PREGNANCY INTRODUCTION
Pregnancy is a transition time for women
filled with hope, happiness, anxiety, fear,
and a host of other emotions. Not only will
your body be going through rapid changes,
your way of thinking will change, as well.
For the 40 weeks of pregnancy, you will
almost constantly be thinking of your new
little companion, your baby.
While it’s normal to have worries and
concerns, remember that the vast majority of
babies are born healthy. And although,
occasionally complications do occur, you can
minimize your chances of a problem by
receiving proper and frequent prenatal care
and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
PREGNANCY SYMPTOMS
There is a very wide array of pregnancy
symptoms that can differ from each woman and
each pregnancy. However, one of the most
obvious symptoms is the missed menstrual
period. For most women, the absence of
a period is the first sign of pregnancy, but
some women will begin to experience other
symptoms within the first two weeks after
conception.
Some of the other most common early
pregnancy symptoms are:
-
Swollen or painful breasts
-
Tiredness or fatigue
-
Morning sickness or general nausea
-
Sensitivity to certain smells
-
Implantation bleeding (slight spotting,
lighter than a menstrual period)
-
Backaches and headaches
-
Frequent urination
-
Food cravings
-
Lightheadedness or feeling faint
-
Weight gain and abdominal swelling
While these symptoms are common to pregnancy
they can also be due to other conditions.
Make sure to consult your doctor as soon as
you think you might be pregnant.
DETERMINING YOUR PREGNANCY DUE DATE
The normal
gestational term for a baby is 266 days from
the time of conception or 280 days from the
start of the last period prior to
conception. This amounts to 40 weeks. Almost
80 percent of all babies born in the United
States are born between the 38th and 42nd
week of pregnancy.
FETAL DEVELOPMENT
Fetal
development can be divided into three
distinct stages. The first stage is
conception. Conception occurs when a male
sperm and a female ovum combine to form a
zygote. This stage begins around the 14th
day of a woman’s menstrual cycle and ends
around the 28th day when the zygote
completes its journey through the fallopian
tubes and attaches to the uterine wall to
become a viable embryo.
The second
stage of fetal development is the embryonic
stage that takes place between the 4th and
12th weeks of pregnancy. During this stage,
the central nervous system, heart, major
organs, and facial features begin forming.
By the twelfth week, a human embryo is
approximately is approximately 3 ½ inches
long and weighs about 2 ounces. Fingers and
toes can be seen at this stage, as well.
The final
stage is fetal development that occurs from
the 13th week of pregnancy until delivery
between the 38th and 42nd week of pregnancy.
By the 16th week of pregnancy, a baby’s
brain has developed enough to allow him to
suck, swallow, and breathe shallowly.
At about
the 28th week, a baby’s lungs are strong
enough to allow her to survive outside of
the uterus. About 10-20% of babies born at
this point will survive.
At 32
weeks, the baby turns head down and is as
large as the placenta. The average baby born
at this stage of development weighs
approximately 3 ½ pounds and is 16 inches
long.
The baby
will continue to grow and store fat until he
is born around the 40th week of pregnancy.
At this point the baby will weigh
approximately seven to eight pounds and
measure 18 to 21 inches in length.
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