Pregnancy and Family Planning Articles

Family » Pregnancy and Family Planning | By Abhishek Agarwal @ Sunday, 20th January 2008 @ 3:29 PM

Since time immemorial, abortion has always been a "hot" topic! It was deemed illegal in the USA, yet it did not stop pregnant women from seeking new ways to get rid of the yet-to-be born child. The medical fraternity as well as the government objected to termination of pregnancy on the grounds that the methods used were not legal. Getting no support from them, these women then sought the favors of 'back-alley abortionists'. Such persons possessed no medical licenses... more...

Family » Pregnancy and Family Planning | By Abhishek Agarwal @ Sunday, 20th January 2008 @ 3:29 PM

With so many people discussing motherhood and with so much of advice being handed around by experienced mothers, it is very natural that the first time mother-to-be ends up with a confused jumble of ideas, especially where events occurring during the first month of pregnancy are concerned! In general, the reactions and changes during this month are typical for every woman who has conceived, but it is just possible that some women may have different experiences altogether. But that should not r... more...

Family » Pregnancy and Family Planning | By Abhishek Agarwal @ Sunday, 20th January 2008 @ 3:28 PM

It is stress that drives a young adolescent into a relationship. Confirmation that she has conceived a child brings on added stress. She is too young to face this emotional challenge and unable to decide what to do regarding the pregnancy. Furthermore, a large number of negative effects follow a teenage pregnancy, a major one being social stigma. This has been proved by research studies galore. To go into details about the traumatic effects of teenage pregnancy- (1) What is an... more...

Family » Pregnancy and Family Planning | By Abhishek Agarwal @ Sunday, 20th January 2008 @ 3:27 PM

Pregnancy by itself can be a very stressful time for the mother-to-be. Add to that, all the complications that can occur during the gestation period, and it all becomes too much to handle! One complex situation that can arise is an "ectopic pregnancy" or a "tubal pregnancy", which if left untreated for long, can prove to be a life-and-death situation for the mother with child. Neither of the couple is responsible for the ectopic pregnancy; it is just a mysterious quirk o... more...

Family » Pregnancy and Family Planning | By Abhishek Agarwal @ Sunday, 20th January 2008 @ 3:24 PM

"We want to have children, and as quickly as possible!" Does this seem like a common refrain? Yes, it does! What the newly wedded couple seems to forget is that all the conditions may not be perfect for getting pregnant as of yet! Patience is the key here, but it is something very difficult to practice. In fact, the newly married couple is so obsessed with getting pregnant in the shortest time possible that they remain tense all the while and forget to enjoy their time toge... more...

Family » Pregnancy and Family Planning | By Abhishek Agarwal @ Sunday, 20th January 2008 @ 2:44 AM

Receiving the news that a baby is on the way brings a lot of joy! Finding out that two babies are on the way also brings happiness, but combined with a few apprehensions! Since the new mother is always advised to nurse her young one, the main question in her mind is, "Is breastfeeding twins possible"? Being fully aware of how she alone is responsible for providing healthy nutrition to both the newborns, difficult as it may be, their mother has to attempt breastfeeding her twins.... more...

Family » Pregnancy and Family Planning | By Abhishek Agarwal @ Sunday, 20th January 2008 @ 2:40 AM

How wonderful it is for a woman to hear that she is going to create a new life within her womb! Soon the joy wears off, to be replaced by practical apprehensions. There are unexpected expenses to be borne, as well as physical discomforts like swollen ankles and hands, morning sickness, constipation, back pain, etc. Mainly, the mother-to-be is preoccupied with getting cheap maternity wear. Here is where shopping skills and creativity take a hand! And not to be forgotten is "style&q... more...

Family » Pregnancy and Family Planning | By Abhishek Agarwal @ Sunday, 20th January 2008 @ 2:37 AM

Doctors advise new mothers to breast-feed their children for the first few months at least. The suggestion is accepted without complaints because it seems such a natural thing to do. What better way to ensure that the baby is getting good nourishment? But with changing lifestyles, many nursing mothers are finding it difficult to feed their babies throughout the day. So they resort to a combination of breastfeeding and pumps. Breastfeeding and pumps is a great option for a working moth... more...

Family » Pregnancy and Family Planning | By Abhishek Agarwal @ Sunday, 20th January 2008 @ 2:03 AM

There are plenty of women who do not wish to become victims of undesired pregnancies. There are also an equal number of women who are eagerly waiting to becoming mothers. In either case, the woman has to educate herself regarding the earliest signs of pregnancy. The anxiety is such that no woman wants to wait and check if the next menstrual cycle is going to begin or be missed! So how does one recognize these signs? (1) Some women have knowledge about basal body temperature. ... more...

Family » Pregnancy and Family Planning | By Jean Shaw @ Saturday, 19th January 2008 @ 9:30 PM

Fortunately people are slowly beginning to realise the importance of friendly bacteria and are re-introducing probiotic bacteria into their diets. Good bacteria deal with all the bad stuff and keep the pathogenic strains under control. So how do you get it? You will find all manner of formulations on the supermarket shelves. You can get powders, capsules, drinks, and yoghurts with manufacturers making all sorts of claims as to their possible benefits and potency. It's confusing.more...

