Am I Pregnant?

Am I Pregnant? By Maria Gonzalez

Am I pregnant? This is often one of the most important questions a women can ask. If you suspect you are pregnant, getting good prenatal care early is very important, so finding out as soon as possible is vital.

Am I pregnant? Have you missed a period? Are you bloated? Are your breasts tender? These may be early symptoms of pregnancy. Have you spotted, but never gotten your period? Do things smell and taste differently? Are you tired?

If you can answer yes to at least one or two of these questions, you may be pregnant. However, some women never suspect that they have conceived. As soon as your period is late, you can perform an at-home pregnancy test inexpensively and privately. These tests can be found at your local discount or drug store. The at-home tests claim 99% accuracy, and false positives are rare, so if you test positive you are most likely pregnant. Since these tests measure the level of pregnancy hormone (HCG) in your urine, it’s important to follow the instructions carefully and repeat a negative test a few days to a week later just to be sure. Sometimes hormone levels don’t rise high enough to be detected right away.

If you suspect you are pregnant, refrain from smoking, drinking alcohol and using illegal drugs until you are sure. These substances are harmful to a developing baby. Stay away from x-rays and try to eat healthy until your pregnancy is confirmed.

Maria writes for Pregnancy Due Date, a site that tries to information for expectant mothers. For more great pregnancy articles, visit our Pregnancy articles archive.

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Pregnancy -> Planning -> Caregivers and Birth Settings

Pregnancy -> Planning -> Caregivers and Birth Settings

Why do I need to think about choosing a maternity caregiver and birth setting before I get pregnant?


Most women will make these important decisions early in their pregnancy, but you might want to consider what care options are available to you before you get pregnant. The caregiver you choose will affect many things -- from the quality of care you receive and the amount of information that is shared with you, to your options during labor and birth and your involvement with these decisions. An established relationship with your caregiver during pregnancy planning can be an important part of your support system and a trusted source of information throughout your pregnancy.

If you have a chronic medical condition, are on certain medications, or have a disease that could cause birth complications, you will need to choose a maternity caregiver and birth setting which can accommodate these needs. In your situation, you will probably want to plan to give birth in a hospital and be in the care of a doctor who is board-certified in obstetrics.

If you are healthy, as most pregnant women in the U.S. are, you have decisions to make as well, including whether to have a doctor or a midwife provide your maternity care. You will want to begin reviewing the points that go into making educated decisions about a maternity caregiver and birth setting during this planning pregnancy stage. This website has detailed Pregnancy Topics covering both Caregivers and Birth Settings to help you make an informed decision.



Posted by Hotel at 11:28 AM  

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