Pregnancy

Labor differs from woman to woman and from pregnancy to pregnancy, but common signs and symptoms can let you know when it is starting. Contractions that incr...  

Certain changes and discomforts occur during pregnancy - and are perfectly normal. Some of these changes include backache, frequent urination, and constipati...  

TROUBLE WITH IDIOMS. After finishing medical school in Louvain Belgium, I came to Schenectady, NY in the US to do my internship. My knowledge of English was what I knew from my high school language classes. this translates into “very little practical knowledge”. At first I struggled but caught on fast (I had to). What did not come so fast was my understanding of the use of idioms. In earlier blogs I related my embarrassment with “pain in the neck” and “prick”. Here is an other one which at the time gave me a red face but now after so many years makes me chuckle. Anne and I lived in a small apartment close to the hospital and got by on a small, very small, salary (this was the late fifties). So did all the other interns. Therefore our entertainment consisted of pot-luck weekend evenings at each other’s apartments on a rotating basis. When it was our turn to host the get together we had told our friends to come around 8:00 pm. In Belgium this means arrival at the earliest around 8:15 or even later. Of course this is quite different in the punctual American culture. That evening the bell rang at 8:01 with the arrival of the first guests. I opened the door, sat them down, started the background music and offered them a drink, as other guests arrived. While they all were sipping their wine, whiskey, or soft drink, someone asked where Anne was. She was still getting ready, not expecting any one until sometime after 8 pm. I told them “Anne is taking a douche.” Now, a douche is actually the French word for shower and is also commonly used in the Dutch language, but of course in the English language that word has quite a different meaning. When I told everyone quite innocently, that Anne was taking a douche, people’s mouths fell open and I could see on their faces the disbelief and hidden thoughts …”what kind of party is this going to be?” A similar confusion occurred toward the end of our stay in Schenectady, when the student nurses, many of whom had befriended Anne, who was now in her first pregnancy, told me that they were planning to give her a baby shower. They asked me not to say anything and keep it as a surprise. However, I felt compelled to warn Anne that she was going to receive a gift of a shower for the baby, rather than a bath. I felt that I needed to prepare her for this unusual gift, as I knew that babies in Belgium are washed in a small bath and not in a shower. Of course we had a good laugh when we realized our misunderstanding. And so it goes!! If you want to read more and similar experiences you can read my book “Crosscultural Doctoring. On and Off the Beaten Path. You can download it for free from Smashwords at: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/161522. Our just google: Crosscultural Doctoring. I would love to hear about similar experiences from people, medical or non medical, around the world who have had difficulty with english idioms.  

An introduction to Montessori philosophy in all its aspects. Help for parents of children from birth to three, and parents and teachers of children from three to twelve years of age. Montessori materials, montessori toys, montessori.  

Within the framework of the World Health Organization's (WHO) definition of health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, reproductive health, or sexual health/hygiene, addresses the reproductive processes, functions and system at all stages of life.[1] Reproductive health implies that people are able to have a responsible, satisfying and safer sex life and that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when and how often to do so. One interpretation of this implies that men and women ought to be informed of and to have access to safe, effective, affordable and acceptable methods of birth control; also access to appropriate health care services of sexual, reproductive medicine and implementation of health education programs to stress the importance of women to go safely through pregnancy and childbirth could provide couples with the best chance of having a healthy infant.  

Early pregnancy elevations in urine protein-to-creatinine ratios and serum creatinine may be useful markers for preeclampsia risk.  

Smoking both marijuana and tobacco during pregnancy may create greater health risks than cigarettes alone, according to a recent U.S. study.  

New research suggests that women with epilepsy who take an antiepileptic drug should start taking folic acid supplements as early as possible in pregnancy, if not before.  

The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Series is prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  

At what level can female athletes safely continue exercise and sporting activities during pregnancy and the preconception period? Find out what the experts have to say.  

At first presentation of a newly pregnant woman with chronic hypertension, arrange prompt referral to an obstetrician, preferably one specialising in hypertension  

Bone resorption increases during pregnancy and continues to be high postpartum, according to new findings using lead testing to measure bone turnover.  

According to new data from a large registry, the use of atypical antipsychotics during pregnancy comes with a modest level of risk that may be reassuring for doctors and their patients.  

Fruit consumption during pregnancy is linked to better neurodevelopment/cognitive outcomes in infants, new research shows.  

At first presentation of a newly pregnant woman with chronic hypertension, arrange prompt referral to an obstetrician, preferably one specialising in hypertension  

At first presentation of a newly pregnant woman with chronic hypertension, arrange prompt referral to an obstetrician, preferably one specialising in hypertension  

At first presentation of a newly pregnant woman with chronic hypertension, arrange prompt referral to an obstetrician, preferably one specialising in hypertension  

At first presentation of a newly pregnant woman with chronic hypertension, arrange prompt referral to an obstetrician, preferably one specialising in hypertension  

At first presentation of a newly pregnant woman with chronic hypertension, arrange prompt referral to an obstetrician, preferably one specialising in hypertension  

Children born to mothers with vitamin D deficiency during early pregnancy showed behavioral and emotional problems at the age of 4 according to a birth cohort study from Crete.