Planning for a VBAC Delivery

If you have had one previous c section, you may be interested in trying for a vaginal birth with your next baby. You may be worried about your ability to have a successful birth, especially if you didn't labor with the first baby or labor didn't progress.

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[Source: Pregnancy Blog]

Can Evening Primrose Oil Help Soften the Cervix

Proponents of natural birth methods and many midwives swear by using evening primrose oil to help ripen the cervix. Evening primrose oil contains prostaglandins, which are used for inducing labor. It is said to help soften and ripen the cervix to help prepare it for the birth of your baby.

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[Source: Pregnancy Blog]

Sweeping the Membranes

If you have reached or passed your due date, your health care provider may suggest sweeping the membranes. This is a somewhat common practice among obstetricians. The purpose is to help bring on labor. Sweeping the membranes is a fairly simple process.

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[Source: Pregnancy Blog]

Fish, Pregnant Women, and Good Health

The Press Association (UK)- Pregnant women should eat at least two portions of oily fish per week to give children the best start in life, peers have said.Women should increase their intake of oily fish to help their unborn baby's brain develop, an all-party group recommended.At present, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) says expectant mothers should eat at least two servings of fish a week, including one of oily fish.The Associate Parliamentary Food and Health Forum said this should be increased.

> Read more

> Additional reading: Time article on benefits v. dangers in eating certain fish during pregnancy

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PregnancyWeekly.com

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[Source: Pregnancy Weekly Blog - Pregnancy, Baby, and Family]

On 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, both sides celebrate decline of abortion

"So we stand for the teaching of honest, realistic sex education.We stand for the right to choose contraception, including the "morning-after"

As abortion-rights supporters and opponents marked the 35th anniversary of the decision that legalized the procedure nationwide, new statistics show that, legal or not, fewer women are choosing abortion. via Church Executive

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[Source: Pregnancy News]

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Pregnancy

Carpal tunnel syndrome is named for a tunnel like structure that runs through the bones of the wrists. A nerve also runs through that tunnel. When this median nerve becomes compressed, carpal tunnel syndrome is the result.

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[Source: Pregnancy Blog]

A Benefit to the Birth Control Pill

Not too long ago, I wrote a post about birth control as one of the things you will need to think about after the birth of your baby is what type of birth control method you are going to use. In that post, I mentioned the birth control pill as a popular form of birth control. A new article out of The Money Times sheds light on... [...] Read more!

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[Source: Crisis Pregnancy Blog]

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Pregnancy

Fatigue is one of the more frustrating side effects of pregnancy. The extreme tiredness can interfere with your daily routine. Women with chronic fatigue syndrome experience fatigue that is truly debilitating. Since this syndrome is more prevalent in women, pregnancy is often an issue.

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[Source: Pregnancy Blog]

Baby Boy Names - Need Help

I have a couple of girls names I like...we will be TTC in March.I need a boys name that goes well with ELIAS and ISAAC my two son's.I prefer vowel names and biblical meaning; however will accept any name with a strong meaning.I am so lost with boys names!

Join in

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PregnancyWeekly.com

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[Source: Pregnancy Weekly Blog - Pregnancy, Baby, and Family]

The Link Between Caffeine and Miscarriage

By now you have probably heard that caffeine should be avoided, or at least greatly reduced during pregnancy. A new study gives one more good reason to eliminate caffeine from your diet if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant in the near future.

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[Source: Pregnancy Blog]

When and how is the cord blood collected?

"Cord blood is collected from the umbilical cord immediately after the birth of the baby and after the cord has been cut. This blood is routinely discarded and collecting it does not alter normal birthing procedures. The collection can only take place at the time of delivery and is normally performed by your caregiver." Courtesy of CBR

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PregnancyWeekly.com

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[Source: Pregnancy Weekly Blog - Pregnancy, Baby, and Family]

Review Looks at Latest Birth Control Options

"North American women tend to have more complaints and are less compliant"

With many women still searching for the perfect birth control method, a systematic review analyzes a host of studies comparing the contraceptive skin patch or vaginal ring to the pill. via Newswise

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[Source: Pregnancy News]

Opinions abound over abortion

"The issue is certainly about the health of the woman and her freedom to make all reproductive decisions"

Presidential candidates tossed their opinions on abortion into the public arena Tuesday, which marked the 35th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision that gave women the right to choose. via The Daily Item

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[Source: Pregnancy News]

Birth control options

"It all comes back to compliance."

