Providing warmth is an instinctual extension of love that all parents want to give to their baby. But despite best intentions, sometimes an infant's temperature drops below normal. A low temperature in a baby is most often due to a cold environment or not enough clothes or blankets.

Contractions of the uterus herald the first phase of labor. Contractions, also informally called "labor pains," are associated with gradual dilation of the cervix. Sometimes women may mistake other causes of abdominal pain for true contractions of the uterus. These other causes of pain are known as "false labor pains"

A slightly higher than normal body temperature is common during pregnancy because of the hormone progesterone and increased metabolism. On the other hand, an infection or illness can cause your body temperature to increase too much, causing harm to you and your unborn baby.

When you sustain an injury, fluid collects in the area and causes swelling -- if enough fluid collects, it can cause increased pain. A common therapy regimen known as RICE -- rest, ice, compression and elevation -- can be applied to treat minor injuries such as sprains, strains and bruises.

Magnesium is available in many foods, such as nuts, beans and grains, and in multivitamins that contain minerals. People with low levels of magnesium or with certain health conditions benefit from magnesium supplements. Commercial magnesium preparations also are available for use as antacids and as laxatives.

Potassium is an essential nutrient that plays a role in regulation of heart rate, muscle contractions and digestion of food. Too many or too few infection-fighting white blood cells, according to Medline Plus, can indicate the presence of infection as well as other health conditions.

Pineapple can often cause minor skin irritations because it’s highly acidic. The fruit -- or the juice -- can cause your tongue to feel gritty, itchy and mildly painful shortly after eating. If you develop severe pain, itching, burning or swelling in your tongue from eating pineapple, you should talk with your doctor.

Valerian root is an herb that is commonly used for many conditions, such as insomnia, anxiety, headaches and upset stomach. It can be used alone or in combination with other herbs.

Metabolism is one of many ways that animals and plants stay regulated. If there were no metabolism, we wouldn't have a steady body temperature or energy level, conditions we take for granted. Sometimes, metabolic rates vary or fluctuate, and this can be because of genetics, lifestyle or certain diseases.

A colonoscopy is a physical examination of the large intestine and rectum. Colonoscopies help doctors to investigate unexplained changes in a patient’s bowel habits, weight loss and abdominal pain. They are also used to screen for cancer.

When it comes to gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, the word “severe” is in the eye -- or chest, as it were -- of the beholder.

The menstrual cycle follows a precise pattern governed by the release of different hormones that interact with one another. Progesterone, whose production increases in the second half of the menstrual cycle, plays a pivotal part in preparing the uterine lining for implantation of an embryo.