PREGNANCY

THE START OF CONCEPTION

A male sperm penetrates an egg and fertilizes it. This usually happens in the woman's fallopian tube after ovulation (the matured egg was released from one of her ovaries). Sperm has 23 chromosomes, including one of two types of sex chromosomes - X chromosome or Y chromosome. A sperm with an X chromosome that fertilizes an egg will produce a girl, while a Y chromosome sperm will produce a boy. Each egg also has 23 chromosomes. 46 chromosomes are required to make a human. The fusion of sperm and egg makes 46. As soon as it is fertilized, the zygote starts to divide; it continues doing so until there is a cluster of cells. After five to seven days of dividing and growing, it attaches itself to the wall of the uterus (womb) and puts out root-like veins called villi. The villi make sure the embryo is well anchored to the lining of the uterus. These villi will eventually become the placenta, which feeds and protects the embryo/fetus. Through the placenta the embryo/fetus receives its oxygen and nutrition, and expels waste.

WHAT IS BEING PREGNANT?

Is the state of expecting a child, in case of humans. The womans menstrual period stop. You are pregnant when you have an embryo or fetus developing in your uterus. If any of these signs and symptoms apply to you, there is a good chance you are pregnant. The first symptom is a must, the others are possibilities. In other words, if your breasts are tender but your period has come, you are not pregnant you must have a missed period. Some signs of pregnancy : missed period, nausea with or without vomiting, tiredness, dizziness, breast changes, breast tenderness and frequent urination. Pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks, counting from the first day of your last normal period. The weeks are grouped into three trimesters. Find out what's happening with you and your baby in these three stages.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I AM PREGNANT

If you suspect you are pregnant, you have two options towards finding out: See your doctor. Buy a home pregnancy test. If the home pregnancy test confirms you are pregnant you should go to a doctor or midwife for further confirmation. Not only will the doctor find out whether you are pregnant, he/she will also make sure you receive proper advice and support right from the start.

A PREGNANCY HAS 3 TRIMESTERS

The 1st trimester These are the first 13 weeks of the pregnancy. The baby develops the fastest during this period and becomes almost fully formed by the end of it. Women say this trimester is when they are most likely to feel tired, nausea, and breast tenderness.
The 2nd trimester This is from the 14th to 26th week of the pregnancy. During this trimester it becomes obvious that the mother is pregnant. As well as weighing more because of the growing baby, the expanded uterus, the placenta, and the amniotic fluid, the mother lays down extra reserves of fat. The baby continues to grow and develop. During the second trimester the mother will feel the baby's movements, as will others if they place their hands on the mothers stomach - sometimes movement may be observed without touching. The 3rd trimester This is from week 27 until the baby is born. During this trimester the baby will build up fat stores, and continue growing rapidly. The baby's lungs will develop, as will his/her sense of hearing, taste and sight. The mother may experience backache and find it harder to get into the right position for a good night's sleep. The mother will also be urinating more often as the baby and everything around him/her presses against her bladder. She may also experience contractions that take place many days or weeks before the birth - they are called Braxton Hicks contractions - these are not the contractions of labor.

FIRST TRIMESTER (WEEK 1-WEEK 12)

During the first trimester your body undergoes many changes. Hormonal changes affect almost every organ system in your body. These changes can trigger symptoms even in the very first weeks of pregnancy. Your period stopping is a clear sign that you are pregnant. Other changes may include: Extreme tiredness Tender, swollen breasts. Your nipples might also stick out. Upset stomach with or without throwing up (morning sickness) Cravings or distaste for certain foods Mood swings Constipation (trouble having bowel movements)

Need to pass urine more often

Headache Heartburn Weight gain or loss As your body changes, you might need to make changes to your daily routine, such as going to bed earlier or eating frequent, small meals. Fortunately, most of these discomforts will go away as your pregnancy progresses. And some women might not feel any discomfort at all! If you have been pregnant before, you might feel differently this time around. Just as each woman is different, so is each pregnancy.

