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For as long as people have been having children, they've been trying to understand the mystery of fertility. We've come a long way, but many misconceptions remain. Here's a look at the top modern infertility myths: Myth 1: Infertility is almost always a woman's problem. Fact: When there's an identifiable cause of infertility, about half the time men contribute to the problem, according to Resolv...

What is DES? DES is short for diethylstilbestrol, a synthetic estrogen commonly prescribed to help prevent miscarriage and other problems with pregnancy during the years 1938 to 1971. Before the drug was pulled off the market in 1971, an estimated 5 million to 10 million women in the United States and Europe had taken it. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommended its removal in 1971 after...

You've waited patiently for months to greet this little person, and now suddenly, here he is. Meeting your newborn for the first time is likely to be one of the most memorable moments of your life, so you may not even notice that immediately following your baby's birth, a nurse, midwife or physician will assess your baby to see how he is coping with life outside the womb. What are the doctors loo...

What will my newborn look like? When you gaze at your newborn, you'll notice the color of his hair and eyes, the shape of his nose and the curve of his mouth. You may also notice some lumps and bumps that you didn't expect, but of course your baby will still be the most beautiful creature you've ever seen. You may also find a few surprises. Here are some of the things that you perhaps didn't expe...

Pregnancy is certainly not the easiest time in your life, and it's fine to indulge yourself occasionally. It's not unusual to crave specific foods when you're pregnant. In fact, studies say that up to 90 percent of expectant moms experience food cravings. If you happen to crave green beans or broccoli, that's great. But what if you have a constant craving for chocolate or potato chips? Keep in mi...

I'm so tired now that I'm pregnant. Is this normal? It's normal to feel absolutely dog-tired during pregnancy. In fact, most women find they need a great deal more sleep while pregnant, especially during the first and last trimesters. You may find your bedtime creeping earlier and earlier, and at the same time you may be hitting your snooze button more regularly. The good news is, some moms-to-be...

When you are expecting, your body goes through so many changes it's hard to know what's normal and what's cause for worry. Am I supposed to feel hot all the time? Why I am so forgetful? And what is this weird vaginal discharge? If you are noticing increased vaginal discharge as your waistline expands, you have plenty of company. During pregnancy, changing hormones and increased blood circulation ...

What is preeclampsia? If you're ever tempted to skip one of your prenatal checkups, consider this: Checkups are often the only way to detect serious complications of pregnancy, such as preeclampsia, that show few outward symptoms. Preeclampsia is a toxic condition marked by increasing protein in the urine and hypertension (high blood pressure) which makes blood vessels tighten or constrict. The c...

Why should I be concerned about calcium? Calcium is important for both you and your growing baby. Your baby needs it to grow strong, healthy bones, teeth, nerves, heart, and muscles and to develop normal heart rhythm and blood clotting. If you don't get enough calcium in your diet, the fetus will leach it from your bones, which may impair your own health later on. How much of it do I need? All ad...

Should I try to eat a low-fat diet when I'm pregnant? It's easy to get confused and think that eating healthy means avoiding fat altogether. People who watch their weight avoid fat because it packs a high-calorie punch: Fat provides 9 calories per gram, more than twice the number in carbohydrates or protein. But the truth is, some kinds of fat are good for us. Our bodies need some fats in order to...

Once the nausea of early pregnancy wanes, many women look forward to enjoying their meals again. However, around the middle of pregnancy, heartburn and indigestion may spoil the party. These discomforts can happen at any time, but are more common in the second and third trimesters. Fortunately, they're rarely serious and are easily treatable. What are heartburn and indigestion? Heartburn -- whic...

Why is it important to get enough iron? Iron is used to make hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to your organs and tissues. When you're pregnant, your body makes extra blood for both you and your baby. Your body needs extra iron to make this blood and also to support your baby's rapid growth. If you don't get enough iron from your diet, your body gradually depletes its ...

A cold can be an annoyance or a major misery, depending on its severity. But if you catch a cold when you're pregnant, you may well wonder how the over-the-counter (OTC) cold remedies you usually reach for could affect your baby. Are they safe? Unfortunately, for many OTC medicines, we just don't know the answer. It would be unethical to use pregnant women as guinea pigs, so researchers rely on an...

