Pregnancy + Original Articles

Selecting the right form of birth control depends on a variety of factors including hormone levels and sexual habits. Follow these five tips to make an educated decision. Half of all girls are sexually active by the age of 17 and menopause doesn't typically take place until a woman reaches 50, so there are a lot of years during a woman's life when birth control may be needed, according to the Associated Press. Yet choosing the right contraceptive can lead to confusion and uncertainty.

This alternative treatment has proven benefits for conditions like chronic pain and stress. But can it combat infertility? If you're trying to have a baby, acupuncture is one treatment you may never have considered to help increase your chances of conceiving.  The centuries-old Asian medical practice, in which sterile, ultra-thin needles are placed in various pressure points (or Qi, pronounced "chee" in the body), is believed to reduce stress and improve circulation.

Fluid retention is a common occurrence. Here are 10 lifestyle changes you can make to help reduce or eliminate excess fluids. Your body tries to maintain equilibrium at all times. However, sometimes pregnancy, premenstrual side effects, medications, or an underlying medical condition will disrupt the balance of water and chemicals, causing fluid retention. You may also hear this described as water retention, edema, or dropsy.

Too little iron in the body can affect many body functions, but most physical signs and symptoms don't show up until iron deficiency anemia occurs. Iron deficiency anemia is a condition that results from too little iron in the body. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency and the leading cause of anemia in the U.S. The condition is usually caused by blood loss, diet, or an inability of your body to absorb enough iron from food.

Strong parenting and emotional well-being are closely connected. Dr. Gerald Newmark, author of the book "How to Raise Emotionally Healthy Children," offers his top child-rearing strategies. "For reasons having to do with the peculiarities of our civilization, we pay a great deal of attention to our scholastic educations, which are formal and supervised, and we devote much less public thought to our emotional educations, which are unsupervised and haphazard.

More than a snuggle buddy, a body-length pillow can improve your bedtime posture and help you get a better night's sleep by relieving common aches and pains that are keeping you awake. Have you hugged your pillow lately? More than a snuggle buddy, a body-length pillow can improve your bedtime posture and help you get a better night's sleep by relieving common aches and pains that are keeping you awake. If you're pregnant, or suffer from arthritis, back pain, or sore muscles resulting from an injury or pain after surgery, a full-length body pillow can provide support to your entire body and help keep your spine aligned while you sleep.

It's estimated that more than 400,000 families in the U.S. have a child with Asperger Syndrome. The disorder affects more boys and girls and is most often diagnosed between the ages of 5 and 9. Here's what you should know about this common disorder. Asperger syndrome (AS) is a neurobiological disorder that is part of a group of conditions known as autism spectrum disorders. The disorder was named after Hans Asperger, a Viennese pediatrician, who, in 1940, first described a set of behavior patterns, such as impaired social skills, the inability to communicate effectively with others, and poor coordination, that he found in some of his patients.

Keeping safe from toxic chemicals is no easy task these days. Here are practical steps you can take to minimize exposure. Keeping children safe from toxic chemicals is no easy task these days. The current offender: Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic chemical used to make plastic clear and hard. It also keeps bacteria from contaminating foods and prevents cans from rusting.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S. So, when fresh air and sunshine beckons your family outside to play, be sure to pack sunscreen along with your diapers, snacks, and other essentials. Here's all you need to know. Sunshine warms our bodies, improves our mood and even gives us vitamin D—especially beneficial for strong bones and a healthy immune system. But the bright light has a dark side, too. Too much sun damages our skin and causes premature wrinkling, spotting, and can cause skin cancer, the most serious of which is melanoma.

Raising more than one? Multiples have special health concerns. In the U.S. the rate of twin births increased by 70 percent between 1980 and 2004 and the rate of higher-order multiples (triplets or more) increased four-fold between 1980 and 1998. More recent statistics indicate the rapid rise may be slowing. Deborah Ann Mulligan, MD is the director of the Institute for Child Health Policy and a professor of pediatrics at the Nova Southeastern University in Florida.

Having children is an exciting, rewarding experience for most parents. For women suffering from depression, however, parenting is especially difficult and untreated depression can have long-lasting effects on their children. Having children is an exciting, rewarding experience for most parents. For women suffering from depression, however, parenting is especially difficult and untreated depression can have long-lasting effects on their children. You've probably heard of post-partum blues, in which new mothers experience mood swings and feelings of sadness shortly after birth.

