Pituitary Tumors

Your pituitary gland is a pea-sized gland at the base of your brain. The pituitary is the "master control gland" - it makes hormones that affect growth and the functions of other glands in the body.

Pituitary tumors are common, but often they don't cause health problems. Most people with pituitary tumors never even know they have them. The most common type of pituitary tumor produces hormones and disrupts the balance of hormones in your body. This can cause endocrine diseases such as Cushing's syndrome and hyperthyroidism.

Symptoms of pituitary tumors include:

• Headaches
• Vision problems
• Nausea and vomiting
• Problems caused by the production of too many hormones

Pituitary tumors are usually curable. Treatment is often surgery to remove the tumor. Other options include medicines, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.

Preconception Care

If you are trying to have a baby or are just thinking about it, it is not too early to prepare for a safe pregnancy and a healthy baby. You should see your health care provider for preconception care.

Preconception care is care you receive before you get pregnant. Your health care provider can help you figure out which steps you need to take now, such as:

• Finding and taking care of any problems that might affect you and your baby later, like diabetes or high blood pressure
• Increasing the amount of folic acid you get to prevent neural tube defects
• Getting up to date on vaccines
• Avoiding smoking, drinking alcohol, or taking drugs
• Trying to reach a healthy weight

By taking action on health issues before pregnancy, you can prevent many future problems for yourself and your baby. Once you're pregnant, you'll get prenatal care until your baby is born.

NIH: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Pregnancy and Medicines

Is it safe to take medicine during pregnancy?

Some medicines are safe to take during pregnancy, but many are not. If you're pregnant, check with your health care provider before taking any medicine. Some medicines can harm your developing fetus. This includes:

• Prescription drugs
• Over-the-counter medicines
• Herbs and supplements

Always talk to your provider before you stop or start any medicine. You may take medicine to treat a health problem you had before pregnancy. Not using the medicine that you need may be more harmful to you and your fetus than using the medicine. For example, many pregnant women take prescription medicines for health problems like diabetes, asthma, seizures, and heartburn. The decision about whether to take a certain medicine should depend on the risks and benefits that go with it. You and your provider should make this choice together.

If you're pregnant, you shouldn't take regular vitamins. They may have too much or too little of the vitamins you need. For example, everyone needs folic acid, a type of B vitamin. But if you're trying to get pregnant, it's really important. Getting enough folic acid before and during pregnancy can prevent birth defects of the brain or spine. During your prenatal care visits, your provider will talk about prenatal vitamins. These are a special kind of vitamin to take during pregnancy.

Food and Drug Administration

Prenatal Care

What is prenatal care?

Prenatal care is the health care you get while you are pregnant. It includes your checkups and prenatal testing. Typically, a health care provider specializing in the delivery of babies and the care of pregnant women, such as an obstetrician or a midwife, provides prenatal care.

Prenatal care can help keep you and your fetus healthy until you're ready to deliver your baby. It lets your provider spot health problems early. Early treatment can cure many problems and prevent others from developing.

Every prenatal visit offers you the chance to ask questions about having a healthy pregnancy and preparing for delivery. Talk to your provider about childbirth education classes for you and your partner to help you prepare for the birth of your baby.

Your provider will give you a schedule for your prenatal visits. Usually, visits during your pregnancy occur:

• Once a month for weeks 4 through 28
• Twice a month for weeks 28 through 36
• Weekly for week 36 until your baby is born

If you are over 35 years old or your pregnancy is high risk because of health problems like diabetes or high blood pressure, your provider will probably want to see you more often. You can also expect to see your provider more often as your due date gets closer.

During prenatal visits, your provider will check your health and carefully monitor your pregnancy until you deliver your baby.

Your first prenatal visit may take a little longer. Your provider will most likely:

• Ask about your health history, including prior pregnancies
• Ask about your family's health history
• Discuss any health conditions and risk factors that could affect you or your fetus
• Do a complete physical exam, including a pelvic exam and Pap test
• Review blood, urine, or other routine prenatal lab tests
• Check your blood pressure, height, and weight
• Discuss a healthy amount of weight gain, healthy eating, and prenatal vitamins
• Figure out your due date (when you are 40 weeks pregnant)

During most visits, your provider will most likely:

• Check your blood pressure and weight gain
• Measure your abdomen (belly) to check fetal growth once you begin to show
• Check the fetal heart rate
• Check your hands and feet for swelling
• Do routine prenatal tests

Depending on the stage of your pregnancy, you may have additional tests.

Always talk to your provider before you start or stop any medicine. Some medicines can harm your fetus. To help keep yourself and your fetus healthy, avoid substances that could be harmful, such as tobacco, alcohol, and drugs.

Dept. of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health

Prenatal Testing

What is prenatal testing?

Prenatal testing provides information about the health of your fetus before the baby is born. Some routine tests during pregnancy also check your health. The prenatal test may use a sample of your blood, urine or fluid from your vagina, cervix, or rectum.

Since some health conditions can be treated before your baby is born, it's important to find them early. But even if they cannot be treated, it can still be helpful to know about the problem early on. This gives you time to learn about the condition and prepare for any challenges you may face after the baby is born.

At your first prenatal visit, your health care provider will test for various conditions, including problems with your blood, signs of infections, and whether you are immune to rubella (German measles) and chickenpox.

Throughout your pregnancy, your provider may recommend additional tests as well. Some tests are suggested for all women, such as screenings for gestational diabetes, Down syndrome, and HIV.

Your provider might offer other tests based on your:

• Age
• Personal or family medical history
• Ethnic background
• Results of routine tests

There are two types of tests:

• Screening tests check if you or your fetus may have certain health issues. They look at risk but do not diagnose problems. If your screening test result is abnormal, it does not mean that there is a problem. It means that more information is needed. Your provider can explain what the test results mean and possible next steps. You may need diagnostic testing.
• Diagnostic tests help determine whether you or your fetus have a certain health problem.

It is your choice whether to get prenatal tests. You and your provider can talk about the risks and benefits of the tests, as well as the type of information they can give you. Then you can decide which ones are right for you.

National Women's Health Information Center