A series of researches has led Polish scientists to sad conclusions that air pollution levels directly impact fetus growth. For instance, even small increase in air pollution levels (like the difference between the lake air and the busy street air) will reduce the weight of newly born by 5-7 percent below normal. Full story

Women who smoke during pregnancy, increase the risk of asthma, heart conditions and respiratory diseases in their babies. A new study could now help to explain why this happens. Maternal smoking imposes health risks not only on the mother but also on her baby, and the findings show this may affect both the child’s health later in life and the health of succeeding generations, according to the authors of study. Full story

Physicians warn that pregnant women are in the risk group for developing severe health problems during the flu season. So in this year marked by swine flu threat, they have to be even more on the alert. Dr. Keith Reeves from Methodist Hospital in Houston says that physicians don't want pregnant women to be panicked by this virus, but they do want women to be more responsible for taking precautions typical for the flu season. In particular, women should be vaccinated. Full story

Arkansas woman got pregnant while pregnant, according to MSNBC. The expectant mom Julia Grovenburg from Fort Smith had the appointment for scheduled ultrascan. While doing the test, obstetrician observed the heartbeat of a second fetus, at earlier stage of development. According to specialist, a boy fetus was conceived two weeks later than his "older sister". Both fetuses attached inside the womb and began growing normally. Full story

Pregnant women can safely travel by air at any point during their pregnancy if it is uncomplicated, according to Committee Opinion issued by non-commercial organization American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The revised guidelines will be published in the October issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology. William Barth, MD, of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston claims that a series of studies conducted since 2001 showed that air travel was safe for women with uncomplicated pregnancies. Full story

There exist many studies dealing with the use of antidepressants in pregnancy. Some of them lay stress on the dangers imposed on the unborn babies, for some antidepressants have been discovered to make women more vulnerable to the risk of preterm delivery or miscarriage, and baby having low birth weight. The baby may develop certain heart defects under the influence of antidepressants. Full story

Notwithstanding the fact that man’s body is not equipped for bearing a child, his mind can be quite amenable to the idea. So don’t be surprised if, when you are pregnant, your husband will begin to evince pregnancy symptoms out of the blue. It is a well-known phenomenon called sympathetic pregnancy, and although it is a purely psychosomatic condition, your husband will be experiencing very real sensations. Full story

During pregnancy, your breast starts growing even before your belly becomes bigger. Estrogen and progesterone trigger the growth of breast tissue and, by the birth of a baby, each breast will add about one pound in weight or even more. Health experts say that, rather than during breastfeeding, it is during this period when you can lose the shape of your breast. Do the following exercises to maintain the shape of your breast and prevent saggy breast. Full story

By the end of pregnancy, the pressure on the legs increases by 25-40 pounds and their veins pump 1.5 liters more blood than before. This is why you feel them as if filled with lead and it’s like torture to stand upright for just a short period of time. The following tips will help you prevent varicose veins during pregnancy. Full story

During pregnancy, especially with the onset of the third trimester, a belly becomes increasingly larger as a fetus and subjacent tissues grow in size. And as the skin doesn't keep up with the growth, it results in overstretching and torn subcutaneous tissues. These tissue tears emerge as richly pink spots on the skin and then pale into white scars. They are scars indeed, formed in the area of tears which have been restored with connective tissue, as with any external cut. Besides belly, pregnancy stretch marks may appear on hips, buttocks and breasts. Full story

I’m so happy, my pregnancy’s out of danger! My blood test shows, there’re no signs of threatened miscarriage! But I’m still recommended to stay at home and lie most of the day, as my symptoms were not good. Full story

Today I finally found it out! I AM PREGNANT! YAY! I'm so happy! So is my husband... and our parents, of course, too. The gestational sac is 7 mm (about 0.25 inches) in diameter. This means, I'm 3-4 weeks pregnant. And this is great. Full story

Pregnancy brings about many changes in a woman’s life. It is a phase of excitement when you are planning so many things for the baby to come. However, with all the future planning in mind, you should not ignore your present health when you are pregnant. Diet and nutrition play a very important role during pregnancy. There are certain nutritional needs of the baby and the mother. And in this article we are going to tell you about how to satisfy them the healthy way. Full story

Pregnancy often induces a variety of sleep problems, like nausea, leg cramps, swellings, heartburn, and snoring. These annoyances are usually inevitable and are worsened by uncomfortable sleeping habits you may have adapted prior to being pregnant. So if you want to have a good night’s sleep during pregnancy, then follow these tips. The following information will also help those suffering from insomnia outside pregnancy. Full story

Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) promises that it will pay pregnant smokers if they quit. Now the trial scheme has been launched only in one UK region, North-East Essex. Pregnant women who will kick the bad habit for the sake of their future babies are going to receive vouchers worth up to ₤100 (about $143). Full story

Many of you have surely heard that once a woman finds out she is pregnant she should drink only nonalcoholic drinks during all the 9 months of pregnancy, otherwise she may risk her future baby’s health. But a group of researchers from the University College London, led by Dr. Yvonne Kelly, revealed that light drinking causes no harm during pregnancy. The researches defined light drinking as one to two drinks a week. Learn about the effect of alcohol consumption on the health of your future baby below. Full story

Vitamin D is responsible not only for potassium and phosphorus uptake but also influences the health of pregnant women, new studies say. Vitamin D regulates absorption of calcium and phosphorus into the blood and their delivery to bones and teeth. Together with vitamin A, calcium and phosphorus, vitamin D protects from common cold, diabetes, skin diseases and eye disorders. This vitamin also helps avoid caries and gum conditions, fights osteoporosis and accelerates the fracture healing process. And new studies show vitamin D deficiency does affect the pregnancy process. Full story

Can I ensure the health of my future children? Yes, you can! The scientists reassured that pregnancy diet influences baby's health in the long term. Eating just an apple every day will help pregnant woman to protect her baby from possible allergies and asthma, according to the team of immunologists from St. John Hospital, The Detroit Medicine Centre and Beaumont hospital. Full story

Everybody knows where babies come from – every new life starts with sexual intercourse. But why should intimate relationship between spouses be a problem during pregnancy? Of course, pregnancy is the time of drastic physical and emotional changes that undoubtedly influence the sex life. And it has to be considered. As in regular life, a woman experiences an increase and decrease in sexual desire within nine months. With pregnancy though, the upsurge in sexual activity is indeed difficult to predict. However, there are basic physiological norms and reasons that influence sexual activity and they shouldn't be neglected. Full story