With many women still searching for the perfect birth control method, a systematic review analyzes a host of studies comparing the contraceptive skin patch or vaginal ring to the pill. via Medical News

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[Source: Pregnancy News]

You Can be a Good Mother

Many times I have heard birthmothers say that they were worried about their ability to parent and their parenting skills. They wondered if they could be a good mother and some may let these fears get in the way of parenting. Of course, these are all legitimate concerns and some women may deal with these concerns and think about before even getting pregnant, but if you are facing an unplanned pregnancy these thoughts may be coming up more frequently and you have to deal with them now as you decide whether you should parent or make an adoption plan. When I ended up in an unplanned... [...] Read more!

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[Source: Crisis Pregnancy Blog]

Reducing Snoring in Pregnancy

Snoring is not uncommon during pregnancy. Researchers estimate that approximately 30% of all pregnant women snore to some degree during pregnancy. Some women snore occasionally and others snore every night. There are several causes of airway restriction that result in snoring.

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[Source: Pregnancy Blog]

Help Start a Breast Milk Bank

Ideablob is having a content for funding for a great idea. One such idea is the Mothers Milk Bank - helping to provide breastmilk for babies who might not otherwise survive without breastmilk or need it for ... via About.com

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[Source: Pregnancy News]

Snoring in Pregnancy

Many women find they snore during pregnancy. Snoring is the result of obstructed airways, which make normal breathing difficult during sleep. Snoring can vary from a light snore to loud noise that disrupts the sleep of the pregnant woman and her partner.

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[Source: Pregnancy Blog]

Can you Breastfeed if you are Making an Adoption Plan?

In my last post, I discussed breastfeeding and listed some of the benefits of breastfeeding, but you may be wondering if you can breastfeed even though you are making an adoption plan. The answer is yes! Some adoption agencies and other adoption professionals may tell you that you can not breastfeed, but you can. They may want you not to breastfeed for the simple reason that breastfeeding a baby gives you a chance to bond on such an intimate level that you might... [...] Read more!

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[Source: Crisis Pregnancy Blog]

Pregnancy Blog Review for January 16-27

The pregnancy blog covers issues related to fertility, pregnancy, birth and the post partum period. I try to cover a wide variety of topics each week. The blog review is a good place to view the content in one place.

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[Source: Pregnancy Blog]

First Baby? Top 10 Must Do List...

New and Younger Mothers, (correct this if it is wrong), here are the first things that one must do in this day and age to prepare for motherhood:

1. Conduct all genetic tests and alter if need be?
2. Register for gifts wanted at online registries.
3. Dedicate a blog site or photo sharing site to document and share the progress of baby from as early as possible.
4. Develop a ring of friends and play hubs online.
5. Research baby names online and have that baby named as soon as you know the sex. Most popular top five names for boys and girls: Boys -- Michael, Jacob, Matthew, Joseph and Christopher; Girls - Hannah, Madison, Elizabeth, Alexis and Sarah. Figure out the meaning of the name.
6. Register for a domain name for the baby.
7. Think about GPS bracelets or Radio Frequency Identification Tags (RDIF)
8. Put the baby's name on wait lists for schools.
9. Make arrangements to permanently store the umbilical cord blood ($2,000 for one-time fee, $100 annual fee -- private storage recommended).
10. Stock up on Baby Einstein music and tapes to begin developing the brain from the start.
11. Upload a video of the birth and set up text/email alerts to announce the arrival

Source: Motherpie

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PregnancyWeekly.com

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[Source: Pregnancy Weekly Blog - Pregnancy, Baby, and Family]

Spreading the word on abortion

"Women can do medical abortions by themselves"

Dutch physician Rebecca Gomperts, revered and reviled as "the abortion boat doctor," has sailed to Ireland, Poland and Portugal to provide offshore medical abortions. via The Toronto Star

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[Source: Pregnancy News]

What is Bell's Palsy?

Bell's palsy is the result of damage to a facial nerve. It is categorized by a sudden and temporary paralysis, usually to one side of the face. Often the symptoms of Bell's palsy are mistaken for a stroke, since facial paralysis is most often the result of stroke.

