Archive for category Pregnancy
Molar Pregnancy Treatment
Molar pregnancy, which is medically referred to as hydatidiform mole, is an abnormal form of pregnancy. This rare complication of pregnancy is classified under gestational trophoblastic diseases. This condition is caused by abnormal fertilization. Given below is some information on types of molar pregnancy along with molar pregnancy treatment.
Types of Molar Pregnancy
Before I move on to molar pregnancy treatment options, let me tell you what turns a normal pregnancy into a molar pregnancy. Molar pregnancy is basically an anomaly that could occur during the fertilization process. This condition is characterized by the development of abnormal placental cells, following the fertilization of sperm and the egg. Molar pregnancy is classified into complete molar pregnancy and partial molar pregnancy. A complete molar pregnancy or hydatidiform mole, develops when the sperm fertilizes an egg that doesn’t have a nucleus. Under normal circumstances, the fertilized egg contains 23 chromosomes from the father as well as the mother. When the egg doesn’t contain DNA, the chromosomes from the sperm duplicate. Since the fertilized egg is bereft of the mother’s chromosomes, normal placental tissue, embryo or amniotic sac wouldn’t be formed.
Under normal circumstances, a layer of cells called trophoblasts develop into finger-like projections called villi. It is this layer of cells that develops into placenta. Due to this chromosomal abnormality, these projections swell up with fluid, and develop into grape-like clusters in the uterus. In case of a partial molar pregnancy, the fertilized egg does contain maternal chromosomes, but the paternal chromosomes are doubled. This may occur when the chromosomes from the sperm duplicate, or the egg is fertilized by two sperms. After fertilization, placental tissue as well as the embryo would develop. This chromosomal abnormality, however, causes the development of abnormal placental cells. Despite the presence of the fetal tissue, the trophoblastic tissue makes it impossible for the fetus to develop properly. Abnormal growth of uterus, elevated hCG levels, vaginal bleeding in the first trimester, vaginal discharge, nausea, vomiting, pelvic discomfort and fluid retention in lower extremities, are some of the symptoms one may experience due to this condition. Read the rest of this entry »
Skin Changes During Pregnancy
Like I said, pregnancy is nothing but the induction period for changes that are about to come in a woman’s life, of which the most significant and taxing ones would be staying on for a good part of her life! While almost all of the physical changes will disappear sometime after childbirth, three changes that will continue to be an inseparable part of the woman’s entity would be – 1) her offspring will always be her little baby, no matter how old he/she grows up in age; 2) she’ll always be paranoid over her offspring’s safety and welfare no matter where he/she is and irrespective of the fact that he/she is now a parent himself/herself; 3) last but not the least, she’ll never believe that her offspring is healthy enough or gets to eat properly even if the latter weighs well over 200 pounds! You see, once a woman gets pregnant and delivers the baby, she becomes an altogether different species of humanity – a parent! Unless you’re a parent yourself, you will never understand the concerns and considerations that go behind those seemingly eccentric, sometimes socially embarrassing (setting your hair right in public or insisting on holding your hand when crossing the road even when you’re well into your teens), actions and routines that you wish she’d stop practicing.
Anyways, speaking about the physical changes which are mostly temporary, certain skin changes during pregnancy are quite common. They appear during those nine months of biological investment, mostly around the third month, and usually disappear within about a year of giving birth. While some of these signs and changes disappear on their own, a few of them require special attention and some extra efforts on your part. Let’s take a look at some such dermal conditions that mark your skin during pregnancy. Read the rest of this entry »