Search Results

Medically reviewed by: Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD Why Is it Risky to Drink Alcohol During Pregnancy? Babies can be born with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) if a mother drinks a lot of alcohol during pregnancy. No one knows how much alcohol use is risky during ...

Medically reviewed by: Thinh Phu Nguyen, MD It can be hard to tell when you are truly in labor. Contractions (belly tightening) are the main sign of labor. They last from 30 to 60 seconds and might feel like period cramps at first. False labor pains (called ...

Medically reviewed by: Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD Why Is Exposure to Lead Dangerous During Pregnancy? Lead is a metal that's found in the environment and many consumer products. It’s toxic and especially harmful for a developing fetus. Most people have a sma...

Medically reviewed by: Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph In early pregnancy, labor and birth may seem far off. But now's the time to create a birth plan that details your wishes for when your baby arrives. What's a Birth Plan? The term birth plan can be misleading bec...

Medically reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD What is a C-Section? A cesarean section (C-section) is the surgical delivery of a baby through incisions in the mother's abdominal wall and uterus. C-sections can help women who are at risk for problems avoid danger...

Medically reviewed by: Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph Is it OK to Drink Coffee During Pregnancy? If you're pregnant, check with your doctor about having caffeine. It's usually OK to have 1 or 2 cups of coffee, but it's best not to have more than that. It's hard to ...

Medically reviewed by: Maureen F. Edelson, MD What is Cord Blood? During pregnancy, the umbilical cord connects a developing fetus to the placenta. The placenta is an organ within a pregnant women's womb. It provides oxygen and nutrients to a growing baby, a...

Medically reviewed by: Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph We've learned a lot about COVID-19. Here are some answers to questions about the virus and pregnancy. Can COVID-19 Cause Problems for a Women's Pregnancy or Her Baby? Usually, COVID-19 during pregnancy causes mi...

Medically reviewed by: Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD Learning all you can about labor and delivery can help you manage the pain of childbirth when the time comes. Pain During Labor and Delivery Pain during labor is caused by contractions of the muscles of the ...

Medically reviewed by: KidsHealth Medical Experts Swollen ankles are a normal, if frustrating, woe for many pregnant women. During pregnancy, the extra fluid in the body and the pressure from the growing uterus can cause swelling (or "edema") in the ankles an...

Medically reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD What Is an Ectopic Pregnancy? In a normal pregnancy, the fertilized egg implants and develops in the uterus. In ectopic pregnancy, the egg implants somewhere other than the uterus - often, in the fallopian tubes. Thi...

Medically reviewed by: Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph Also called: Epidural Block What Are Epidurals? Epidurals are a way to make labor and delivery less painful and more calm and controlled. Epidurals are a form of regional pain control. They provide pain relief ...

Exercising during pregnancy has many benefits, though you'll need to make a few changes to your normal exercise routine. Discuss your exercise plans with your doctor or other health care provider early on. The level of exercise recommended will depend, in part...

Medically reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD What Is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)? Babies whose mothers drank alcohol during their pregnancy can be born with birth defects and developmental disabilities. The problems that can happen when babies are exposed to al...

Medically reviewed by: Thinh Phu Nguyen, MD Having a healthy baby means making sure you're healthy too. One of the most important ways to help prevent serious birth defects in your baby is to get enough folic acid every day - especially before conception and ...

Medically reviewed by: Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD What Foods and Drinks Should I Avoid During Pregnancy? Foods that are more likely to be contaminated with bacteria or contain heavy metals are ones to skip or limit during pregnancy. What Foods Might Contain...

Medically reviewed by: Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD Are X-Rays Safe During Pregnancy? Health experts say that X-rays are probably safe during pregnancy. Most diagnostic X-rays emit much less than 5 rads (the highest amount that experts say is OK during pregnan...

What Are Eating Disorders? Eating disorders are problems that affect a person's eating behaviors as well as their attitudes and feelings about food - and about their body.  Eating disorders affect a person's mental health and can cause serious harm to a pers...

Website: https://recovery.com/condition/eating-disorders/ Our independent research team evaluated the 1102 best treatment centers for eating disorders. Review our curated list of centers offering care options such as virtual, outpatient, and residential treat...

Website: https://feast-ed.org/ Who We Are F.E.A.S.T = Families Empowered and Supporting the Treatment of Eating Disorders We are a global non-profit organization, serving thousands of families of people affected by eating disorders from over 100 different c...