There are a variety of tests that an expectant mother can have performed to gain information about the health of her growing fetus. Some, like amniocentesis, have been around for over 100 years. Ultrasound was introduced in the 1960s, though early tests had limited value. Modern tests are much clearer, some even in 3-D, many showing motion.

Today, ultrasound is clear, simple, and (as medical tests go) relatively inexpensive. Most are covered by standard insurance plans that cover pregnancy.

Also called sonography or just ‘a scan’, the woman’s abdominal area is exposed to harmless ultra-high frequency sound waves. The echoes are then recorded and interpreted by a computer program – then projected onto a screen. The basic principle is similar to that used in fishing boats, submarines and other applications.

Unlike X-rays they produce no ionizing radiation, though the sound waves still carry energy. Nevertheless, the procedure is safe and painless. It has the added advantage that it can examine soft tissues that don’t show up as clearly in x-rays, and the images are displayed in real-time. Since there are no ill-effects produced by the test, it can be repeated as often as desired as the fetus develops.

The technician (often your physician) uses a small, hand-held wand that travels over the surface of the skin. A clear gel is applied to the skin beforehand to eliminate air between the wand and the surface, producing improved results. Unlike amniocentesis and other tests, it’s non-invasive and the preliminary results are available immediately. It takes no more than half an hour.

More extensive analysis of the results can be performed by a trained specialist, if desired. A report is typically sent to your physician. From the results, doctors can detect physical abnormalities, tissue rupture, bleeding or simply whether problem implantation has occurred.

But apart from detecting potential problems, the test is used to provide useful information. It can reveal sex and age and record at the development process. It can also show the physical location of the baby within the womb. That helps determine if a breech birth is likely and other potential positioning issues. With that advanced look, delivery can be better planned.

The procedure has limitations, however. Ultrasound waves, unlike regular sound waves, don’t travel as efficiently through air. As a result, any areas where air pockets exist – such as the stomach itself – won’t yield as much information. Also, they don’t penetrate bone as well as x-rays and the waves are dampened as they pass through fatty tissue. The results may be less useful for obese women.

Those limitations can be overcome by supplementing ultrasound with other tests, such as amniocentesis and others that use chemical indicators to give useful data about the baby’s health.

It can be difficult to know exactly when labor begins in earnest. But some signs are unmistakable. One such occurs when your new baby’s head exerts pressure on the amniotic sac and it breaks. When your ‘water breaks’ (the liquid isn’t just water, but amniotic fluid), labor is imminent.

Unfortunately, ‘imminent’ doesn’t mean ‘will occur within 10.5 hours’ or any exact amount of time. The time to the beginning of regular contractions and actual delivery, can vary enormously from woman to woman and even child to child.

Nevertheless, when you feel that trickle or gush of colorless fluid flow down your leg, it’s time to get ready. On average, labor will begin within 12 to 24 hours later. For some, the time is much sooner.

Note the time, wipe away the fluid and clean the vagina to minimize the risk of infection. Don’t bathe. Look for any green or brownish fluid, the meconium, which is from your baby’s bowel movement. That’s an indicator of fetal stress and should be reported to your physician immediately.

Contractions will follow shortly.

The uterus is a muscle and one of its roles is to force the baby out into the world through the birth canal. The contractions you feel are that muscle tensing. They will usually be preceded by dull cramps in the lower back or pelvis. When they happen regularly for an hour, lasting at least 30 seconds each, gaining in intensity, actual labor has started.

Since they can vary from woman to woman, try to verify that the contractions are labor by varying your position. Move around and sit. See if they still occur. Remember to keep a close eye on the clock or your watch. Timing the events is important.

First pregnancies will often take a little longer, so try to avoid any sense of panic. When contractions are coming five minutes apart for an hour, it’s time to head to the hospital. Err on the side of caution, though. The number is just an average and it’s best to avoid complications by being too early, rather than too late.

Severe pain, rather than regular (even if uncomfortable) contractions can be a sign of placenta previa. This is a condition in which the placenta can block the exit from the uterus. Or, the pain can be the result of placental abruption, where the placenta separates but limits the baby’s oxygen supply. Call your doctor.