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[Source: Pregnancy Blog]

Breastfeeding your Baby: Benefits

As an expectant mother someone may have mentioned breastfeeding to you. This can be a touchy subject to some mothers considering adoption – I didn’t even want to think about it! But you may want to give it some thought, especially if you are leaning towards parenting. Whether or not to breastfeed is a personal decision, but one that you should educate yourself on. In this post, I will discuss breastfeeding in general and in the next post I will discuss it more specifically in the context of breastfeeding while making an adoption plan. Many doctors consider breastfeeding better... [...] Read more!

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[Source: Crisis Pregnancy Blog]

23-Jan-08 - Abortion Pill Usage Rises Despite Abortion Rate Drop

"I think we'll continue to see increases."

Washington DC, Jan 23, 2008 .- Though recent reports indicate a drop in the abortion rate, the use of the abortion pill RU-486 is on the rise, the Washington Post reports. via Global Catholic Network EWTN

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[Source: Pregnancy News]

Choice? What choice?

"It is not just a medical decision"

On Saturday night in Toronto and at a number of events across the country in coming days, women will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the momentous Morgentaler decision. via The Globe and Mail

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[Source: Pregnancy News]

How Common is Uterine Rupture?

I have heard countless women say online that their doctors don't recommend VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) due to the risk of uterine rupture. In fact, every single woman I know in real life who had one c section was told the same thing by their physicians.

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[Source: Pregnancy Blog]

Ortho Evra(R) Prescribing Information Updated

Ortho Women's Health & Urology , Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., has updated the prescribing information for ORTHO EVRA to include further epidemiologic data. via Earth Times

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[Source: Pregnancy News]

First Pregnancy - The Entire Three Trimesters

First pregnancy in any woman brings in a myriad of emotions, such as happiness, anxiety, and curiosity about what the newborn will look like and much more. via American Chronicle

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[Source: Pregnancy News]

Caffeine Increases Risk of Miscarriages

The recently released results of a new study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology show that there is a correlation between the amount of caffeine a pregnant woman consumes and miscarriage. Most doctors warn pregnant women to cut back on their caffeine intake, but this study is saying that pregnant women should avoid caffeine in any form (coffee, tea, soft drinks, etc) because pregnant women who consume caffeine (even in small amounts) are at a higher risk of miscarriage than those who do not. This study involved more than 1,000 pregnant women and showed... [...] Read more!

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[Source: Crisis Pregnancy Blog]

Use of RU-486 is on rise

Thirty-five years after the Supreme Court's landmark Roe v. Wade decision, a pill that has largely faded from the rancorous public debate over abortion has slowly and quietly begun to transform the experience ... via Quad-City Times

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[Source: Pregnancy News]

A Tough 'Roe' to Hoe: Roe v. Wade & 35 Years of Legal Abortion

"Roe is different from all other cases because it's never been accepted by a large segment of the people"

For 35 years, abortion has been legal in the United States because of Roe v. Wade. via About.com

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[Source: Pregnancy News]

Pregnancy Symptoms that Could Be Caused from Something Else

List of Pregnancy Symptoms and Their Other Possible Culprits So you may or may not be pregnant. via Associated Content

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[Source: Pregnancy News]

Teen Pregnancy in the News a lot Lately

Teenage pregnancy sure has been in the news a lot lately. First, teen pregnancy hit the big screen in the much talked about movie Juno ,which is the tale of a high school student who ends up in an unplanned pregnancy, realizes she isn’t ready to be a parent, and makes an adoption plan. Teen pregnancy splashed the headlines again when Jamie Lynn Spears, sixteen year old star of the Nickelodeon show Zoey 101, announced the news of her own unplanned... [...] Read more!

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[Source: Crisis Pregnancy Blog]

Report: U.S. Abortions Hit Lowest Level Since 1974

"Medication abortion, which provides women with an additional option early in pregnancy, clearly reinforces this very positive trend."

The number of abortions in the United States dropped to 1.2 million in 2005, the lowest level since 1974 and down 25 percent from the all-time high of 1.6 million in 1990, according to report issued Thursday.

