How can an expectant mom tell if she's having false labor?

What is folic acid?

And just how big is a baby at 15 weeks?

The answers to these and many other questions are available through the Pregnancy Health Central feature of Fremont Area Medical Center's website.

Expectant parents have free, 24-hour access to information to pregnancy, childbirth and how to care for a newborn by visiting www.famc.org. The Pregnancy Health Central reference is listed under the Health Resources tab on the hospital's home page.

Once there, visitors can find a plethora of information on topics such as prenatal care, nutrition, medications, morning sickness, changes that occur in an expectant mom's body, labor and delivery and what to expect during the baby's first few weeks at home.

Videos, full-color animations, activities and weekly newsletters can be found here. Expectant moms can chart their progress through every stage of pregnancy. The site includes information on week-by-week fetal development. At 15 weeks, for instance, the fetus weighs approximately 1.75 ounces and measures just over 4 inches long. At this point, the baby might even be sucking a thumb.

The feature also includes questions an expectant mom might want to ask her doctor - and issues to consider before getting pregnant.

Previously, the hospital provided expectant moms with a book called "What to Expect When You're Expecting." But as younger people become more comfortable with technology and the Internet, the PHC feature provides an easy - and greener - way to obtain information.

PHC is replacing the book and making the data available to anyone. Grandma, for instance, can visit the site and see how large the baby would be at a certain week.

"It's for anybody to use and you don't have to develop a user name and password," said Amy Fachman, public relations specialist.

One element of the site, called "Emily's New Sister," can help explain pregnancy and childbirth to the baby's older brothers and sisters. The feature includes cartoon videos and games.

The pregnancy information feature was made available about 1 1/2 years ago when FAMC launched the new look on its website.

"It's part of our ongoing plan to make sure we provide as much information and education for moms and their families as possible," said Jackie Beaton, FAMC director of public relations, marketing and volunteer services. "We want to do everything we can to have a happy mom and a happy, healthy baby at the end of the nine months."

Beaton stressed that the feature is a supplement to - but does not replace - prenatal care. FAMC also offers childbirth and infant care classes on a regular basis.

Expectant parents also are encouraged to tour FAMC's Precious Beginnings Birthing Suites.

FAMC has a Level Two nursery, which means it's able to provide care for a little higher risk baby.

"We have five OBGYN physicians, who take care of the expectant mom and deliver the baby, but then we also are fortunate to have family practitioners and pediatricians who can take care of mom and baby after the babies are born," she said.

Beaton hopes expectant parents will take advantage of the information.

"It's easily accessible and convenient," she said.