Almost all labors proceed without incident. Stay calm, execute your plan and get ready for a healthy baby.

Some women understandably wish from time to time that a baby could be delivered by Fed Ex. After nine months of hormonal changes, carrying extra weight and reduced movement many will want to just get it over. But the race is won at the final leg and Lamaze, Bradley or other options can help carry you over the finish line in optimal shape.

Women, obviously, have been giving birth for hundreds of thousands of years. The basic process has changed little over that time. But medical knowledge has grown by leaps and bounds.

During the mid-19th century that knowledge consisted of a growing set of tools and drugs to minimize pain. By the mid-20th century, though, birth was almost something that happened to a woman and her baby, rather than something they did. Contemporary knowledge can help the expectant mother take more active control of her birth and deliver with the highest chances for her baby’s health.

The Bradley method was devised by Dr. Robert Bradley in the 1940s. The emphasis was, and is, on a set of techniques to deliver without the use of drugs. There are pros and cons to the approach, since anything a mother receives will affect the baby. With the drugs designed today, and the dosages low enough, the odds of harm are very low. Completely drug-free births are not entirely without risks either.

The uncontroversial aspect of the Bradley method is its use of breathing techniques that aid the woman during periods of non-contraction. Relaxation techniques are helpful at those moments to prepare for more active moments. The deep breathing taught in Bradley classes is a positive benefit.

Lamaze has its own proponents and detractors, and more similar reasons. Developed by a French physician and popularized in the 1960s, it too emphasizes ‘natural’ childbirth. It discourages use of pain control drugs, in favor of hot and cold packs, positioning and breath control.

The Lamaze breathing techniques, like Bradley, are helpful – more so during the more active parts of delivery. The rapid, in-out-in intake of air helps fully oxygenate tissues and control pain. The focus required to maintain that breathing, while also focusing on the need to push in the proper way helps keep the mother’s mind off the pain and onto the process.

Both Bradley and Lamaze classes emphasize the importance of having a birth partner to assist in delivery. That can be a friend, spouse or even a midwife. Having that person there is an emotional comfort. Either professionally, or thanks to the classes, they’ll have an (at least theoretical) understanding of delivery. They help maintain focus, provide physical assistance in positioning and offer a friendly face in what might be an emotionally cold environment.

Mothers should consider carefully all their options. There’s no need to rule out modern medical technology. Being aware of the risks and benefits of anesthetic and some of the common potential problems can help you prepare. The more information you have, the better you can rationally examine options ahead of time. That helps you make better decisions at a time when you have other things on your mind.

Mothers report that few things are as painful, or as rewarding, as giving birth. How much pain, for how long and when varies enormously among individual women. But expectant women, especially when giving birth the first time, may want less pain in order to better enjoy the reward. For them, there are many choices.

Most experts and women agree that the less medication taken or anesthesia given the better, both for mother and child. When used the amounts are so low that problems are very rare, but anything that enters a woman’s bloodstream will affect the child during delivery. Training can help minimize the need.

Preparation well before the onset of labor is the first step. Lamaze or Bradley training is helpful, in order to learn good breathing and relaxation techniques. It’s difficult to focus on the process rather than the pain when you’re in the moment, but training can get her part way there. Attending with a partner is particularly helpful.

Some training involves learning focusing techniques – zeroing in on the need to push or the progress, rather than the discomfort. Others may emphasize distraction – counting, remembering a specific event clearly and so on. Those who have practiced yoga may find many of the ideas familiar. Several weeks practice before labor begins is a minimum, but there should be no substantial gap in time. Train up to the day.

Physical comfort can be enhanced by a variety of methods. Hot or cold packs can ease cramping. Sipping warm tea or ice water is sometimes helpful. That will need to be kept to a minimum, though. If general anesthesia has to be given, doctors will require minimal liquid intake beforehand. Anesthesia can produce nausea and vomiting. Disgorging under anesthetic is potentially dangerous, since it can lead to choking.

