Pregnancy and Birthing

Myhealthidea.com asked:


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.

Pregnancy planning

If you are planning to become pregnant, taking certain steps can help reduce risks to both you and your baby. Proper health before deciding to become pregnant is almost as important as maintaining a healthy body during pregnancy.

The first few weeks in utero are crucial in fetus development. However, many women do not realize they are pregnant until several weeks after conception. Planning ahead, and taking care of yourself before becoming pregnant, is the best thing you can do for you and your baby.

One of the most important steps in helping you prepare for a healthy pregnancy is a pre-pregnancy examination (often called preconception care) performed by your physician before you become pregnant.

A preconception visit includes assessments of a woman’s overall health and identification of potential risk factors that may complicate pregnancy. Women can receive advice and treatment for medical conditions suh as diabetes or heart disease that may be changed by pregnancy. By preparing in advance, you can be your healthiest before becoming pregnant.

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. http://www.myhealthidea.com

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. http://www.myhealthidea.com



Carolyn

Luna asked:


I have heard that people have been giving births at 7th and 6th months of pregnancy, what are the side effects?

Demetrius

hleichtnam asked:


I just found out that I am pregnant again. Of course my boobs are a little sore. Though in the past few days my boobs have been leaking a few drops of a clear liquid. I didn’t have this with my first pregnancy so I think that is because I breastfeed for two months with my son, but is it normal to leak just a little bit due to more hormones or do I need to see a physician?

Nicole

Liza Jane asked:


I have had endometriosis for the last few years and was on birth control to help to keep it from speading. The doctor told me when I wanted to get pregnant just to stop the birth control right before so I went off of birth control about a month and a half ago hoping to get pregnant while I can. During the last few weeks I have had a lot of stomach cramping and nausea and sharp pains in my abdomen area, especially slightly on the right side. I seem to have some early pregnancy symptoms, nausea, swollen breasts, and cramping, but my period is not for about a week, and I did try a pregnancy test but of course I got a negative because it’s too soon anyway. Does it sound like I could be pregnant? What are early pregnancy symptoms like for someone who has endometriosis? Is it just a little more painful than a regular pregnancy?

Crystal

Apurva Shree asked:


You must have heard of those common pregnancy symptoms and must have been mentally prepared for them. But, are you prepared for one of those highly unusual early pregnancy symptoms? At times, pregnancy symptoms can be extremely varying and unpredictable. Those symptoms raise height of anxiety and confusion, making it very difficult for women to detect their pregnancy. Many expecting mothers also get confused if those symptoms indicate complications or not, while some even fail to notify their doctors being unaware of their influence on pregnancy. Hence, getting familiar to the strange early pregnancy symptoms is important for all women who are expecting.

Unexpected Pregnancy Symptoms That You May Expect During Pregnancy

Many pregnant women report that they have not come across any of those prevalent pregnancy symptoms like fainting or dizziness or even bleeding. Dies it mean, they were not sent any signs of pregnancy by their body. Probably, they have been. Probably, they have failed to comprehend those signals as positive signs of pregnancy. Therefore, as soon as you get to know what unusual early pregnancy symptoms you are likely to come across, you will be prepared for them and can consult your doctor, accordingly. A list of those symptoms is given below –

1. Spider Veins – Appearance or the veins surrounding chest and upper arms getting prominent is one of the very unusual early pregnancy symptoms. This is one symptom what most women hate and fret over. However, doctors suggest there is nothing to get apprehended about the spider veins as it simply results from an increased blood flow in the body and then being carried over to different vital areas of the body.

2. Nasal Congestion – If you feel your nose to get clogged during pregnancy, you should know it happens due to nasal congestion. This is regarded as one of the unusual early pregnancy symptoms that may lead to having discomforting nights as you have felt during flu. You nose may often bleed even if during a perfect weather with no signs of cold. Consult your doctor to detect pregnancy.

3. Metallic Taste – You may feel metallic taste often during pregnancy. Metal tastes are considered one of the unusual early pregnancy symptoms and are caused due to hormonal changes in your body.

4. Flatulence - Flatulence or arousal of gases are the most embarrassing early pregnancy symptoms. To avoid this symptom, get your diet chart corrected by a specialist.

