Phantom Pregnancy

A phantom, or false, pregnancy, which is otherwise known as a pseudocyesis, is a condition in which a non-pregnant woman has all. The symptoms of pregnancy and firmly believes that she is pregnant. A woman who is suffering from a pseudocyesis will visit her doctor or the antenatal clinic complaining of all the symptoms and minor discomforts of early pregnancy, including absence of her periods, breast enlargement and breast changes, nausea and vomiting, increase of weight and abdominal distension. The clinical diagnosis of early pregnancy is extremely difficult, especially if such a person has a slightly enlarged uterus or is overweight, and it may be virtually impossible to confirm or deny the presence of a pregnancy by clinical examination alone. Since it is not the normal practice to perform pregnancy tests upon everybody who attends an antenatal clinic, she will probably be accepted as being pregnant and booked for confinement. The symptoms of pregnancy will continue and as the woman gains more weight she will become increasingly convinced about the presence of her pregnancy, although the fact that she is suffering from pseudocyesis may gradually become apparent to her.

True false pregnancy is extremely rare and it must not be confused with a woman who, having missed one, or perhaps two periods, has no symptoms of pregnancy but visits her doctor to find out why she has missed them, and to ascertain whether or not she is pregnant. The very small group of women who suffer from pseudocyesis are convinced about their pregnancy. It is a condition that occurs mainly in women in their late thirties or early forties who desperately want a child and have been trying to become pregnant for many years. It can also occur in younger women -especially when relatives and friends are having babies or asking and joking about the girls ability to become pregnant. Women who suffer from false pregnancies are normally emotionally quite stable but may become very unstable over the question of pregnancy.

Phantom pregnancy also occurs in some women who have lost a pregnancy or a baby. It may be an emotional reaction, but, in this case, there is increasing scientific evidence to indicate that a temporary hormone imbalance is the cause of all their symptoms.

The diagnosis of phantom pregnancy is extremely difficult, especially at the beginning of a false pregnancy. The uterus will remain normal in size and successive pregnancy tests, if performed, will be negative. As the false pregnancy proceeds, a marked increase in weight may occur, together with abdominal and breast enlargement, but the uterus will not enlarge nor will the breasts show active signs of pregnancy. None of the other physical signs of pregnancy will develop and all tests for pregnancy will be negative.

A woman who is suffering from true pseudocyesis will insist that she is pregnant despite the assurance that she is not. The problem requires very careful and sympathetic consideration with kindly explanation to the patient as to the reasons why she is not pregnant, together with appropriate proof that a pregnancy does not exist, although she may find even this difficult to accept.

Severe emotional disturbance may follow the realization that she is suffering from a false pregnancy and the woman's husband should also be acquainted with all the facts and treated with complete confidence, because his help is invaluable.

In past years this was a relatively confusing condition but with modern ultrasound scanning being available in most maternity units the diagnosis of pregnancy is usually made or refuted at a relatively early stage of pregnancy. Advanced phantom pregnancy is therefore an uncommon condition these days.
About this Author

More useful articles about pregnancy - [http://pregnancyall.com]

Placenta Encapsulation

Placentophagia is common in many countries but especially in western parts. It is believed that eating placenta has lots of benefits to a mother who gives birth. There are different ways on how to consume the placenta after the woman gives birth for her to get the benefits, including the prevention of post-partum depression. For those who are squeamish at the thought of eating placenta, it is now available in capsule form for the mother to use as a supplement after giving birth.

Traditional Chinese medicine recognized the placenta as a vital and powerful part of the healing process. After giving birth, mothers typically experience blood loss, drop of hormones and fatigue. All those things contribute to the development of postpartum blues or postpartum depression. Placenta capsules are the best way to take the placenta because a mother will no longer have to prepare it as a dish and also because it is ready to take and will immediately aid vitamin and mineral loss.

Post-Partum blues affects the majority of women and it interferes with the role of a mother to a child. For those that don't want to resort to drugs, placenta encapsulation is an ideal way to avoid any complications and problems after giving birth. Both mother and father must be aware of postpartum depression for them to know how to manage and prevent it before it gets worse. Below are the symptoms of postpartum blues:

1. Feeling of dependency
2. Lack of concentration
3. Unexplained sadness
4. Weepiness
5. Mood instability

Post-partum depression causes:

1. Emotional and physical stress of birthing
2. Sleep deprivation and fatigue
3. Rapid hormonal changes
4. Lack of support from family and husband/partner
5. Absence of partner during birth
6. Teen age pregnancy

These days more and more women are experiencing postpartum depression and mood disorder after giving birth. Using placenta capsules during the post-partum period can prevent those symptoms and save money on costly treatments that are common when depression occurs. Placenta encapsulation is the fastest and easiest way to consume your own placenta.
Placenta encapsulation benefits:

1. Has the ability to sustain, heal and strengthen the uterus
2. Increase the mothers energy
3. Enhances the milk supply
4. Balances the hormones
5. Replaces the minerals and vitamins that are lost due to blood loss
6. Increases post-partum iron level
7. Assists the uterus to return to its normal size
8. Shortens the post-partum bleeding
9. Prevents baby blues
10. Brings the body back to its normal balance

Women who are taking placenta capsules report that they are experiencing fewer emotional issues after giving birth. They also notice that there is an increase in happiness and energy during the post-partum period. Moms who are taking placenta capsules consider them as happy pills. The role of your placenta is not only beneficial to babies, but also has great benefits to mothers. If you are worrying if placenta capsules are safe and will not cause any illness, you should worry no more since the placenta powder you will be taking comes from you. There are kits available to encapsulate your own placenta and the process doesn't take long. You can immediately take the capsule the day after you gave birth.
About this Author

Secret Tips To Lose Baby Weight

There are a variety of changes that a woman experiences after giving birth to a baby. One of the bigger goals facing a woman would be to Lose baby weight after having a baby. In many instances, this may not seem as easy people think.

