Your high-risk pregnancy: a practical and supportive guide

Foreword

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1. Getting Pregnant

The Female Reproductive System

The Male Reproductive System

How Pregnancy Occurs

Conception Basics

Preconception Counseling

Family Balancing (Sex Determination)

Pregnancy Tests

How Your Baby Grows

Journaling Your Pregnancy

Journaling Corner

Chapter 2. Care During Your Pregnancy

The First Visit

Calculating Your Due Date

Exercise During Pregnancy

Nutrition and Pregnancy

Other Concerns and Lifestyle Issues

Medications and Pregnancy

Occupational Hazards

Alternative, Complementary, or Holistic Health Care

Sexuality and Pregnancy

The Journaling Corner

Chapter 3. High-Risk Pregnancy: An Introduction

Diagnosis of High-Risk Pregnancy

High Risk Pregnancy vs. Having High-Risk Factors

Outcome and Prognosis of High-Risk Pregnancy

Choosing a Provider

Coping with High-Risk Pregnancy

Making Decisions

The Journaling Corner

Chapter 4. High-Risk Factors Before Pregnancy

Advanced Age Pregnancy

Advanced Paternal Age

History of Miscarriage

Reproductive and Female Anatomy Problems

Diabetes

Kidney Disease

Gastrointestinal Problems

Liver Disease

Autoimmune Diseases

Asthma

Heart Disease

Sickle-Cell Anemia

Depression

Other Problems

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Chapter 5. High-Risk Factors Related to Pregnancy

Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HEG)

Ectopic Pregnancy

Hydatidi-form Mole

Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Pregnancies

Hypertension

Gallstones

Cholestasis During Pregnancy

Appendicitis

Thromboembolism

Infections

Multiple Pregnancy

Unusual Fetal Positions

Blood

Incompatibilities

Vaginal Bleeding

Abruptio Placenta

Placenta Previa

Prolapsed Umbilical Cord

Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR)

Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes (PPROM)

Post-Term or Prolonged Pregnancy

Cancer in Pregnancy

Medications Used In High-Risk Pregnancies

Journaling Corner

Chapter 6. Genetics and Birth Defects

Chromosomal Defects

Single-Gene Defects

Sex-Linked Disorders

Multifactorial Disorders

Mutations

Fetal Surgery

Genetic Counseling

Your Emotions

Journaling Corner

Chapter 7. Tests, Tests, Tests

Ultrasound Tests

First Trimester Risk Assessment

Expanded AFP Screening (Triple Marker and Quadruple Marker Screen)

Amnio-centesis

Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization (FISH)

Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)

Percutaneous Umbilical Cord Sampling (PUBS)

Fetoscopy

Fetal Fibronectin (fFN)

Fetal-Movement Counts

Monitoring Devices

Biophysical Profile (BPP)

Specific Blood Tests

The Ethics of Prenatal Testing

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Chapter 8. Bed Rest

Coping with Bed Rest

Recovering from Bed Rest

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Chapter 9. Pregnancy Loss

Elective Abortion

Miscarriage

Types of Miscarriages

Causes of Miscarriage

The Emotional Impact of Miscarriage

Stillbirth

Newborn Death

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

The Grieving Process

Significant Others

Future Pregnancies

Journaling Corner

Chapter 10. Labor, Delivery, and Postpartum

Labor Defined

Stages of Labor

Problems with Labor

Pain Management in Labor

Early Baby Care

Postpartum

Postpartum Depression

Journaling Corner

Chapter 11. Cesarean Birth

Reasons for Cesarean Delivery

Emergency Cesareans

Risks of Cesareans

Repeat Cesareans

Vaginal Birth after Cesarean (VBAC)

Before Your Cesarean

Anesthesia

The Surgery

After Your Cesarean

Breast-Feeding after a Cesarean

Recovery

Going Home

Journaling Corner

Chapter 12. Premature Babies

What Is a Premature Baby?

Causes of Prematurity

The Warning Signs

Characteristics of Prematurity

Breast-Feeding Your Preemie

Your Emotions

The Premature Baby and Stimulation

Family and Friends

Outcome

Baby's Homecoming

Death and Dying

Future Pregnancies

Journaling Corner

Chapter 13. Special Concerns During Pregnancy

The Pregnant Single Parent

Teenage Pregnancy

Domestic Violence

History of Sexual Abuse

Trauma During Pregnancy

Glossary

Bibliography

Appendix A. Support Groups and Associations

Index