What is Pregnancy
Pregnancy is
the carrying of one or more embryos or fetuses by female mammals, including
humans, inside their bodies. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations
(for example, in the case of twins, or triplets). Human pregnancy is the most
studied of all mammalian pregnancies.
Human pregnancy lasts approximately 9 months between the time of the last
menstrual cycle and childbirth (38 weeks from fertilisation). The medical term
for a pregnant woman is genetalian, just as the medical term for the potential
baby is embryo (early weeks) and then fetus (until birth). A woman who is
pregnant for the first time is known as a primigravida or gravida 1: a woman who
has never been pregnant is known as a gravida 0; similarly, the terms para 0,
para 1 and so on are used for the number of times a woman has given birth.
Medical
and legal definitions
In
many societies’ medical and legal definitions, human pregnancy is somewhat
arbitrarily divided into three trimester periods, as a means to simplify
reference to the different stages of fetal development The first trimester
period carries the highest risk of miscarriage (natural death of embryo or
fetus). During the second trimester the development of the fetus can start to be
monitored and diagnosed. The third trimester marks the beginning of viability,
which means the fetus might survive if an early birth occurs.
Everyone expects pregnancy to
bring an expanding waistline. But many women are surprised by the other body
changes that pop-up. Get the low-down on stretch marks, weight gain, heartburn
and other "joys" of pregnancy.
Pregnancy Planning Step by
Step Guide
Pregnancy is
the carrying of one or more embryos or fetuses by female mammals, including
humans, inside their bodies. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations
(for example, in the case of twins, or triplets). Human pregnancy is the most
studied of all mammalian pregnancies.
Human pregnancy lasts approximately 9 months between the time of the last
menstrual cycle and childbirth (38 weeks from fertilisation). The medical term
for a pregnant woman is genetalian, just as the medical term for the potential
baby is embryo (early weeks) and then fetus (until birth). A woman who is
pregnant for the first time is known as a primigravida or gravida 1: a woman who
has never been pregnant is known as a gravida 0; similarly, the terms para 0,
para 1 and so on are used for the number of times a woman has given birth.
In many societies’ medical and legal definitions, human pregnancy is somewhat
arbitrarily divided into three trimester periods, as a means to simplify
reference to the different stages of fetal development. The first trimester
period carries the highest risk of miscarriage (natural death of embryo or
fetus). During the second trimester the development of the fetus can start to be
monitored and diagnosed. The third trimester marks the beginning of viability,
which means the fetus might survive if an early birth occurs.
A preconception
examination may include any/all of the following:
Family medical history
an assessment of the maternal
and paternal medical history, to determine if any family member has had any
medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and/or mental
retardation.
Genetic testing
an assessment of any possible
genetic disorders, as several genetic disorders may be inherited, such as sickle
cell anemia (a serious blood disorder that primarily occurs in
African-Americans) or Tay-Sachs disease (a nerve breakdown disorder marked by
progressive mental and physical retardation that primarily occurs in individuals
of Eastern European Jewish origin). Some genetic disorders can be detected by
blood tests before pregnancy.
Personal medical history
an assessment of the woman’s
personal medical history to determine if there are any medical conditions that
may require special care during pregnancy, such as epilepsy, diabetes, high
blood pressure, anemia, and/or allergies; previous surgeries; past pregnancies,
including the number, length of pregnancy (gestation), previous pregnancy
complications, and pregnancy losses.
Vaccination status
an assessment of current
vaccinations/inoculations to assess a woman’s immunity to rubella (German
measles), in particular, since contracting this disease during pregnancy can
cause miscarriage or birth defects. If a woman is not immune, a vaccine may be
given at least three months before conception to provide immunity.
Infection screening
To determine if
a woman has a sexually transmitted infection, urinary tract infection, or other
infection that could be harmful to the fetus and to the mother.