It can take a number of months if not a year in order to get one's body like one would like to have it. Even after the child has been born, a woman may still have the appearance of being pregnant. For nine months the body has been stretched out of proportion and it takes time to get all of this sorted out. It could be thirty days before the uterus reverts to its normal size. The woman will lose a lot of water for the first number of weeks of having given birth.

The majority of women would want the weight to come off right away. One way to get this going is to begin with mild exercising. The body should be introduced slowly into the exercise regime. Speaking to a doctor before doing this would be a wise thing to do. Exercise should not be contemplated until at least thirty days have passed.

Breastfeeding can be of huge benefit to a woman. Doing this will cause her to burn up at least five hundred calories per day. It is unwise to reduce calories as this could retard the production of milk needed for the baby. Losing too many calories could mean the influx of toxins into the body and this will affect the milk. It is okay to exercise when breast-feeding.

Due to the events that happen during the act of giving birth, there is a possibility that exercising may not be very practical. The mother may experience feelings of guilt while training and leaving the baby with someone else. There may be insufficient time to look after the baby, be a mom to other kids, to be a wife and exercise as well.

Exercising at home could be a way around this dilemma. Hormones may play up after the child is born and this could cause other problems. Should the mother's mood become different then seeking treatment could be an option. The act of breast-feeding can also sap much needed energy.

Combining muscular strength exercises with cardio vascular exercises is the best way to go when attempting to Lose weight after baby. Aside from the tummy that needs to be tightened, there are other areas of the body with which to be concerned. Arms, legs and buttocks will require exercising. The back will require strengthening exercises and over time, the body should be restored to its former self.
About this Author

Ted is a free lance writer with lots of articles on the healthiest and easiest ways to lose weight quickly. To learn how to lose-baby-weight visit our website at http://www.afterbabyweightloss.com

Menopause Symptoms - Is an Enlarged Uterus One of Many Menopause Symptoms?

Menopause as all women know is a time for change and may have some uncomfortable symptoms. The question is whether one of the menopause symptoms could include an enlarged uterus. There are specific tests for diagnoses and treatments are available.

Causes and Symptoms of an Enlarged Uterus

An enlarged uterus is also called Endometriosis - a bulging formation that occurs in the uterus and continues to develop. It can sometimes be misconstrued as pregnancy. It is typically categorized by severe pain in the lower abdominal region. This pain occurs because of the pressure the enlarging uterus puts on the bladder. The extreme abdominal pain and possible bladder problems can be indicative of an enlarged uterus or other health conditions including pregnancy so it is strongly advised that you have the necessary exams and tests done to accurately identify the source of your symptoms.

Examinations and Tests Used to Diagnose an Enlarged Uterus

A laparoscopy is a surgical procedure used to examine internal organs. A pelvic examination is a physical examination by a physician of internal organs. An Endometrial biopsy is performed to rule out any possible malignancy as a cause for your symptoms. A hysteroscopy is similar to a laparoscopy but examines the reproductive organs specifically. An ultrasound scan and an MRI-magnetic resonance imaging test will produce images of the reproductive organs from which information can be gathered. Blood tests called a CBC- complete blood count may also be done to determine if hormone levels and body chemicals are at healthy levels.

For a specific diagnosis for enlarged uterus and or menopause a physical examination and some tests may be ordered by your doctor. These things will also help to rule out any other possible health concerns. It's better to have the test and find nothing serious than to not have them and have something serious going on.

Menopause symptoms could include an enlarged uterus because the changing hormone levels could mimic pregnancy. The uterus does change somewhat during sexual activity and this could affect the size of the uterus.

Treatment for an Enlarged Uterus

Current treatments include hormone therapies that can be very effective in treating enlarged uterus and other menopausal symptoms. Surgical examination can be done during a laparoscopy. In the past however, the typical treatment for an enlarged uterus was surgery that required a long incision or a complete hysterectomy- the complete removal of all reproductive organs.

Many women choose to use herbal supplements in treatment of menopause and they have been proven to be highly effective. If hormones are at a healthy level than it may be possible to treat it with herbal supplements but this is not known at this time.
An herbal supplement should be with only standardized herbal extracts and manufactured to meet pharmaceutical grade standards. The ingredients should have extensively tested including the metabolic route of the ingredients at the molecular level. The interactions of the ingredients should also have been tested.

All of this helps to guarantee consistent dosing and consistent quality from capsule to capsule. Herbal supplements are often chosen to avoid some of the serious side effects that can accompany traditional pharmaceutical treatments. Though they have far less side effects they should not be added to your health routine without your doctor's knowledge. Some herbs may interfere with the performance of prescriptions you may be taking for other health conditions.

Conclusion

The question was/is this: Can an enlarged uterus be one of many menopausal symptoms.
There are tests and treatments available including diagnostic imaging, physical examinations and blood tests. Treatments could include hormones but may also include the use of herbal supplements. If you have any of the symptoms listed here, consult your doctor to be on the safe side.
About this Author

John Gibb is a nutrition enthusiast with over ten years of nutrition education and has now become a freelance writer. Currently, he focuses on information articles focused on women's health and fitness. Read more at http://www.the-menopause-source.com