| Pregnancy Symptoms For Mothers-to-be
Pregnancy is a natural process involving changes in a woman's body. Most women have uncomplicated pregnancies and their daily routines may not change until the last few weeks before delivery. Other women have difficult pregnancies that change their daily lives right from the start.
Most women experience emotional shifts and mood swings. It's natural to feel doubt, anxiety, and fear about pregnancy and childbirth, as well as happiness, excitement, and anticipation. Keeping a online pregnancy journal can help you keep track of your emotions. Plus, it will serve as a wonderful keepsake of your pregnancy in the years to come.
As soon as you think you might be pregnant, you should visit a pregnancy help center or clinic right away for a pregnancy test. If you are pregnant it is important to learn more about what to expect from pregnancy and how to care for yourself and your growing baby. If you smoke or drink, you should stop immediately -- tobacco and alcohol can harm your unborn child. Certain medications can also harm your child. [More about prenatal risks.]
Molecules In Blood Foretell Development Of Preeclampsia
High levels of two proteins in the blood of pregnant women appear to indicate the subsequent development of preeclampsia, a life-threatening complication of pregnancy, report a team of researchers from the National Institutes of Health and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. The proteins, which interfere with the growth and function of blood vessels, also signal the development of high blood pressure during pregnancy.
The findings appear in the September 7 New England Journal of Medicine.
"This finding appears to be an important step in developing a cure for preeclampsia," said Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D., Director of the National Institutes of Health. "It may also provide the basis for predicting whether or not a woman will develop the disorder."
Preeclampsia is a leading cause of maternal death and often occurs without warning.
Simple blood test devised to predict pre-eclampsia
London, Sept 7: A simple blood test could predict a potentially fatal pregnancy complication up to three months before symptoms occur, researchers report. Women who go on to develop pre-eclampsia have high levels of two key proteins in their blood, the study found. The proteins, which disrupt blood vessel formation, also suggest potential targets for treatment. Pre-eclampsia is little understood and a dangerous complication occurring in up to 5 percent of pregnancies. It is the leading cause of premature delivery worldwide. The condition often strikes without warning, causing the womans blood pressure to spike and predispose her to developing blood clots. Some women go on to suffer convulsions and even death. For this reason, doctors may have to deliver her baby immediately, even if many weeks remain before its due date.
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