Sodium bicarbonate is the chemical name for baking soda, which has the formula NaHCO3. If you're pregnant, you may be wondering whether it's safe to use sodium bicarbonate in foods and in other household applications, particularly because many chemicals that are otherwise safe can be toxic to an unborn child.

There are certain herbs you should never take during pregnancy because you risk harming your baby or terminating your pregnancy. The popular Ayurvedic herb ashwagandha is among these, according to the Sloan-Kettering Memorial Cancer Center.

If you're pregnant, your doctor probably told you to avoid certain risky foods that put you at risk for bacterial infection with listeria, including feta cheese. According to the American Pregnancy Association, listeria is a type of bacteria that can contaminate your food.

The uterus is normally the size of a pear. According to the Mayo Clinic, however, by the end of pregnancy it will take up the space between your pubic bone and your ribcage. Uterus changes begin as early as two to three weeks into a pregnancy, at or around the time fertilization takes place.

The abbreviation hCG is short for human chorionic gonadotropin. It is a hormone produced by a developing embryo during pregnancy. The hormone has an important role in both the detection and the maintenance of pregnancy.

A miscarriage that occurs at nine weeks is often likened to a regular menstrual period; however, unlike a menstrual period, a miscarriage is a medical emergency that should be treated as such with a call to your doctor and/or a trip to the hospital.

Teen pregnancy is life changing. While most teen pregnancies are unplanned, even a planned pregnancy has risks and potential complications.

Morning nausea will present itself upon awakening, or it will wake you out of your sleep with a feeling of uneasiness in your stomach. Sometimes nausea will bring about vomiting, but this is not always the case. There are many health conditions that show morning nausea as one of their symptoms.

Asphyxiation occurs when the body is deprived of oxygen. One common cause of asphyxia is choking, although other medical and environmental conditions, such as complications during general anesthesia or smoke inhalation, are also possible causes.

The term “the pill” encompasses various oral contraceptives. Estrogen-progestin or combined pills suppress the ovaries' monthly release of an egg cell. While progestin-only pills also work this way, they mostly thicken cervical mucus, inhibiting sperm movement.

During pregnancy, many common foods and beverages can cause unanticipated problems for the expectant mother or her unborn baby. The American Pregnancy Association advises pregnant women to avoid undercooked meats, undercooked eggs, caffeine, soft cheeses, raw shellfish and many potentially hazardous seafood dishes.

You need not avoid eating cheeses during your pregnancy. Cheese is rich in protein, calcium and B vitamins, all of which are excellent nutrients for both mom and baby. However, cheese may be dangerous for pregnant women if it is made from unpasteurized milk.