Pregnancy: Description, Symptoms, Month by Month Stages

Conception or pregnancy is very important for a woman in her life. This is the stage when a woman gives birth to a new life. Today we will tell you what is pregnancy and how can it be done? Also, how are the symptoms of pregnancy month by month and what are the precautions you can take. Let us know what is pregnancy?

What is pregnancy? What is the Meaning of Pregnancy?

Pregnancy is a process of becoming a developing fetus inside a woman's body. This condition can be detected by an over-the-counter urine test, if your test result is positive it means that you are pregnant. Apart from this, pregnancy can also be confirmed by blood test, ultrasound, detection of fetal heartbeat or through X-ray. Pregnancy lasts about nine months, and is measured from the date of the woman's last menstrual period (LMP). Pregnancy is traditionally divided into three trimesters, each about three months long.

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How is pregnancy? How Do People Get Pregnant?

Pregnancy is actually a complex process which consists of several phases. It begins with sperm cells and an egg.

Actually sperm or sperm are microscopic cells that are formed in the testicles of the male. Sperm mix with other fluids to make semen, which comes out of the penis during ejaculation. Millions of sperm are released every time a man ejaculates – but only 1 sperm needs to meet with an egg for pregnancy to occur.

Eggs reside in the woman's ovaries or ovaries. Each month, the hormones that control a woman's menstrual cycle cause some eggs to mature. When the egg has matured, it means that it is ready to be fertilized by sperm. These hormones make the lining of a woman's uterus thick and spongy, which prepares a woman's body for pregnancy.

Around the 12th to 14th day of a woman's menstrual cycle, a mature egg leaves the ovary – a process called ovulation. After leaving the ovary, the egg travels through the fallopian tubes towards the woman's uterus.

After the process of ovulation, the egg moves through the fallopian tubes for about 12-24 hours, checking if there is a sperm around. If a woman has intercourse during the process of ovulation and semen is released into the vagina, the sperm move through the cervix and uterus and into the fallopian tubes in search of an egg. A sperm lives for about 6 days and during this time it keeps on searching for the egg.

When a sperm meets with an egg, it is called fertilization. But fertilization does not happen immediately. Since sperm can hang out in a woman's uterus and fallopian tubes for up to 6 days after sex, there can be up to 6 days between sex and fertilization.

If a sperm unites with the egg, the fertilized egg travels down the fallopian tube towards the uterus. And it starts dividing into more and more cells, and as it grows, it starts forming a ball. This ball of cells (called a blastocyst) reaches the uterus about 3-4 days after fertilization. When this ball of cells attaches to the lining of a woman's uterus, that's when the pregnancy officially begins.

Implantation begins about 6 days after fertilization, and takes about 3-4 days to complete. The embryo develops from cells inside the ball and the placenta develops from cells on the outside of the ball. On average, a full-term pregnancy lasts 40 weeks.

What happens when the sperm cannot fertilize the egg?

When a fertilized egg implants in the uterus, it releases pregnancy hormones that prevent the lining of your uterus from shedding – which is why periods don't come during pregnancy. But if the egg doesn't meet with the sperm, or a fertilized egg doesn't implant in the woman's uterus, the thick lining of your uterus is no longer needed and is shed during periods. Up to half of all fertilized eggs do not naturally implant in the uterus and are passed out of the body during a woman's period.

What are the symptoms of pregnancy?

If you think you are pregnant, you may notice some signs and symptoms even before you take the test. These symptoms will start appearing after a few weeks as your hormone levels will change. Pregnancy symptoms are as follows-

• absence of periods
• occasional light bleeding
• urinating more often than usual
• Headache
• weight gain
• high pressure due to pregnancy
• heart burn
• complaint of constipation
• cramps
• backpain
• depression
• anemia
• Insomnia problem
• change in breast size
• swollen or tender breasts
• acne
• vomiting
• nausea
• Diarrhea
• hip pain
• Tension
• flatulence

Stage of Month by Month Pregnancy Journey

Pregnancyis divided into three trimesters (period of three months). These divisions are very convenient in describing the symptoms that women experience.

First Trimester (0-12 weeks)

During the first trimester (week 1 to 12), the fetus grows rapidly. The fetus begins to develop its brain, spinal cord and organs. During this, the heart of the child also starts beating. During the first trimester, the chances of miscarriage are relatively higher. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), 1 in 10 pregnancies end in miscarriage, and about 85 percent of these miscarriages occur in the first trimester.

So if you feel any symptoms of miscarriage then immediately take the help of your doctor.

Second Trimester (13 -27 weeks)

During the second trimester of pregnancy (weeks 13 to 27), the first thing your doctor will probably do is an anatomy scan ultrasound.

This test checks the body of the fetus for any developmental abnormalities. Test results can also reveal the sex of your baby, if you want to find out before the baby is born.

Also during this trimester, the woman can feel her baby moving, kicking and punching inside her uterus.

After 23 weeks, a baby in the uterus is considered "viable," meaning it can live outside your womb. There are often serious medical issues with babies born this type of early. The chances of the baby being healthy become higher the longer it remains in the womb of the woman. This means that the longer a woman is pregnant, the healthier her baby will be.

Third Trimester (28-40 weeks)

During the third trimester (weeks 28 to 40), a woman's weight increases rapidly and she begins to feel more tired during this time. This is the time when the baby now begins to feel light and simultaneously opens and closes its eyes. At the same time their bones also begin to form.

As the time of labor approaches, women begin to feel discomfort in their pelvis, and swelling of the legs begins. Contractions that don't lead to labor, known as Braxton-Hicks contractions, may occur in the weeks before the baby is due to be born.

What are the precautions to be taken during pregnancy?

Apart from avoiding alcohol and drugs, there are no hard and fast rules for what not to do during pregnancy. Most of the time, you can continue your schedule and habits in the same way as your old life. But because the health and safety of your growing baby is important, here we have given some precautions, you must follow them –

1. Prohibited Foods:  It is very important to take care of your food and drink during pregnancy, so do not consume the following foods-

• Raw meat and shellfish (kastura)
• soft meat
• Fishes high in mercury
• smoked seafood
• raw eggs
• soft cheese
• unpasteurized dairy products

2. Avoid smoking and secondhand smoking (breathing in cigarette smoke)
3. don't drink alcohol
4. Do not consume excessive caffeine (no more than 2 cups)
5. don't use drugs
6. Do not bathe in hot tub
7. Some herbs and medicines that can harm the baby

There are some ways to get pregnant. You can increase your chances of getting pregnant if you know your fertility and ovulation patterns. Your doctor can help you plan for a healthy pregnancy.