Hello! Are you expecting a new baby these days? If so, you must be very happy, right? It is normal for you to have a lot of questions and little fears during this time. So, today we will talk about what pregnancy is, what happens during this time, and what you need to know. Let's understand all this simply, as if we were talking to your best friend.
What is pregnancy? How does it happen?
Simply put, pregnancy is the period when one or more fetuses develop inside your uterus. This usually happens after sexual intercourse. However, sometimes pregnancies can also occur through assisted reproductive technologies (ART) . The easiest way to know if you are pregnant is to take a home pregnancy test. However, a blood test can also confirm this. The first symptoms that many people notice are a missed period, morning sickness, and fatigue.
Most pregnancies end in the birth of a healthy baby. This can be a normal vaginal delivery or a C-section. However, we must remember that sometimes, things can go wrong, such as miscarriage, abortion, or stillbirth.
Now let's look at how this complex process called pregnancy happens. It all starts with the union of an egg and a sperm. Think of it this way...
- Eggs: These are found in your ovaries. Each month during your menstrual cycle, one egg is released from one of your ovaries. This egg slowly travels down the fallopian tube, waiting for a sperm to arrive. This process is called ovulation . This takes between 12 and 24 hours.
- Sperm: Sperm comes from a man's testicles. During ejaculation, millions of sperm are released from the penis. During sexual intercourse, these sperm travel through your vagina and into your fallopian tubes.
For a pregnancy to occur, a sperm and an egg must meet and unite. This is called `conception` . The sperm joins the egg and fertilization occurs. Now this fertilized egg divides into more cells and travels down the fallopian tube as a `blastocyst` . After about three days, this `blastocyst` reaches your uterus. There, it implants itself in the uterine wall. This is called `implantation` . It is now that it becomes an `embryo`. After `implantation`, the placenta begins to form. After a few days, this `embryo` changes further and becomes what doctors call a `fetus` until the baby is born.
After implantation, your body starts releasing pregnancy hormones. These hormones are what keep you from having your period again. They also help with fetal development.
Shall we learn a little about Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)?
When some people find it difficult to conceive naturally, there are ways to achieve childbearing with the help of doctors. This is what we call `(Assisted Reproductive Technology - ART)`. Here too, the main characters are the egg and the sperm. However, instead of conception occurring naturally, the doctor helps these two to come together easily. Let's look at some of the commonly used `(ART)` methods:
- Intrauterine Insemination (IUI): This is where a doctor inserts sperm directly into your uterus using a small tube (catheter). IUI is done around the time of ovulation. Some women are given fertility medication to increase their chances of ovulating.
- In Vitro Fertilization (IVF): In this method, a doctor combines eggs and sperm in a laboratory to create an embryo. The embryo is then implanted into your uterus. During an IVF cycle, your doctor may give you various medications. This helps control the process and increase the chances of a successful pregnancy.
How many weeks is the pregnancy?
The average pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks, or 280 days . However, the way this is calculated can be a bit confusing.
Most of the time, your doctor will calculate how far along you are in your pregnancy based on the date of your last menstrual period (LMP) . This can be a bit confusing, because ovulation usually occurs about two weeks after your period starts. So, if you take a pregnancy test two weeks after ovulation, you're already four weeks pregnant!
Don't overthink these calculations. Your doctor will explain them to you. He or she will also perform an ultrasound scan and give you a due date.
Even if you conceive through IVF, the number of weeks in pregnancy is the same. However, the way your doctor calculates it may be slightly different. This is because it skips some of the steps that would take about two weeks in a natural conception and places the embryo directly in the uterus.
How do you find out the exact due date?
There are now online ``calculators`` to find out when your baby is due. Another way is this:
- Write down the date of your last menstrual period (`LMP`).
- Add seven days to that.
- Count back three months from that date.
- Then add a year.
Even if you calculate your due date this way, your doctor will confirm the date or give you a new date based on the results of the ultrasound scan when you go to the clinic. Just like going to antenatal clinics, your doctor can check the accuracy of your due date.
But remember, there is only a 5% chance of having a baby on the due date you are given!
What is this 'gestational age'?
Gestational Age is simply how long it takes to get pregnant. This can be a bit confusing, because it's calculated from your last menstrual period (LMP). That means it includes the time before you actually get pregnant. To be precise, it's the time before ovulation, when your body is preparing for pregnancy.
Gestational age is a combination of weeks and days. For example, a pregnancy is said to be 22 weeks and 3 days pregnant. You may see this written as 22 3/7, or it may also be said to be ``22 weeks gestation''.
This ``gestational age'' refers to the pregnancy, not the age of the fetus. Fetal age is not a measurement that doctors usually use. The main reason for this is that they need to know exactly when conception occurred. It is very difficult to know exactly.
What are the trimesters of pregnancy?
Pregnancy is divided into three main parts, called `trimesters` : the first, second, and third trimesters. Each trimester is three months, or about 13 weeks, long.
What to expect in each trimester?
Every trimester is different. The symptoms you experience are also different. Your body (and baby) changes and grows a lot during each trimester. Imagine, your uterus growing from the size of a lemon to the size of a watermelon!
