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Archive for the 'women’s health' Category

Dec 20 2009

Brittany Murphy pics: Brittany Murphy dies at 32

 

Brittany Murphy (November 10, 1977 – December 20, 2009)was born in Atlanta, Georgia.  She was raised by her mother, Sharon Murphy, after a divorce when sharon was two years old.

Brittany Murphy was an American recording artist and actress.
Brittany Murphy starred in several films like, Sin City, The Dead Girl, Uptown Girls, Just Married, Clueless, Girl, Riding in Cars with Boys and Interrupted.

Brittany Murphy and Paul Oakenfold released the single “Faster Kill Pussycat”, on June 6, 2006,from the album A Lively Mind. The song hit number one on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Play chart and number seven in the UK singles chart in June 2006.

On December 20, 2009, Brittany Murphy was rushed to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center , after going into cardiac arrest,  and was pronounced dead.

Brittany Murphy will be missed by all her fans.

Rest in peace Brittany.

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Aug 11 2009

Functions of the amniotic fluid

The Amniotic fluid also called liquor amnii is the protecting and nourishing fluid surrounding the baby in the amniotic cavity or sac of a pregnant woman. The amniotic fluid is covered by the amniotic membrane within the amniotic cavity, and is formed very early in the development of the human embryo. The amniotic fluid gradually changes its constituents as pregnancy advances.

Functions of the amniotic fluid.

  • The amniotic fluid provides a liquid environment in which the fetus( unborn baby) can develop and exercise in absolute freedom.
  • The amniotic fluid provides an environment of constant temperature for the baby.
  • Its constituents changes as pregnancy progresses , in that way it meets the nutritional requirements of the fetus as it changes.
  • It causes enlargement of the amniotic cavity (and therefore of the uterus) so that the developing fetus is not distorted by pressure from the walls of the uterus.
  • It provides a means of excretion of substances like urine from the fetus
  • The fetus also swallows the amniotic fluid. It is not known how much nutritional benefit this may have for the fetus , but it enables it to develop its mouth ,as well as its swallowing and breathing mechanisms.
  • The amniotic fluid also functions as a shock absorber which is most efficient in preventing damage to the fetus as a result of a blow or undue pressure. If undue force is brought to bear upon any particular part of the uterus then the placenta may suffer damage or may even be separated, but it is virtually impossible to damage the fetus itself as a result of direct or indirect injury.

Many women fear that their baby might be hurt by a fall or a direct blow on the uterus or abdomen during pregnancy. If a woman does suffer from direct injury or if she falls down on her abdomen she is unlikely to cause any harm to her baby but it is advisable that she consults her doctor ,if she develops pain or if she is unduly concerned. The three most common causes of abdominal injury during pregnancy are falling down the stairs, tripping over the edge of a pavement , and motor accidents . But no matter the kind of fall or accidents that a pregnant woman goes through, she should make it known to her doctor in her next antenatal visit or check up, just in case of any strange occurrences.

 


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Aug 10 2009

How to find out the sex of an unborn child

All human cells contain 44 chromosomes plus two sex chromosomes making it a total of 46 chromosomes. The 44 chromosomes are responsible for all hereditary characteristics and also affect the structure and function of the body. A normal female cell contains two sex chromosomes ,which are the X chromosomes and denoted as XX,these chromosomes are responsible for all the female characteristics. The normal male cell also contains two sex chromosomes ,but of which one is the X chromosome and the other the Y chromosome, denoted as XY.

 

The ovum is made up of 22 chromosomes plus one sex chromosome which is an X chromosome, the sperms ,each also contain 22 chromosomes and one sex chromosome which can either be an X or Y chromosome, so if the ovum is fertilized by a sperm with the 22 plus X chromosome, the baby will be a girl (44 plus XX), but if the ovum is fertilized by a sperm with 22 plus Y chromosome, the baby will definitely be a boy( 44 plus XY). So the sex of a child is entirely dependant on the type of sperm that fertilizes the ovum, and therefore no woman should be blamed for not being able to produce a male or female child.

 

Methods used to Determine the baby’s sex.

 

Amniocentesis .

 

This is a process whereby some of the fluid surrounding the baby (amniotic fluid) is withdrawn and the cells which it contains are stained by a special method and then carefully examined under the microscope. If the XX chromosomes are present they form a characteristic stain within the nucleus of the cell, known as Barr body, which can be seen when the cells are examined under the microscope. This method can give you a 99% accuracy if done after about the 15th week of conception, but it could cause miscarriage of the unborn baby, and is generally carried out if a baby is suspected to have a risk of genetic disease or mongolism.

 

 

Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) .

 

Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is an antenatal test that detects if the baby has any chromosomal disorder such as Down syndrome. Here placental tissues are used unlike in amniocentesis where cells from the amniotic fluid are utilised. It can be performed between the 10th and 14th week of pregnancy and is also dangerous to the mother and baby. From the results obtained in the test, the baby’s sex would be known.

 

 

The Ultrasound (sonogram) .

 

The ultrasound is the most common of all the procedures used to determine the sex of the unborn child. Ultrasounds done between the 18th and 25th week of pregnancy are usually the most accurate , Because at this stage the baby’s sex organs are already well developed and very obvious through the ultrasound.

The ultrasound might fail if the baby isn’t in the right position or if it is done before the 18th week of pregnancy, but it is a safe method when compared to the Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) and Amniocentesis .

Baby’s heart Rate.

Counting the baby’s heart rate in the uterus is probably the simplest method of determining the unborn baby’s sex. The normal heart rate is between 120 and 160 beats per minute. A heart rate which is persistently below 140 beats per minute is usually a male, whereas one which is higher than 140 beats per minute is usually female. But this method is only about 70% reliable.

There are many other methods according to old wives tales and folk lore, including suspension of an object on the end of a piece of string over the pregnant uterus, when the object moves in a clockwise direction the child is said to be a male ,and if it moves anti-clockwise the child is said to be female. Although many parents are anxious for any indication of the sex of their unborn baby, a majority also would in retrospect, prefer not to know until the baby is delivered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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