Wednesday, March 7, 2018

No period, no positive pregnancy test- what happened?

    

No period, no positive pregnancy test- what happened?
Home pregnancy tests have helped millions of women, so it’s hard for us to knock them. But when your period is late and the test in your hand is negative, you may be left more confused than before. The rollercoaster of emotions that come with taking a pregnancy test is often stressful, but don’t give up just yet. 

Why a test could be wrong

Here are a couple reasons why you may have received a false negative. 
  • Taken before the first missed period: Pregnancy tests work by detecting levels of human chorionic gonadotropin, hCG, a hormone that the body starts to make when an egg has been fertilized. Because the tests look for the presence of this hormone, it is possible that they miss the hormone in the very early stages of pregnancy, mainly in the days leading up to the first missed period. For the most accurate readings, it’s best to wait until at least the missed period, if not a few days after. 
  • Fluids diluting urine: Yes, you should still be drinking lots of water! But taking a pregnancy test later in the day can sometimes mean that urine is diluted and hCG is more difficult for the test to detect. The hormone levels are highest in the morning too, so for the most accurate results try to take the test as early in the day as possible, preferably right after you wake up.
  • Test directions not followed correctly: We don’t mean to suggest that you would miss a step . . . but could you have missed a step? Some tests require waiting a specific amount of time before reading the results. Pregnancy tests also have an expiration date, so we recommend buying new ones as opposed to using old ones that could be in your house.

Final thoughts

Ultimately, it’s always a good idea to read and closely follow the directions on home pregnancy tests, even if you consider yourself a pro by now. There’s also always the possibility that the negative test is accurate, and your period is simply a few days late. Home pregnancy tests are great, but after a positive result, it’s still important to visit your healthcare provider for a blood test to confirm.
Sources
  • "Pregnancy test." MedlinePlus. US National Library of Medicine, Oct 4 2016. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003432.htm. 
  • Mayo Clinic Staff. "Home pregnancy tests: Can you trust the results?" MayoClinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Dec 2015. http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/getting-pregnant/in-depth/home-pregnancy-tests/art-20047940. 

How to find the right fertility clinic for you and your partner

    
How to find the right fertility clinic for you and your partner

Provided by:

Fatherly, the digital media brand for dads

There may come a time when trying to make a baby that you need a little extra help. And not from, like, a coach who’s hanging out next to your bed and shouting encouragement. But rather from a fertility clinic staffed by professionals who want to apply the full awesomeness of reproductive science and technology to the loins of you and your lady love. When it comes time to looking for a little assistance in the sperm and egg joining department, here’s what you need know.

When to look for a fertility clinic

You shouldn’t be turning to your search engine of choice to look for clinics until you’ve given the beast with two backs its due (or have experienced a few failures). That’s because it can take some time to conceive after the barriers have been removed. And the last thing you want to do is start spending thousands of dollars needlessly.

That said, here are some circumstances that might prompt you to fire up the Google:

  • A year of standard trying without results
  • Multiple miscarriages
  • Poor sperm analysis
  • Advanced maternal age (older than 35) without conception for 6 months
  • If otherwise advised by a general practitioner

Prepare for your clinic journey

This is not a cart placed in front of a horse. You need to know that going this route will cost some scratch and be psychologically draining. So you need to be prepared for these eventualities. Here are some things to think about.

Insurance

What does it cover? Unless you have some platinum coverage, it’s probably not going to make a dent in the bulk of fertility clinic costs. However, it is likely that a health savings account will allow you to funnel your tax-free funds into fertility treatments. Either way, make sure your finances are sound or you at least know how deep you’re willing to sink.

Support

Treatment for infertility can be a lonely process. So get your support system in place. Don’t be afraid to talk with trusted companions. And don’t hesitate to become involved with social support communities built around issues of infertility. Not only will they help you commiserate, but they also may give you to some good ideas you may not have encountered.

