Nursery to Toddler

The Pregnancy Test $3.95 Ordinarily, I’m a fan of pink–lovely color, does smashing things for the complexion. But not when it’s the bright, glaring stripe staring back at me on the pregnancy test. Then, pink is the color of major oops, of morning sickness, of boyfriends who seemed decent but now are part of some Jerk Witness Protection Program. Still, I’ve got a few things going for me–bitter humor, a divine right to eat till I’m the size of Marlon Brando, and good friends who’ve managed to get me a job interview with one Damien Sharpton: in need of a personal assistant, and some say, a good, swift kick in the arse. If you want to make a lasting impression, by all means, toss your cookies in your future boss’s wastebasket, which is located directly between his excruciatingly sexy legs. Apparently, Mr. Gorgeous-But-Unbearably-Anti-Social must like personal assistants who violate his trash can, because I got the job. And if I can avoid him via text messaging for the next seven months of health insurance, everything will be just fine. Except that he’s just asked–no, insisted–that I go with him on a business trip to the Caribbean. Gulp, Ordinarily, this would be cause for celebration. Ordinarily, I’d shave my legs, pack my bikini, revel in day-glo drinks and my seething lust for Mr. Swarthy-And-Secretive. But there’s nothing ordinary about this situation…which means it could be absolutely extraordinary.

Pregnancy $10.46 Pregnancy

Clearblue Easy Pregnancy Test – Twin Pack $9.99 Pregnancy test with +/- results. Results 5 days sooner. Clearblue Easy can be used as early as 4 days before you expect your period. That’s 5 days sooner than waiting until you miss your period to test. The amount of pregnancy hormone increases rapidly in early pregnancy. In clinical testing with early pregnancy samples, Clearblue Easy gave the following results: 1 Day before the expected period 87% women giving a pregnant result. 2 Days before the expected period 84% women giving a pregnant result. 3 Days before the expected period 74% women giving a pregnant result. 4 Days before the expected period 53% women giving a pregnant result). + = pregnant. – = not pregnant. No test is more accurate. Over 99% accurate (99% accurate at detecting typical pregnancy hormone levels. Note that hormone levels vary. See insert) from the day of your expected period. Changes color to let you know it’s working. Made in China.

Canine Pregnancy Test Kit (5 tests) $125.95 Rapid immunomigration test for detection of the hormone relaxin in canine blood. Can be used at 22 days gestation or after. A small blood sample must be obtained from the dog. 5 tests in each kit. * Early detection of planned or unplanned pregnancy. * Detection of pregnancy before or after abortion treatment. * Early detection of false pregnancy. * Diagnose fetal resorption or spontaneous abortion. * No refrigeration required. About the product: The Witness Relaxin kit is intended to determine pregnancy in the bitch, as well as to distinguish between pseudopregancy and gestation. The kit measures relaxin levels in plasma and serum samples. The presence of significant amounts of this hormone is a reliable indicator of pregancy. Relaxin can be detected in biological samples soon after implantation of the fertilized egg, which occurs about 22-27 days after mating (26-31 days post-LH surge).

Clearblue Easy Digital Pregnancy Test – 2 Count $9.69 The Clearblue Easy Digital Pregnancy Test is over 99% accurate at detecting typical pregnancy hormone levels (note that hormone levels vary – see insert) from the day of your expected period. Clearblue Easy can be used as early as 4 days before you expect your period. That’s 5 days sooner than waiting until you miss your period to test.This package includes 2 test sticks and 1 English/Spanish Insert.1. Take the test: simply hold the stick pointing downwards in your urine stream for 5 seconds only.2. Wait: an hour glass symbol will flash to show you the test is working.3. Read your result: within 3 minutes your result will be displayed in words.Read instructions before use. English and Spanish instructions inside.Store at 36&def;F-86°F. Do not freeze. For in-vitro diagnostic use only (not for internal use).