He starts out with nothing but two cells. Nine months later, he has fingers, toes, eyelashes -- and an attitude. The transformation from an embryo to a fetus to a breathing, crying baby may be a human's most amazing accomplishment. How much do you know about your growing baby? Take this short quiz to find out. 1. Your baby's heart will start beating in the 6th week of pregnancy. How big is his h...

Many men and women are practicing birth control without even knowing it. They want to have children, but their lifestyle stands in the way. Fortunately, many people can greatly improve their chances of becoming parents by taking a few simple steps. How much do you know about the effects of lifestyle on fertility? Take this quiz to find out. 1. Which of these can threaten the fertility of both me...

Millions of Americans have considered adopting a child, and small wonder. For many people, adoption is the ideal way -- and possibly the only way -- to make a family grow. If you're thinking about adopting a child, either from the United States or abroad, you need to learn everything you can about the process. Why not take a short quiz to find out how much you already know? 1. You have to be mar...

Every day in the United States, more than 1,400 babies are born before their time, making premature birth the number-one cause of death and long-term disability among newborns. Small and underdeveloped, preemies face oversized challenges, but many turn out just fine. Take this short quiz to test your knowledge of premature birth. 1. Improvements in prenatal care have made premature births less c...

At least 10 percent of American women smoke cigarettes during pregnancy, according to government statistics. Many don't understand the true dangers of smoking, and others simply don't know how to quit. How much do you know about smoking and pregnancy? Take this short quiz to find out. 1. Which of these complications is NOT more common among pregnant women who smoke? a. Macrosomia (an overly lar...

If you look carefully at liquor, beer, and wine bottles, you'll find a warning about drinking during pregnancy. But these cautionary labels don't tell the whole story. Alcohol has many effects on a woman's body -- effects that any mom-to-be should know. Take this short quiz to test your knowledge of alcohol and pregnancy. 1. What's generally considered to be the "safe" limit for drinking while...

The journey from conception through pregnancy to childbirth can be so full of twists, turns, and obstacles that it's no surprise many couples have trouble reaching their final destination -- parenthood. According to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, about 6 million American couples -- roughly 10 percent -- struggle with infertility at any given time. Fortunately, many "infertile" coup...

The choices that you make at the dinner table have never been more important. You aren't just eating for two -- you're making decisions for two. How much do you know about good nutrition during pregnancy? Take this short quiz to find out. 1. How many calories should you eat each day during pregnancy? a. 2,400 or less b. 2,200 to 2,900 c. More than 3,000 d. Double your usual calories 2....

Terry Sauer, RN, has spent her career surrounded by premature infants. As the manager of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Deaconess Billings Clinic in Billings, Montana, she cares for several babies at a time, each facing an uncertain future. Lifesaving technology has improved dramatically in the 25 years since Sauer first stepped into a NICU, but one thing has remained constant: Today's...

When you're pregnant you expect to see certain changes in your body -- say, an expanding waist or bustline. One thing you may not expect to see is a change in your complexion. But for about 70 percent of pregnant women, dark patches on the face go hand in hand with pregnancy. Sometimes called "the mask of pregnancy," this condition is known to dermatologists as chloasma, and it's more likely to ha...

Every new child is full of surprises. You expect him to look and act like other members of the family, but you never know exactly how his genes will fall together. He could have mom's eyes and dad's hair, but it could just as easily be the other way around. Unfortunately, his genes could also carry the blueprint for a serious disease. If you're pregnant or thinking about starting a family, geneti...

Premature babies often start life behind the curve. They are generally smaller than full-term babies, and their bodies may be less developed. From the very beginning, their parents watch them anxiously for signs of progress. They want their babies to grow larger and stronger, and the little ones usually oblige. According to a report from the American Academy of Family Physicians, most premature ba...

The first time Darcy Orr saw her newborn twins, they were sleeping in separate plastic incubators filled with monitors and wires. Born 10 weeks too early, Cassie and Caden each weighed less than three pounds and were unable to breathe on their own. Like other newborns in distress, the babies went straight from the delivery room to the neonatal intensive care unit or NICU (pronounced NICK-yoo). Or...

What is a multiple marker test? Your pregnancy produces certain substances -- or markers -- in your blood that contain information about your baby. A multiple marker test (also called a triple screen, quad screen, or maternal serum screening), is a blood test that measures three or four of these substances to find out whether your baby may be at risk for certain birth defects. The markers measur...

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