SECOND TRIMESTER (WEEK 13-WEEK 28)

Most women find the second trimester of pregnancy easier than the first. But it is just as important to stay informed about your pregnancy during these months. You might notice that symptoms like nausea and fatigue are going away. But other new, more noticeable changes to your body are now happening. Your abdomen will expand as the baby continues to grow. And before this trimester is over, you will feel your baby beginning to move! As your body changes to make room for your growing baby, you may have: Body aches, such as back, abdomen, groin, or thigh pain Stretch marks on your abdomen, breasts, thighs, or buttocks Darkening of the skin around your nipples A line on the skin running from belly button to pubic hairline Patches of darker skin, usually over the cheeks, forehead, nose, or upper lip. Patches often match on both sides of the face. This is sometimes called the mask of pregnancy. Numb or tingling hands, called carpal tunnel syndrome Itching on the abdomen, palms, and soles of the feet.(Call your doctor if you have nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice or fatigue combined with itching. These can be signs of a serious liver problem.) Swelling of the ankles, fingers, and face. (If you notice any sudden or extreme swelling or if you gain a lot of weight really quickly, call your doctor right away. This could be a sign of preeclampsia.)

THIRD TRIMESTER (WEEK 29-WEEK 40)

You're in the home stretch! Some of the same discomforts you had in your second trimester will continue. Plus, many women find breathing difficult and notice they have to go to the bathroom even more often. This is because the baby is getting bigger and it is putting more pressure on your organs. Don't worry, your baby is fine and these problems will lessen once you give birth. Some new body changes you might notice in the third trimester include: Shortness of breath Heartburn Swelling of the ankles, fingers, and face. (If you notice any sudden or extreme swelling or if you gain a lot of weight really quickly, call your doctor right away. This could be a sign of preeclampsia.) Hemorrhoids Tender breasts, which may leak a watery pre-milk called colostrum Your belly button may stick out Trouble sleeping The baby "dropping", or moving lower in your abdomen Contractions, which can be a sign of real or false labor As you near your due date, your cervix becomes thinner and softer (called effacing). This is a normal, natural process that helps the birth canal (vagina) to open during the birthing process. Your doctor will check your progress with a vaginal exam as you near your due date. Get excited the final countdown has begun!

YOUR BABY DEVELOPMENT MONTH BY MONTH

1 ST MONTH Your baby's brain and spinal cord have begun to form. The heart begins to form. Arm and leg buds appear. Your baby is now an embryo and one-twenty-fifth inch long.

2ND MONTH
All major organs and external body structures have begun to form. Your baby's heart beats with a regular rhythm. The arms and legs grow longer, and fingers and toes have begun to form. The sex organs begin to form. The eyes have moved forward on the face and eyelids have formed. The umbilical cord is clearly visible. At the end of eight weeks, your baby is a fetus and looks more like a human. Your baby is nearly 1 inch long and weighs less than one-eighth ounce.

3RD MONTH
The nerves and muscles begin to work together. Your baby can make a fist. The external sex organs show if your baby is a boy or girl. A woman who has an ultrasound in the second trimester or later might be able to find out the baby's sex. Eyelids close to protect the developing eyes. They will not open again until the 28th week. Head growth has slowed, and your baby is much longer. Now, at about 3 inches long, your baby weighs almost an ounce.

TH 4

MONTH
Muscle tissue and bone continue to form, creating a more complete skeleton.
Skin begins to form. You can nearly see through it. Meconium develops in your baby's intestinal tract. This will be your baby's first bowel movement. Your baby makes sucking motions with the mouth (sucking reflex). Your baby reaches a length of about 4 to 5 inches and weighs almost 3 ounces.

TH 5

MONTH
Your baby is more active. You might feel slight fluttering. Your baby is covered by fine, downy hair called lanugo and a waxy coating called vernix. This protects the forming skin underneath. Eyebrows, eyelashes, fingernails, and toenails have formed. Your baby can even scratch itself. Your baby can hear and swallow. Now halfway through your pregnancy, your baby is about 6 inches long and weighs about 9 ounces.

6TH MONTH
Bone marrow begins to make blood cells. Taste buds form on your baby's tongue. Footprints and fingerprints have formed.

Real hair begins to grow on your baby's head.