Research

Thanks to federal government, there’s one tremendous source of research available to all couples looking at fertility clinics. The Centers For Disease Control (CDC) reports regularly on the success rates of fertility clinics around the U.S in the Assistive Reproductive Therapy (ART) Success Rates reports. These success rates are collected from across the U.S, and are easily searchable by zip code or state. They offer an overview of what services the clinic provides along with how many successful births have resulted from those procedures.

Investigation and consultation

Once you’ve tracked down a couple of clinics you’d like to look into, give them a call to schedule an initial consultation. This call may be enough to decide if they’re right for you. If they’re rude on the phone and seem to have little time for you, the issue likely won’t be resolved by becoming a patient.

Once in, there are a slew of questions to ask that will help you understand if the clinic is right for you. You’ll want to be a detective. Notice how the place looks, how the staff greets you, and whether or not it has the right vibe.

In the consultation, you’ll want to make sure the doctor isn’t pushing you straight towards in vitro fertilization (IVF). So ask about the variety of treatments offered and cost. You’ll also want to ask about age limits for procedures to get a sense of their ethical standards (to know they’re not okay with working with 60-year-old ladies or something).

One revealing question is how many eggs they recommend implanted during IVF. The generally agreed upon standard is one fertilized egg. That’s because multiples not only increase the risk of twins, but also the risk of complications due to twins. This great post explains why and offers a ton more questions to consider.

Know when to leave

Just because you’ve started with a clinic does not mean you have to stay with them. If you ever feel your clinic is emotionally distant or unexcited about getting your partner pregnant, it may be time to jet. The same goes if you feel pressured to enter into any procedure you’re not comfortable with. After all, going through these treatments will be stressful enough without the added pressure.

And if anyone suggests they come by your place and cheer you on. Tell them thanks, but no thanks.

About Fatherly:

Fatherly is the leading digital media brand for dads. Our mission is to empower men to raise great kids and lead more fulfilling adult lives. From original video series and deep dive reports to podcasts and events, Fatherly offers original reporting, expert parenting advice, and hard-won insights into a challenging, but profoundly rewarding stage of life. Sign up for Fatherly's newsletter to get the award-winning parenting content directly to your inbox.

IVF and assisted reproductive technologies

    

IVF and assisted reproductive technologies

Even if you and your partner have been unsuccessful in conceiving naturally, or after fertility medication or surgery, you may still be able to get pregnant! Reproductive technology is progressing faster and faster everyday, and doctors are now able to do some really amazing things to help couples get pregnant. Keep reading to find out more about in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and other Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART).

IVF

In-vitro fertilization is by far the most common Assisted Reproductive Technology, and it has shown some excellent results. For IVF, both your and your partner’s sex cells are extracted, and doctors fertilize the egg in a laboratory with your partner’s sperm to bypass an ovulatory problem, or a low sperm count, or any other condition of infertility that affects either of you. As is true for natural conception as well, the chance of getting pregnant through IVF decreases as you get older, and the quality of your eggs declines. Because the chance of conceiving during an IVF cycle, even for young women with healthy eggs, is only about 50% at most, doctors will generally extract, fertilize, and implant multiple eggs to increase the chances of conceiving during a given cycle. For this reason, in-vitro fertilization results in twins or more about 1/3 of the time. IVF is one of the best ways for women who have been struggling to get pregnant to do so. One downside of IVF is the cost, as couples may be expected to pay upwards of $25,000, so some may choose to explore alternative routes.

Other Methods

  • Artificial Insemination: This technique involves artificially introducing sperm to the egg, and can include the most low-tech home methods (think turkey baster), to the expensive IVF. Even homemade artificial insemination methods can be successful, particularly if the problem is with the movement of your partner’s sperm.
  • Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT): In this ART, sperm and eggs are extracted, mixed, and then placed in a woman’s fallopian tube where conception is the hopeful result. As is the case for natural conception, and artificial insemination including IVF, the probability of success for GIFT declines as you get older.

Even if you and your partner have been unable to conceive through natural methods, pregnancy is still entirely possible utilizing Artificial Reproductive Technologies like IVF.

Thursday, March 1, 2018

how much alcohol is safe during pregnancy?

