The pelvic floor is a hammock of muscle and connective tissue that stretches from your pubic bone to your tailbone. It holds up the bladder, uterus, and rectum, controls when you urinate and pass stool, and plays a big role in sexual sensation. When the pelvic floor weakens, it cannot perform those functions as well.…
DetailsA mammogram is a low-dose X-ray of the breast used to find cancer before it can be felt. Screening mammograms are done on a regular schedule for women with no symptoms, and they are the most effective tool we have for catching breast cancer early, when treatment is simplest and survival is highest. The confusion…
DetailsBack pain in pregnancy is caused by a set of changes that begin far earlier than most women expect. Within the first trimester, your body starts producing relaxin, a hormone that loosens the ligaments and joints of your pelvis to prepare for delivery. Progesterone rises sharply and relaxes smooth muscle throughout your body. Blood volume…
DetailsFood safety guidance during pregnancy exists for two reasons: certain infections cross the placenta, and certain contaminants affect fetal brain development. Pregnancy changes your immune system in ways that make you more vulnerable to foodborne illness. The CDC estimates pregnant women are about 10 times more likely than the general population to get listeriosis, an…
DetailsThe baby blues and postpartum depression are two different conditions, and the difference comes down to timing, intensity, and how long it lasts. The baby blues are a short-lived mood shift caused largely by the sharp drop in estrogen and progesterone after delivery, combined with exhaustion and the enormous adjustment of parenting a newborn. Baby…
DetailsMorning sickness is the nausea and vomiting that many women experience during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester. Despite the name, it can strike at any time of day, and for some women it lasts from morning until night. It is caused largely by the rapid rise in pregnancy hormones, and while it is a…
DetailsPregnancy headaches are a common part of expecting a baby, and for many women, they begin surprisingly early. Most often, they show up in the first trimester, when hormone levels are changing quickly and your body is adjusting to being pregnant. These headaches are usually harmless, but they can be uncomfortable and sometimes worrying if…
DetailsA cesarean section, often called a C-section, is a surgery that delivers a baby through cuts in the belly and the uterus. It is major surgery, which means your body needs time and care to heal, even though you also have a newborn to look after. Most people stay in the hospital for two to…
DetailsBone loss is a gradual condition where bone tissue dissolves faster than the body builds new bone. For women, this process speeds up significantly during the years around menopause, when estrogen levels drop. Estrogen plays a key role in protecting bone density, so when it declines, bones can become thinner and more fragile. The good…
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