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Sharing Your Pregnancy News: Advice for Telling Family, Friends & Employers
Now that you’ve confirmed your pregnancy, you might be wondering “when is the right time to share the news?” Since news of a baby on the way travels fast, it’s important to think about which family members, friends or coworkers you want as a part of your support system! While there is no rule book…
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Determining Sex of Baby: Ways to test
Before the advancements in prenatal screenings, parents had to wait until they were in the delivery room to find out the sex of their baby. If you aren’t someone who loves a big surprise, you might be wondering what tests are available to determine fetal sex during pregnancy. The two most common tests to determine…
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A Guide to Fetal Heartbeat & Heart Rate
Hearing your baby’s heartbeat for the first time is a big moment. If you have a viable pregnancy you will typically hear or see a heartbeat once you are >6 weeks. Before 6 weeks we are sometimes, but not always, able to detect a heartbeat. Unfortunately, sometimes people go in for their first ultrasound and…
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Blood Tests in Pregnancy: What’s Recommended?
It is common practice for blood tests to be run as a part of your first prenatal appointment. The number of laboratory tests run on your blood might differ from the list below depending on your unique medical history. Use the breakdown as a guide for what to expect with your first pregnancy blood draw. …
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An Overview of Prenatal Genetic Screenings
There are a variety of screening tests that assess your baby’s risk of genetic conditions. It’s important to remember that screening tests evaluate a baby’s risk of having a certain condition, but they do not diagnose that condition. More invasive diagnostic testing is needed for confirmation. Genetic testing in pregnancy typically looks for:
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Choroid Plexus Cyst: What You Should Know
A choroid plexus cyst (CPC) is a small fluid filled structure within a baby’s brain. It is a common finding, and usually discovered at a 2nd trimester ultrasound. It is not a structural or functional defect. While it may sound alarming, an isolated CPC is generally not of concern. It usually resolves in the 3rd…
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Echogenic Intracardiac Focus (EIF: What You Should Know
An echogenic intracardiac focus (EIF) is a small bright spot seen on an ultrasound of baby’s heart. This bright spot is located on the fetal cardiac ventricle, which is one of the heart’s chambers. They are most commonly found as a single focus on the left ventricle, but they can occur on the right side,…
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What is Hyperemesis Gravidarum?
While nothing about being nauseous and vomiting is “normal” it is a very common pregnancy symptom. Most will be able to manage their symptoms with a combination lifestyle modifications (avoiding triggers, hydrating, getting enough sleep), diet changes (small frequent meals), over-the-counter supplements/medications (ginger tablets, vitamin B6), and/or prescription medications.There is a certain degree of nausea…