    
Drinking Alcohol during pregnancy could cause a long term risk to your unborn baby, can cause difficulties in developing baby when ever you drink alcohol . Continue drinking at this time can be the higher risk. 

Doctors recommend drinking alcohol should be avoided completely. Specially, who drink alcohol regularly should give up alcohol during her first month to avoid miscarriage. can also cause premature birth ( birth before 9 th month in 7 or 8 month).

Health professionals recommend it's safe to avoid alcohol completely during pregnancy. Moreover, if you can not leave alcohol and you are very addicted to it, limit it to 1 or not more than 2 units no more then twice or once in a week. 

Never enough to get drink it can cause serious harm to your unborn baby. Getting drunk by heavy or binge drinking during your pregnancy can cause harm to your baby. Heavy drinking is regularly having five or more units of alcohol per day. Binge drinking is six or more units of alcohol in one session. 

The more you drink, the higher your baby's risk of developing problems that will last a lifetime. These problems range from fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) to fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), depending on how heavy or frequent your drinking is. 

When you have an alcoholic drink, the alcohol goes into your bloodstream. Once alcohol is in your bloodstream, it reaches your baby across the placenta. 

Babies born with FASD may have problems with attention, learning and social understanding, as well as speech, and often don't grow as well as they should. A baby born with FAS, the most severe condition caused by alcohol, may also have brain damage and abnormal facial features so when you drink keep this all about you baby health in mind.
.... 

Drinking during pregnancy also puts you at greater risk of having a miscarriage or premature birth. It may even increase the risk of your baby being stillborn.

If you drank alcohol before you knew you were pregnant, try not to worry. Many women have had a night out without realising they've conceived. 

The safest approach is to cut out alcohol as soon as you find out that you're expecting. 

If you're finding it hard to stop drinking alcohol, talk to your doctor or midwife. They won't judge you, and will help you to have the healthiest possible pregnancy.

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

how can i lose weight during pregnancy?

    

How to Safely Lose Weight During Pregnancy 

In a perfect world, you had planned for your pregnancy in every way possible. This included getting down to your ideal weight beforehand. But for many women, this isn’t realistic. Pregnancy, while an exciting time, can turn into a weight dilemma for women who are already overweight. This is because of the inevitable weight gain associated with having a baby.



pregnancy in every way possible. This included getting down to your ideal weight beforehand. But for many women, this isn’t realistic. Pregnancy, while an exciting time, can turn into a weight dilemma for women who are already overweight. This is because of the inevitable weight gain associated with having a baby. 

Fortunately, growing research suggests that losing some weight during pregnancy might be possible — and even beneficial — for some women who are extremely overweight or obese (have a BMI over 30).

Losing weight, on the other hand, isn’t appropriate for pregnant women who were at a healthy weight before pregnancy. If you believe you can benefit from weight loss during pregnancy, talk to your doctor about how to do so safely without affecting your baby.

Even before they’re born, your future baby relies on you in numerous ways. Your body nourishes and carries them for about 40 weeks, helping them grow and develop. Having excess weight can cause problems during pregnancy because it can get in the way of these processes. 

Being obese while pregnant may lead to:

Despite such dangers, your best approach to weight loss is through a consistent, yet gradual plan with a focus on healthier lifestyle changes. Gradual weight loss is best for your body and your baby.

If your doctor recommends that you lose weight, here’s how to do so safely during pregnancy. 

1. Know how much weight you need to gain

Being overweight during pregnancy can sometimes change the focus to only losing weight. But the fact is, you’ll still gain some weight, and it is important to know how much a healthy amount of is. After all, there is a human growing inside of you! 

Follow these pregnancy weight gain guidelines from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, based on your weight before you became pregnant: 

  • obese (BMI of 30 or more): gain 11 to 20 pounds
  • BMI between 25 and 29.9: 15 to 25 pounds
  • normal weight (18.5 to 24.9 BMI): can gain between 25 and 35 pounds

2. Cut down on calories

The first way you can lose excess weight is by reducing your daily calorie intake. Eating more calories than you burn off is the most common cause of weight gain. It takes a 3,500-calorie deficit to lose 1 pound. Over the span of a week, this equates to about 500 calories per day to cut out.

