"Am I having a boy or girl?" A popular questions early in pregnancy. An ultrasound is one the soundest ways to tell you're baby's sex. There are many ways of determining if you are having a girl or a boy. Some are old wives tales, some are partly logical, some are scientific and some are just silly. Years of research tells us that an ultrasound is Many women have an ultrasound exam between the 20th and 24th week as part of a regular healthy pregnancy screenings. While you may not be able to find anything recognizable while you watch the ultrasound on the monitor, a skilled technician knows what to look for and is often able to tell you if it's a boy or a girl. However, not every tech is skilled and not every ultrasound scan definitive. Here are 6 things you should know about the results. 1. The technician should be able to tell the sex of the baby by about 20 weeks, sometimes as early as week 16. Sometimes, with modern equipment, the diagnosis can be made even as early as 11 to 12 weeks. 2. On the other hand, if the baby if positioned in a funny way or the amniotic fluid or abdominal wall is very thick if can be difficult or impossible to tell for sure (until the baby is born, of course). 3. The absence of the penis is not enough to tell if the fetus is a girl. An experienced technician should know to actually look for the baby's genitalia to tell for sure. 4. You can see the genitalia of a girl. Experienced technicians can make out the outline of the labia. The 3-lines sign which denotes the labia in the fetus is a very valid and accurate indication of the female gender. 5. An ultrasound can be very accurate. Just how accurate is the diagnosis of fetal gender by ultrasound? At 20 weeks or beyond, somewhere between 95 and 100%, when the operator can see the baby's sex. How often can an operator tell the sex at all? Based on one ultrasound during the pregnancy, this is more in the 70 - 75% range. 6. A vaginal ultrasound is not necessarily more accurate than an abdominal ultrasound. With the less-commonly performed transvaginal ultrasound, a narrow transducer has a protective cover and lubricant placed in it, and it is inserted in the vagina to scan the ovaries and uterus. Because the transducer may get closer to the target area, this scan can provide better detail. But the view point is more limited than an abdominal scan, so depending on what the doctor is looking for, this type of scan may or may not provide information about the sex. Some parents want to be surprised about the baby's sex and wait until birth. If you are like me, you are excited to find out ahead of time and plan a wardrobe and room color. When you have your ultrasound exam, be patient with your technician! And enjoy your pregnancy. Tracey Patterson writes about many parenting issues including pregnancy, working from home with kids, and Internet safety for children. See her related page at http://hubpages.com/hub/Am-I-Having-A-Boy-Or-A-Girl Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tracey_D_Patterson

The DNA of the child has many clues as to what information the child will be born with. These clues can be uncovered and the information extracted by performing a DNA test during pregnancy. Advancement of technology has enabled to get a child's DNA tested even before the child is born. A DNA test is done during pregnancy to test the DNA of the unborn child. Amongst the many reasons as to why a DNA test of the unborn child may be required is testing the paternity of the child. Other reasons include testing for abnormalities and inherited genetic diseases. A DNA test of the unborn child can be done during pregnancy during the period between 10 to 24 weeks after conception. The method of sample collection is different for different ages of the developing baby. If your pregnancy is between 10 to 13 weeks after conception, the method used to collect the sample for DNA Testing is chorionic villus sampling. In this procedure your doctor will insert a thin needle or a fine tube guided by ultrasound, into the womb through the vagina and cervix to obtain a sample of chorionic villi. The sample obtained will then be tested and analyzed. If you are between 14 to 24 weeks pregnant, the method used to collect the baby's sample will be by amniocentesis. This procedure also involves inserting a needle into the womb. In this procedure the needle will be guided by ultrasound and inserted though the abdomen to draw a small amount of amniotic fluid. The child's DNA Test will be done on this fluid sample. If you are more then 24 weeks pregnant, the risk of damaging your unborn baby while collecting the sample for testing is significant. So, doctors advise to stay till your baby is born to get the test done. After the birth of your baby, several methods can be used to take a sample from the baby. When your child's paternity is in doubt or when you want to be one hundred percent sure who the father of your child is, you can get the DNA Test done to confirm or negate any doubts you have. If you are getting the DNA of your unborn baby tested solely for the purpose of establishing paternity, doctors do not encourage this test to be done before your child is born. This is because both the methods of sample collection pose some risk to the unborn baby. And if you wait till your baby is born, samples can be collected without any risks to the baby. Even though you can get a DNA test done during your pregnancy, you should weigh the risks and the benefits before you decide to go on with your testing. Source: http://www.simplednatesting.com Get a free guide to DNA testing for paternity, maternity, siblings and ancestry at http://www.simplednatesting.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Liow