WITNESS RELAXIN [Canine / Feline Pregnancy Test] $132.22 Relaxin can be detected in biological samples soon after implantation of the fertilized egg, which occurs 20-31 days post-LH surge, or approximately 16-33 days post-mating. ? Early detection of planned or unplanned pregnancy ? Detection of pregnancy befor

The Pregnancy Project $17.11 Growing up, Gaby Rodriguez was told more than once that she would end up a teen mom. After all, her mother had been a teen mom, and her older sisters had as well. Gaby had ambitions that didn’t include becoming a young mother. But she wondered: how she would be perceived if she "lived down" to others expectations about the path her life would take? This question is what sparked Gaby’s school project: fake her own pregnancy as a high school senior and see how her friends, family, and community reacts. What she learned changed her life forever. In THE PREGNANCY TEST, Gaby shares her experience growing up in the shadow of low expectations, reveals how she was able to fake her own pregnancy, and reveals all that she learned from the experience.

pregnancy test values

Pampers SoftCare Baby Fresh Wipes 10X Wipes 720 Count $16.99 Pampers Baby Fresh Wipes clean gently with a baby fresh scent. These wipes are gentle enough for hands and face. Contains no ethanol or rubbing alcohol….

Nature Made Fish Oil Omega-3 1200mg …

Coromega Omega-3 Supplement, Orange Flavor, Squeeze Packets, 90-Count Box $21.49 A Delicious Pudding-Like Alternative to CapsulesCoromega Provides Superior Bioavailability. In a clinical study, the Omega-3 in Coromega was shown to enter the bloodstream faster–at three times the levels of a fish oil product in softgel form. Each packet of Coromega delivers the daily intake levels of Omega-3 EPA and DHA recommended by experts for adults and children.As pure as it is delicious…

Larabar Fruit & Nut Food Bar, 1.8-Ounce Bars (Pack of 16) The Original Fruit & Nut Food Bar®Humm Food®: Real food that creates an unmistakable feeling of health and well-being, often accompanied by an inexplicable irresistible urge to, well, humWe at Larabar® believe that a healthy body, mind and spirit derived from what you eat-and that food is healthiest and most satisfying in its simplest, most natural state. Made form 100% real food, Larabar® is …

Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests (8th Edition) $45.00 Organized alphabetically by test, this reference guide provides quick and reliable access to information on over 420 laboratory tests and diagnostic procedures. With additional information provided for each procedure and extensive nursing implications with client teaching material, this book is an invaluable resource for nursing students and professionals alike. …

Children: The Challenge : The Classic Work on Improving Parent-Child Relations–Intelligent, Humane & Eminently Practical (Plume) $6.57 Children:The Challenge gives the key to parents who seek to build trust and love in their families, and raise happier, healthier, and better behaved children. Based on a lifetime of experience with children–their problems, their delights, their challenges–Dr. Rudolf Dreikurs, one of America’s foremost child psychiatrists presents an easy to follow program that teaches parents how to cope with th…

The Way We Never Were: American Families And The Nostalgia Trap $6.95 Did you ever wonder about the historical accuracy of those “traditional family values” touted in the heated arguments that insist our cultural ills can be remedied by their return? Of course, myth is rooted in fact, and certain phenomena of the 1950s generated the Ozzie and Harriet icon. The decade proved profamily–the birthrate rose dramatically; social problems that nag–gangs, drugs, vio…

Mio Motiva Heart Rate Monitor Watch $52.99 On the surface, the Mio Motiva heart rate monitor watch is a stylish, everyday, wearable fitness accessory. But the Motiva takes things one step further by integrating Mio’s patented weight-management system, giving you all the motivation you need to reach your health and fitness goals. Your weight is directly connected to the foods you eat and the exercise you get. The Mio Motiva helps you manage…

Republican Family Values: Maher Mommy and Me Home Pregnancy Test

Miscarriage of Pregnancy

With all things considered, the birth of a normal, healthy baby is quite the miracle. Most people aren’t aware that estimates of miscarriage range between 20% and 50% of all pregnancies. Some are inevitably so early that the mother never knew she was pregnant or had lost it. Most miscarriages result from chromosome abnormalities in the embryo. Some inherited disorders from the parents, but most are just errors which occur in the chromosomal replication process of the embryo.

The first sign of threatened miscarriage is usually vaginal bleeding. The second common symptom is cramping pain in the pelvic area. Doctors use the term “threatened abortion” to describe this occurrence, however, most patients associate this term with and induced abortion, so miscarriage is probably the better term. Let’s say a typical patient missed her last period six weeks ago, after which she had a positive home pregnancy test. If she or her partner is over 35, she is at increased risk of a miscarriage. She probably wouldn’t have seen an obstetrician at this point, but rather goes to her family doctor or to the emergency room. The doctor will probably ask a lot of questions like, “When was your last period?”, “When did the bleeding start?”, “When did the pain start, and where is it located?” “Is this pain referred to the right shoulder area?” This can happen with tubal or ectopic pregnancy. He will want to know what your blood type is: If it is Rh-negative, he will probably want to give you a Rho-gam shot to prevent your blood from making antibodies to the baby’s blood.

