Those who have twin offspring within the family lines will usually give birth to twins as well. But other than genetic history, twin pregnancies can also occur in women who use fertility drugs to stimulate ovulation, those who have frequent childbirth, those who have just stopped taking birth control pills, and those who undergo IVF fertilization method in order to have a child.

Twin or multiple pregnancy can be easily detected through USG at the eighth weeks of pregnancy, where you could hear two or more heart rates inside your womb. Within the second trimester, the physical appearance of the fetuses should even be more obvious as you view them on the USG monitor.

Other than USG, you can actually detect whether you are bearing twins or not as your belly should look bigger than the normal pregnancy sizes, especially within the second trimester. Try to compare the size with other pregnant moms or with your previous pregnancy, if you are expecting the second child. Bigger belly size should indicate that you are bearing twins.

You can also touch your stomach gently and try to find the part which is rather big and bulging. You will feel two bulging parts which is the head and bottom if you are having single pregnancy, while with twin pregnancy you will feel three or four bulges consist of two heads and one bottom, or two bottoms and one head, or two heads and two bottoms. There should be at least three palpable bulges when you gently touch and feel your stomach when you are bearing twin babies.

At the fourth month, the fetus can usually move. Studies said that the normal movement could occur about 10 times in 12 hours. So if the movement occurs more than that, let’s say about twice more, then you could expect having twin inside your womb.

Although the last couple weeks prior to delivery can be some of the most uncomfortable moments for pregnant moms, a study said that if moms can stick it out until the baby is 39-40 weeks, the infants will get benefits in their health. They will be less likely to have hearing, vision, feeding or birth-weight problems and even have their lungs, eyes, and brain fully developed for the final weeks give them enough time for those.

While it was thought that an infant’s mortality risk was similar for babies who born between 37 and 41 weeks, recent study shows that the risks increase when they are born between 37 and 39 weeks of gestation period. It was also said that this risk decreases with each additional week of pregnancy, so full-term pregnancies is highly recommended.

According to researcher, Uma M.Reddy, MD, MPH of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Development in Bethesda, Maryland, moms should wait until at least 39 weeks to have a truly elective delivery. She also said that it doesn’t mean that they stop those who wish to labor at 37 weeks, however if the mothers are doing well and have no health issue, it is recommended to wait to 39 weeks because it will be best for them as well as their babies.

Based on data, the infant mortality in 2006 was 1.9 : 1,000 for babies who were born at 40 weeks, and this rate increased to 3.9 : 1000 for those who were born at 37 weeks. Although the risks of newborn deaths remain small, the risk doubles for those who are born before 37 weeks.

Alan R. Fleischman, MD, the medical director of the March of Dimes in White Plains, New York stated that people need to be aware that there are two definition of ‘term’. He explained that ‘term’ is actually a biologic continuum between 37 and 41 weeks – those who born early in ‘term’ are different than those who born at ‘full term.’

However, full term delivery is only applicable to women who have no medical reason to deliver before 39 weeks, as added by Dr Fleischman. Unfortunately, there is a group of women and doctors who opt for early delivery for the moms could not stand the uncomfortable feeling they had within the last four weeks of pregnancy.

J. Christopher Glantz, MD, MPH, a professor of maternal-fetal medicine at University of Rochester School of Medicine also agrees with full term deliveries, that according to him most babies will do alright at 37 weeks, but he also thinks that it does not make sense why a mom would take unnecessary risk by taking early delivery.

Wrong baby skin care may cause fungal and bacterial infections at the area covered by the diapers. The infections in the area will later cause skin rash which is also known as diaper rash. If this condition last longer, you need to consult it to a doctor immediately.

Diaper rash is a condition where the skin within the diaper area turns red as the cause of fungal or bacterial infection. If normal skin rash occurs temporarily or less than three days, diaper rash may last for more than three days that it needs proper treatment to cure.

The early action might worth to take when your baby has reddish irritation marks at the diaper area, is to soak the area in warm water for 10 to 15 minutes twice a day. You can do this during the baby bath time and see the result in three days. If the condition doesn’t improve, then the skin is infected by fungus and bacteria or in other words, the baby has diaper rash.

