Pregnancy

Surrogacy is one solution for infertility. But why do some detractors think surrogacy is just a "womb-for-rent."

By Maria Trimarchi

Sperm banks help people who are struggling with fertility issues to conceive. How do sperm banks operate, and how do they screen donors?

By Maria Trimarchi

IVF is one of the most common infertility treatments. The sperm fertilizes the egg outside the body, and doctors implant it into the woman's uterus in hopes of a successful pregnancy.

By Melissa Jeffries

From the signs and symptoms to the confirmation of a miscarriage, find the answers to common questions about miscarriages.

By Melissa Jeffries

The C-section rate is rising in the United States and around the world. What kinds of pregnancy and labor complications can lead to C-sections, and why do some women plan to have them?

By Melissa Jeffries

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.

By Josh Clark

In December 2006 in Britain, three babies were born from two separate wombs -- inside the same woman. Uterus didelphys -- or a double womb -- is a pretty rare condition. It affects anywhere from about one in 1,000 to one in 1 million women worldwide, and it sometimes occurs in families.

By Julia Layton

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.

By Elizabeth Eden

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.

By Elizabeth Eden

No mother wants to have a difficult delivery or an unhealthy baby. Learn how to spot the signs of complications and, in some cases, find out what you can do about them.

By Elizabeth Eden

The journey of the fetus through pregnancy is a complex and fascinating miracle that scientists have broken into three phases -- the three trimesters that represent a nine-month pregnancy. Learn how a fetus grows

By Elizabeth Eden

Changes in your body and a late menstrual cycle are signs that you are pregnant. Performing a home pregnancy test is the easiest way to find out. Learn how pregnancy tests work.

By Elizabeth Eden

The decision to breastfeed or bottle-feed is yours to make. Since you are the one taking care of your baby, you must feel comfortable with the decision. Learn how breast-feeding works.

By Alvin Eden

The addition of a baby to a family brings joy and wonder, but also many changes for the parents. Read these helpful tips on adjusting to life with a newborn.

By Michael Meyerhoff

Also known as "baby blues," postpartum depression is a very real and often very frightening occurrence that affects about half of new mothers during the first days or weeks following birth.

By Michael Meyerhoff

Infertility is not sterility. Infertility is defined as a couple’s failure to conceive a child after one year of regular sexual intercourse without birth control. Learn much more about infertility.

By Editors of Consumer Guide

Did you know that labor is divided into three stages? Find out what they are and how to tell when they start happening.

An embryo usually attaches to the upper part of the uterine wall, but sometimes implantation takes place in a lower location. The condition is called placenta previa and can interfere with a normal delivery.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

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.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

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.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

With a slew of recent research to support the benefits to child, mother and society overall, experts seem to agree: breast milk is best. What do you need to know before you start breastfeeding?

By Christina Breda

If you think breastfeeding is out of the question just because you're having multiples, think again. There are countless reasons that breastfeeding may prove to be the best option, even with twins or triplets.

By DiscoveryHealth.com writers

When it comes to human reproduction, animal metaphors are popular, with all those birds, bees and even storks. Here, we turn to biology to learn how human reproduction works.

By Craig Freudenrich, Ph.D. & Molly Edmonds

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.

By Craig Freudenrich, Ph.D.

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