When a parent makes her own child ill in order to receive sympathy and attention from health-care professionals, it is one of the most harmful forms of child abuse. Making one's own child ill in order to receive sympathy and attention from health-care professionals is a rare psychiatric disorder known as Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy that impacts an estimated two in 100,000 children. Considered one of the most harmful forms of child abuse, Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy (MSP) was named for Baron von Munchausen, an 18th-century German dignitary with a reputation for fabricating the truth.

If you've ever been pregnant, you've probably taken daily folic acid supplements to safeguard the health of your unborn baby. But did you know that in the process, you could have been increasing your child's risk of developing asthma? If you've ever been pregnant, you've probably taken daily folic acid supplements to safeguard the health of your unborn baby. But did you know that in the process, you could have been increasing your child's risk of developing asthma? Folic Acid in Pregnancy Taking folic acid in pregnancy has long been recognized for its protective action in preventing serious neural tube defects, including a condition called spina bifida.

What precautions should you consider when it comes to these radiation risks? Last month's report published in the British Medical Journal may be giving x-ray technicians and doctors reason to hesitate before ordering diagnostic radiation. The recent study of children in The United Kingdom (England and Wales) examined childhood cancer risks associated with exposure to x-rays and ultrasound scans both in utero and early infancy (age zero to 100 days) In the study, Preetha Rajaraman, PhD, of the U.

When conception becomes difficult, it can affect both partners. Read on for information about your options and how you can keep a positive perspective. Infertility can be heartbreaking for couples who are faced with wrenching decisions about treatment and a variety of emotions ranging from disbelief that something so natural eludes them to depression when friends and siblings conceive easily. Even for couples who are very close, infertility tests a relationship like few other things do.

When it comes to kids and secondhand smoke, is there a safe level? And what does secondhand smoke affect? See what people are saying about this article on our Facebook page! We know that smoking puts us at risk for countless health problems, especially cancer and heart disease. Despite the overwhelming evidence, many parents continue to smoke. In addition to compromising their own health, smoking parents put their children at risk for serious health issues by exposing them to secondhand smoke.

When it comes to mercury exposure from fish, what do you need to know to make the healthiest choices? According to a recent Swedish study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the benefits of eating fish may outweigh the potential negative impact of mercury exposure from fish. The study analyzed responses from more than 900 Swedish adults about the amount of fish in their diet and then examined the subjects' red blood cells for levels of mercury and selenium.

The infant mind could be the "most powerful learning machine in the universe." As you gaze lovingly at your beautiful baby, you know in your heart that there's a lot more in that little head than meets the eye. In fact, you're quite sure she's brilliant. Are these parental perceptions just a figment of an adoring parent's imagination, or is your baby's brain really hard at work? Is your baby actually thinking? You'll be happy to know that babies do think-probably more than we give them credit for.

Your OBGYN has been there for you through thick and thin: from your first contraception to your last baby to even menopause. But should she also be your go-to-doctor for everything else? Your obstetrician-gynecologist has been there for you through thick and thin: from your first contraception to your last baby; maybe even through menopause. But is she always the best choice as a primary care physician? Your gynecologist as your go-to-doctor-for-everything might not necessarily be a good idea.

A baby, maybe? Here's what you need to know before trying to conceive. Long before you're ready to take an at-home pregnancy test and pray that the stick turns blue, you should start planning for your baby. Before becoming pregnant, it's crucial for a woman with diabetes to get her hemoglobin A1C within the normal range, or risk both miscarriage and birth defects.

Get to know this common test, what it measures, and what percentage number means you're in good control. Whether you have just been diagnosed with diabetes or you've had it for awhile, you've surely heard the term "hemoglobin A1C" tossed around by your doctor. Here are answers to some important questions about this test. 1. What exactly does the hemoglobin...

Most babies' misshapen heads round out within the first few weeks after birth, but some do not and require intervention. It's the rare newborn who arrives with a perfectly-formed head. Any new parent can attest to that! Soft and fuzzy, yes. Round and symmetrical-hardly ever, especially in infants born vaginally. The head is pliable by design. The flexible structure enables movement through the narrow birth canal.

Are you and your partner looking to start or add to your family? Don't let stress put a stop to it. You desperately want to be a parent and all your friends seem to be announcing their pregnancies to the world. While you're happy for them, you're experiencing a wrenching gamut of emotions about your own situation that ranges from anger to despair to fear.

