A study at Stanford University School of Medicine found a potential link between preterm birth and infection in the amniotic fluid. The study involved testing the amniotic fluid of women in preterm labor for bacteria or fungi. Researchers found that 15 percent of the samples tested positive for bacteria or fungi, a large increase from previous findings regarding the role of infection in preterm labor. They also found a link between the level of infection and the risk of delivering a younger preterm infant. The infants were generally sicker than in mothers without infection. Researchers believe the presence of the … Continue reading →

Bladder infection is a bacteria infection that causes inflammation in the bladder. This is also called cystitis or a urinary tract infection. The urinary tract runs from the kidneys to the bladder to the urethra. A bladder infection results when bacteria enter the urethra and travels to the bladder. If the infection continues up the tract to the kidneys, the condition is far more serious. The condition is fairly common, affecting about five percent of pregnant women. Hormonal and physical changes during pregnancy cause women to be slightly more at risk of developing the infection when they are pregnant. Symptoms … Continue reading →

A short cervix is often diagnosed during the routine ultrasound performed about half way through your pregnancy. If you are told you have a short cervix, you may not know what this means. Essentially, it just means your cervix is shorter than would be considered normal at this stage of pregnancy. Typically, the cervix ranges from an inch and a half to two inches in thickness at the mid stage of pregnancy. Women with a short cervix can measure as little as a half inch in thickness. The cause is basically unknown. What is known is that women with a … Continue reading →

While most women are healthy throughout pregnancy, some will be put on bed rest at some time in the pregnancy. About one million pregnancies each year are categorized as high risk. For many of these women, there will be restrictions on activity, including periods of bed rest. There are several conditions that will necessitate bed rest. Pre eclampsia commonly results in at least some bed rest. This condition occurs in five to ten percent of pregnancies. Bed rest may be at home, in the hospital, or periods of both hospital and home bed rest. Other reasons for bed rest include … Continue reading →

When you visit your doctor or midwife for your first prenatal visit, blood will be drawn. The blood is checked for a variety of things and you may not give it much thought. One thing that is tested in this early blood work is the blood type of the mother. One thing that is checked is the Rh factor of the mother’s blood. Human blood is either Rh positive or negative. For example, if the blood type is O, it can be either O positive or O negative. Prior to pregnancy, you may not have known what this means or … Continue reading →