Pregnancy, Fertility and Childbirth

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  • QWhat is the easiest way to plan my pregnancy?
    1 Answer
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    Dr. Monica M. Diaz, MD - Dallas, TX - OBGYN (Obstetrics & Gynecology)
    A OBGYN (Obstetrics & Gynecology), answered on behalf of
    The easiest way to plan your pregnancy is to keep track of your cycles. A menstrual calendar is always one of the easy things to do. Having a calendar and keeping track of your period is important. You can go to the app store and type in "menstrual calendar" and you'll get free applications. You tell the app what your cycle interval is or, if you put in several cycles or the first day of several cycles, it will actually calculate the interval for you.

    You should definitely optimize intercourse on the days that the app indicates that you should be ovulating. The app is not perfect because it's not testing any chemical levels and it's not guaranteeing that you're potentially ovulating around that time. If you want to confirm the timing that your app indicates that you are ovulating, buy an ovulation kit. Pick one that seems like it's going to be easy to read. You can find one that's positive-negative as opposed to reading the two vague lines that are similar in color. 
  • QHow can I reduce my anxiety about my baby's birth?
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    TriStar Centennial Medical Center
    A answered
    A first-time or high-risk pregnancy can be a frightening time in a woman's life. However, there are a few things women can do to greatly reduce that stress. Make sure you have a good working relationship with your doctor. Feeling welcome in his or her office and trusting his or her opinion will help reduce your anxiety. Another important thing you can do to reduce your fear is to tour the facility where you're going to deliver.
  • QHow important is prepregnancy counseling?
    1 Answer
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    Dr. Thomas R. Antony, MD - Inverness, FL - OBGYN (Obstetrics & Gynecology)
    A OBGYN (Obstetrics & Gynecology), answered on behalf of
    How Important Is Prepregnancy Counseling?
    It's important for women to seek pre-pregnancy counseling to ensure they're receiving proper nutrition and vitamins. Watch Thomas Antony, MD, of Citrus Memorial Hospital, explain.
  • QIs it better to consult a doctor or a nurse-midwife for my pregnancy?
    1 Answer
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    St. David’s HealthCare
    A answered
    It is better to consult a doctor rather than a nurse-midwife for your pregnancy under certain circumstances. Some of these arise prior to or during pregnancy, some during the birth and some during the postpartum time. Some examples include chronic health conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes, preterm birth, twins, a baby being breech or known problems with the placenta. These are just a few examples and your healthcare provider will be able to tell you if your pregnancy requires collaboration with or transfer of care to a doctor. Even in these situations, it can be possible for the midwife to remain involved in your care.

    This content originally appeared on http://www.livehealthyaustin.com/
  • QIs it possible to be pregnant and not know until delivery?
    2 Answers
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    Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family Medicine
    A answered
    Although rare, it is possible to be pregnant and not be aware of it. There are different explanations of how this might be possible. Some women have very irregular periods and may not find it abnormal to not have a period for months on end. Some women may be overweight and not be aware of changes in body shape. It is possible that some women may just deny the idea that they are pregnancy. There are also some women who always take birth control, so they would not think they could be pregnant.
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  • QHow long does a normal pregnancy last?
    4 Answers
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    Lilly Bradley Seng - Dulles, VA - Obstetrics
    A Obstetrics, answered on behalf of
    A normal low-risk pregnancy can last anywhere from 38 to 41 or 42 weeks
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  • QHow safe is it to clean out a litter box while pregnant?
    2 Answers
    A
    Dr. Monica M. Diaz, MD - Dallas, TX - OBGYN (Obstetrics & Gynecology)
    A OBGYN (Obstetrics & Gynecology), answered on behalf of
    How safe is it to clean out a litter box while pregnant?
    Whether you have an indoor-only or outdoor cat will affect how safe it is to clean its litter box when pregnant, says OBGYN Monica Diaz, MD, of Medical City Dallas Hospital. In this video, she explains the relative risk for toxoplasmosis.
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  • QWhat is prenatal massage?
    2 Answers
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    Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family Medicine
    A answered
    Prenatal massage is massage that is given to pregnant women. This is safe after the first trimester (the first three months of pregnancy). Usually, your provider will have you lie on your side to perform the massage. A prenatal massage can help reduce muscle tension, joint pain, anxiety and depression. Some studies suggest it can help with nausea and labor, too.
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  • QWhat is a term pregnancy?
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    Dr. Courtney Legum-Wenk, DO - Richmond, VA - Obstetrics
    A Obstetrics, answered on behalf of
    In humans, singleton (one-baby) pregnancy lasts, on average, 40 weeks, or 280 days from the first day of the last menstrual period, which this is how doctors determine the estimated due date. By comparison, elephants can be pregnant for up to two years.

    Until recently, anyone between 37 to 42 weeks of pregnancy was considered “term” and safe to deliver. This conventional wisdom existed because it was believed that the outcomes for both the baby and the mother during this interval of time were uniform and good, or safe with few risks. However, a large amount of research has now shown this is not uniform during these five weeks, and  risks can exist from both a maternal and neonatal standpoint. As a result, in 2012, a group of professional societies convened and redefined what exactly “term” means, and provided recommendations regarding delivering for medically indicated and non-medically indicated circumstances. In addition, national initiatives now exist to decrease complications to babies and the mothers when delivery occurs too early without a medical reason.

    In defining term pregnancy, it is now recommended to use the following: Early term is between 37 weeks through the 38th week, full term is 39 weeks through the 40th week, late term is 41 weeks up to the 42nd week and post term is greater than 42 weeks. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, The Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine, and many neonatal and pediatric societies support these definitions as well.

    These definitions are important because research shows that adverse neonatal outcomes, especially regarding respiratory issues, is the lowest among uncomplicated pregnancies delivered between 39 weeks of gestation and through the 40th week. Lung development continues into early childhood, and elective early term deliveries increase the incidence of respiratory distress syndrome, ventilator use, infections such as pneumonia, respiratory failure, NICU admissions, low blood sugar, decreased APGAR scores and possibly infant mortality. Unless one enters labor naturally, or a medical reason exists for early term delivery, elective delivery prior to 39 weeks is discouraged.
  • QWhat are locking twins?
    1 Answer
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    RealAge
    A answered
    Locking or locked twins is a rare condition in which during birth a fetus in a breech (feet-first) position becomes locked at the chin with his twin fetus who is in a vertex (head-first) position. Locked twins occur in about 1 in every 1,000 twin births and one in every 90,000 births overall. Locked twins can be identified on an ultrasound examination at the beginning of labor. In most cases, a Caesarean section will be recommended for delivering the babies.