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Pregnancy and Childbirth
Learn about pregnancy and childbirth
Whether you are thinking about getting pregnant or already are expecting, our topics on pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding 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:
- Abnormal Pap Test While Pregnant
- Abortion
- Acetaminophen Use During Pregnancy
- Acupressure for Morning Sickness
- After Childbirth: Coping and Adjusting at Home With Your Baby
- After Childbirth: Pelvic Bone Problems
- After Childbirth: Urination and Bowel Problems
- Alcohol or Drug Use During Pregnancy
- Anemia During Pregnancy
- Antihistamines for Morning Sickness
- Antiphospholipid Syndrome and Pregnancy
- Anxiety During and After Pregnancy
- Artificial Rupture of the Membranes
- Asthma During Pregnancy
- Automated Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring
- Avoiding Mercury in Fish
- Baby Blues
- Back Pain During Pregnancy
- Basal Body Temperature (BBT) Tracking
- Bed Rest for Preterm Labor
- Bed Rest in Pregnancy
- Birth Defects Testing
- Braxton Hicks Contractions
- Breast Changes During Pregnancy
- Breast Engorgement
- Breastfeeding
- Breastfeeding After a C-Section
- Breastfeeding After Breast Surgery
- Breastfeeding and Your Milk Supply
- Breastfeeding as Birth Control
- Breastfeeding During Pregnancy
- Breastfeeding Your Newborn and an Older Child
- Breastfeeding: Choosing a Breast Pump
- Breastfeeding: Exercise and Weight Loss
- Breastfeeding: Tobacco, Alcohol, and Drugs
- Breathing Techniques for Childbirth
- Breech Position and Breech Birth
- Caffeine During Pregnancy
- Cancer During Pregnancy
- Cancer Treatment and Infertility
- Cervical Cerclage
- Cervical Effacement and Dilatation
- Cervical Insufficiency
- Cesarean Section
- Charting Your Basal Body Temperature
- Childbirth Afterpains
- Childbirth Classes
- Childbirth Pain Relief Options
- Childbirth: Epidurals
- Childbirth: I.V. Medicines
- Childbirth: Is Planning a C-Section a Good Choice?
- Childbirth: Laboring in Water and Water Delivery
- Childbirth: Perineal Massage Before Labor
- Childbirth: Pudendal Block
- Childbirth: Pudendal Block
- Childbirth: Strep Infections During Delivery
- Cholestasis of Pregnancy
- Congenital Syphilis
- Contractions During Pregnancy: What to Expect
- COVID-19: Advice if You're Planning a Pregnancy, Pregnant, Recently Pregnant, or Breastfeeding
- Cystic Fibrosis Carrier Screening
- Dental Care During Pregnancy
- Depression During Pregnancy
- Doulas and Support During Childbirth
- Early Signs of Pregnancy
- Eclampsia (Seizures) and Preeclampsia
- Ectopic Pregnancy
- Emergency Contraception
- Episiotomy and Perineal Tears
- Exercise During Pregnancy
- External Cephalic Version for Breech Position
- Fallopian Tube Procedures for Infertility
- Fatigue During Pregnancy
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
- Fetal Monitoring During Labor
- Fever During Pregnancy
- Find Your Ovulation Day
- First-Trimester Exams and Tests
- Folate Deficiency Anemia
- Food Poisoning During Pregnancy
- Gamete and Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT and ZIFT)
- Genetics
- Gestational Diabetes
- Getting Enough Folic Acid (Folate)
- Getting Pregnant After Stopping Birth Control
- Ginger for Morning Sickness
- Group B Streptococcal Infections in Newborns
- Heartburn During Pregnancy
- HELLP Syndrome
- Hepatitis C in Pregnancy
- High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy
- High-Risk Pregnancy
- HIV and Pregnancy
- Hospital Policies and Breastfeeding
- Immunizations and Pregnancy
- In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
- In-Clinic Abortion Care
- Indirect Coombs Test
- Infant Formulas
- Infertility
- Infertility Tests
- Infertility Treatment for Women With PCOS
- Infertility: Emotional and Social Support
- 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: Setting Limits on Testing
- Infertility: Setting Limits on Treatment
- Infertility: Thinking About Adoption
- Insemination for Infertility
- Insemination Procedures
- 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 (ICSI)
- Intrauterine Fetal Blood Transfusion
- Labor and Delivery
- Labor Induction and Augmentation
- Laparoscopic Ovarian Drilling (Ovarian Diathermy) for PCOS
- Leg Cramps During Pregnancy
- Local Anesthesia for Childbirth
- Low Amniotic Fluid
- Low-Lying Placenta Versus Placenta Previa
- Lupus and Pregnancy
- Making a Birth Plan
- Managing Emotional Changes During Pregnancy
- Massage Therapy During Pregnancy
- Mastitis While Breastfeeding
- Medicines During Pregnancy
- Milk Oversupply
- Miscarriage
- Missed or Irregular Periods
- Molar Pregnancy
