnancy and postpartum transition?
When a pregnancy ends on its own within the first 20 weeks of gestation, itโs called a miscarriage. According to the American Pregnancy Association, anywhere from 10 to 25 percent of pregnancies end in miscarriage -- most commonly within the first 13 weeks, which is the first trimester.
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Nutrition is a primary factor in the health of pregnant women and their babies. An occasional diet soda is usually fine and will not affect the health of the mother or developing fetus. However, diet sodas contain artificial sweeteners and do not provide any nutritional benefits.
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During early pregnancy, a fetus will move around often and be in several positions. Somewhere between 28 and 32 weeks' gestation, a baby should turn head down in the uterus in preparation for birth, called vertex position. When a baby does not turn and has his head up and feet down, it is referred to as "
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Pregnancy is an exciting time as you prepare for your new baby. It is also a time of change in how your body looks and how you feel -- more tired, uncomfortable and even moody.
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Whether you'd like to conceive or are trying to avoid pregnancy, it's common to scrutinize yourself for signs of early pregnancy--particularly if you've recently missed a period. Early pregnancy causes many changes in a woman's body and in the way her body functions; some of these changes take place in the breasts.
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Morning sickness is characterized by nausea that occurs during pregnancy. For men, morning sickness can be a symptom of Couvade Syndrome, which sometimes occurs in the husbands of pregnant women.
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Weight gain and abdominal skin stretching during pregnancy can make toning the abdomen troublesome following childbirth. If you also have undergone tubal ligation -- also known as tying the tubes -- you also will have incisions in the abdomen.
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Parnate, the brand name of the drug tranylcypromine sulfate, is an antidepressant classified as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, or MAOI. Parnate is used for the treatment of major depressive disorder. If you take Parnate--or have taken it within two weeks--you must avoid any food that contains tyramine.
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Your body changes in many ways during pregnancy. One of the changes that might be quite apparent from the very beginning of pregnancy is that your digestive tract slows down significantly to help you extract nutrients from your food. Unfortunately, this can lead to uncomfortable bloating and gas after eating.
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There are many benefits to regular exercise, including maintaining a healthy weight and warding off dangerous conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes. During pregnancy, exercise is even more important, since it helps keep both you and your baby healthy.
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The hormone HCG, which stands for human chorionic gonadotropin, helps to communicate to your body that you're pregnant and maintains the pregnancy during its early weeks and months.
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Some types of soft cheese are unsafe for consumption during pregnancy because they may contain a bacteria called listeria. An infection with the listeria bacteria, called listeriosis, causes mild flu-like symptoms in the mother.
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Active labor -- when your cervix has started to dilate -- is very difficult to stop. But if you're in preterm labor, having contractions more than three weeks before your due date, your doctor might prescribe tocolytic medications to slow or stop the process.
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Your physician may prescribe an antibiotic called Cipro for signs and symptoms of an infection. Known generically as ciprofloxacin, this medication is used to treat bacterial infections affecting the urinary tract, bone and skin, as well as inhalation and cutaneous anthrax.
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Pregnancy is an exciting time, but sometimes it causes aches and pains as the body changes. Hip and pelvic pain is referred to as pelvic girdle pain, which is closely related to low back pain during pregnancy. Pain in these areas tends to develop in the second or third trimester.
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Pregnancy is a time when many women, especially in the third trimester, have difficulty sleeping. Herbal remedies like valerian root are often thought of as less dangerous than prescription sleeping pills for an expectant mom and her baby, but it's crucial to assess the risks of any medication taken during pregnancy.
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If in good health, women who are pregnant can usually exercise through their third trimester. Pilates is often one of the recommended forms of exercise and is known for its gentle yet effective movement and its ability to improve posture and reduce stress and pains.
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Pregnancy is a time in which you want to make sure you are having all of your nutritional needs met. Adding some cheeses to your pregnancy diet will help you consume the vitamins, minerals, protein and calcium that your baby needs to grow.
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Continuing to exercise in late pregnancy will help to maintain postural stability and keep you strong after the baby's born.
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Digestive problems, such as diarrhea, indigestion, gas and heartburn, are all common ailments during pregnancy. Symptoms are typically caused by hormonal changes, poor eating and fitness habits, and the extra pressure that your growing baby places on your intestinal tract. But that doesnโt mean you have to suffer.
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