Family » Pregnancy and Family Planning | By Abhishek Agarwal @ Friday, 18th January 2008 @ 3:16 PM

No, 'pregnancy weekly' is not a magazine about pregnancy! It refers to those changes taking place within the mother's womb from the formation of an embryo to a fully-grown fetus, week after week. The whole process is uncomplicated since the embryo seems to know what exactly to do next if it wants to become a baby! Nine months seem like a very long time to await the actual arrival of the little one! To make it easier on the mother-to-be, certain web sites have come up wit... more...

Family » Pregnancy and Family Planning | By Abhishek Agarwal @ Friday, 18th January 2008 @ 3:16 PM

Many women experience abdominal cramping soon after they have conceived. Since the menstrual cycle has often brought about a similar kind of pain, it is not taken very seriously. The general notion is that the pain is caused by hormonal changes in the body and the uterus growing larger in size. In some cases, the pain is perceived in the earliest stage of pregnancy; while in others, the symptoms continue even a few weeks later. What can this symptom of 'abdominal cramping' ac... more...

Family » Pregnancy and Family Planning | By Abhishek Agarwal @ Friday, 18th January 2008 @ 3:15 PM

The first sign of blood and the mother-to-be can get into a panic, believing there is going to be a miscarriage! What she does not realize is that bleeding and cramping during the first trimester is a common experience but it does not come in the way of a healthy pregnancy. Yes, sometimes it does lead to a miscarriage, but only the doctor who examines her will be able to find out the truth. What is definitely important is, consult a doctor as soon as there are any signs of bleeding. Th... more...

Family » Pregnancy and Family Planning | By Abhishek Agarwal @ Friday, 18th January 2008 @ 3:15 PM

Varied methods are used by a doctor to terminate a pregnancy. Abortion is induced via a chemical or surgical procedure. The method of abortion chosen is directly related to the stage of pregnancy- early weeks, first trimester (term of 3 months), or second trimester - and the pregnant woman's preference. (1) The chemical method simply means giving abortifacient (substance to bring about abortion) drugs to the patient concerned. This method of abortion is given preference over the ... more...

Family » Pregnancy and Family Planning | By Abhishek Agarwal @ Friday, 18th January 2008 @ 3:14 PM

Carrying a new life within her womb for so many months is not an easy task for any woman. She has to take care of herself and the growing fetus, plus cope with all the internal changes (especially within her uterus) taking place within her body. Known as the signs and symptoms of pregnancy, they tend to cause quite a bit of discomfort. Nevertheless, they have to be dealt with as and when they occur. Here are four common signs and symptoms of pregnancy, and how they are to be handled ... more...

Family » Pregnancy and Family Planning | By Abhishek Agarwal @ Friday, 18th January 2008 @ 3:13 PM

Which couple will not celebrate after hearing the news about a "bundle of joy" ready to make an entrance within the next few months? Unless totally unplanned for and totally unwanted, most couples will! Some women end up with a positive pregnancy without even trying, and get a pleasant surprise. Some couples make a conscious decision to get pregnant and are blessed fairly quickly. But for a great number of couples, achieving parenthood is still just a dream. It is for their ... more...

Family » Pregnancy and Family Planning | By Abhishek Agarwal @ Friday, 18th January 2008 @ 3:12 PM

Once a woman learns that she is pregnant, she is counseled by all and sundry about maintaining a healthy diet to ensure good health for her unborn child. Yes, if the mother is healthy, the fetus is healthy and so will be the infant that is delivered. If the unborn baby experiences a great life within the womb and in the outside environment, the child will face fewer health problems while growing up and as an adult. And this is where the Mayo Pregnancy Diet comes in! Why is there so muc... more...

Family » Pregnancy and Family Planning | By Abhishek Agarwal @ Friday, 18th January 2008 @ 3:12 PM

What is expressed in any standard classroom is the teacher's point of view, where children/adolescents are just passive listeners. The same children and adolescents convert into active participants when a public platform such as a science fair is provided for expressing what they feel. In truth, one may be surprised at the refreshingly honest opinions that are expressed in such an environment! Moreover, whether they are children or teenagers, they are better able to reach out to ... more...

Family » Pregnancy and Family Planning | By Abhishek Agarwal @ Friday, 18th January 2008 @ 3:11 PM

"You are going to have a baby!" This statement is greeted with joy by any woman, especially if she is a mature adult, has a secure source of income, and people to support her emotionally and physically. The same does not hold true for a young girl who is still too wet behind the ears to handle being a teenage mother. While the news that the rate of teenage pregnancies is going down is welcoming indeed, there is also concern expressed for those pregnant teenagers who wish to ca... more...

Family » Pregnancy and Family Planning | By Abhishek Agarwal @ Friday, 18th January 2008 @ 2:25 PM

This should not be happening in a civilized society; yet, it is! In the name of modernity, a more liberal attitude and a more liberal lifestyle has come into existence, with the result that teenagers have opted to live life on their own terms. Unlike earlier days, teenage pregnancies today cause very few eyebrows to be raised! USA's cosmopolitan population can be broadly classified into Hispanics, non-Hispanics and Blacks. Where Hispanic girls were concerned, a survey reveal... more...