Some hospitals will use tubs of water or even showers to maximize physical and mental comfort during labor. A good soak can ease back tension and aid a sense of well being. Techniques like these don’t require any training or practice, just the ability to remember to use them when needed. A partner can help here, too.

Adjust your body as needed during the process. Talk over with your physician in advance his or her working needs and your options. Working together during the process is less stressful if things have been talked out ahead of time.

Still, there are women who experience great pain during birth, and it can vary from one delivery to the next. For those women, a range of medical options are available.

A general pain medication can range from over-the-counter remedies to mild narcotics. It’s important to be able to focus and participate during the process, so doctors keep the dosage to a minimum whenever possible. Stronger narcotics to ease pain can be used if necessary.

Local anesthetic is no longer an automatic choice. Studies revolving around the neurological effects on the baby have made doctors and mothers very conservative. But the types and dosages used very rarely present a problem. There’s no such thing as zero risk, but the odds are so low that this is a valid option.

A regional block, epidural or spinal, refers not to specific medication but simply the way it’s administered. The drug is injected into a space at the base of the spinal column. The purpose is the same: to numb pain in the vaginal and back areas where the pain is most intense. Here again, doctors are cautious but the option is still used safely in thousands of cases every year.

Explore your options well in advance so that on that golden day you can put your mind where it needs to be: delivering a healthy baby.

You are besides yourself with joy as you see that your pregnancy test is postive.  You find yourself already caressing your stomach in hopes that your little one can feel you.  The next nine months are going to be an exciting time for you and your baby.  You are going to have a human life grow inside of you and feel them move as they get bigger. Your baby is going to go from a single sperm and egg into pounds of adorable flesh that you can’t help but kiss over and over again.  It truly is a miracle.

In order to help this miracle along, it is essential for you to eat as good as you can through out most of your pregnancy.  The first three months might be a little difficult to eat balanced meals when you are dealing with food aversions and morning sickness.  If you are one of the rare lucky ones whose stomach doesn’t so much as move during your first trimester, then you can take full advantage of eating healthy right out of the gate.

Making sure you eat balanced nutritious meals is laying down the foundation for your baby.  A diet of junk food is not going to help your baby with bone development and organ formation.  Potato chips will not help with brain development.  Your baby and your body need calcium and vitamins to achieve all of this.

Eating well during pregnancy is going to help your baby eat well after it is born and on solid foods.   As your pregnancy progresses, some of what you eat will cross the placenta and the taste will be in your baby’s amniotic fluid.  Babies swallow this fluid and their taste buds are so develop that even in the womb they are able to taste the flavors.  Doctors believe that babies who are exposed to a wide variety of fruit and vegetables while in utero have less of a chance of being a fussy eater later in life.   They believe that these are the babies who will eat their fruit and vegetables without putting up any fight.

Doctors also believe that moms who drink their milk through out their pregnancy have an easier time weaning their babies from formula or breast milk to regular milk.   This however is only one benefit, the other benefit of drinking milk throughout your pregnancy is all the calcium you will be giving your baby’s bones.  Many doctors recommend that you drink at least one eight oz glass of milk, usually fat free a day.  Calcium is a must have your baby’s bones and his teeth, even though you won’t see his teeth for at least a few months.

This isn’t to say that you have to stay away from all sweets all the time.  You can indulge every now and then and thanks to cravings you may find yourself wanting sweets more often than not.  You do have to keep it in moderation.  Being pregnant should not be looked at as an excuse to eat whatever you want for nine months.  Both you and your baby could pay a dear price.

It is hard to believe that women do have a hard time eating healthy when they are expecting a visit from the stork.  The sad truth is some women find it very hard.  There is a trick though to remember how to eat throughout your pregnancy and it is as easy as ABC.

Assortment is the first key.  It’s been said that variety is the spice of life.  Keeping your diet filled with assortment of fruits, vegetables and protein will help make sure that you and your baby don’t get too much of one nutrient and not enough of another.  Eating a daily variety of healthy foods will give your growing baby and daily assortment of necessary nutrients.

