Brenda Goodnough, RN - May 25th, 2011
This entry is re-posted from 2009.
Worried that you may be pregnant? There are often symptoms that occur after conception. Some women will notice changes in their bodies very quickly and some will say that they have very few.
Symptoms can include:
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Missed or unusually light period If your periods are irregular it may be difficult to know you’ve missed a period but not having a period for several months when you are sexually active deserves some attention. Also, it is not unusual for some pregnant women to continue to have some very light bleeding around the time of their normal period.
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Breast swelling or tenderness This can also be a sign of an impending period but it is very common to have very tender breasts or a darkening of the nipple area early in pregnancy due to an increase in hormone levels.
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Morning sickness In spite of its name, morning sickness is mild or severe nausea can occur at any time of day. This symptom often begins around week 8 and usually goes away after the 12th week of pregnancy. Some women find that morning sickness lasts, to some degree, for a longer period of time.
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Fatigue Pregnant women often complain of being “very tired” or noticing a drop in their energy levels. A combination of hormones and the demands of the rapidly growing fetus can result in this common complaint of pregnant women.
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Headache Hormone changes also cause this common symptom of pregnancy. If you start to experience frequent headaches, especially if headaches are a rare occurrence for you, you may be pregnant.
If you are sexually active and are experiencing one or more of these symptoms you may be pregnant. The only way you can be sure is to have a blood or urine pregnancy test or ultrasound. The more sensitive urine tests can detect pregnancy hormone as soon as a week after conception. Ultrasound can give you valuable information about your pregnancy as soon as 4-5 weeks after conception.
CareNet provides very accurate tests for free. Please call to schedule an appointment at one of our four offices.
Admin - May 4th, 2011
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It seems most of us have found ourselves on an afternoon watching way more of a cheesy Lifetime movie than we should have. We are drawn in as a child wrestles with his parent’s adoption decision and wonders who his "real parents" are, what are they like. Our heart strings are tugged as the adoptive family shares angry words and tears when the child decides to find his birthparents. While it's true that some of these movies could do with some better acting and a few less overly sentimental one-liners, these feelings and family struggles are real and should not be downplayed. Forming an adoption plan is hard!
The good news is that it doesn’t have to look like a bad movie. Today it’s common for adoption agencies to work with adoptive parents and birth mothers to plan what’s called an “open adoption.” This plan means the birth mother can choose to be a part of her child’s life, have a relationship with him or her, share memories and watch them grow. The birth mother has a lot of control--she can pick out the family she sees as best for her child after interviewing them and building a relationship with them. From there, decisions are made together. Does she want to visit regularly? Be a part of her child’s birthday parties, soccer games, piano recitals, and graduations? The child can grow knowing that they are loved by their birth mother and that she made a difficult but loving choice in the hopes of a better life for her child.
Adoption can be a selfless and loving choice that enriches two families with a precious gift and a lot of love. Before you write off adoption due to a negative impression from something on television or even in real life know that you can form an adoption plan and have your child know you love them.
Guest blog by Esther B.
Admin - September 29th, 2010
A parental consent law (or parental notification law) is an issue surrounded by media attention. So without all the hype and biased opinions you hear on the news, here’s an honest answer to questions you should ask yourself about these laws before having an abortion.
So what is a parental consent law? A parental consent law typically means that you will need to get permission from a parent or guardian if you are under 18 before undergoing the abortion procedure.
Does my state have it? Individual states decide whether or not to demand parental permission for an abortion. At this time, Illinois does not require a parental signature before an abortion. If you’re from another state, click here for a break down of each state’s requirements.
Should I tell my parents anyway? This is a good question to ask yourself even if your state does not, by law, require you to. Abortion is one of the few medical procedures that does not always require the consent of a parent or guardian. Keeping in mind that abortion is a medical procedure, there are health risks involved. The following facts are taken directly from the Web MD article “Abortion- Before, During, and After an Abortion: When to Call a Doctor.”
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Severe bleeding. Both medical and surgical abortions usually cause bleeding that is different from a normal menstrual period. Severe bleeding can mean: passing clots that are bigger than a golf ball, lasting 2 or more hours; soaking more than 2 large pads in an hour, for 2 hours in a row; or bleeding heavily for 12 hours in a row.
