Tokophobia: Fear of Pregnancy and Childbirth
But for many women pregnancy may also become a worrisome and fearful event. Tokophobia is the fear of pregnancy or childbirth and requires treatment.
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First Stage of Active Labor
When the first stage of labor begins, the cervix responds to hormonal changes and contractions start to take on a more patterned interval. Cervical dilation and bloody show will be present as well.
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During COVID-19: Is Home Birth Better than Hospital Birth?
Even now: Home birth is not safer than hospital birth.
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Top Childbirth Fears: Questions and Answers
There are so many worries and concerns when it comes being pregnant, with perhaps the largest surrounding what might potentially happen during labor and delivery. Knowledge is power so we compiled top worries about labor and delivery along with information on how to conquer them!
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Baby’s Brain Injury May Have Occurred Long Before Delivery
Recent advances in medical science indicate many brain injuries occur during pregnancy, long before labor begins. In these cases, medical personnel are not at fault.
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Study: Epidurals Slow Second Stage of Labor, Delay Delivery
The findings of a recent study on the use of epidurals during labor
suggest the need to review current guidelines defining normal
progression and potentially dangerous prolonged (abnormal) labor.
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Pregnancy Hormones Ease Chronic Pain
During pregnancy, childbirth, and thereafter, many women don't experience pain to the degree expected. Many who use opiates for pain management find they don't need as much of it during this time.
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The Third Trimester From The Male Perspective
The home stretch, the last few innings, the calm before the storm – or perhaps the storm before the hurricane. Yes, we’re talking about the third trimester of pregnancy. This is the time you and your partner are making final preparations and when you’ll begin counting down the launch sequence.
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Head Engagement Lightening: When Your Baby Drops
For the better part of your pregnancy, your baby will be positioned upright for his or her development. However, at the end of your third trimester, your body will start naturally preparing for birth, and your baby will “drop” into the birthing position.
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The Checklist and Other List Page
The preconception, fertility, pregnancy, hospital, and postpartum checklist page will help you in your tasks. ... read more »
Third Trimester of Pregnancy: Doctor's Appointments and Tests
If you’re in your third trimester (weeks 28 through 40 weeks) you’re in the home stretch. Doctor visits are coming up more frequently, and depending on how your pregnancy is progressing so far, you will either have them monthly or weekly.
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How Weather Affects Fertility and Pregnancy
Believe it or not but the weather can affect fertility and pregnancy. In men and women.
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Labor and Delivery: Birthing Choices
The traditional birthing choice in the United States involves having a doctor-assisted delivery in a hospital setting. Despite the popularity of the traditional hospital birth, there are other birthing options women may want to consider.
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Prenatal Yoga for Stress Relief
Prenatal yoga helps you stay fit, keep you relaxed, and lowering your stress level.
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7 Tips for Staying Comfortable at Work During Pregnancy
Working until the latter stages of pregnancy could increase this feeling exponentially, but there are a few things you can change about your workspace to increase your comfort level.
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Reflexology for Labor and Delivery
More women are turning to reflexology as part of their plans for a good experience with labor and delivery. It can be used both throughout a pregnancy, and also in the delivery room as labor progresses.
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Nausea and Vomiting During Labor and Delivery
Isn’t going through labor enough without having to add feeling sick to the whole experience? Unfortunately, nausea is common during labor.
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Postpartum Hemorrhage and Bleeding
It is normal to experience some postpartum bleeding in the weeks or months following birth. However, you can experience more than usual postpartum bleeding following delivery, and the medical term for more than usual bleeding is postpartum hemorrhage (PPH).
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When Is It Too Late For Pain Medication?
For a pregnant woman who has decided on using pain medication for labor and delivery hearing the words, “It is too late to relieve pain” can be frightening. Why, and more importantly when, is it too late for pain medication during labor and delivery?
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Relieving the Itch After C-Section Requires Promptness
One nagging problem that some women face after their cesarean section is incessant itching all over their skin.
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Umbilical Cord Information and Anomalies
The umbilical cord transports blood and nutrients between the placenta and the fetus and back.
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Childbirth: Aromatherapy for Pain Management
One of the alternative techniques you can use for the management of pain during labor is aromatherapy. Aromatherapy can be a great way to reduce the amount of stress you're experiencing.
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Pushing Tips
You can take classes, watch movies and ask questions about pushing, but until you are in active labor, you won't know exactly how strong the pressure and the need to push really is. Learning some tips for effective pushing can help lt lessen the time spent in labor.
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What is a Birth Plan?
A birth plan is a simple, clear, flexible plan expressing the birth mother’s preferences during birth. The plan is not a medical guide or definitive declaration of how the birth will go, but it does give everyone involved an idea of the pregnant woman’s wishes.
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Tips to Naturally Induce Labor
As you near the end of your pregnancy, you may be ready for the entire process of carrying your baby to be over. Several things can be done to induce labor naturally that might make you have contractions and begin labor, but they'll only work if your body is ready! Follow these labor induction tips.