The Guttmacher Institute, which surveyed abortion providers nationwide, said there likely were several reasons for the decline, including more effective use of contraceptives, lower levels of unintended pregnancy, and greater difficulty obtaining abortions in some parts of the country. Read more

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[Source: Pregnancy News]

Abortion Rate Is Lowest In 3 Decades

"Our policymakers at the state and federal levels need to understand that behind virtually every abortion is an unintended pregnancy"

Survey Shows 1.2 Million Abortions Performed In U.S. In 2005 --> The abortion rate in the U.S. continues to decline, falling to the lowest level in more than three decades in 2005, it was reported Thursday. via CBS News

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[Source: Pregnancy News]

Unassisted Childbirth

Unassisted childbirth, also called freebirth, is when a woman gives birth at home with no midwife present. Often the woman's partner or another family member is present, but no medical personnel.

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[Source: Pregnancy Blog]

Abortions at 30-year low

"A number of states over the last five or six years have enhanced their pro-life laws, such as requirements for informed consent and parental notice"

The abortion rate in the United States has fallen to its lowest level since 1974, the first full year after the U.S. Supreme Court legalized the procedure nationwide, new data show. The annual rate has been falling steadily since 1981, paralleling a sharp decline in the number of abortion providers. Recent years also have seen an upsurge in legislation making it more difficult for women to access abortions and for doctors to perform them. Thirty-five years after the landmark Roe vs. Wade decision, in which the Supreme Court said women have a constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy, states have enacted hundreds of laws requiring mandatory waiting periods, parental consent for minors, ultrasound imaging of the fetus and numerous other regulations. Read more

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[Source: Pregnancy News]

Nausea During Pregnancy Is Normal

Nausea and vomiting is one of the early symptoms of pregnancy and it is very common in majority of women. via American Chronicle

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[Source: Pregnancy News]

Increased Usage of Mifeprex Helps Slow Decline in Abortion Providers

The Guttmacher Institute announced today that use of Mifeprex for early medication abortion increased substantially between 2000 and 2005. via Med Ad News

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[Source: Pregnancy News]

Number of Abortions Hits Lowest Level Since 1976

"This study shows that prevention works, and that's what we provide in our health centers every day"

By Rob Stein Washington Post Staff Writer Thursday, January 17, 2008; Page A01 The number of abortions performed in the United States dropped to 1.2 million in 2005 -- the lowest level since 1976, according to ... via The Washington Post

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[Source: Pregnancy News]

Can Being Underweight Affect Fertility?

Can being underweight affect fertility? The short answer is yes. Despite our weight obsessed culture that seems to idolize the super thin, being underweight is not healthy. In fact, if you are underweight, your fertility can be affected.

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[Source: Pregnancy Blog]

Does having a baby boost your productivity?

"Gosh at six weeks postpartum, my brain is still very scattered, I'm lucky to get dressed, let alone be productive."

I was reading through some blogs I follow the other day when I found Michael Stelzner's blog post entitled: Want to Boost Your Writing Productivity? Have a Baby! I will admit that I saw the title and had to ... via About.com

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[Source: Pregnancy News]

A Guide To Month-By-Month Pregnancy

Here is a guide to month-by-month pregnancy. It will make you aware of the different stages of pregnancy , so that you can tackle each moment with confidence and ease. via American Chronicle

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[Source: Pregnancy News]

Baby Shower Games

I love baby shower games. Well, let me rephrase that, I like a good baby shower game . via About.com

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[Source: Pregnancy News]

Pregnancy Blog Review Dec 30 - January 12

A variety of topics have been covered recently in the pregnancy blog. The blog review is a good place to get caught up on the topics covered in one convenient place. Sit back, relax and catch up on your reading. As always, I welcome any questions or topics for future blogs.

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[Source: Pregnancy Blog]

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.

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[Source: Pregnancy Blog]

People quiz Ask.com on pregnancy, Viagra

Questions about pregnancy symptoms, herpes and male enhancement drugs are among the top health queries for U.S. search engine Ask.com In its Top Five "Under Wraps" Health Searches for 2007, Ask.com discovered ... via Political Gateway

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[Source: Pregnancy News]

Sharing the News of an Unplanned Pregnancy

Telling your partner you are pregnant isn't always an exciting time. Sometimes the pregnancy is not planned. Sometimes the timing is not right, either for financial reasons or problems in the relationship. If this is the case, you may be worried about telling him you are expecting a baby.

