Pregnancy and Parenting

From conception to cradle, the Pregnancy and Parenting Channel guides you on the journey to parenthood. Learn what to expect when you're expecting.

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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

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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

You might take your reflexes for granted but they can say a lot about your health. Learn more about reflexes and what they can reveal in a baby.

By DiscoveryHealth.com writers

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Scary statistics and dire predictions about childhood obesity might make you more inclined to turn off the TV than take action. Why bother trying to change if it's so hard to do? But addressing childhood obesity is also about success stories -- and the everyday choices that can turn it all around.

By Elizabeth Sprouse

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

Childhood accidents are numerous and range from the less common, yet nightmarish car accidents and child abductions to equally dangerous, more commonplace playground and pool accidents. Learn about child safety tips.

By Alvin Eden & Elizabeth Eden

Sudden infant death syndrome is a mysterious death for which the parents should not be blamed and doctors have yet to fully explain. Learn about this tragedy and how to cope with it.

By Alvin Eden & Elizabeth Eden

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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

Children are born with protection from many diseases, thanks to antibodies passed through the placenta. Within a year, however, this defense is lost, so children need vaccinations to protect them from these diseases.

By Laurie L. Dove

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

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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

Despite the changing lifestyles, the family remains the central element of contemporary life. But family structure, like society at large, has undergone significant changes. Learn more about family structures and dynamics.

By Michael Meyerhoff

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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.

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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.