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The Pregnancy Blog Week in Review for June 24-June 30

Summer is here and life is full of busy days as you prepare for your baby’s arrival. Take a break from the heat, fill your water glass and catch up on your reading with the week in review. Chorionic Villus Sampling is a prenatal test that is used to diagnose genetic and chromosomal disorders. Learn more about this test, when it is used and what to expect. Are you looking for a fun project this summer? Consider Making a Belly Cast. A plaster belly cast is a fun way to remember your baby bump. The process only takes about an … Continue reading →

Chorionic Villus Sampling

Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) is a prenatal test that is useful for detecting certain genetic disorders. The test is used for the same reasons an amniocentesis may be done. The main advantage of CVS is that it can be done much earlier than an amnio. CVS tests can be done as early as the eleventh week of pregnancy. During the test, a sample of the chorionic villi is taken. The chorionic villi sample can be taken abdominally or vaginally. The sample will be sent out and will grow in a lab before the results are read. You will get the … Continue reading →

Myth: Fetal Heart Rate is Linked to Gender

As you may have noticed, my name is Kim. Actually, my full name is Kimberly. What you may not know, however, is that my name was originally going to be Tony or Skyler. That’s an odd name for a girl, isn’t it? That’s because my parents thought I was going to be a boy. The doctor told them I was going to be a boy because of my heart rate. No one expected a girl until I was born. Boy, was that a surprise! Sonograms were just becoming common practice in the 80s, but my mom did not have one. … Continue reading →

Telling an Ex You are Pregnant

Sharing the news of an unplanned pregnancy is never easy. It becomes even more complicated when the father of the baby is your ex partner. The more time that has passed since the split, the more difficult it becomes to break the news. If your ex is in a new relationship or the split was not at all amicable, you may feel even more unsure about telling him. You may even be contemplating not telling him at all. This would most likely be a mistake. As the father of the baby, he has the right to know. Your baby has … Continue reading →

What Is Sickle Cell Disease?

Sickle cell disease (also known as hemoglobin S disease) is a group of disorders that affect hemoglobin — the part of a red blood cell that delivers oxygen throughout the body. The disease gets its name from abnormally shaped red blood cells caused by abnormal hemoglobin molecules. Symptoms of sickle cell disease usually begin in early childhood, and can include: Low red blood cell count, also known as anemia. Repeated infections. Periodic episodes of pain. Intensity of symptoms varies from one person to another. Some people have very mild symptoms; others may be hospitalized for serious complications from pain and … Continue reading →

Paternity Testing in Pregnancy

For some women, there may be a question about the paternity of the baby. If this is the case, you may want to find out as quickly as possible. There is less risk to the baby if you wait until he or she is born. Unless there is an extreme situation that must be resolved immediately, it’s best for your baby to wait and take a blood sample after the birth. The two tests used to determine paternity during pregnancy are the amniocentesis and the chorionic villus sampling (CVS) test. amniocentesis can be done between 14 and 20 weeks. The … Continue reading →

What Is Cystic Fibrosis?

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a progressive disorder that affects many systems throughout your body, namely the respiratory system and the digestive system. This is an inherited disease of the mucus glands. You know what mucus is, right? That slippery stuff that lubricates (and protects) your airways, digestive system, reproductive system, and other organs and tissues. For people with cystic fibrosis, the mucus the body produces is extra thick and sticky. It can obstruct airways, causing serious breathing problems and potential for bacterial infections in the lungs. The infections cause coughing, wheezing, and inflammation; the infections and the mucus buildup can … Continue reading →

HCG Levels in Pregnancy

Human chorionic gonadotropin, or HCG, is also known as the pregnancy hormone. This hormone is the one that is detected by a pregnancy test, whether it is a urine or a blood test. HCG levels are sometimes measured in early pregnancy. This is generally done if you were an infertility patient or if there is reason to believe something is wrong. In some cases, the doctor can use the HCG level to predict an outcome. For example, in some cases a very low HCG level can indicate either an ectopic pregnancy or impending miscarriage. This is not always the case. … Continue reading →

Nuchal Translucency Screening

The Nuchal Translucency Screening is a test that can help determine your baby’s risk of having certain birth defects, most notably Down’s Syndrome. In addition, the test can show certain heart defects and other chromosomal abnormalities. This test is most often done on mothers who are considered at increased risk due to advanced maternal age. If you are offered this test, it’s important to understand that this is a screening test. It does not give a definitive diagnosis, but shows that a baby may be at increased risk of having certain abnormalities. A combination of ultrasound and a blood test … Continue reading →

Understanding the Language of Pregnancy

When you become pregnant, you will soon learn that pregnancy has a vocabulary all its own. When you visit your doctor or midwife, you will hear new words and may be nervous to ask. Learning some of the commonly used terms can help you feel more confident about your pregnancy and in communicating with your health care provider. Alpha Fetoprotein Test is a blood test done early in the second trimester to detect the level of alpha fetoprotein in the pregnant woman’s blood. High levels can indicate a brain or spinal cord defect. Low levels can indicate an increased risk … Continue reading →