Regular irritation can be cured with a warm bath, where the area is soaked with warm water for 10 to 15 minutes, and the result can be seen within three days where you will see the red marks slightly decreased. But with diaper rash, a special medication is needed to treat the condition. The doctors normally will prescribe an ointment or cream to treat it. You can also find such ointments without doctor’s prescription in any drugstore. However, prescribed medicine is actually more safe considering that you are about to treat a baby.

Diaper rash is normally experienced by infants at age 9 to 12 months, especially when the baby starts to consume solid foods in addition to breast milk. This diet change will likely affect the baby’s digestive system that they may experience diarrhea. The lack of hygiene and wrong method in baby caring can also be the major cause of diaper rash.

Diaper rash can happen to any baby regardless the type of diaper they wear – fabric/non-disposable diapers or disposable diapers. Therefore, it is important to maintain the humidity level and the cleanliness of the baby’s diaper area to prevent it from rashes.

Being in a pregnancy situation means you need to shop for maternity dress that allows you to stay comfortable during the period. Although you are happy and excited about being a mom soon, choosing a maternity wear can be a bit upsetting especially since you are going to wear them for only less than a year. So here are some tips for you regarding maternity dress collection. These will give you ideas on how to shop, choose and wear those dresses, including what to do to your collection once you no longer use them.

1. Shop little by little
Start with a few apparels first and do not over-shop. Remember, your belly won’t stay the same size for the next 9 months so you better shop a few as a start, then add one or two more pieces every month during your pregnancy period. This will help you to stay update to the latest style, and stay comfy with the growing belly size.

2. Neutral cut and colors for office outfits
Neutral colors will allow you to mix and match the apparels easily. As for the cuts, the simple and neutral one will be very helpful for the growth of your belly. If you find the cuts or the motifs of your outfits too simple, style it with scarves or other accessories to make it more attractive.

3. Do not refuse the hand-me-downs
Rather than borrowing your husband’s pants during the pregnancy months, a couple of hand-me-downs will do you a great favor. So, do not refuse if your friends, colleagues, or relatives offer their old maternity wears to you.

4. Stay comfy with your outfits
Opt for the styles which fit your tastes and most importantly, match to your comfort. If you’re not comfortable with maternity gowns, then don’t wear them. Get something with good quality to wear, something made of good materials or fabrics that won’t irritate your style or your comfort. Same thing with bra and underwears; buy at least two maternity bras that you can wear during pregnancy and lactation, then add a couple more with larger sizes or purchase a bra extension hook. Also buy a few larger underwears and make sure they are made of good fabrics for better comfort.

5. Flat-shoes are a must
You need flat-shoes for better balance and comfort. If you need to look a bit formal, find a pair of shoes with moderate or low heels. You may also need 1 or 2 size larger than your normal size.

According to experts in Australia and the US, women with poorly-managed asthma have a higher chance of giving premature births; they will be giving birth early or having a small baby.

Another complication regarding asthma and pregnancy was also found, that is pre-eclampsia or a medical condition in which hypertension arises.

When looking at the asthma studies published between 1975 and 2009, which involved more than a million pregnant women, researchers found that women with asthma gave birth to babies with the average weight of 93 grams (0.2 lbs) less than those who have non-asthmatic mothers.

It was also found that having asthma increased the mom’s risk of pre-eclampsia by at least 50%, and the risks of pre-term birth were increased by about 25%.

Institute in Newscastle, Australia, there are a couple reports which say that the complications may be minimized by effective asthma management strategies. It is also important to have the women in this group and their developing baby monitored regularly.

And as the asthma medications do not seem to have direct effects on the mother or baby during pregnancy – as said by experts in the study published in the journal BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the treatment should be performed without hesitation

The key is to make sure the asthmatic symptoms managed properly, as told by Professor Philip Steer, the journal’s editor-in-chief. He also added that it is important to optimize the treatment of asthma to lower the risk of preterm birth or a small baby.

Items like teddy bears, blanket and bumper pads may look cute and colorful around your baby’s bed, but regarding the risk of asphyxia, you should get those things out of the bed.