Fewer women are having children than ever before. In fact, in 2008, 80 percent more women remained child-free by age 44, as compared to 1976. Why this remarkable downturn? And what are the health implications of not reproducing? Fewer women are having children than ever before. That's according to a new study released by the Pew Research Center, claiming that 2008, 80 percent more women remained child-free by age 44, as compared to 1976. Why are there more women without children? The answers aren't as obvious as you might think.

The birth control patch has been popular since it came on the market in 2002 due to its convenience and reliability. It's also been controversial because studies have linked it to some serious health risks. Now, there are new worries. Hormonal contraception has provided safe, reliable birth control for fifty years. Originating as "The Pill," hormonal contraception is now available in a variety delivery methods including the Ortho Evra birth control patch. The Patch has been popular since it came on the market in 2002 for convenience, reliability and user-friendliness.

Congenital cardiovascular defects, ranging from mild to severe, occur in about one percent of all live births, or approximately eight out of every 1,000 births, and are the most common congenital malformation in newborns. A congenital heart defect occurs when the heart or blood vessels near the heart don't develop normally before birth. Congenital cardiovascular defects, ranging from mild to severe, occur in about one percent of all live births, or approximately eight out of every 1,000 births, and are the most common congenital malformation in newborns.

If you have painful periods, irregular bleeding, pelvic pain, or have even had trouble getting pregnant, you could be among the 9 percent of American women with endometriosis. If you have painful periods, irregular bleeding, pelvic pain, or have even had trouble getting pregnant, you could be among the 9 percent of American women with endometriosis.  While this common condition can be disabling, there are plenty of treatment options that can cure it or make living with endometriosis a whole lot easier.

If you're experiencing pain and burning in your backside, you may have a case of hemorrhoids. Rarely considered serious, hemorrhoids usually go way on their own within a few days. If you've ever experienced the itching and burning sensation of hemorrhoids, you are not alone. Nearly everyone at some time will have hemorrhoids, a condition in which the veins around the rectum or anus become swollen and inflamed. Hemorrhoids are either inside the rectum (internal) or under the skin around the anus (external) and may result from straining during a bowel movement, pregnancy, aging, and obesity.

Some of us have been led to believe that going on and off the birth control bill is a good way to give our bodies a "break." The truth is, though, this constant "back and forth" could be harmful to our health. There are almost as many birth control myths as there are birth control options.  One misconception is that women need to quit taking birth control pills occasionally to give their body a "natural" break. The truth is that going off and on the Pill frequently (aka yo-yoing) is a good way to get pregnant and may even put your health at risk.

New guidelines released in July 2010, make room for VBACs as well as vaginal twin deliveries (previously delivered almost exclusively by c-section). The United States cesarean section rate has skyrocketed from 5% in 1970 to over 31 percent in 2007.  Are we saving more mothers and babies?  Unfortunately, no and in fact, the opposite is true.  More women and babies are experiencing complications from cesarean sections, the most common surgery in the US.

If you’re considering adding a bundle of joy to your family, you may be in for a surprise to find that getting pregnant isn’t necessarily as easy it seems. Still, there are plenty of low-tech ways that you and your partner can increase the odds of becoming parents. If you're considering adding a bundle of joy to your family, you may be in for a surprise to find that getting pregnant isn't necessarily as easy it seems. Still, there are plenty of low-tech ways that you and your partner can increase the odds of becoming parents.

Here, how each form of eduction performs when trying to fight teen pregnancy and STDs. The statistics are sobering. Three in 10 girls get pregnant at least once by the age of 20. Six in 10 teens who say they've had sex wish they'd waited, according to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. Furthermore, teens have the highest rate of sexually transmitted diseases among sexually active Americans.

Sometimes called female sterilization or "getting your tubes tied," tubal ligation is a surgical technique that prevents a man's sperm from reaching a woman's egg—thus preventing pregnancy. If you're considering this procedure, there are key factors you should consider. Maybe you've decided your family is perfect and you don't want to have any more (or any at all) children.  You can either continue using contraception until you or your partner goes through menopause or have surgery (vasectomy or tubal ligation) to make that decision permanent.

When accidents happen, there’s a backup plan. Neglected to use a condom or miscalculated your "safe days?" Don't stress out. Emergency contraception, also known as the morning-after pill, gives women some extra options, and a new one may be coming soon. If you're weighing your options about backup...

Think that only new moms can get depression after childbirth? New research says it's not that simple. Do you think that only women are at risk for postpartum depression? If so, you may be surprised to know that one in 10 men in the United States is likely to experience depression that's related to new fatherhood, according to a meta-analysis of studies on this topic, which was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in May 2010.

