REFERENCES FOR BEING PREGNANT
Parents.com - Morning sickness, delayed or missed periods, breast tenderness and swelling are all symptoms of early Pregnancy
American Pregnancy Association - Early signs of pregnancy are important to diagnose ectopic pregnancies or other conditions that may complicate the pregnancy.
Pregnancy Signs - Pregnancy tests check for the presence of hCG, which is considered the pregnancy hormone. More advanced pregnancy tests conducted in laboratories can measure the levels of hCG to determine length of gestation and possibilities of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancies.
Women's Health - Missed periods, bloating, morning sickness as well as mild cramping are sing of pregnancy but can also be related to other medical conditions.
Web MD - A normal healthy pregnancy is not considered an illness, prenatal visits are used to monitor the health of mother and baby and to perform initial screenings to determine if complications may exist such as STD, HIV, or other genetic disorders.
Mayo Clinic - Home pregnancy tests may reveal a positive or negative answer to pregnancy within 7-10 days following a missed period. Home pregnancy tests are qualitative as they cannot give levels of hCG hormones to determine gestation or viability of pregnancy.
Revolution Health - Prenatal vitamins, iron supplements and folic acid are routinely prescribed for pregnant women based on results of their CC and other conditions.
Right Health - A missed period is a sign of pregnancy, but may also be a symptom of other problems such as ovarian cancer or other reproductive issues such as infertility from STDs or Pelvic Inflammatory Disease.
Medicine Net - Breast tenderness and fullness, mild cramping, nausea, fatigue and bloating are signs of early pregnancy. Prenatal visits are important to diagnose any potentially harmful conditions for mother and baby.
Everyday Health - Ultrasounds use radio-waves to view the growing fetus for physical abnormalities, and monitor growth and development for determination of gestation.
MSN Health - After 17 weeks of gestation an ultrasound may reveal the sex of the growing fetus. Ultrasounds may also give a more detailed view of the cervix and its structure.
Medline Plus - Vaginal wall thickening may result in "milky" discharge from the vagina for the duration of the pregnancy. Discharge accompanied with pain, a burning sensation or a foul order may be the result of an STD or some other problem not related to pregnancy.
Health.org - Prenatal vitamins, iron pills and folic acid can provide additional nutrition needed for the growing fetus. Women who lack calcium and necessary vitamins and minerals may suffer teeth and bone deterioration after pregnancy.
Drugs.com - Women can begin taking folic acid supplements before pregnancy and the duration. Other medications should be consulted with a doctor prior to ingestion during pregnancy because they may be harmful to the growing fetus.
Health Line - A missed period, "milky" white vaginal discharge, spotting and cramping are signs of pregnancy that can be confused with other disorders, a pelvic exam as well as blood work and urinalysis should be done at the initial prenatal visit to rule out other causes for the symptoms.