Before the birth begins, it is possible from time to time for you to feel a pressure on the uterus, painless contractions actually, called Braxton-Hicks. These contractions prepare the uterus for the hard work of natural child birth. The cervix becomes softer in preparation for the process of expansion (stretching) during birth.1. The first phase of the natural child birthAs the birth progresses, contractions become increasingly...more
Everyone knows that there are things that must be avoided throughout a pregnancy, but most people don't realize that avoiding certain foods, before pregnancy occurs, can increase fertility chances. Some specific foods and drinks have repeatedly shown in research studies to have a directly negative effect on chances of conception. Additionally, foods high in calories and fat can lead to weight gain, which is also known to keep women...more
Once you have decided to start a family, you have probably engaged in a slew of activities to get ready. You have prepared yourself physically. You have charted and tracked temperatures to predict your fertile days. You have made sure that there has been just enough sex on just the right days. And now, you have to wait. But how long do you have to wait before you can take a test? What kind of test should you take? How accurate are the tests? Should I have my doctor do the test, or can I do them myself? If these are the questions you are asking yourself, then you've come to the right place. Read on to find the answers. Pregnancy Testing Question #1: How do I find out if I am pregnant? If you are sensing classic pregnancy symptoms such as tiredness, nausea, and breast tenderness, there is a good chance that you are. To find out for sure, you need to take either a urine or a blood test. Pregnancy Testing Question #2: Does my doctor have to do the test? Maybe. Doctors can administer blood tests, which are the most accurate way of testing for pregnancy. You can test for pregnancy yourself using an at-home urine test, even though the blood test is the most accurate. The...more
When a couple decides it is time to start a family, they generally don't assume they are going to have a problem. But when the months start passing with no sign of pregnancy, discouragement arrives instead of a baby. Seeing a fertility specialist should not be a first resort, as the medical profession collectively agrees that couples...more
Most people know that drinking and smoking during a pregnancy can be seriously harmful to a baby. We watch television shows that depict pregnant women in the 1960's smoking cigarettes and drinking scotch, and we are nothing short of horrified. Did you know, though, that alcohol and tobacco could have detrimental effects on female...more
Deciding to start a family or expand on the one you already have is exciting. Most likely, once you've made the decision to get pregnant, you'd like it to happen right away. When the months pass with repeated negative pregnancy tests, it is easy to get discouraged. Before you go drown your sorrows in a quart of ice cream, it might be a good idea to consider your diet. While there is no food that will make a baby, there are food choices that can increase your fertility and conception chances for the simple reason that these choices can aid in weight loss. Being overweight can significantly reduce fertility chances. Overweight women can have a condition called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. This common syndrome is thought to be related to a higher than normal body mass index. Losing weight can dramatically reduce the effects that this condition has on fertility. Lately, many studies have been done to see if specific foods have an impact on increasing fertility. Some members of the medical profession are concluding that there are foods that can directly increase the chances of conception. Whether or not these studies ultimately prove foods' direct fertility affects remains...more
Many couples seem to be facing infertility problems. It seems that everywhere you turn, this friend is taking hormone supplements and that couple is paying for another IVF treatment. If you are just starting the process of trying to get...more
Ovulation is the time during a woman's menstrual cycle when an egg is released from an ovary and travels down the fallopian tube. Once the egg is released, there is a 24-hour period during which the egg is viable for fertilization. If...more
You probably know many women who have gotten pregnant the first month they tried. Chances are, they made sure they had intercourse on the day they knew they were ovulating and two weeks later they announced their good news. If you are a...more
If you are having trouble conceiving, you may be starting to do some research as to what you can do to help the process along. Your doctor has probably told you that she will not see you until you have tried conceiving for a year, but...more
Pregnancy is a wonderful time in a woman's life. She has successfully conceived and is now on the road to creating a beautiful human being that will be a wonderful addition to the family. One of the best ways of ensuring that everything goes...more
Tiffany Taylor, an award winning female author, writes an e-book called “Guy Gets Girl”. It is about how a man gets successfully into a woman’s heart and attracts the woman although he is neither wealthy nor handsome. It is...more