According to Jessica Saunders, a member of Montgomery County’s Child Fatality Review Board’s Safe Sleep Committee, babies can asphyxiate on items put near their bed since they can’t lift their heads up yet.

The statement Saunders made was actually regarding to two high-profile cases which highlight the dangers of unsafe infant sleep practices. In those cases, both a 4-month-old baby girl and a 3-month-old baby boy were killed due to possible asphyxia caused by the thing and the person they have around them while sleeping. The cases later raise the controversial issue of how a baby should sleep and with whom.

As recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, Saunders then said that babies should sleep alone. A breastfed-baby can sleep with its mother safely only when she is sober, and a non-smoker and that the bed is flat, clean and firm, as suggested by Linda J. Smith, the owner of Miamisburg’s Bright Future Lactation Resource Centre. But Smith also added that the number of other people sleeping in the bed should also be limited.

In order to make a good bed for baby to sleep alone, it is recommended that the crib should be well-maintained, with slats no farther apart than 2 3/8 inches, has firm mattress that is covered with a tight-fitting crib sheet, and fits snugly in the crib. And instead of blankets, sleep sacks and one-piece sleepers are more recommended to keep the baby warm. But if the baby must use a light blanket, it should be tucked in on all sides along the bottom half of the crib and below the baby’s arm.

You need to simply make sure that nothing in the crib can get around the baby’s nose so it shall be free from the risk of asphyxia. Do not let your baby sleep on surfaces like bean bag chairs or overstuffed sofa, and also with those who are obese or with long hair that is not tied up. Mom must be very aware on such things in order to keep their baby comfortable and safe.

As your tummy grows bigger due to the baby inside, your movement will slightly be restricted. You will have difficulty either to stand, sit, even to lie down or in other words you will be less comfortable than ever. So how to stay comfy during your big-belly moments? Here are some tips for such condition.

Kegel Exercise
The exercise meant here is by training the muscle at your vaginal area by holding the sense to urinate. This will help you staying comfortable because you will be free from the hassle of going to the toilet a couple of times in an hour; especially when you enter the last trimester of pregnancy, where you will feel like urinating many times. You will also need this exercise later after giving birth because it will help toning the muscle down there, which would likely get loose after delivery.

Rest more, but sit less
You may feel certain pain and fatigue at your back for carrying extra weight in front of you, especially when you are standing. Therefore, try to lie down and get some rest but avoid too much sitting position. As to soothe the aching parts, warm compress will do a great job on those areas.

Flat footwear for swollen feet
Either you stand or sit too much, your feet will likely swollen during pregnancy. So wear a comfortable flat shoes or sandals for walk and rest your feet by lifting them up a bit on a small chair. This way, your feet will be free from the tension caused by your bodyweight and the muscles will be relaxed.

Lotion for itchy belly
As the skin of your stomach stretched, you may easily feel itchy around the belly area. Find certain lotion to sooth the itchiness; there are several brands which specially made for pregnant women or simply ask your doctors which lotion is safe for you and your baby. They will not only prevent you from scratching your belly, but will also help to reduce stretch-marks after giving birth.

Regarding the increasing number or cesareans in the US, Lamaze International, as the institution that promotes natural, healthy and safe approach to pregnancy, gives these tips to avoid cesarean.

1. Choose the right maternity care provider
The right maternity care provider is those which maintain low cesarean rates. Since there is no federal mandate which provides such information, you need to directly communicate the desire of having natural birth with the maternity care provider. This will allow the provider to create a birth plan designed to reduce the risk of the need of having cesarean. If possible, they can also ask the provider about the statistics of natural birth in the institution so you can determine whether they maintain low cesarean rates or not.

2. Be skeptical of justifications for a caesarean
The justifications for caesarean are not based on research alone, it is actually the last option advised to women who have certain conditions which not allowed them to have natural birth. However, some institution offers cesarean sections for reasons that actually are not supported by medical research, such as telling the mother that she is too overweight, too short, or too old for vaginal delivery. While medically, the reasons why mothers are pushed to have cesarean are because their due date has passed or that they have low amniotic fluid, or because they are making slow progress in labor, or also had a cesarean in the prior delivery.
To make wise decision whether to take cesarean or not, mothers should ask questions like ‘Can we wait a little longer?’ or ‘Is my baby in any immediate danger?’ or ask for the risks of proceeding with surgery versus without it. These can help facilitate informed decision-making.

