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Pregnancy and Childbirth

Learn about pregnancy and childbirth

Photo of a couple expecting a baby

Whether you are thinking about getting pregnant or already are expecting, our topics on pregnancy and childbirth can answer your questions. You can find information ranging from how to find out your due date, to exams and tests during each trimester, to labor and delivery, and much more.

Browse our pregnancy and childbirth topics, or start with one of the following:

More Information

Health Topics
Abnormal Pap Test While Pregnant Acetaminophen Use During Pregnancy Acupressure for Morning Sickness After Childbirth: Coping and Adjusting After Childbirth: Pelvic Bone Problems After Childbirth: Urination and Bowel Problems Alcohol Effects on a Fetus Alcohol or Drug Use During Pregnancy Antibiotics to Treat and Prevent Infection During Preterm Labor Antihistamines for Morning Sickness Antiphospholipid Syndrome and Pregnancy Asthma During Pregnancy Automated Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring Avoiding Mercury in Fish Baby Blues Back Pain During Pregnancy Basal Body Temperature (BBT) Charting Bed Rest for Preterm Labor Birth Defects Testing Blood Tests for Preeclampsia Braxton Hicks Contractions Breast Changes During Pregnancy Breast Engorgement Breast-Feeding Breast-Feeding a Sick Baby Breast-Feeding After a C-Section Breast-Feeding and Your Milk Supply Breast-Feeding During Pregnancy Breast-Feeding More Than One Child Breathing Techniques for Childbirth Breech Position and Breech Birth Caffeine During Pregnancy Cancer During Pregnancy Cancer Treatment and Infertility Cataracts in Children Cervical Cerclage to Prevent Preterm Delivery Cervical Effacement and Dilatation Cesarean Section Chemical Exposure and Miscarriage Childbirth Afterpains Childbirth Classes Childbirth: Epidurals Childbirth: Forceps Delivery and Vacuum Extraction Childbirth: Laboring in Water and Water Delivery Childbirth: Opioid Pain Medicines Childbirth: Perineal Massage Before Labor Childbirth: Pudendal and Paracervical Blocks Childbirth: Reasons for Cesarean Delivery Childbirth: Strep Infections During Delivery Childbirth: Vaginal Exams During Labor Congenital Heart Defects: Pregnancy Congenital Syphilis Continuous Support During Childbirth Contractions During Pregnancy: What to Expect Cystic Fibrosis Carrier Screening Depression During Pregnancy Diabetes: Preparing for Pregnancy Diet, Breast-Feeding, and Colic Dilation and Curettage (D&C) for Miscarriage Draining a Breast Abscess Eclampsia (Seizures) and Preeclampsia Ectopic Pregnancy Ectopic Pregnancy: Getting Pregnant Again Ectopic Pregnancy: Managing Methotrexate Side Effects Emergency Contraception Emotional Changes During Pregnancy Environmental Illness in Children Episiotomy and Perineal Tears Exercise During Pregnancy Expectant Management in Ectopic Pregnancy External Cephalic Version (Version) for Breech Position Fallopian Tube Procedures for Infertility Fatigue During Pregnancy Fertility Problems Fetal Alcohol Effects: Behavior and Learning Problems Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Caring For Your Baby Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Signs That Your Child Needs to Be Evaluated Fever During Pregnancy Find Your Ovulation Day First-Trimester Exams and Tests First-Trimester Screening for Birth Defects Food Poisoning During Pregnancy Gamete and Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT and ZIFT) for Infertility Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) During Pregnancy Gestational Diabetes Gestational Diabetes: Safe Exercise Gestational Diabetes: Target Blood Sugar Levels Getting Enough Folic Acid Ginger for Morning Sickness Group B Streptococcal Infections in Newborns Heart Valve Disease and Pregnancy HELLP Syndrome and Preeclampsia Hemorrhage in Multiple Pregnancy High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy High-Risk Pregnancy HIV and Pregnancy Hospital Policies and Breast-Feeding Immunizations and Pregnancy In Vitro Fertilization for Infertility Indirect Coombs' Test Infertility Tests Infertility Treatment for Women With PCOS Infertility: Aging Egg Supply Infertility: Emotional and Social Concerns Infertility: Ethical and Legal Concerns Infertility: Factors That Affect Treatment Success Infertility: Problems With Fallopian Tubes Infertility: Problems With Ovulation Infertility: Problems With the Uterus and Cervix Infertility: Questions to Ask About Assisted Reproductive Technology Infertility: Questions to Ask About Medicine or Hormone Treatment Infertility: Questions to Ask About Surgery Infertility: Setting Limits on Testing Infertility: Setting Limits on Treatment Infertility: Thinking About Adoption Infertility: Using Ultrasound