Stages of Birth

Narrator: In the weeks before birth, your body slows down production of the hormone progesterone while increasing production of other hormones – including prostaglandins, which soften the cervix, and oxytocin, which triggers the uterine muscles to contract. True labor contractions are rhythmic and painful, and grow consistently stronger. As the long vertical muscle bands of the uterus tighten, they pull the cervix open. The strong muscles at the top of the uterus push down and release, guiding your baby toward the cervix. The mucus plug, a collection of thickened cervical mucus that's sealed your cervix shut for nine months, may be expelled days before or in the midst of labor. When the amniotic sac ruptures, your water has broken. It can feel like a trickle or a gush of fluid. Your cervix will begin opening and thinning, known as dilation and effacement. Once you reach about 4 centimeters, your body will move into active labor. In active labor, contractions become stronger and...

Things To Stop Before Pregnancy Are you looking forward to get pregnant and start a new family with your husband? If yes, then you need to take a few precautions to make sure that your pregnancy period goes well. There are various things that you might be doing currently and you need to stop those activities immediately. Things like alcohol, cigarettes, and tobacco are extremely toxic, and they can prove too poisonous for you and the foetus. If you have any such bad habits and trying to conceive, then read the following points to know more about the ill-effects of such habits. Quit Smoking Immediately If you have been smoking cigarettes or tobacco in any other form, then stopping it before pregnancy is the most ideal thing to do. Smoking raises the chances for miscarriage, untimely birth and low-birth-weight. Furthermore, it also expands the likelihood of your child developing issues later on, such as asthma. If you think that you can't stop, in that case, at least ...

How To Get Pregnant Even If A Woman Has PCOS Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a typical female endocrine issue and is one of the main reasons behind infertility. Regardless of the possibility that you have PCOS, you can get pregnant naturally after receiving proper treatment. Females who have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome have a tendency to become obese and they stop ovulating (anovulation) as well. This can result in irregular or zero menstrual cycles. To determine the illness, a pelvic ultrasound is done that uncovers ovaries containing numerous small cysts. No need to worry! Even if you're suffering from PCOS, a lot of things can be done to raise the possibility of conceiving naturally. Here are a few tips that can help you to pregnant easily. Tip #1 - Get In Shape! Lose Excess Weight If you're obese, then losing some weight should be first and foremost step. One research demonstrated that losing as meagre as 5% of your body weight can enhance your odds of ...

Interesting Facts About PCOS And Pregnancy You'll be surprised to know that PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) is one of the major reasons behind infertility among women these days. Statistically, it affects more than 20% of women in the age group of 20 to 50. Another extra 30% of females may experience the ill effects of some symptoms of PCOS in spite of the fact that they may not be diagnosed to have the disorder. What Is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome? Females experiencing Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome have cysts, or liquid filled sacs on their ovaries. Women suffering from this problem will have ovaries that will be 1.5 to 3 times bigger than normal ovaries. PCOS can have negative impacts on the normal reproductive functions like the menstrual cycle and fertility. What causes Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome? The real reason behind the occurrence of PCOS remains a secret in spite of the fact that this disorder has been discovered long back. Likely explanations of thi...

Sleep Problem During Pregnancy Some of the symptoms of pregnancy caused by hormonal changes and other factors can lead to some sleep disturbance or reduction in quality of sleep. However, despite the fact that some of the causes of sleep disturbance during pregnancy is beyond your control, there are certain sleeping tips that you should apply to sleep better during pregnancy. Below are some of the pregnancy sound sleeping tips that you should apply. Supporting your back and tummy with an extra pillow You can enhance the quality of your sleep by putting a pillow between your legs. This will not only make sleeping by the side easier, it will also provide support to the lower back. If you are suffering from indigestion also known as acid reflux, you should try to raise your torso with a wedge pillow. By sleeping with a wedge pillow, which raises your torso up, you, will bring the gravitational force against the movement of the stomach acid up to the esophagus. Going on the r...

Abnormal Bleeding After Pregnancy Waiting for the baby to be born during the nine months of pregnancy is not quite an easy thing. The woman's body normally undergoes a lot of changes, not to mention all the anxiety, stress and emotions. Once the baby is born and pregnancy ends, a completely new life starts for you. When it comes to vaginal bleeding, lochia is something that follows birth. This discharge helps the body eliminate all the supportive tissue left in the uterus. There is nothing for you to worry about. However, sometimes bleeding after pregnancy occurs and even medical treatment may be needed in order to stop the blood flow. Any abnormal blood loss from the uterus occurring immediately after birth is known as postpartum hemorrhage. After pregnancy, it usually occurs within the first 24 hours after giving birth. It can occur at any point during the first 12 weeks after giving birth. Signs and symptoms of abnormal bleeding after pregnancy Making the differen...

Leg Cramps During Pregnancy Leg cramps are quite common during pregnancy. Most women experience it in the third trimester. Reports reveal that nearly half of all pregnant women suffer from muscle spasms especially in their legs. These women have also reported that cramping becomes more frequent during the evening. One of the major causes is excess weight gained by women during this period. The legs carry all of this weight and this overburden cause spasms/cramps. Additionally, changes in body circulation also cause this issue. Other common reasons include pressure from the growing baby that gets placed on the nerves and blood vessels traveling to legs. The growing uterus also adds to the pressure on veins in the leg. Pregnancy hormones and nutrition deficiency are some other reasons. Luckily, there are a few things that you can do to get relief from leg cramps. Here are 7 effective remedies for leg cramps during pregnancy: 1. Warm water bath Go for a warm water bath with ...

Once pregnant, women have generally advised a list of a specific set of dos and don'ts by everyone. Interestingly, many of these are simply in Stages of birth myths. Here are 10 myths that you never knew and enjoy happy Stages of birth: Myth 1: Really Sick? You may have Twins Debunked - If you are feeling sick more than usual, it does NOT indicate the possibility of having twins. Sometimes it may be due to higher levels of hormone HCG. Myth 2: Pregnant Women should not have Seafood Debunked - Eating fish in good quantity is very good for pregnant women. Seafood is high in omega-3 fatty acids. Having fish low in mercury levels during pregnancy will produce smarter babies. Studies reveal that mothers who ate at least 12 ounces of seafood in a week while expecting had babies with higher verbal IQ. These babies also showed superior social, better motor skills, and communication skills. Myth 3: Belly Position Determines Baby's Gender: Debunked - The old wives' tale...