The National Institute of Child Health & Human Development ( NICHD ) has released numerous studies investigating the outcomes of alcohol and drug use during pregnancy.

When expecting, it can be nerve-wracking to consider all the changes going on in your life and how to be ready to take care of this new, tiny, amazing creature.

While postpartum depression is a topic discussed with some regularity in the public sphere, mental health during pregnancy is an issue not often discussed. Though joyous and exciting, pregnancy can also be a stressful and difficult time for moms-to-be, and their mental health should be monitored along with their physical well being as they prepare for motherhood. From what’s normal to feel, to treatment for mental health issues, to how depression can manifest itself during delivery, there are a lot of elements to consider when exploring the interplay of pregnancy and mental health...

It's hard enough to adequately weigh the risks and benefits of taking certain medications while pregnant. But the bigger problem is when women and doctors simply don't know the risks. A review article that considered much of the research available and published in April says just that: too little is known about the ways prescription drugs taken by a pregnant mother may affect the developing baby. This is true even for the drugs used to treat chronic conditions, such as asthma, high blood pressure and mental health disorders. Avoid any unnecessary medication during pregnancy. ...

Living with a chronic disease can be difficult. Multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord, is a condition that’s becoming easier to treat because of advances in medicine. Still, many women worry that the disease could prevent them from having children. MS occurs when the body’s immune system eats away at the protective sheath, called myelin, that covers nerves, which results in irreversible deterioration of the nerves. The condition is more common among women, especially women between the ages of 20 and 40 – during childbearing age. ...

By the time you've changed your 367th poopy diaper, do you wonder if you would be happier without children, or are you certain that non-parents don't know what they're missing?

In 1981, the first U.S. baby was born through in vitro fertilization. Scientists and doctors have come a long way since then. Today the procedure is more efficient than ever for families unable to conceive.

It's common knowledge that good prenatal care is important for the health of both mother and child. But what, exactly, should a pregnant woman be doing?

For men and women who yearn for children and try unsuccessfully to conceive, sometimes for years, fertility problems can be devastating. In recent decades many technologies have been developed, such as in vitro fertilization, that help people conceive a child much more successfully.

Menopause can be a challenging time for women, both physically and emotionally. It may be even more difficult for women with early menopause.