The lungs are formed, but do not work. The hand and startle reflex develop. Your baby sleeps and wakes regularly. If your baby is a boy, his testicles begin to move from the abdomen into the scrotum. If your baby is a girl, her uterus and ovaries are in place, and a lifetime supply of eggs have formed in the ovaries. Your baby stores fat and has gained quite a bit of weight. Now at about 12 inches long, your baby weighs about 1 pounds.

7TH MONTH
Your baby's bones are fully formed, but still soft. Your baby's kicks and jabs are forceful. The eyes can open and close and sense changes in light. Lungs are not fully formed, but practice "breathing" movements occur. Your baby's body begins to store vital minerals, such as iron and calcium. Lanugo begins to fall off. Your baby is gaining weight quickly, about one-half pound a week. Now, your baby is about 15 to 17 inches long and weighs about 4 to 4 pounds.

8TH MONTH
The protective waxy coating called vernix gets thicker. Body fat increases. Your baby is getting bigger and bigger and has less space to move around. Movements are less forceful, but you will feel stretches and wiggles. Your baby is about 16 to 19 inches long and weighs about 6 to 6 pounds.

9TH MONTH
By the end of 37 weeks, your baby is considered full term. Your baby's organs are ready to function on their own. As you near your due date, your baby may turn into a head-down position for birth. Most babies "present" head down. At birth, your baby may weigh somewhere between 6 pounds 2 ounces and 9 pounds 2 ounces and be 19 to 21 inches long. Most full-term babies fall within these ranges. But healthy babies come in many different sizes.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN EMBRYO, A FETUS AND A ZYGOTE?

The embryo exists from the implantation of the zygote (fusion of sperm and ovum) to when all the organs are formed (around 12 weeks) when it becomes a fetus. When the sperm and egg meet (fuse) a zygote is produced. The cells of the zygote start multiplying (dividing) many times. The zygote grows and develops in the fallopian tubes. The moment it is implanted in the wall of the uterus it becomes an embryo. The difference between a zygote and an embryo is the timing. The embryo continues developing until most of the organs are formed - around the 12th week. When all the organs are there it becomes a fetus.

The word zygote comes from the Greek word zygotes, meaning "yoked". The Greek word zygon means "yoke". The word embryo comes from the Medieval Latin word embryo, which comes from the Greek word embryon, meaning "young animal, fruit of the womb, that which grows". The word fetus comes from the Latin word fetus, meaning "offspring, bringing forth, hatching of young".
The development or the embryo is rapid - specialized cells create the vital organs, including the bones, muscles, blood, and the nervous system. When the embryo becomes a fetus it is about 1 inch (2.4cm) long. Most of its internal organs are formed. The external features, such as the ears, mouth, nose, and eyes are evident, while fingers and toes start to appear. As the fetus gets bigger, so does the uterus. The fetus is surrounded by a fluid, called amniotic fluid. Just before a woman gives birth her "waters break", that water is the amniotic fluid. The fetus lives in this fluid and swallows it constantly. An amniotic test can be carried out during the pregnancy to find out about the baby's health.

COMPLICATIONS OF PREGNANCY
Miscarriage- The majority of miscarriages happen during the first trimester. Most women notice vaginal bleeding as the first indication, occasionally accompanied with abdominal pain, or backache. Many women describe the pain as similar to menstrual pains. Vaginal bleeding does not necessarily mean a miscarriage will happen. Ectopic pregnancy - this is when the zygote is implanted somewhere else, not in the lining of the uterus. This is a potentially fatal condition for the mother because it can cause serious internal bleeding. Symptoms may include pain at the tip of the shoulder, vaginal bleeding, pain on one side of the abdomen, pain when urinating or passing stools. Pre-eclampsia - this term refers to hypertension (high blood pressure) either during the pregnancy or just after delivery. The woman's blood pressure rises, there is protein in her urine, and she has edema (fluid retention). The woman's face, hands, feet, and ankles may swell. She may gain weight rapidly, have vision problems, abdominal pain and headaches. Most cases are easy to treat. For some, it can be severe. Pre-eclampsia usually occurs during the third trimester. According to a study, women with pre-clampsia during pregnancy have more heart attacks, strokes and blood clots later in life than women without the condition. Placenta Previa - the placenta covers part of the cervix, and sometimes all of it. The cervix is the exit from the uterus, where the baby will come through when he/she is born. Some women with placenta Previa bleed. If it continues blocking the cervix the baby will have to be delivered by cesarean section. Most cases of placenta Previa sort themselves out before the baby is born. Molar pregnancy - this is also uncommon. The sperm fertilized the egg, but the zygote does not become an embryo because of some genetic anomaly. However, the placenta continues to develop and the pregnancy hormone HCG continues to be present in the blood at a very high level. All molar pregnancies end up in miscarriage. Most cases are detected either by ultrasound or following tests after the mother reports bleeding. Obstetric cholestasis - bile builds up in the blood. It is a rare condition, but can cause serious complications, such as a premature birth.