Balance is the next thing to keep in mind.  We all know that balance and moderation is the key to any diet.   There is no reason to deny yourself  a bowl of ice cream but the whole container is over doing it.  You want to keep all your meals as balanced as possible and make sure you are getting enough vitamins, whole grains and lean protein.  Eating one and not the other is not going to help you or your baby in any way shape or form. Indulging in cravings is fine every now and then as long as you keep it in moderation, if you want a cookie, have one.  If potato chips are your craving, have a few.  It is when you eat the whole box of cookies and the whole bag of chips in one sitting that you might have a problem.

The third key is color.  You want to make your plate look as colorful as possible.  Look at fresh fruit and veggies to paint your plate.  The more colorful your plate is, the more appeasing it is going to look to your eyes.  Have you ever noticed in magazines and cooking shows the dishes always look so tasty?  This is because of the variety of color that are used in these dishes.  You can get red strawberries and tomatoes to yellow peppers and squash.  Pick your favorite colors and create your dishes based on that.

Forget about dieting while you are pregnant.  You and your baby need a steady supply of calories and nutrients through out the nine months of pregnancy and beyond.  Pregnancy is one of the only times where a woman is expected to gain weight.  Trying to prevent that weight gain can not only put you at risk, but also your baby at risk.  You will have all the time in the world after your baby comes to lose the weight, but for nine months don’t even think about the word diet.

If you find you that you are getting sick of the food you have been eating, then it’s time to start experimenting with different foods.  Pregnancy is a time to expand your eating horizons as well as your waistbands.  Plus with food aversions, you might find yourself turning green at some of your favorite foods and craving foods you never dreamed you would eat.  You may find that the thought of pizza can send you running for the toilet, but place a dish of brussel sprouts in front of you and you are in heaven.

Lastly, have fun with your food.  Eating should be fun.  Nothing will ruin your good habits faster than boredom.   Add little touches like a dip for your veggies.  Enjoy your food and try not to gulp it down.  This will help avoid heartburn too!  When you decide to treat yourself, leave the guilt at the door.  After all, you are growing a person inside of you and decide a treat now and then for all your hard work.

Ask any parent who has a child who is allegeric to peanuts how difficult their live has become.  Food shopping can take hours because every food label must be read it and studied to make sure it contains no traces of peanuts.  Arrangements for peanut free foods must be made with the child’s school ahead of time and other children’s birthdays parties can be a parent’s worse nightmare.  Peanut allergies although common can be one of the most fatal allergies a child could suffer from.  Some children are so sensitive to their peanut allergy that if they come into contact with peanuts just from someone else’s skin, their life can be at risk.  Peanut allergies can lead to anaphylactic shock which is a sever allergic reaction that can be fatal.

Peanut allergies are usually not diagnosed until a child reaches the age of 2 or even three years old.  The American Academy of Pediatrics states that parents who have a peanut allergy in the family should wait until their child is at least three years old before giving them peanuts or anything containing peanuts.  There are even some conservative obgyns who advise their pregnant patients not to eat peanuts especially if when they are in their third trimester regardless of if there is a history of peanut allergy in the family or not.

The reason for this is because in order for a peanut allergy to develop, the child has to come into contact with small traces of a peanut.  This contact sensitizes the child so that they later have a severe allergic reaction.  Some experts believe that this first sensitization can occur during pregnancy.  It is believed that a tiny amount of peanut protein can cross the placenta.   In fact a recent study showed that if a women ate peanuts or peanut butter while pregnant their baby could be four times more likely to develop a peanut allergy than a child whose mother didn’t eat any peanuts during her pregnancy.

This isn’t to say though that if you have a no history of nut allergies you should avoid peanuts at all costs.  In fact,  peanuts and peanut butter are very beneficial to you and your baby.  Peanuts are a useful source of folic acid and protein, both which are very important to your and your growing baby.  Peanuts and peanut butter has been said to help some women get through the first trimester morning sickness.  Keep in mind however that there have been some instances when women who had no history of peanut allegeries in their family and ate a over whelming amount of peanuts or even peanut butter through out their pregnancies wound up with children who had a peanut allergy.