3. Let labor start on its own
Avoid receiving medication to induce labor. Studies have consistently shown that induction nearly doubles a woman’s risk of having cesarean surgery. So in order to have a natural labor, stay upright and mobile until the time comes. It might be quite tiring but it is the best way to increase chances of a smooth birth.

4. Arrange for skilled labor support person to be by your side.
Skilled labor support person will help mothers to decrease their chances of requesting pain medication and ultimately undergoing a cesarean. So it is better for mothers to bring a loved one or doula during labor time to help support them through pain-coping methods, such as changing position and bathing – these are more likely to avoid using an epidural.

5. Take a childbirth education course.
Childbirth education course like the one provided by Lamaze, will help mothers understand their options and what to expect during labor and birth. They incorporate the best and most current scientific research into their classes, and do everything possible to ensure mothers and babies have a safe, healthy birth.

Babies’ skin, especially the newborns, is known to be three times thinner than the adults’ skin. Therefore, a proper care is needed for the health of their skin. Products with high chemical extracts, perfumes, and coloring essences and detergent contained in body wash can cause skin rashes, dryness, cracks and irritation to the babies’ skin.

The babies’ skin tends to wrinkle, and has vernix (a thin skin layer) which will gradually peel-off. You don’t need to make any effort in ‘peeling’ the vernix as it will peel-off naturally within the first week of the babies’ age.

However, to maintain the health of the newborns’ skin, the doctors suggested to not bathe them often as the exposure of chemicals contained in soaps can cause allergy later on in their future. Besides, bathing them often will also make their skin lose its natural oil which protects the skin. If this condition occurs, the babies’ skin will be very prone to skin problems like eczema.

To protect the skin from any skin problems, it is suggested to wash the baby’s clothing before wearing it with products which are free from perfume and dye. Wash the clothes separately from the adult’s clothing and add more water at the final rinsing to make sure they are truly free from any chemical compounds.

During the first month, simply wipe the babies’ body with wet sponge two or three times a week. Once in a while, also wipe the oral area or the inner parts of the mouth with soft damp cloth, and the diaper’s area with a little water and cleanser. You need to clean the oral area since there can be traces of milk there which somewhat may affect their appetite. It will also help to avoid them from the possible growth of bacteria in their mouth which can later cause certain diseases. As for the diaper area, cleaning them other than after urinating and defecating will also help maintaining the condition of the skin area which is always covered and damp. Applying baby powder to the area will also help reducing the dampness.

During pregnancy, there are different types of supplements recommended for the health of fetus in mom’s womb. One of the most well-known supplements is fish oil, which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. You may often hear that taking fish oil supplements diligently and regularly will improve the baby’s vision once he/she is born. This belief, however, was denied by recent research from Australia.

According to the result of study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the consumption of DHA by infants who were born at normal age, either before and after birth, does not give a significant impact on their visual capabilities. One of the reasons of this statement, as presented by the researchers, is that the babies had gotten what they need while they are still inside of the womb.

According to Dr Maria Makrides, the head researcher of the Women’s and Children’s Health Research Institute in North Adelaide, Australia, as long as the mothers are in pretty good nutrition and always consume nutritious food, a DHA supplement during pregnancy in order to improve the visual abilities of the babies is not really necessary.

Instead of consuming fish oil supplements for DHA intake, mothers can actually get the same benefit from their daily meals, such as salmon, mackerel, and tuna. So if they include these fishes in their meal, taking supplements are not really necessary.

There are previous studies reported that infants who are born prematurely shall need additional provision of DHA to help improving their eyesight. Actually, instead of improving the babies’ eyesight, the supply of DHA is essential for brain development. Their visual ability, however, is transmitted from the mothers to the babies within the final months of pregnancy. So if the baby was born prematurely, the need of taking special supplement is necessary as the baby did not get the adequate intake of DHA while he/she was still in the womb.