in ART Inflammatory Bowel Disease During Pregnancy Insemination for Infertility Insemination Procedures for Infertility Insulin Resistance Interactive Tool: From Embryo to Baby in 9 Months Interactive Tool: What Is Your Due Date? Interactive Tool: When Are You Most Fertile? Interactive Tools Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection for Infertility Intrauterine Fetal Blood Transfusion for Rh Disease Kangaroo Care for Premature Infants Labor and Delivery Labor Induction and Augmentation Laparoscopic Ovarian Drilling (Ovarian Diathermy) for PCOS Leg Cramps During Pregnancy Local Anesthesia for Childbirth Low-Lying Placenta Lupus and Pregnancy Lyme Disease During Pregnancy and Nursing Making Decisions About Very Premature Infants: Personal Stories Massage Therapy During Pregnancy Mastitis While Breast-Feeding Medicines During Pregnancy Meningitis and Group B Streptococci Miscarriage Miscarriage: Expectant Management for Incomplete Miscarriage Miscarriage: Vacuum Aspiration Missed or Irregular Periods Missed Periods and Endurance Training Molar Pregnancy Multifetal Pregnancy Reduction Multiple Pregnancy: Genetic Disorders and Birth Defects Multiple Pregnancy: Twins or More Multiple Sclerosis and Pregnancy Myomectomy Nausea or Vomiting During Pregnancy NICU: Communicating With the Staff Nutrition and Weight Gain During Pregnancy Obesity and Pregnancy Obstetric Panel Passing Tissue During Pregnancy Pelvic Organ Prolapse Placenta Abruptio Placenta Previa Polyhydramnios in Multiple Pregnancy Postpartum Bleeding Postpartum Depression Postpartum: First 6 Weeks After Childbirth Post-Term Pregnancy Postural Management for Breech Position Preeclampsia Preeclampsia: Checkups and Monitoring Preeclampsia: Creatinine Clearance Test Preeclampsia: Expectant Management Pregnancy Pregnancy After Age 35 Pregnancy After Bariatric Surgery Pregnancy and Chronic High Blood Pressure Pregnancy and Epilepsy Pregnancy and High Blood Pressure: Questions for Your Doctor Pregnancy and Malaria: Reducing Your Risk Pregnancy and the Increased Risk of Developing Blood Clots Pregnancy: Avoiding Papaya Pregnancy: Belly, Pelvic, and Back Pain Pregnancy: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Pregnancy: Changes in Bowel Habits Pregnancy: Changes in Feet and Ankles Pregnancy: Chemicals, Cosmetics, and Radiation Pregnancy: Choosing a Health Professional Pregnancy: Deciding Where to Deliver Pregnancy: Dropping (Lightening) Pregnancy: First Prenatal Visit Pregnancy: Hair Changes Pregnancy: Hand Changes Pregnancy: Headaches and Preeclampsia Pregnancy: Hemorrhoids and Constipation Pregnancy: Hot Tub and Sauna Use Pregnancy: Kick Counts Pregnancy: Nosebleeds and Bleeding Gums Pregnancy: Pelvic and Hip Pain Pregnancy: Prenatal Exam Schedule Pregnancy: Relationship Changes Pregnancy: Stretch Marks, Itching, and Skin Changes Pregnancy: Tips for Dealing With Bed Rest Pregnancy: Vaginal Discharge and Leaking Fluid Pregnancy: Varicose Veins Pregnancy: Vegetarian Diet Pregnancy: Ways to Find Your Due Date Pregnancy: Work and School Issues Pregnancy-Related Problems Premature Delivery in Multiple Pregnancy Premature Infant Premature Infant: Signs of Overstimulation Premature Ovarian Failure Preparing for a Healthy Pregnancy Preterm Labor Preterm Labor Preterm Labor and Short Cervix Preterm Labor: Testing for Fetal Fibronectin Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes (pPROM) Preventing Mastitis Problems After Delivery of Your Baby Quick Tips: Healthy Pregnancy Habits Quitting Smoking and Avoiding Smoke During Pregnancy Rh Sensitization During Pregnancy Risks of Multiple Pregnancy Rubella (German Measles) Schizophrenia and Pregnancy Screening for Gestational Diabetes Second-Trimester Exams and Tests Sex During Pregnancy Signs That Your Baby Is Getting Enough Breast Milk Sleep Problems During Pregnancy Sleep, Rest, and Breast-Feeding Smoking: Problems With Pregnancy Spina Bifida Spinal Block for Childbirth Stillbirth Storing Breast Milk Subchorionic Hemorrhage Swelling During Pregnancy Symptoms of Pregnancy Third-Trimester Exams and Tests Tips for Pregnant Parents Toxoplasmosis During Pregnancy Toxoplasmosis Test for Fetus Travel During Pregnancy Treating Tuberculosis in Pregnant Women Triple or Quad Screening for Birth Defects Umbilical Cord Blood Banking Umbilical Cord Care Urinary Problems During Pregnancy Vacuum Aspiration for Molar Pregnancy Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC) Vaginal Bleeding After Delivery Vaginal Bleeding During Pregnancy Vaginal Yeast Infection During Pregnancy Varicocele Repair for Infertility Vasectomy Reversal (Vasovasostomy) VBAC: Labor Induction VBAC: Participation During Birth VBAC: Type of Past Incision VBAC: Uterine Scar Rupture Vitamins B6 and B12 for Morning Sickness