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Signs of infection in your whole body, such as headache, muscle aches, dizziness, or a general feeling of illness. Severe infection is possible without fever.
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Severe pain in the abdomen that is not relieved by pain medicine, rest, or heat
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Hot flushes or a fever of 100.4F or higher that lasts longer than 4 hours
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Vomiting lasting more than 4 to 6 hours
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Sudden abdominal swelling or rapid heart rate
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Vaginal discharge that has increased in amount or smells bad
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Pain, swelling, or redness in the genital area
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Bleeding (not spotting) for longer than 2 weeks
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New, unexplained symptoms that may be caused by medicines used in your treatment
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No menstrual period within 6 weeks after the procedure
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Signs and symptoms of depression. Hormonal changes after a pregnancy can cause depression that requires treatment.
By law, a parental consent form is required for any surgery that takes place in a hospital. This means that if your guardian does not know about the procedure, they will not be present to sign off on a potentially life-saving surgery. In addition, let’s face it, this is a life-changing decision. It’s always good to talk something so impactful over with people who care about you whether that’s a guardian, a trusted teacher or relative.
Before you go in for an abortion, inform yourself; know your state’s laws, know the health risks of an abortion, know who to talk to about the decision and who to call if something goes wrong. Though whether or not to tell your parents is a difficult decision, your health and safety is always the most important thing to consider.
Guest post by Sarah R.
Brenda Goodnough, RN - April 21st, 2010
Since the year 2000 there has been an alternative to surgical abortion in the United States. Named for the French pharmaceutical company that created it, RU-486 it is often referred as the “abortion pill”. It has been used by over one million women in the United States since its approval here.
An RU-486 abortion is a procedure that involves two different drugs. The first drug ends the pregnancy by cutting off the blood supply to the developing fetus. The second drug, given 48 hours after the first, is used to expel it. A pregnancy is usually ended in most women within 48 hours, though in some instances it can take as long as two weeks.
There are several key factors to consider before considering this as an abortion option.
• This process needs close observation and frequently requires as many as three visits to your medical provider.
• RU-486 is only effective in early pregnancy, preferably at 7 weeks or before.
• The minimum failure rate is 8%, and a failed abortion requires a surgical procedure.
• The cost of using the “abortion pill” can be as much as twice the cost of a surgical abortion.
• Women with certain common medical conditions will not be eligible.
• Side effects of both medications can be severe and unpleasant.
• The major medical risks involved in this abortion method are excessive bleeding and infection.
• RU-486 is known to cause significant birth defects so your medical provider will not support your desire to change your mind once the first pill has been taken.
• There is active participation on the part of the woman in terminating her pregnancy.
Though it may initially appear that this form of abortion is quick and easy, it can actually be a more lengthy, costly, and difficult process.
Because the “abortion pill” must be used early in the pregnancy, there is no way to know whether a pregnancy is likely to continue. Since 1 in 6 pregnancies will naturally end in a miscarriage you may be committing yourself to an unnecessary procedure to end a pregnancy that may end on its own.
About 20% of women who use RU-486 to end their pregnancy will continue to have some degree of bleeding for 5-6 weeks after. Occasionally, surgical intervention is needed to stop or control excessive or prolonged bleeding.
Before committing to an RU-486 abortion, get all of the facts and weigh the costs of what may be bitter pills to swallow.
Lisa P. - March 31st, 2010
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Job Change
Making a pregnancy decision with a partner can be similar to making a career decision. When the partners are in a committed relationship, the woman knows that her choice will affect his life through its effect on her. However, no one questions that she has the final verdict, since it is her career that will be impacted. Any kind of force applied by the partner would be immediately recognized as inappropriate.
Vacation Planning
Making the pregnancy decision could also feel like planning a trip together. The partners know they’ll both participate in the activities and destination that they choose, so they have to listen to each other, find ways to compromise, and come to an agreement together. Also in this case, the woman calls the final shots (she has the keys to the rental car). Viewed this way, it’s clear that it’s also inappropriate for her to ignore her partner’s input. He will have a miserable vacation and their relationship will probably suffer.
Both pictures reveal an important aspect of the decision making process. Which picture is closest to what’s going on in your relationship? What can you do to help your decision process be as healthy as possible?