Before you decide to throw out all your peanuts and say good bye to peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, talk to your doctor.  Give your doctor a detailed family history and let him know if there are any peanut allergies in your family.  With your doctors help you will be able to create a healthy peanut eating plan for your pregnancy.   If you do not feel comfortable at all eating peanuts due to the risk do not let anyone change your mind.  It is your body and your child and you have the right to make that decision.

Heartburn does not just affect those who are high stressed or love their spicy foods.  Pregnant women suffer from heartburn too.  You will find as your pregnancy progresses that antacids tend to  become your best friend.   Heartburn has nothing to do with your heart.

It is when the acid from your stomach leaks up into the esophagus.  Heartburn is very common during pregnancy.  In fact one in four women experience heartburn during their pregnancy usually during the third trimester.  The reason is that your baby has grown a tremendous amount and your uterus has moved up and is now putting pressure on your stomach.  This crowds the digestive tract and allows acids to travel back up the esophagus.   There is an old wives tale that if you have bad heartburn, your baby will have a lot of hair.   Of course there is no proof in this but it is a fun thing to believe in.

There are ways you can help prevent heartburn during pregnancy.  You can start by taking your time while you eat.  Not only will you enjoy your food better but your stomach will not have to work as hard to digest your food.  You also want to try eating early and eat at least two hours before you go to bed that night so your body has plenty of time to digest your food.

Keep your meals small. Stick with eating six small meals through out the day. Large meals tend to stuff up your stomach which is already extra squashed thanks to your uterus.  A stuffed stomach makes it that more likely that some of the food along with stomach acid will make its way back up the esophagus.

Also, make sure you keep your fluids and solids separate.  Too much fluid mixed with too much food can distend the stomach which can aggravate heartburn.  You also want to eat sitting up.  Don’t eat while lying down, and if you are having a bed time snack make sure you are propped up by pillows.

Your weight plays a part in how much heartburn you may experience.  The heavier you are, the more pressure you are placing on your esophageal sphincter.  This is another reason why you should not gain to much more than the recommended amount.

Find out what foods cause your heartburn.  Once you figure out what foods cause heartburn, you can cut them out of your diet.  Some foods you might want to steer clear of are highly seasoned spicy foods, soda, tomatoes sauce, chocolate, and some citrus.  Greasy foods are also a big contributor to heartburn.   Cutting out greasy, fried food is going to help with your heartburn prevention.

When all else fails, take something for your heartburn.  Tums and Rolaids are perfectly safe to take during pregnancy.  If you are not comfortable taking any over the counter medicines try some natural ways such as eating a handful of almonds.  Almonds are a stomach settler and might help with your heartburn.  Another natural remedy is a tablespoon of honey mixed with milk is a favorite for preventing heartburn.

Like with some pregnancy discomforts, heartburn is one that can be avoided as long as you take the steps and eat properly.  Even without suffering from a lot of heartburn, your baby still could be born with a full head of hair.

The first thing you will want to do after reading a positive pregnancy test stick is to have it confirmed. You will want to immediately call your doctor or midwife to have them confirm your home pregnancy test, if you are lucky they may be able to see you with in a day or two if not you may have to wait a week or two to have your pregnancy confirmed. You will quickly learn that patience will prove to be your friend or your worst enemy now and throughout your pregnancy. It is best to try and learn this early on. Hopefully within a day or two you will have confirmed that you are indeed pregnant.

You will want to set up your appointment with your OB/GYN or midwife as soon as possible, more likely then not you will be meeting with his/her staff prior to meeting with them.  At the first appointment your doctor or midwife will want to know all about you and the fathers medical history so be prepared before you go to the doctors office. They will want to know if you have been pregnant before, any medical conditions that you may have or that may run in your family, etc. It is best to gather this information and have it written down before your appointment.

