Provides links to info on pregnancy, labor and delivery, and the postpartum period. Offers interactive tool to calculate your due date. Also links to interactive tool that shows how an embryo grows into a baby.

Guides through decision to breastfeed. Discusses common concerns and issues related to breastfeeding. Links to personal stories. Covers benefits and risks. Includes an interactive tool to help you make your decision.

Discusses pregnancy of carrying two or more babies. Covers identical and fraternal twins and triplets. Discusses infertility treatment, a common cause of multiple pregnancy. Discusses common tests, possible complications, and treatment options. Covers self-care.

Some premature babies can't be fed by mouth right after birth. If your baby was born before the gestational age of 32 to 34 weeks, he or she can't feed by mouth. The reasons are: Poor coordination (or lack) of sucking, swallowing, and gag reflex. Weakness of both the oral and stomach muscles. Small stomach capacity...

A lactation consultant or specialist is often a nurse who has been trained to teach and advise women about breastfeeding. Lactation consultants may be associated with birth units in hospitals. Lactation consultants are often most helpful for women who: Have never breastfed before. Have had previous problems...

Provides tips for how to prepare for breastfeeding. Covers talking with your doctor or a lactation consultant, taking a class, connecting with the birthing center, and gathering supplies and support.

Offers tips for breastfeeding, including when to feed, how to hold your baby, and how to get a good latch.

Caring for More Than One Baby A pregnancy of two or more babies is called a multiple pregnancy. Caring for just one newborn is a big job. Raising more than one baby means even less sleep, more work, and less time for yourself. From time to time, you may feel frustrated that you can't keep up with work at home. Don't...

A computed tomography (CT) scan uses X-rays to make pictures of the head and face. During the test, you will lie on a table that is attached to the CT scanner, which is a large doughnut-shaped machine. Your head will be positioned inside the scanner.

Discusses test (also called MRI scan) that uses a magnetic field and pulses of radio wave energy to make pictures of the head. Covers why it is used, including helping to diagnose a stroke or blood vessel problems in the head and looking for tumors or infections.

A computed tomography (CT) scan uses X-rays to make detailed pictures of structures inside of the body. During the test, you will lie on a table that is attached to the CT scanner, which is a large doughnut-shaped machine. The CT scanner sends...

A bone scan is a test that can find damage to the bones, find cancer that has spread to the bones, and watch problems such as infection and trauma to the bones. A bone scan can often find a problem days to months earlier than a regular X-ray test. During a bone scan, a radioactive substance called a tracer is injected...

A salivary gland scan uses a special camera and a tracer (radioactive chemical) to take pictures of the salivary glands. This can help your doctor find the cause of dry mouth ( xerostomia) or swelling in the salivary glands. During a salivary gland scan, the tracer liquid is put into a vein ( I.V.) in your arm. The...

Discusses test (also called MRI scan) that uses a magnetic field and pulses of radio wave energy to make pictures of organs and structures inside the body. Covers why it is done, how to prepare, and how it is done.

A thyroid scan uses a radioactive tracer and a special camera to measure how much tracer the thyroid gland absorbs from the blood. The tracer can be swallowed or can be injected into a vein. It travels through your body, giving off radiation signals. The camera "sees" the signals and can measure how much tracer the...

Discusses nuclear scan to look at liver and spleen for problems. Explains how to prepare for the test, how it is done, and risks. Discusses results and what affects the tests. Looks at other tests that may be done.

Discusses nuclear scanning test done to evaluate gallbladder function. Covers how to prepare for test and how it is done, including use of radioactive tracer substance. Includes info on risks and what test results may mean.

In general, there's nothing you have to do before this test, unless your doctor tells you to. Tell your doctor if you get nervous in tight spaces. You may get a medicine to help you relax. If you think you'll get this medicine, be sure you have someone to take you home.

Discusses nuclear scanning test to check way kidney works or its shape and size. Also called a renal scan. Covers use to check for cancer or how transplanted kidney is working. Explains how camera scans for radiation to make pictures of kidney.

Single photon-emission computed tomography (SPECT) is a test that uses a special type of camera and a tracer (a radioactive substance in liquid form) to look at organs or bones in the body. During the test, the tracer is put into a vein (intravenous, or I.V.) in your arm. Sometimes it's taken by mouth or inhaled through...

A lung scan is a type of nuclear scanning test. It is most often used to find a pulmonary embolism. This is a blood clot that prevents normal blood flow in the lung. Two types of lung scans are usually done together. They are: Ventilation scan. You inhale a radioactive tracer gas or mist. Pictures from this scan can...

A CT scan uses X-rays to make detailed pictures of the spine and vertebrae. During the test, you will lie on a table that is attached to the CT scanner, which is a large doughnut-shaped machine. The CT scanner sends X-rays through the body. Each rotation of the scanner takes a second and provides a picture of a thin...

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)—Overview Positron emission tomography (PET) is a test that uses a special type of camera and a tracer (radioactive substance) to look at organs in the body. The tracer usually is a special form of a substance (such as glucose) that collects in cells that are using a lot of energy, such...

A magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA) is a type of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan that uses a magnetic field and pulses of radio wave energy to provide pictures of blood vessels inside the body. In many cases MRA can provide information that...

You may choose to breastfeed. This can be more challenging with multiple babies. But support and guidance can help you be successful. Talk to your doctor, your midwife, or a lactation consultant if you need help. Support can also come from a...