Stillbirth - a stillborn baby is one who is born after 24 weeks of pregnancy but shows no signs of life after delivery.

STEPS FOR THE BEST PREGNANCYWHAT SORT OF EXERCISE IS DONE DEPENDS ON THE MOTHER AND HOW HER PREGNANCY IS PROGRESSING. MIDWIVES AND DOCTORS SHOULD BE CONSULTED REGARDING ANY EXERCISE PROGRAM. SOME EXERCISES, SUCH AS CONTACT SPORTS, SHOULD BE AVOIDED.

Mothers who exercise were found to spend less time watching TV or using a computer at home compared to those who did no exercise - even though most who did no exercise said they did not have time. Maintaining good bodyweight - babies born to obese mother may have increased risk of asthma. Doctors used to advise all women to gain weight during pregnancy. However, new research says obese women should not gain weight during pregnancy. Stop smoking - a pregnant mother who smokes regularly significantly increases the chances of having an underweight or premature baby. Women who smoke during pregnancy risk delivering aggressive kids. Women who smoke early in pregnancy are more likely to give birth to infants with heart defects. Alcohol consumption - the consumption of alcohol while pregnant can harm the baby. Pregnant women who binge drink early in their pregnancy increase the like hood that their babies will be born with oral deft. Researchers from University College London reported in the International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology that light drinking during pregnancy does not increase the risk of adverse behavioral or cognitive effects later on in life for the fetus. Marijuana/cannabis - both marijuana and cannabis might have harmful effects on the unborn baby. Experts are not sure what the effects might be. Overworking - too much work is linked to a higher risk of pregnancy problems. Medications - a pregnant mother should only take medicines that her doctor has prescribed or allowed.

Complementary medicines - an expectant mother should not assume an alternative therapy is safe just because it is natural. Avoid air pollution - the growth of the fetus may be affected if the mother is exposed to air pollution. Avoiding air pollution is hard if the mother lives in a highly polluted area - however, certain strategies may help, such as opening windows on the side of the house with less pollution coming in, going to the shops, etc., at certain times of day, and avoiding certain streets.

Some types of fish - some types of fish have high levels of mercury, especially shark, marlin, swordfish and barracuda. Tuna fish from some parts of the world may have mercury - as of June 2009 it appears that tuna from Spain is the safest. The UK Department of Health recommends a maximum intake of 2 tuna steaks or 4 medium-sized cans of tuna per week. Diet - a pregnant mother should follow a healthy and balanced diet that must include plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains. Several studies have shown that eating fish is good for the mother and baby. Fluid intake should be increased to at least two liters per day. Not only will fluids help get rid of toxins and waste more effectively, they will also help prevent nausea and constipation.

Caffeine - a pregnant mother should avoid, or at least cut down, on her caffeine intake. Consuming caffeine at any time during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk fetal growth restriction( low birth weight). Vitamins and supplements - only take what the doctor or midwife advise you to. Folic acid is usually recommended as this lowers the risk of neural tube defects (e.g. spina bifida) for the baby. In the UK the National Health Service recommends 400 micrograms of folic acid per day as soon as a woman thinks she may be pregnant (or when she begins trying for a baby). In fact, women who take folic acid for one before become pregnant significantly reduce the risk of premature You should not take vitamin A supplements. Avoiding bacterial infections from food - measures need to be taken to avoid infection from salmonella orlisteriosis, which could harm the baby.

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