As you are preparing for your appointment it is also a good idea to keep a running list of any questions or concerns you may have for once you meet with your doctor or midwife. Doctors and midwives are here to help, and they have been asked every question under the sun, no question is too silly so don’t be embarrassed, ask away and remember the only stupid question is the one not asked. After receiving the good news your doctor will most likely give you a bag of goodies that contains packets of information on pregnancy as well as valuable coupons, read this stuff and jot down any questions you may have before your next visit.  Your next appointment is likely to be about a month away.

Your doctor or midwife will most likely prescribe some prenatal vitamins; make sure that you take these as they are essential during pregnancy. If for some reason you have an adverse reaction to the vitamins make sure to tell your doctor or midwife as they can likely prescribe you a lower dosage or another brand of prenatal vitamins.

Most likely your first ultrasound will be around 20 weeks of pregnancy and will determine the sex of your baby. Sometimes, your doctor may order an ultrasound at 10-12 weeks to confirm your pregnancy and check that everything is progressing as it should. Throughout your pregnancy you will be bombarded with test after test and  ultrasound after ultrasound, don’t be alarmed, these are just precautionary measures.

In the beginning of your pregnancy your doctor/midwife appointments will likely be 4 weeks apart. Once you pregnancy progresses to 32 weeks you will likely see your doctor/midwife every 2 weeks and once you progress to 36 weeks your appointments will be a week apart until you reach week 40. If your pregnancy progresses beyond 40 weeks, which it does in many first time mothers you will likely see your doctor/midwife every few days to insure the safety of you and your baby. Rest assured your doctor/midwife will not let your pregnancy progress beyond 42 weeks although it may be necessary to induce labor naturally or medically.

Congratulations and welcome to parenthood.  Your body has gone through a lot these past nine months and it still has a while to go before it is back to normal.  The next few months are going to give you and your body a whole new set of challenges especially if you are a first time parent.  Recovering from childbirth is exhausting and when you throw a new baby who has no concept of time into the mix and you might find your head spinning.  Eating well during this time is almost as important as eating well during your pregnancy.

Your body has just been through a traumatic ordeal.  If you gave birth vaginally, you mind find yourself recovering from tears and what not.  If you gave birth via c-section, you are recovering from major surgery.   The first thing most hospitals and doctors like to make sure is that your plumbing and waste systems are working.

Eating high fiber food and drinking lots of water after your delivery will help make that first bowel movement a lot less painful.  This can be a little hard for women who delivery via c-section because they are usually on a liquid diet for the first 24 hours. You may find you need a little help from either stool softeners or prune juice to make that first trip a little easier.

Once you are home from the hospital, you are going to need your energy to take care of the baby.   Gone are the nights where you were able to get a full 8 hours of sleep.  You might not see that again for at least three months,  though ask any parent and they will tell you that getting 8 hours of sleep a night will not happen until your kids are grown and married. Sleep deprivation can wreak havoc on you and it is important that you eat healthy to maintain a decent amount of energy.

The postpartum period is usually where most women find themselves downing countless amounts of coffee or sugary foods to give them a quick fix. This is not healthy because once you come down from that high, you are going to be even more exhausted than you were before hand.  Make sure all of your meals are balanced meals and stock up on quick and healthy snacks such as celery sticks, baby carrots and lots of fruit to get you through the day.

Eating healthy can also help you fight the baby blues those first few weeks.  Nearly 80% of all women suffer from baby blues.  These usually kick in between the 4th and 5th day after delivery and can last for 10 days to 2 weeks.  You may find yourself emotional for no reason and you may start to cry for no reason.

Some women report a feeling of sadness that they are no longer pregnant and others report a feeling of helplessness when it comes to dealing with their new baby.  The baby blues are caused by your hormone levels going back to normal.  By maintaining your healthy habits that you practiced during your pregnancy could help you handle your changing emotions a little better.

Pregnancy is tough and the post partum period is just as tough.  Make sure you take the best care of yourself as possible during this time.  Eat right and continue to take your prenatal vitamin to make sure your baby is going to get the best care you are capable of.