Amniocentesis, or an amniotic fluid test (AFT), is a medical procedure used for prenatal diagnosis, in which a small amount of amniotic fluid is extracted from the amnion around a developing fetus. It is usually offered when there may be an increased risk for genetic defects in the pregnancy. Amniocentesis can be done as soon as there is enough amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus that a sample can be removed safely. Early amniocentesis can be performed as early as 13 weeks gestation. Standard amniocentesis is usually performed between 15 and 20 weeks gestation. Results take about two weeks. Often, genetic counseling is done before amniocentesis, or other types of genetic testing are offered.
Medical ultrasonography (sonography) is an ultrasound-based diagnostic imaging technique used to visualize muscles and internal organs, their size, structures and possible pathologies or lesions. Obstetric sonography is commonly used during pregnancy and is widely recognized by the public. There are a plethora of diagnostic and therapeutic applications practiced in medicine..
Nuchal Scan is a sonographic prenatal screening scan (ultrasound) to help identify higher risks of Down syndrome in fetuses, particularly for older mothers who have higher risks of such pregnancies. The scan is carried out at 11-13 weeks pregnancy and assesses the amount of fluid behind the neck of the fetus - also known as 'the nuchal translucency'. Babies at risk of Down tend to have a higher amount of fluid around the neck.
Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is a form of prenatal diagnosis to determine genetic abnormalities in the fetus. It entails getting a sample of the chorionic villus (placental tissue) and testing it. It is generally carried out only on pregnant women over the age of 35 and those whose offspring have a higher risk of Down syndrome and other chromosomal conditions.
Women who choose unassisted childbirth often educate themselves about birth preparation and prenatal care through online resources, books, and other mothers. Learning about sound pregnancy nutrition, pregnancy fitness options, and other positive practices for pregnant women is useful, whether seeking professional prenatal care or not. Women who plan for an unassisted birth will often explore a variety of birth preparation avenues, including medical prenatal care, personal focus on health, and spiritual introspection.
A tampon is a plug of cotton or other absorbent material inserted into a body cavity or wound to absorb fluid. The most common type in daily use (and the topic of the remainder of this article) is a usually disposable plug that is designed to be inserted into the vagina during menstruation to absorb the flow of blood. The use of these devices has occasionally caused infection and (rarely) death (see Toxic shock syndrome). In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates tampons as medical devices.
Genetic counseling is the process by which patients or relatives, at risk of an inherited disorder, are advised of the consequences and nature of the disorder, the probability of developing or transmitting it, and the options open to them in management and family planning in order to prevent, avoid or ameliorate it. This complex process can be seen from diagnostic (the actual estimation of risk) and supportive aspects.
In medicine (obstetrics) cardiotocography (CTG) is a technical means of recording (-graphy) the fetal heartbeat (cardio-) and the uterine contractions (-toco-) during childbirth. CTG can be used to identify signs of fetal distress.
Get information on pregnancy tests for every stage of your pregnancy, from home pregnancy tests to ultrasounds. Should you have an amniocentesis or another pregnancy test? Weigh your options here
Ovulation Calendar is an online tool for any woman who either desires a pregnancy or wishes to prevent one. Designed by a woman in consultation with women physicians, Ovulation Calendar is a program that calculates the time of ovulation and generates your personal fertility calendar. Simply enter the length of your menstrual cycle and the date of your last period, and Ovulation Calendar will calculate your fertile days. The results are presented as a color-coded calendar showing your fertile and non-fertile periods.
For each of the forty weeks of pregnancy, you'll find information about baby's development, the types of changes that occur within mom's pregnant body, specific info for pregnant moms of twins or more, inspirational thoughts and suggested reading. Click the week in the wheel to the left to visit the week you're interested in. We hope you'll read through all 40 weeks as the information builds on each week. You won't want to miss anything. Follow your pregnancy week by week for development of mom and baby.
Check out our pregnancy calendar to find out how your baby (and your body) is growing bigger by the day. Use your personal Pregnancy Calendar to follow your baby's development from conception to birth. Get advice on having a healthy pregnancy, find out what's going on with your own body, receive tips on getting ready for baby and more.
Use our baby's growth calculator to help you determine how your baby is growing and what percentile your baby is in based on growth charts. Create your growth chart to see how your child measures up against other children in height, weight, and head size.
Get information on pregnancy tests for every stage of your pregnancy, from home pregnancy tests to ultrasounds. Should you have an amniocentesis or another pregnancy test? Weigh your options here
Check out our pregnancy calendar to find out how your baby (and your body) is growing bigger by the day. Click the week in the wheel to the left to visit the week you're interested in.
Pregnancy calendars, ovulation and due date calculators, pregnancy and birth videos, pregnancy and baby blogs. How did women in generations past get by without the Internet to turn to for information about sex, fertility, and pregnancy? It's hard to even imagine. Luckily, we have all kinds of cool tools at our disposal, like these. Welcome to PregnancyWay.com. This is the start of an incredible journey. To help you along, we offer info on pregnancy symptoms, weight gain and nutrition, what's safe during pregnancy and what's not, pregnancy stages, labor and delivery, and more. Whether you're trying to get pregnant, already pregnant, or a new mom, we have the tools you need to stay on top of everything. Try easy-to-use tools like our ovulation calculator, personalized pregnancy checklist, contraction calculator, breastfeeding log and more.
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