Bloating is never pleasant, but uncomfortable and irritating. Not only is bloating caused by foods and stress, but can also be induced by hormones. Find out how this happens and what you can do to prevent it. Abdominal bloating-that uncomfortable feeling of tightness or fullness in the stomach caused by either a buildup of gas or fluid retention-is very common affecting about 30 percent of people. Bloating is especially common and bothersome in sufferers of irritable bowel syndrome and is the result of gas trapped inside the bowel.

Is caffeine good or bad for your health? Get the truth here. That the morning cup of coffee to get your day started is a hard thing to imagine letting go of—especially if you've been in the habit for years. But the question on many people's minds is if injesting caffeine is good or bad for their health. Caffeine today is considered the most commonly used mind-altering drug in the world.

You may be worried about mixing allergy shots and pregnancy and wonder if this practice will put your unborn child in any danger. Does it seem like your allergies have gotten worse since you've been pregnant? If so, it's probably not your imagination. During pregnancy, your body undergoes a variety of changes that can make you feel pretty miserable. For some women, this includes an increase in allergy symptoms.

All you want is a healthy baby. Here, how to prevent diabetes-related birth defects. If you're a woman with diabetes and would love to be a mom some day, here's good news: diabetic women can give birth to a beautiful, healthy baby.Careful planning, however, is crucial. High blood sugar in a mother can harm a developing fetus, and since most of the vital organs, like the brain, heart and spine, are formed in the first month after conception, before a woman even knows she is pregnant, it's important to get levels under control before even trying to conceive.

If you suffer from depression and plan to become pregnant, you may be understandably concerned about the effect of depression and treatment on your unborn child. If you suffer from depression and plan to become pregnant, you may be understandably concerned about the effect of depression and treatment on your unborn child. It may help to know you are not alone. Studies show that up to 12 percent of pregnant women also experience depression.

Which option is best for for you? Read on to find out. Diabetic women of child-bearing age may well wonder if the birth control pill is a healthy option for them. The answer depends upon her age and her general health, experts say. Young, healthy diabetic women should not have a problem with the birth control pill, says Millicent Comrie, MD, chair of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Long Island College Hospital in New York.

Pregnancy is normally a time of joy and anticipation. For women who suffer from depression, it can also create confusion and concern about how antidepressant medications might affect their baby’s health. Fortunately, acupuncture may be a good alternative for treating pregnancy-related depression. Pregnancy is normally a time of joy and anticipation. For women who suffer from depression, it can also create confusion and concern about how antidepressant medications might affect their baby's health. Fortunately, acupuncture may be a good alternative for treating pregnancy-related depression.

Women must deal with some complications that men don’t. Here, the diabetes complications no one talks about. If you are a woman with diabetes, you must be extra vigilant about certain conditions. The good news is that you're less likely to get some of them if your blood sugar is in good control, says Jeffrey Powell, MD, endocrinologist at the Mount Kisco Medical Group in Mount Kisco, New York.

Recent studies have raised concern about the safety of antidepressants in women who are, or hope to become, pregnant. Recent studies have raised concern about the safety of antidepressants in women who are, or hope to become, pregnant. The type of antidepressants in question are SSRIs--selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter. Although scientists are not exactly sure how SSRIs work, they appear to block the body's ability to reabsorb serotonin, which improves mood.

Read on to learn what half a century has brought us in terms of what we know about this widely used method of contraception. Fifty years ago, one of the greatest health advancements hit the market: The birth control pill. Today, the pill is all grown up and includes low-dose pills, continuous (no period) pills, patches, and rings.  It's even used to treat acne, migraines, and other health issues.

According to a recent study, having a baby may slow down the damaging effects of multiple sclerosis, a serious autoimmune disease. Researchers have made some startling findings: according to a recent study, having a baby may slow down the damaging effects of multiple sclerosis (MS), a serious autoimmune disease. Multiple Sclerosis is a disorder in which the body's own defense system attacks myelin, the protective fatty substance that surrounds nerve fibers in the central nervous system.

Could contraception see a responsibility shift? In the past, responsibility for contraception has fallen primarily on women. Although women have many options, each form of birth control varies in how convenient and effective it is, and how it affects a woman's health. Today, many men also want to control their own fertility and take an active role in preventing unplanned pregnancies.

Can your weight determine the effectiveness of your oral contraceptive? Read on to find out. We've known for awhile that birth control pills might be less effective for heavy women. A study reported in 2005 by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists found that overweight women had a 60 percent greater and obese women a 70 percent greater chance of unintentional pregnancy while on the pill than women of normal weight.