Before you slash this many calories from your diet, be sure to keep a logand figure out just how many calories you really eat. You can talk to a dietitian to discuss food plans. You can also look up nutritional labels for foods from stores or restaurants to get a sense of how many calories are in each food. 

Keep in mind that pregnant women should eat no fewer than 1,700 calories per day. This is the minimum and helps to ensure that both you and your baby are getting enough energy and nutrients on a regular basis. 

If you normally consume far more calories than this, consider cutting down gradually. For example, you can:

Take a daily prenatal vitamin to ensure that you are getting all of the nutrients you and your baby need. Folate is especially important, as it helps decrease the risk for birth defects. 

3. Exercise 30 minutes daily

Some women are afraid to exercise out of fear of it harming their babies. But this definitely isn’t true. While some exercises, such as situps, can possibly be harmful, exercise overall is extremely beneficial. 

It can help you maintain your weight, reduce birth defects, and even ease some of the aches and pains you experience during pregnancy.

The current recommendation isn’t different from nonpregnant women: 30 minutes of activity per day. If this is too much for you to start, consider breaking up the 30 minutes into shorter blocks of time throughout the day. 

Some of the best exercises for pregnant women are:

On the flip side, you should avoid any activities that:

  • rely on balance, such as bike riding or skiing
  • are performed in the heat
  • cause pain
  • make you dizzy
  • are done on your back (after 12 weeks of pregnancy)

4. Address weight concerns early

While you’ll certainly gain weight naturally from your pregnancy, the majority of this weight gain happens in the second and third trimesters. Your baby also grows rapidly during the last two months of pregnancy. You can’t control weight gain attributed to your baby and supporting elements like the placenta, so it’s best to address any weight issues earlier in pregnancy.

Some success in weight intervention among pregnant women has been reported through a study published in the journal Obesity. Researchers found that women who received advice between weeks 7 and 21 of pregnancy were less likely to gain excess weight during the third trimester. The same group of women studied also benefited from weekly support group meetings.

This is just one example of when early planning helped to stave off excess weight gain. If you want to lose weight, or control the amount of weight you gain overall during your pregnancy, be sure to have your doctor help you come up with a plan early on. Your doctor can also refer you to a dietitian for more advice and meal planning.Next steps

For most pregnant women, weight management is safer than any form of significant weight loss. Despite the benefits of having a lower BMI during pregnancy, losing weight isn’t appropriate for all women. 

Part of the concern comes from the methods of traditional weight loss: calorie cutting and exercise. It’s important to watch your calorie intake and to exercise during pregnancy. But overdoing it to an extreme could potentially harm your baby. This is why most doctors don’t recommend weight loss during pregnancy, unless you’re significantly overweight. Discuss any questions or concerns you have with your doctor.

Your doctor can help you make the safest decision for you and your baby. You can always revisit an overall healthy weight loss plan after your baby is bor

can i wear heals when i am pregnant

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When it comes to safety, pregnant women in all over the world want to know if they can wear heels. if you search directly this question that "can i wear high heels when i am pregnant" you find the answer myth: pregnant woman should not wear high. There is a risk of falling Expecting moms can certainly wear high-heeled shoes. without harming or harming their unborn babies but there is a risk of falling. Pregnancy can be a clumsy time for women your center of gravity change when you get more and more pregnant. Since the growing baby pushes her center of gravity forward, it can throw off your balance.         

Pregnant women are not made of glass, but it’s always safer for moms-to-be to err on the side of caution, especially in the following situations:

Long Hikes - Although walking is a safe exercise for healthy pregnant women, poor balance, jagged rocks, and pregnancy are a risky combination. Avoid uneven terrain. Better yet, stick to walking trails.

Horseback Riding - Even the most experienced horseback rider can have an accident. The risk here is not only falling but also getting kicked by the horse if it gets scared.

Theme Park Rides - The jerking movements of amusement park rides are no-nos for the safety of an unborn child. The bumping and jostling can cause the placenta to separate from the uterine wall. Stay away from water slides, too.