The next step in the evaluative process will be the vaginal speculum exam. The doctor will want to see if clots or products of conception are in the vagina. He will want to look at the cervix to see if it is open or closed. If it is open, he will want to see if he can see clots or tissues within. He will want to feel whether there are masses where the tubes are located which could be an ectopic or tubal pregnancy.

Now the doctor has to decide whether to institute watchful waiting or order further somewhat expensive testing. He knows that one-fourth of all pregnancies have at least some spotting or bleeding at some time, and half of these will go in to normal deliveries. One test which is very valuable is the quantative blood pregnancy test. If gives specific value amounts of HCG pregnancy hormone, and these can be compared with normal values for each week of the pregnancy.  If they are low values, then probably the miscarriage has occurred or is inevitable.  The other test the doctor may wish to order is the vaginal ultrasound or OB ultrasound.  As early as five weeks it can show embryonic heart activity, and this is a good sign that everything is all right.  Ultra sound can show if the pregnancy is in the tube, which requires immediate surgery or specialized medical treatment.  If the ultrasound shows no evidence of a viable embryo, then a decision will be made as to how to evacuate the uterine contents for the best health and safety of the mother.

In the course of all this, the doctor may wish to advise the patients of possible causes of miscarriage in the event of future pregnancies.  Certainly, diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroid problems, and medical conditions like lupus can lead to miscarriage, so a good medical check-up will be recommended.  Uses of caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, and cocaine have been shown to lead to increased miscarriage occurrence.  In fact certain studies have shown that substance use by the father can increase the occurrence of miscarriages.  Having one or even two miscarriages leads to a one in six chance of future miscarriage.  Of course one would want to eliminate all the known causes of miscarriage from lifestyle choices.  If a hopeful mother has had three or more miscarriages for no discernible reason, a specialist may recommend genetic testing of both potential parents.

It can be very traumatic for a couple to have a miscarriage.  It is important to reassure them that this happens probably more frequently than they think, and that the future hopes and chances of successful pregnancy are under most circumstances good.

John Drew Laurusonis

Doctors Medical Center 

www.doctorsmedicalctr.com

About the Author

Dr. Laurusonis was conferred his Doctor of Medicine degree in 1983 and has been actively taking care of patients since completing his Internal Medicine residency in 1987 in the Garden State of New Jersey. Dr. Laurusonis has been licensed in four states but ultimately chose to permanently relocate to Georgia with his family and begin a private practice. Through his extensive experience in Internal Medicine, as well as in Emergency Rooms throughout the United States, Dr. Laurusonis saw how traditional Emergency Rooms were often overwhelmed by patients suffering medical conditions that were urgent but may not need the traditional “Level I Trauma Center”.  Patients often waited six to twelve hours to be seen by a physician, were riddled with thousands of dollars in medical bills, and were generally unhappy with the system.

Dr. Laurusonis decided to open an Urgent Care Center instead of a 9-5 doctor’s office. Through the last fifteen years he has received accolades from the community and his patients.  He has expanded his practice to include many cosmetic therapies that have previously been treated with painful and extensive plastic surgery. He has been invited to the White House numerous times, has been named Physician of the Year, as seen in the Wall Street Journal, and has served as Honorary Co-Chairman on the Congressional Physicians Advisory Board

Dr. Laurusonis and his practice, Doctors Medical Center, is open 7 days a week from 7:30 am to 9:30 pm offering such services as lab, x-ray, EKGs, aesthetics (Botox, dermabrasion, sclerotheraby and veins etc.), cold/flu, sore throats, fractures, sprains, lacerations, GYN, Pediatrics, Anxiety/Insomnia/Depression Treatment, skin tag/mole removal, veins, allergies, asthma, physicals–just to name a few. Dr. Laurusonis welcomes you to either make an appointment or just walk-in to see him. Dr. Laurusonis will take the time to speak with you about your concerns–no problem is too big or too small. If you need additional services we have specialist referrals available or we can refer you to the neighborhood hospital emergency room. Give Doctors Medical Center a call–Dr. Laurusonis will be happy to speak with you.

John Drew Laurusonis, MD
Doctors Medical Center
3455 Peachtree Industrial Blvd
Suite 110
Duluth, GA  30096
770-232-1101
www.doctorsmedicalctr.com