A heartburn-related symptom of inner imbalance can show itself in different ways, such as indigestion, a sensation of pain and burning just below the breastbone and a sour after-taste in the throat. Heartburn is one of the symptoms that pregnant women feel the most often. From different estimations, between 60% to 90% of pregnant women will experience symptoms of heartburn at one moment or another. When the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) malfunctions, acids and stomach contents can get back into the esophagus. Infrequent heartburn may not be a problem in itself, but with increasing frequency, it can indicate a deeper, recurrent condition called acid reflux or gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). It is the uncontrolled transfer of bile, digestive enzymes and acids that causes heartburn. These substances leak back from the stomach to attack the epithelial cells of the esophageal lining. In a healthy body, the LES acts as a valve to keep the gastric contents in the stomach, without leakage. Many causes contribute to acid reflux. They include: 1. Over eating of acid forming foods (for example; eggs, liver and wine) will compound the problem. Other problematical foods are those that provoke Candida overgrowth, allergies or difficulties in digestion. Prime examples are meat and dairy products. 2. Poor sleep hygiene can damage your capacity for immunity. When this happens, many related problems can occur, including overgrowth of Candida, a digestive system that grinds almost to a halt and a build-up of toxins. These are all factors that lead to the onset of acid reflux. 3. Being overweight also pressures the LES to open, forcing through more stomach contents into the esophageal passage. As an additional complication for pregnant women, the enlarging uterus can also pressure the abdomen and thus directly transmit pressure to the LES and force yet more gastric contents into the esophagus. During pregnancy, this is then coupled with other difficulties such as constipation, indigestion and bloating. In all, pregnancy may be yet another factor leading to GERD. Pregnancy hormones have a relaxing effect on a number of muscle tissues that include the LES. Acid reflux is intensified by a digestive process that slows and becomes sluggish Pregnancy and GERD simultaneously makes it difficult to handle the problem, as many drugs present potential risk for women who are pregnant. Any drugs that are permitted for pregnant women can also have certain unwanted secondary effects and are therefore not to be suggested either. The natural approach is the one that permits the halting and prevention of heartburn effectively and securely. Were you aware that pregnant women can get immediate relief from heartburn and cure a fundamental cause of acid reflux by preferring a holistic solution to treat the internal imbalance that causing the GERD symptoms all along? Jeff Martin is a medical researcher, certified nutritionist, health consultant and author of the #1 best-selling e-book, "Heartburn No More- Open The Door To an Acid Reflux Free Life". Jeff has written dozens of holistic health articles and has been featured in ezines and print magazines, as well as on hundreds of websites worldwide. To Learn More About Jeff Martin's Unique 5-Step Holistic Acid Reflux Cure System Visit: Heartburn Treatment Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeff_Martin

Whether you're trying to get pregnant, or think you may already be pregnant, it can be extremely frustrating waiting to find out! Fortunately, many over-the-counter pregnancy tests can be taken on or after the day that your period was due - and some newer generation tests can even be taken a few days before menstruation. However, if you are really impatient to get results, you may be surprised to know that your own body can be an excellent indicator - if you monitor yourself carefully! Did you know that many women experience some very early pregnancy symptoms in the week before their period is due? Or that early pregnancy symptoms can mimic pre-menstrual symptoms (although sometimes they are a little more severe)? Whereas you may feel you have a particularly bad dose of PMT, you may in fact later realise that you were pregnant! Some women experience pregnancy symptoms within just a few days of conception; others experience nothing at all until a few weeks into the pregnancy. Implantation usually occurs within 8-10 days of ovulation. At this point, your body starts to react to Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG ), the pregnancy hormone. This is the hormone that pregnancy tests detect in a positive test. And, it is the rapidly rising levels of HCG which cause early pregnancy symptoms. If you do suspect that you may be pregnant, and are suffering from some or all of the symptoms outlined below, see your GP as soon as possible. This will enable you to get a booking-in appointment at hospital so that you can receive appropriate ante-natal care. Early pregnancy symptoms include: Nausea/ Vomiting Enhanced Sense of Smell Frequent Urination Breast Tenderness Tiredness Missed Period Light Bleeding Dizziness/ Fainting Constipation Mood Swings/ Irritability Heartburn/ Indigestion Changes in Complexion Increased Cervical Mucous/ Vaginal Discharge Weight Loss Cramping Backache Headaches Enhanced Sense of Taste Vaginal Changes Enjoy your precious nine months! http://www.breastfeedingmums.com/article_essay_early_pregnancy_symptoms.htm