Apples have long been touted for their numerous health benefits--and they just may help you reduce your asthma symptoms as well. Can an apple a day keep the doctor away? If you suffer from asthma, you may find that eating apples on a regular basis can indeed offer protective benefits against asthma symptoms. In fact, the apples and asthma connection is so strong that pregnant women who eat apples even find that their unborn children will ultimately reap some of the positive effects on their lungs.

Research shows that women who nurse have a lower incidence of cardiac disease. The longer women breastfeed, the lower their risk of heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular disease, according to University of Pittsburgh researchers. The findings were published in "Obstetrics & Gynecology," and reported in Heart Disease Weekly.

Is this method safe, or does it go against the natural course of nature? Most women have about 450 periods in their lifetime. Most wish they had fewer. Now, women can reduce the number of periods they have and even eliminate them by taking birth control pills in a new way.   Nicknamed the, "no period pill," women can have a period only every three to four months and, in some cases, once a year.

Today pregnancy and diabetes is more manageable than in previous decades. Here are seven essential things you should know to protect your health and have a healthy baby. & Many women with type 1 or type 2 diabetes have healthy, successful pregnancies, which are still considered high-risk. Some of the risks that increase due to diabetes and pregnancy include pre-eclampsia, miscarriage, premature birth, congenital defects, stillbirth, neonatal death, and having a baby who will have diabetes.

New study indicates that ingesting probiotics during pregnancy prevents obesity. Taking probiotics during pregnancy prevents obesity, according to a new study presented at  the 17th European Congress on Obesity in May. According to researchers, one year after giving birth, women were less likely to become obese if they had taken probiotics starting from the first trimester of pregnancy.

Information and tips about rheumatoid arthritis and pregnancy. If you have rheumatoid arthritis and are considering having a baby, you're likely to have concerns. Will you pass the disease on to your baby? Will halting your meds make your arthritis worse? Which arthritis drugs will hurt your baby? We've got some answers for you on how to cope with rheumatoid arthritis and pregnancy.

Statistics show that up to 15 percent of women report moderate to severe depression after their babies are born. But for mothers of multiples, the numbers—and the problems—can be even bigger. Even under the best of circumstances, giving birth and caring for a newborn baby isn't easy. New mothers are dealing with the constant demands of an infant, including feeding, changing, stimulating, and settling. Breastfeeding requires a woman to be available at least every few hours around the clock, leaving her little time for unbroken sleep.

Get the truth about sex during pregnancy. The myths surrounding sex during pregnancy are endless. Sex can hurt the baby. The baby will know what's happening. Sex can cause a miscarriage. What's an expectant mom or dad to believe? Here, we separate fact from fiction. Q. Can you have sex during pregnancy? A.

There's no doubt about it, having a baby is a life changing experience. It's exhausting, demanding and requires all the resources a woman can muster. Add to that the physical and hormonal changes birth causes, challenges of breast feeding, and extreme sleep deprivation and it's no wonder many new mothers get bummed out.

A miscarriage can be a devastating event. Here, we explain the basics behind it. Many women are all too familiar with miscarriage. If they haven't had one themselves, they most likely know someone who has. On average, 10 to 25 percent of all pregnancies result in miscarriage. This can be an extremely difficult experience for women and their families, resulting in grief, anger, sadness, and confusion.

Learn about the steps you can take to prevent this condition. Gestational diabetes is one of the most common complications of pregnancy often resulting in high birth weights. It not only affects the mother during pregnancy but it also puts them at a greater risk for developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Unfortunately gestational diabetes is treated reactively rather than preventatively.

The majority of women with the disease can successfully start families. If you have Crohn’s disease and want to get pregnant, you probably have many questions and concerns. Knowing how the disease will run during any one woman’s pregnancy is variable and hard to predict. However, here’s a brief overview of what you should know.

Here's what you need to know about this crucial topic. Are you pregnant and feeling confused, afraid, sad, stressed or depressed? According to the American Pregnancy Association, 10 to 20 percent of women will struggle with some symptoms of depression during pregnancy. And of those women, a quarter to half will suffer from severe depression.

A service of The National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health reports that a study has been published suggesting that measuring the levels of hormone produced by the placenta during pregnancy may predict whether a woman is likely to develop postpartum depression or not. Hormonal changes during pregnancy increase greatly. In the first 24 hours after childbirth, hormone levels quickly return to normal. These hormonal changes may trigger symptoms of postpartum depression Researchers think the dramatic change in hormone levels may lead to depression.

