pregnancy issues library

 

Pregnancy Issues answers your questions about the changes that occur when you're expecting. Learn how to exercise during pregnancy, nutrition guidelines, preparing for childbirth, and more in this section.

Featured Article:  Baby Week

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Am I carrying my own twin?

Am I carrying my own twin?

Vanishing twins sound like something straight out of Stephen King, but it's common for one twin not to survive the first trimester. But what if, instead of being absorbed by the mother's body, the twin ends up inside the other twin?

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Baby Week

Baby Week

Join HowStuffWorks and Discovery Health in celebrating Baby Week, June 8 to 13, 2008.

See more »
Can I feel pregnant when my wife is?

Can I feel pregnant when my wife is?

Most husbands will do anything they can to help their pregnant wives, but for some, it goes much further than doting and running an occasional errand. Backaches, weight gain and even morning sickness can all accompany Couvade syndrome, or sympathetic pregnancy.

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Fact or Fiction: Pregnancy

Fact or Fiction: Pregnancy

If you think you've got a handle on the approximately nine month process that occurs after an egg and a sperm meet up, then why don't you test your knowledge?

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How Abortion Works

How Abortion Works

Want to see a party turn into an all-out brawl? Invite people of differing political views and bring up abortion. But for such a controversial topic, many people often know surprisingly little about the procedure behind the politics.

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How can a rabbit tell me if I'm pregnant?

How can a rabbit tell me if I'm pregnant?

The technology that brought us the modern home pregnancy test didn't just save women trips to the OB/GYN. It saved the lives of rabbits. These fluffy creatures do more than just assist magicians -- they can indicate pregnancy.

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How does pregnancy affect the senses of smell and taste?

How does pregnancy affect the senses of smell and taste?

You already know that pregnant women have sensitive noses and stomachs, but you probably don't know why. Could it benefit the baby?

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How Pregnancy Works

How Pregnancy Works

During pregnancy, an egg transforms from a tiny mass of cells into a living, breathing baby. Learn how the fetus develops during each trimester of the pregnancy and find out how the baby finally makes its way into the world.

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How Prenatal Testing Works

How Prenatal Testing Works

During a pregnancy, different kinds of prenatal testing are an important part of the process. Learn how all the different tests protect both mother and child.

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How to Exercise During Pregnancy

How to Exercise During Pregnancy

Learn the basic guidelines for safe, effective exercise during pregnancy from a medical doctor. Find out how to build the strength and endurance necessary for a healthy labor and delivery.

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How To Get Pregnant Using An Ovulation Calendar

How To Get Pregnant Using An Ovulation Calendar

If you want to conceive, you can increase your chances by understanding the important role of the ovulation process and how it fits into your monthly menstrual cycle.

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How to Prepare for Childbirth

Giving birth is a monumental task. Where will you decide to deliver your baby? What types of healthcare professionals do you prefer? This article provides in-depth information on birthing methods, doctors, midwives and childbirth classes, to name a few.

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Miscarriage Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

A miscarriage is the ending of a pregnancy due to the premature delivery of the fetus before the 20th week of pregnancy. At this point, the fetus is not developed enough to survive outside the uterus on its own.

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Pregnancy Nutrition Guidelines

Your diet is very important during pregnancy. The baby's health depends on your gaining the right amount of weight, eating nutritional foods and avoiding drugs that will harm the child. Read about pregnancy nutrition guidelines.

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Understanding Pregnancy Symptoms

A woman's body weathers a myriad of symptoms during pregnancy as changes happen in your reproductive and digestive systems, and to your blood flow and metabolism. Read about understanding pregnancy symptoms.

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Understanding Psychological Changes during Pregnancy

Pregnancy is not always a happy time, even if the baby is wanted and planned. It's normal for parents to experience a wide range of emotions during this period. Learn about emotions that surface during pregnancy.

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What happens when pregnant women smoke?

Smoking is dangerous for pregnant women for many reasons -- learn why.

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What is an ectopic pregnancy?

When a fertilized egg develops outside the uterus, it's called an ectopic pregnancy The word ectopic means out of place. This is not an uncommon occurrence: One in every 100 to 150 pregnancies is ectopic.

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Anemia or an Iron Deficiency During Pregnancy and Childbirth

Iron deficiency anemia--a lack of iron in the blood--occurs in about 20 percent of pregnant women in the United States. Iron is an important nutrient during pregnancy, so it's important that you have an adequate intake.

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How To Calculate Your Pregnancy Due Date

Once your pregnancy has been confirmed, what you most want to know is your due date. The average length of a pregnancy is 40 weeks from the first day of the last normal menstrual period. Here's an example of how it works.

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