Saturday, January 27, 2018

How To Prepare Your Body For Pregnancy

    

Baby Preparation Tips & Suggestions

Becoming a mom is a wonderful experience, but it also means some big changes and there’s a lot to take in. We’ve put together some resources to help you prepare to welcome your new little family member, nurturing her happy healthy development even before she leaves the womb.
Find a doctor for your baby You may want to start looking for a pediatrician or family doctor for your baby midway through your pregnancy. That may seem early, but you'll want to give yourself plenty of time to find a physician who will be a good fit for your family – and who is taking new patients and accepts your insurance. Talk to your health insurance provider to find out how to add your baby to your policy, and see which local doctors are covered. Make sure you understand how yourinsurance plan works, especially regarding your benefits for labor, delivery, and maternity care. Get on the same page as your partner Just as it's important talk about how your partner can help you during labor, be sure to discuss what you'll need from each other during the newborn period. Differing expectations can create big conflicts, so try to work this out ahead of time as best you can. Don't assume that your partner knows how much your new baby will turn your lives upside down. Talk about how you'll divide baby and household duties. And educate your partner about less obvious things, like how to support you in breastfeeding. You can also make life easier by hashing out some big decisions now, like what to name your baby, whether to circumcise, how you'll feed your baby, and whether to have a religious ceremony (such as a baptism or baby naming). Talk to veteran  moms There are all kinds of things about new motherhood that, for whatever reason, sometimes remain taboo subjects – leaking pee, the baby blues, and diminished sex drive, just to name a few. You won't have the same experience as your friends, but finding out about certain things ahead of time can reduce the shock factor. So ask your mom friends for the real deal. "For example, there's a myth that bonding should happen right away. That's not true for everyone," says Patricia O'Laughlin, a marriage and family therapist at Center for the Psychology of Women in Los Angeles. "Finding honest people who are willing to share their experiences can help you adjust your expectations." But if a friend starts rambling on about her third cousin's rare-but-terrifying labor complication, gently put a stop to it and ask for some helpful suggestions on diaper brands instead. Try the BabyCenter birth clubs for great advice from women in all stages of pregnancy and childrearing. Prepare older siblings – and pets The new baby may rock your older children's world even more than yours. Fortunately, your family has several months to get used to the idea, and there are things you can do to set the stage for a new brother or sister. Many parents use a baby doll to help their child understand what's coming. Older toddlers or preschoolers enjoy the pretend play, and when they see you diapering or feeding the new baby later, it will seem familiar. Some hospitals have sibling classes, where older kids can learn about babies – why they cry, how to keep them safe, and why they sleep so much. "Kids really love this. It makes them feel part of the family," says childbirth educator Randall. As your due date approaches, make sure you've lined up someone to care for your children during the birth and afterward. Pets also benefit from special pre-baby preparation. Local trainers may offer classes, or you can turn to books, articles, or videos for tips on getting your pet used to the new baby. And consider whether you'll need to make arrangements with a pet sitter or dog walker for when you're away from home.

Decide who will attend the birth

This is a very personal decision. Some moms like a full room, including their partner, a   doula, a friend or two, their mom, and their mother-in-law present to witness the miracle of birth and provide support. (If you fall into this category, check with the hospital or birthing center to see how many people are allowed.)
Others prefer as few people present as possible. Give some thought to what you want, so that there are no misunderstandings, unwelcome observers, or offended grandmothers.
It can also be helpful to designate a "family spokesperson" ahead of time – that is, someone who can send emails and make phone calls (or spread the news on social networking sites) to let everyone know when your baby arrives.
Finally, remember that labor can be exhausting, and visitors popping by unannounced during your recovery may not make for the most restful experience. Mary Lou Light, mother and baby nurse, recommends limiting the number of visitors. And if it starts to get overwhelming, ask a nurse to act as bouncer.
"I've seen many moms who want to sleep or breastfeed, but they feel impolite asking the visitors to leave. We nurses do it for them," says Light.