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[Source: Pregnancy Blog]

Jamie Lynn Spears Pregnancy A Conundrum For Parents

When Jamie Lynn Spears announced her pregnancy, more than one adult told me she was done. via Cookies for breakfast

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[Source: Pregnancy News]

Skin Tags in Pregnancy

If you have noticed small growths of skin on your body, they may be skin tags. This is just one of the many changes you will notice in your skin during your pregnancy. Skin tags are very common among pregnant women.

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[Source: Pregnancy Blog]

Signing before Birth?

In a recent post in the Hoping to Adopt blog, Faith discusses the fact that in a few states (Alabama, Hawaii, and Washington State) expectant mothers can sign relinquishment papers terminating her parental rights before birth. Although it is legal in those states, it is not required and that is something that you as an expectant mother considering adoption should be aware of. In Alabama, an expectant mother can sign relinquishment... [...] Read more!

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[Source: Crisis Pregnancy Blog]

The Truth About Emergency Birth Control

BlueOregon is a place for progressive Oregonians to gather 'round the water cooler and share news, commentary, and gossip. via BlueOregon

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[Source: Pregnancy News]

Bringing Children to Prenatal Visits

If this is not your first pregnancy, you may be wondering if you should bring your other child or children to your visits. This topic has recently been discussed in our forums. There isn't a clear answer to this question.

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[Source: Pregnancy Blog]

What is a Single Umbilical Artery?

In a normal umbilical cord, the cord has three vessels. Two of the vessels are arteries and one is a vein. In some cases, only one artery develops in the cord. This is known as a single umbilical artery. This is actually the most common irregularity of the umbilical cord.

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[Source: Pregnancy Blog]

Pair Ring in '08 at Maternity Ward Again

Central Pennsylvania couple has a new tradition for ringing in the new year: spending it in the maternity ward. For the second year in a row, Kyle and Becky Armstrong welcomed the first baby of the year at Gettysburg Hospital.

Faith Lynn Armstrong arrived on New Year's Day at 5:23 a.m. Her brother, Kaden Skye, was the hospital's first baby in 2007 also born on Jan. 1.

Nurse manager Laura Swomley said she'd never seen anything like it in 25 years at the hospital.

"It's strange," agreed Becky Armstrong, of Gettysburg. "It's all very weird."

Armstrong said it wasn't anything she and her husband had planned.

"Faith being a first baby was not on my mind," said Armstrong. "It didn't matter to me."

source

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[Source: PregnancyWeekly's Blog]

The Pregnancy Blog Review Dec 20 - 30

The holidays are always crazy, but never more exhausting than when you are pregnant. The pregnancy blog review is a great place to get caught up on your reading while relaxing with your feet up. A range of topics have been covered recently.

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[Source: Pregnancy Blog]

Measuring the Fundal Height

At each prenatal visit, your doctor will take a measurement that is also known as the fundal height. This is the distance between the pubic bone and the top of the uterus. A steady increase in the fundal height at each prenatal visit is an indication that the baby is growing normally.

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[Source: Pregnancy Blog]

Causes of Secondary Infertility

Secondary infertility occurs when a woman who has had at least one successful pregnancy finds that she is unable to conceive another baby. The first child is generally conceived without difficulty and the pregnancy is normal and healthy.

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[Source: Pregnancy Blog]

Emotional Issues with Secondary Infertility

The definition of secondary infertility is an inability to get pregnant after a previous successful pregnancy. Emotions run high regardless of whether this is your first or fourth baby. There are some emotional issues that are specific to secondary infertility.

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[Source: Pregnancy Blog]

Abbott's abortion hotline shunned

"The helpline has been designed to assist women, their partners and family to access non-directive counselling in a timely fashion when experiencing an unplanned pregnancy."

Figures have not met expectations Demand for hotline fell at end of 2007 Hotline has Labor's in-principle support A CONTROVERSIAL pregnancy helpline established by former health minister Tony Abbott in a bid to ... via NEWS.com.au

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[Source: Pregnancy News]

Can safety and efficacy go hand in hand?: Contraception for medically complex patients

There may be more options than you think for women who have one or more medical conditions Recent data suggest that the combined contraceptive patch carries a risk of VTE twice as high as that of combined OCs ... via OBG Management

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[Source: Pregnancy News]