First Trimester (up to 13 weeks)
The first trimester ends when you are 13 weeks pregnant. See a doctor as soon as you find out you are pregnant.
Here are some things you can expect during the first trimester:
- Always feeling tired.
- Morning sickness (this can happen at any time of the day!)
- Breast pain and swelling.
- Feeling like certain foods and feeling disgusted by others (`Food cravings or food aversions`).
- Heartburn.
- Constipation.
- Sudden mood swings.
- Headache.
Your doctor will tell you to take a special prenatal vitamin. They will also give you a list of things you should definitely avoid during pregnancy. Some of these include:
- Alcoholic beverages.
- Tobacco products (like cigarettes).
- Drugs (including marijuana). You should talk to your doctor about medical marijuana.
- Some foods: unpasteurized dairy products, raw fish, fish high in mercury.
Second Trimester (13 to 28 weeks)
The second trimester begins at week 13 and ends at week 28.
Many women who had nausea and fatigue in the first trimester feel a little better in the second trimester. However, some of the symptoms of the first trimester can still occur during this time. Many women begin to feel the baby move (`fetus movement`) in the second trimester. By about 17 weeks, most women have gained at least 10 pounds.
Some symptoms to expect in the second trimester:
- Body aches, muscle pain.
- Weight gain.
- Darkening of the colored skin around the nipple (areolas).
- The appearance of a dark line (`linea nigra`) running down the middle of the abdomen.
- Dark spots appear on the skin.
Third Trimester (29 to 40 weeks)
Now it's the final stage! The third trimester starts at 29 weeks and ends at 40 weeks. You can expect some aches and pains as your baby (and your belly) continue to grow. You'll gain a little more weight as your baby gains extra fat to stay warm after birth.
Here are some things to expect in the third trimester:
- Feeling short of breath.
- Back pain. (This is common because the back naturally tightens as the belly grows).
- Frequent need to urinate.
- Difficulty finding a comfortable sleeping position.
- Colostrum - the first form of breast milk - leaks from the breasts.
- Lightening . This means the baby is ready to be born and is moving down into the pelvis.
- Showing signs of labor . For example, having contractions or passing the mucus plug.
What is a 'Full-Term Pregnancy'?
Doctors also talk about "term" when they talk about pregnancy. A full-term pregnancy is a pregnancy that lasts between 39 weeks and 0 days (39w0d) and 40 weeks and 6 days (40w6d). Babies born at full term are more likely to be healthy. There are other terms that doctors use:
- Early term: Your baby is born between 37 weeks and 0 days (37w0d) and 38 weeks and 6 days (38w6d).
- Late term: Your baby is born between 41 weeks and 0 days (41w0d) and 41 weeks and 6 days (41w6d).
- Post-term: Your baby is born after 42 weeks.
What kind of medical care do you need during pregnancy?
Prenatal care is very important for your health and the health of your baby. By going to your regular prenatal appointments, your doctor can check your health and detect any pregnancy complications early. They can also check to see if your baby is developing as expected.
Here are some of the things your doctor will do:
- A physical exam, breast exam, vaginal exam, or Pap test (if the time is right for you to have it done) will be done.
- They ask about your symptoms, lifestyle, and habits.
- Your blood pressure and weight are being checked.
- The baby's heart rate is measured using a fetal Doppler.
- To monitor your baby's growth, your belly size (`fundal height`) is measured.
- We talk about and recommend prenatal screenings that can determine whether the baby is at risk of developing congenital conditions such as Down syndrome.
- Blood work is done to check for anemia and gestational diabetes, and hormone levels are checked.
- They check for infections like syphilis and HIV.
- Ultrasound scans are performed. In a high-risk pregnancy, ultrasound scans are usually performed twice.
- We will talk to you about labor, delivery, and other aspects of your care.
- I will answer any question you have.
Prenatal Appointment Schedule
The number of visits you will have during your pregnancy varies. Women with certain medical conditions or complications may need to see their doctor more often. If your pregnancy is healthy and there are no problems, your doctor will usually see you:
- Every four weeks until 28 weeks of pregnancy.
- Every two weeks from 28 weeks to 36 weeks.
- Once a week from 36 weeks until the baby is born.
How much weight should you gain during pregnancy?
There's no exact amount to this, as everyone's body is different. Most doctors recommend that a pregnant woman gain between 25 and 35 pounds (about 11 and 16 kilograms) .
Finally, things to remember
Pregnancy is a time of many changes in your life, and it can be overwhelming at times. You may feel a mix of joy, fear, and anticipation. Your body is going through so many changes! So, it can be hard to know what to expect and what not to expect. It's normal to have a lot of questions about what to do and what to expect for a healthy pregnancy.
The best thing you can do during pregnancy is to see your doctor on time. He or she is your best resource as you face the biggest change in your life. Talk to him or her about any concerns or fears you may have, and you will feel much better. Never be afraid to ask questions!
Wishing you and your little one good health!
` Pregnancy, childbirth, baby, mother, health, trimester, prenatal care
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