Skin Peculiarities During Pregnancy

Have you developed some dark patches on your cheeks? Don’t worry. Pigmentation is a very common symptom in pregnancy, though noone knows what causes it. But the patches usually fade away after childbirth. The skin on the abdomen and breasts stretches as the uterus grows in size. So does the skin on the arms and… [ Continue Reading ]

Ultrasound Scans During Pregnancy

An ultrasound scan is done with the help of a sonar device that reveals objects in fluid (amniotic fluid in pregnancy) by using high frequency sound waves, inaudible to the human ear. An ultrasound scan is a non-invasive, painless procedure and usually lasts for about 15 minutes. You will probably be asked to drink few… [ Continue Reading ]

Changes in the Internal Organs during pregnancy

Pregnancy hormones bring about changes to almost every part of your body, both externally and internally. Uterus An average uterus measures seven centimetres in length, five centimetres in width and is over two centimetres thick. At full term, it can measure as much as 38 centimetres in length, 25 centimetres in width and 20 centimetres… [ Continue Reading ]

Worried about Stretch Marks from Pregnancy?

You are planning to have a baby. But you are worried that you will get marks on your stomach. Well, stretch marks are something that may be unavoidable. Nearly every pregnant woman gets them. Actually the number of marks you will have depends entirely on the pliability of the skin on your stomach. The skin… [ Continue Reading ]

Giving Birth to the Idea of a Child

The honeymoon was over. I took a deep drag at the last of my clove cigarettes, and tried to come to terms with the memories of a seaside holiday that had got over too soon. Soon, I would have to move back to plain old tobacco – the no-nonsense smoke of a familiar, down-to-earth routine…. [ Continue Reading ]

Amniocentesis for prenatal diagnosis

Reema got married very late. And by the time she was ready for a child, she was 35 years old. Since she was aware of problems that could arise from a late pregnancy, she consulted her gynaecologist about tests she could go through that would assure her that her baby is normal and healthy. One… [ Continue Reading ]

How to Tell when Labour Begins

A few weeks before delivery, the baby’s head settles lower in the pelvis, and so the uterus or womb seems to slip downwards and forwards and the shape of the abdomen changes. This may cause a feeling of pressure in the lower abdomen. You may want to pass urine more often. There may also be… [ Continue Reading ]

The Period of Pregnancy

The normal period of pregnancy is 280 days (40 weeks) from the first day of the last menstrual period. Throughout pregnancy, the growing fetus is entirely dependent on its mother. The mother’s diet, her general state of health and the amount of physical work she does — all have their effect on the child. Therefore,… [ Continue Reading ]