If you’ve always wanted to have a baby but are worried that your asthma may get in the way, then you’ll be glad to know that today, most women with asthma are able to have very healthy pregnancies. Some of the latest research shows that the key to success is continuing to manage your symptoms throughout the nine months in order to ensure the best outcome for both you and your baby. Some of the latest research shows that the key to success is continuing to manage your symptoms throughout the nine months in order to ensure the best outcome for both you and your baby. Understand Your Changing Body If you are one of the growing numbers of women in the United States who suffers from asthma symptoms, the good news is that you may be able to have a normal pregnancy as long as you follow your doctor’s recommendations.

Approximately 50 percent of pregnant women will experience heartburn. Learn how to find relief. Approximately 50 percent of pregnant women will experience heartburn (most common during the second and third trimester.) The reason: As a woman's level of progesterone increases during pregnancy, her lower esophageal sphincter relaxes. This allows food and acid to reflux back into the esophagus, thus creating the feeling of heartburn or indigestion.

Tired of that burning feeling in your chest? Find out how to relieve heartburn during pregnancy. Even if you rarely or never had heartburn before your pregnancy, it's likely to occur while you're carrying your baby, most commonly during the second or third trimester. In fact, the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) reports that more than 50 percent of all pregnant women experience heartburn.

Find out why more and more women are turning to cosmetic surgery to regain their pre-pregnancy figures. For many women, there's no greater thrill than having a baby. The act of childbirth signifies a new stage in their lives, and the arrival of their little one is a source of great joy. But some new moms find that pregnancy affects their bodies in unexpected, and unwanted, ways.

The nation's costliest conditions rack up a combined tab of more than $500 billion a year. What's the cost of poor health? A lot more than you may think. The nation's 10 most expensive medical conditions cost about $500 billion to treat in 2005, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

Here, we reveal some little-known facts about what to expect when you're expecting. When you're pregnant, almost everyone is eager to offer advice and a blueprint of what to expect during this monumental time. But moms-to-be may find that some aspects of pregnancy are rarely discussed. Here, we disclose some of pregnancy's best-kept secrets Morning sickness isn't limited to the morning.

These five tips may help increase your chances of getting pregnant. Pregnancy may seem like the most natural biological process in the world, but it doesn't come all that naturally for some. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, an estimated 12 percent of American women (7.3 million) have difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a baby to term.

Consider these factors to help determine which contraceptive method is right for you. With the invention of birth control pills in the 1960s, women suddenly had unprecedented control over their reproductive schedules. Today, many couples are opting to delay starting a family, and some are ruling out parenthood completely. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, the type of birth control you choose depends on your lifestyle and needs.

Some parents may find names like Emily and Ethan too commonplace, but they might want to think twice before choosing one of these monikers. What's in a name? Some experts believe that everything from social acceptance to financial success is determined, in part, by the names we're given at birth. And many of today's parents are rejecting popular baby names in favor of more unusual monikers.

Tired of flabby abs or love handles? If diet and exercise haven't worked for you, abdominoplasty may be the solution. Who doesn't want a trim, flat stomach? Millions strive for tighter tummies, usually starting by improving their diet and exercise routines. However, these changes often aren't enough to achieve desired results. While body fat can be reduced through a healthy diet and workout plan, the loose muscles and skin that frequently result from extreme weight loss, pregnancy, and even aging and heredity aren't as easily eliminated.

Today's high-tech reproductive options help couples achieve their dreams of having a baby. For many couples, having a baby is the ultimate act of emotional fulfillment. Their little bundle of joy is an affirmation of life, and their new role as parents is the beginning of a uniquely rewarding journey. Even the physical pain associated with childbirth is usually viewed as a labor of love.

Millions of women become pregnant each year, but too many of them don't have all the facts. Here, a look at pregnancy by the numbers. As soon as a woman discovers she's pregnant, she embarks on a life-altering journey. As the baby grows and changes inside of her, she goes through a series of changes, too. If armed with the right tools and information, she can help ensure a smooth pregnancy and the birth of a healthy baby.

Bonding before birth is important for both mom and baby. Here's why. You may not have seen your baby yet, but it's likely that you've already formed a relationship with her. Many new moms say they first feel that connection with their baby when they feel the first kick or see their baby on an ultrasound. In addition, your baby has probably already begun forming a relationship with you, too, and will be able to recognize your voice and start trusting you.