Medical Tests
Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) in Blood Amniocentesis Antisperm Antibody Test Biophysical Profile (BPP) Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) Contraction Stress Test Electronic Fetal Heart Monitoring Estrogens Fertility Awareness Fetal Ultrasound Folic Acid Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Home Pregnancy Tests Hormone Inhibin A Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) Luteinizing Hormone Nuchal Translucency Screening Test Oral Glucose Tolerance Test Postcoital Test Progesterone Rubella Test Semen Analysis Sperm Penetration Tests Toxoplasmosis Test

Medications
Antenatal Corticosteroids for Fetal Lung Development Antibiotics for Mastitis While Breast-Feeding Bromocriptine or Cabergoline for Infertility Clomiphene for Infertility Gonadotropin Treatment for Infertility Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) for Infertility Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Analogues for Infertility Hydralazine for High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy Indomethacin for Slowing Preterm Labor Insulin for Gestational Diabetes Labetalol for High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy Magnesium Sulfate for Preterm Labor Magnesium Sulfate for Seizure Prevention During Pregnancy Metformin (Glucophage) for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Methotrexate for Ectopic Pregnancy Methyldopa for Chronic Hypertension During Pregnancy Nifedipine for High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy Nifedipine for Preterm Labor Rh Immune Globulin Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) for Postpartum Depression Terbutaline for Slowing Preterm Labor Tricyclic Antidepressants for Postpartum Depression

Make a Wise Decision
Breast-Feeding: Should I Breast-Feed My Baby? Depression: Should I Take Antidepressants While I'm Pregnant? Diabetes: Should I Get Pregnant? Fertility Problems: Should I Be Tested? Fertility Problems: Should I Have a Tubal Procedure or In Vitro Fertilization? Infertility: Should I Have Treatment? Miscarriage: Should I Have Treatment to Complete a Miscarriage? Multiple Pregnancy: Should I Consider a Multifetal Pregnancy Reduction? Pregnancy: Should I Bank My Baby's Umbilical Cord Blood? Pregnancy: Should I Have Amniocentesis? Pregnancy: Should I Have an Early Fetal Ultrasound? Pregnancy: Should I Have an Epidural During Childbirth? Pregnancy: Should I Have CVS (Chorionic Villus Sampling)? Pregnancy: Should I Have the Maternal Serum Triple or Quadruple Test? Pregnancy: Should I Try Vaginal Birth After a Past C-Section (VBAC)?

Take Action
Breast-Feeding: Planning Ahead Depression: Managing Postpartum Depression Gestational Diabetes: Checking Your Blood Sugar Gestational Diabetes: Counting Carbs Gestational Diabetes: Dealing With Low Blood Sugar Gestational Diabetes: Giving Yourself Insulin Shots Pregnancy and Diabetes: Planning for Pregnancy Pregnancy: Dealing With Morning Sickness

Credits

By:

Healthwise Staff

Last Revised: November 7, 2011

Medical Review:

Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.