- Multiple Pregnancy: Preterm Birth
- Multiple Pregnancy: Twins or More
- Multiple Sclerosis and Pregnancy
- My Birth Plan
- Myomectomy
- Nausea or Vomiting During Pregnancy
- Nitrous Oxide Pain Relief for Childbirth
- Nonmedical Options for Pain Relief in Childbirth
- Nutrition During Pregnancy
- Obesity and Pregnancy
- Obstetric Panel
- Oxytocin
- Partner Support During Pregnancy
- Passing Tissue During Pregnancy
- Peripartum Cardiomyopathy
- Physical Growth in Newborns
- Pill Abortion Care
- Placenta Previa
- Placental Abruption
- Polyhydramnios
- 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 Weight-Loss (Bariatric) Surgery
- Pregnancy and Chronic High Blood Pressure
- Pregnancy and Epilepsy
- Pregnancy: Belly, Pelvic, and Back Pain
- Pregnancy: Blood Clots
- Pregnancy: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Pregnancy: Changes in Bowel Habits
- Pregnancy: Changes in Feet and Ankles
- Pregnancy: Chemicals, Cosmetics, and Radiation
- Pregnancy: Choosing a Doctor or Midwife
- Pregnancy: Deciding Where to Deliver
- Pregnancy: Dropping (Lightening)
- Pregnancy: First Prenatal Visit
- Pregnancy: Hair Changes
- Pregnancy: Hand Changes
- Pregnancy: Healthy Weight Gain
- Pregnancy: Hemorrhoids and Constipation
- Pregnancy: Hot Tub and Sauna Use
- Pregnancy: Kick Counts
- Pregnancy: Nosebleeds and Bleeding Gums
- Pregnancy: Pelvic and Hip Pain
- Pregnancy: Relationship Changes
- Pregnancy: Stretch Marks, Itching, and Skin Changes
- 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 (Preterm) Infant
- Preparing for a Healthy Pregnancy
- Preterm Labor
- Preterm Labor and Short Cervix
- Preterm Prelabor Rupture of Membranes (pPROM)
- Primary Ovarian Insufficiency
- Problems After Delivery of Your Baby
- Quick Tips: Healthy Pregnancy Habits
- Quitting Smoking or Vaping During Pregnancy
- Rh Sensitization During Pregnancy
- Schizophrenia and Pregnancy
- Screening for Gestational Diabetes
- Second-Trimester Exams and Tests
- Sex After Childbirth
- Sex During Pregnancy
- Signs That Your Baby Is Getting Enough to Eat
- Sleep Problems During Pregnancy
- Smoking: Problems With Pregnancy
- Spinal and Epidural Pain Relief for Childbirth
- Staying Healthy Around Animals
- Stillbirth
- Subchorionic Hemorrhage
- Swelling During Pregnancy
- Symptoms of Pregnancy
- Third-Trimester Exams and Tests
- Tips for Pregnant Parents
- Toxoplasmosis During Pregnancy
- Travel During Pregnancy
- Umbilical Cord Blood Donation and Private Banking
- Umbilical Cord Care
- Urinary Problems During Pregnancy
- Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC)
- Vaginal Bleeding During Pregnancy
- Vaginal Yeast Infection During Pregnancy
- VBAC: Labor Induction
- VBAC: Participation During Birth
- VBAC: Uterine Scar Rupture
- Vitamin B6 for Morning Sickness
- Week 12 of Pregnancy: What's Going On Inside
- Week 16 of Pregnancy: What's Going On Inside
- Week 20 of Pregnancy: What's Going On Inside
- Week 24 of Pregnancy: What's Going On Inside
- Week 28 of Pregnancy: What's Going On Inside
- Week 32 of Pregnancy: What's Going On Inside
- Week 36 of Pregnancy: What's Going On Inside
- Week 40 of Pregnancy: What's Going On Inside
- Week 8 of Pregnancy: What's Going On Inside
- Your Baby's Movements During Pregnancy
- Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) Test
- Amniocentesis
- Antisperm Antibody Test
- Biophysical Profile (BPP) Test
- Blood Type Test
- Cell-Free DNA Test
- Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)
- Contraction Stress Test
- Coombs Test
- Electronic Fetal Monitoring
- Endometrial Biopsy
- Estrogen Test
- Fertility Awareness
- Fetal Blood Sampling (FBS) During Pregnancy
- Fetal Fibronectin Test
- Fetal Ultrasound
- First-Trimester Screening for Birth Defects
- Folate Test
- Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Test
- Home Pregnancy Tests
- Hormone Inhibin A Test
- Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) Test
- Luteinizing Hormone (LH) Test
- Nonstress Test
- Nuchal Translucency Screening Test
- Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)
- Progesterone Test
- Quad Screening for Birth Defects
- Rubella Test
- Sperm Penetration Tests
- Toxoplasmosis Test
- Breastfeeding: Should I Breastfeed My Baby?
- Depression: Should I Take Antidepressants While I'm 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 Screening Tests for Birth Defects?
- Pregnancy: Should I Try Vaginal Birth After a Past C-Section (VBAC)?
- Breastfeeding: Planning Ahead
- Depression: Managing Postpartum Depression
- Feeding Your Infant
- 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
Current as of: July 10, 2023
Author: Healthwise Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.