The stresses on a woman's body during pregnancy are significant and come from a variety of sources. Hormones cause the body and mind to function differently than normal in preparing the body for the rigors of bringing a baby to term and caring for a newborn.

The changes that pregnancy brings to a woman’s body can induce certain disorders, including kidney disease. Preeclampsia, or pregnancy-induced hypertension, and severe urinary tract infections can both be signs of kidney disease during pregnancy.

Plan B, also called emergency contraception, prevents unwanted pregnancies after unprotected sex or if the first form of birth control, like a condom, fails. The hormone in Plan B, levonorgestrel, keeps the ovaries from releasing an egg. Drugs.

Once you deliver a baby and settle into a routine, your mind might wander to shedding the weight you gained during pregnancy. Although you'll leave the hospital slightly lighter, having birthed your baby, you'll still have some extra pounds lingering on your frame. Part of this weight gain is retained water.

Pregnant women are at risk for developing gallbladder problems. Increased hormone levels during pregnancy can interfere with gallbladder function. The University of Maryland Medical Center advises that pregnancy increases the risk for developing gallstones--small deposits that form inside the gallbladder system.

During pregnancy, a woman’s body secretes a hormone called relaxin that helps the pelvis open during childbirth. Unfortunately, the hormone can cause a shift in the mother’s bone structure, particularly in the pelvis.

Hormones, nerves, blood vessels and muscles work together to create penile erections. These occur throughout a male's life, even during childhood and adolescence. Nocturnal penile tumescence is the medical name for night-time erections among men.

If your child's first birthday has come and gone but your baby belly has not, it's time to do something about it. Don't get frustrated, it takes a lot of mommas time to lose the pouch and get back to pre-baby shape. Rather than just dwelling on it, get up and do something about it.

If you think that being confined to crutches for an injury will offset your weight loss program, think again. Just because you don't have full mobility in your legs doesn't mean you can't do exercises and watch your nutritional intake in a way that facilitates weight loss.

A fetus passes through seven stages of development during the 42 weeks of a pregnancy. During those 42 weeks, the mother experiences the development, too, as her body changes. Many permanent features form during the first two weeks of the baby’s development after conception.

The richly fragrant bark of the cinnamon tree has been used for centuries as a culinary seasoning and botanical medicine.

Knowing how to determine your unborn baby's position can be quite valuable as you progress and grow closer to your delivery date. "The Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy" says that in the final weeks, most babies will be positioned head-down, with their faces angled toward your spine.