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What to Pack for Labor & Delivery
Here's what to pack for the hospital in your labor bag!
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Breathing Exercises
Most people associate breathing exercises with helping to ease pain from contractions, but it also provides increased oxygen levels to the baby who is in state of stress as well.
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First-Time Fathers and the Delivery Room
Euphoria, agony, and everything in between. Back and forth, for hours. Those are the emotional memories of ten fathers participating in a Swedish study of first-time fathers in the delivery room.
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Epidural and Spinal Anesthesia During Labor
An epidural is the most popular choice among women during labor and delivery. It is delivered through a needle and catheter which usually stays in place until the baby is born.
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Third Stage of Labor
Giving birth to a new baby is about more than just active labor, contractions and pushing. The placenta needs to pass out of the uterus and vagina after delivery.
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Second Stage of Active Labor
The second stage of active labor is when you finally get to react to those strong contractions. As the second stage of active labor begins you will feel the need to push.
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Interactive Apgar Score Calculator
The Apgar score is done on every baby at 1 and 5 minutes of life to assess whether the baby needs resuscitation. This interactive Apgar Score Calculator will help you determine your baby's Apgar score.
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Labor Contractions Timer Tool
The babyMed Labor Contractions Timer Tool allows you to follow your contractions as labor begins and as it progresses toward delivery. When timing labor contractions, start counting from the beginning of one contraction to the beginning of the next. Follow your contractions and calculate everything about them: How long they last, how far apart they are and how frequent they become. This counting tool automatically calculates the number of contractions, length, interval, and other important information.
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Vaginal Tearing
Natural tears are common during childbirth and tend to heal just as quickly as surgical cuts or episiotomies. There are four degrees of vaginal tearing during pregnancy:
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When Should I Head To The Hospital?
The first stage, when mom starts feeling real labor pains, can last
between 10 and 14 hours. Once through this first stage, it is time for
mom to head off to the hospital.
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Spinal Anesthesia
Spinals are pain medications delivered via the spinal column in one dose. The medication is fast acting and can achieve a complete block of pain in as little as 15 minutes.
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Why Can't I Use the Bathroom?
While dehydration is not typically a problem thanks to IV fluids, fear of urinating may cause a woman who has just given birh to refrain from heading off to the bathroom too quickly.
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Oral Misoprostol vs. Foley Catheter: Induction of Labor
A study published in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth examines efficacy and pregnancy complication rates between Foley catheter and oral misoprostol labor induction.
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Common Postpartum Problems: Episiotomy Issues
If you received a small incision in your perineum while giving birth,
this procedure is called an episiotomy. It is sometimes necessary in
order to make more room for your baby during delivery.
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NY Mets Daniel Murphy Takes Flack for Paternity Leave
New York Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy Daniel Murphy chose to be a family man.
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Labor Fears Linked to Postpartum Depression
An estimated 50 to 80 percent of all women who give birth experience some degree of postpartum depression in the first year after delivery.
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Inflatable Belt May Shorten Labor
An inflatable belt may reduce time spent in the second stage of labor,
according to research. The belt, which applies fundal pressure to the uterus, shortened the second stage of labor and caused no adverse side effects.
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Impact of Chorioamnionitis on Neurodevelopmental Outcomes
Bacterial infections, typically associated with long labor and bacteria
that moves from the vagina to the uterus, can cause chorioamnionitis or
an inflammation of the fetal membranes.
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Pregnancy Study: Acupressure for Pain Relief in Labor
Researchers from Taiwan have published a study in the February, 2013
issue of Pain Management Nursing. The study examined the effect of
acupressure on various types of pain.
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Baby-Friendly Hospital Accreditation and Breastfeeding Rates
A recent review of breastfeeding rates at one and four months postpartum
in mothers who gave birth at BFHI (Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative) hospitals reveals the initiative has
little impact on overall breastfeeding rates.
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Setting Makes Home Deliveries More Risky, Not Midwives
Dr. Grunebaum advises patients invite a midwife into the hospital delivery room so a
woman can have both the comfort of a familiar birthing companion and the necessary medical staff and equipment.
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Auto Mechanic’s Dream Vision Eases Delivery Difficulties
What do you get when you cross an auto mechanic, a YouTube video, and a
vision in a dream? In the case of Argentinian mechanic Jorge Odón, you
get the Odón Device.
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Comparison of Anesthetic Effects During Cesarean Section
There are various options for pain control during cesarean section
delivery. Regional pain blocks, like the spinal, are increasing in
popularity, but there are multiple drugs to choose from.
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Leptin Levels in Pregnancy and Treatment of Obese Women
Researchers from Queens Hospital and Whipps Cross University Hospital in
the United Kingdom recently published a question in the journal Medical Hypotheses. The question posed related to leptin levels, obesity and pregnancy management.
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Uterine Closure Techniques After C-Section Delivery
Researchers at the University of Obstetrics and Gynecology at
Universite Laval in Quebec recently polled more than 450 obstetricians
on the type of uterine closure they favor after C-section delivery.
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