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SmartParent in Nova Scotia offers people who are pregnant the option of perinatal education being sent directly to their cell phones. The pilot program, available from IWK Health and Nova Scotia Health Public Health, offers text messages from pregnancy and child health experts that guide expectant parents through the transformative...

Vaccines are categorized into two types: Inactivated vaccines, like those for influenza and Tdap, contain killed bacteria or viruses that cannot cause disease. Live-attenuated vaccines, such as those for varicella and MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), contain weakened bacteria or viruses that cannot cause disease in healthy individuals, but help your...

Regular prenatal visits with your provider are a way to ensure that both you and your baby are healthy and growing as expected. During your prenatal visit, your provider will assess how you are feeling, and may take some measurements like your blood pressure, weight, and count baby's heartbeat. Your...

Bleeding and spotting from the vagina can occur for a number of different reasons in pregnancy. Although it can sometimes be a sign of miscarriage in early pregnancy, there are many other possible causes of bleeding. You should always tell your provider about any bleeding you have during pregnancy. Spotting...

Nausea and vomiting (commonly known as morning sickness) can be a common, and sometimes first symptom of pregnancy. Rising levels of pregnancy hormones may contribute to those feelings, but often resolve as pregnancy enters into the second trimester. Unfortunately some individuals may be more sensitive to those pregnancy hormones, and...

The health of a developing baby is compromised when mothers smoke, consume excessive alcohol, or use drugs. These substances can have a direct impact on fetal development, leading to a range of developmental issues. It is never too late to quit using substances, and there are many resources in the...

Calculating Your Estimated Due Date Your pregnancy is often calculated from the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP). If you know the date of your LMP, you can calculate your estimated due date here. Sometimes your provider may change your estimated due date based on measurements taken during...

The second trimester of pregnancy spans from week 13 to 28. It is a time when you may start to feel better, have more energy, less nausea, and you may start to feel and look more pregnant than in the first trimester. Although everyone is different, you may start to...

The first trimester of pregnancy starts with conception and ends after 12 weeks. It can often be a time when some may feel a variety of symptoms, including fatigue and nausea, but for others - they may have no symptoms at all. The first trimester is a good time to...

Iron is crucial for creating healthy red blood cells and for the production of hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen throughout the body. During pregnancy, the body's blood volume increases by almost 50%, diluting the red blood cells and leading to a condition known as anemia...