Raissa's Blog - Best of Sports, Culture, and Entertainment

A woman goes through a lot of external and internal changes during pregnancy. Most of these internal changes are unknown to the mother. Here are some facts about pregnancy you may not have known. Be ready to get wowed to the max. 1. Some women suffer from a chromosomal disorder called Turner syndrome. They have just one X chromosome instead of two, so cannot reproduce without fertility treatment. Turner syndrome affects about 1 in every 2500 girls. 2. Babies can cry in the womb. Research has shown that fetuses can express their displeasure by crying silently while still in the womb. This can happen as early as in the 28th week of pregnancy. According to scientists, this is a form of communication practice for life after birth, and not a reaction to feelings. 2. A pregnant woman's partner can involuntarily experience some pregnancy symptoms as well, a condition called Couvade syndrome or sympathetic pregnancy. These symptoms include: morning sickness, minor weight g...

You may not be pregnant yet, but you may plan on being pregnant in a near future (next three to six months). If you do, now is the time to start planning (health-wise). Having a healthy baby starts before you conceive, so preconception health is important. According to the CDC, preconception health is the health of women and men during their reproductive years, which are the years they can have a child. It focuses on taking steps now to protect the health of a future baby.  A woman's preconception health check should include the following: 1. Treating or controlling underlying medical conditions Conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma and others can affect your pregnancy. It is important to discuss any underlying health conditions you have (and medications you're taking) with your doctor. If necessary, your doctor may refer you to a specialist. Note that women with chronic health conditions can still have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies. Chronic heal...