5. Production of Excessive Saliva – Many expecting mothers feel excess of saliva in their mouth. These excessive saliva productions lead nausea symptom even more discomforting and make it very hard for pregnant mothers to deal with these unusual early pregnancy symptoms. Your mouth may drool even when you are sleeping.

6. Cramping in legs – If you happen to wake up in pains in your legs at midnight, you should include this among early pregnancy symptoms that is not very common. Blame on scarcity of calcium in your body or other causes during pregnancy, talk to your doctor to find ways to reduce it.

7. Facial Hair And Pigmentation – Though women do not hesitate to spend bucks for removal of facial hair, but they may face an increase in facial hair along with facial pigmentation during the course of pregnancy. These are unusual early pregnancy symptoms, but not rare. Therefore, instead of chemical usage, consult with your doctor to alleviate these problems.

Whenever you face any of the unusual early pregnancy symptoms, do not delay, and rush to your physician about its effects on your pregnancy or to reduce discomforts of those symptoms.



Rachel

amber42088 asked:


My husband and I are trying to conceive and for the last couple weeks i have noticed my stomach getting firmer, is that normal if your in very early stages of pregnancy?

Wilson

Apurva Shree asked:


Pregnancy is a most unique period in a woman’s life. While bringing great joy, it can also be a very confusing time for most women as they try to figure out whether they are really pregnant. Of course, it is very much possible to confuse the early signs of pregnancy with symptoms of some other illness. At the same time, there are some symptoms of pregnancy that will confirm the onset of pregnancy.

Pregnancy Symptoms

One of the commonest early signs of pregnancy is a missed period. The confusion sets in because a missed period can also be due to stress, illness, and fluctuations in weight. Cessation of oral contraceptives, and a polycystic ovary syndrome also lead to a missed period.

Changes in the size and feel of the breast are an early sign of pregnancy. The breasts begin to enlarge and most women experience greater tenderness of the breast along with a tingling sensation. It may well be that this pregnancy symptom disappears after some time.

Nausea and vomiting is also an early sign of pregnancy and amongst the most unwelcome symptoms of pregnancy. It can occur as early as two weeks after conception and tends to taper off by the end of the third month of the pregnancy.

While many women experience tiredness, this can be due to other reasons as well and cannot by itself be considered a pregnancy symptom.

The darkening of the areola is also indicative of pregnancy. It remains for the entire tenure of the pregnancy and is one of the surest symptoms of pregnancy.

Frequent urination as early as two weeks after conception is also indicative of pregnancy. This occurs due to higher levels of progesterone and the uterus rising up to the abdomen, which in turn exerts pressure on the bladder. The bladder then feels full, even though there may not be a need to urinate. Some women are also affected by constipation, which can also be quite annoying.

Another symptom of pregnancy is women feeling queasy about certain foods while experiencing an almost uncontrollable craving for other foods.

Weekly Pregnancy Calendar

Pregnancy calendars are a handy way of keeping a record of the changes a woman’s body and the fetus undergo at specific intervals during the course of the pregnancy. A weekly pregnancy calendar does this on a weekly basis.

The calculation typically begins from the last date of last period and includes the due date of birth, which is generally forty weeks from the first day of the last period. It is a useful tool to monitor the health of the mother and the baby.

First-time mothers can easily confuse pregnancy symptoms with symptoms of other illness. However, awareness of early signs of pregnancy will help you in identifying these symptoms in the initial stages. A weekly pregnancy calendar is a useful aide to monitor the heath of the mother and the baby.



Gracie

Juliet Cohen asked:


An ectopic pregnancy is an irregular pregnancy that occurs outside the uterus. Most ectopic pregnancies happen in the fallopian pipe, but implantation can too happen in the cervix, ovaries, and stomach. The causes of ectopic pregnancy are unidentified. There are some speculative specific causes or associations. Smoking, advanced maternal age and prior tubal damage of any origin are well known risk factors for ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy occasionally occurs in women who have had a hysterectomy. Rather than implanting in the absent uterus, the fetus implants in the abdomen, and must be delivered via caesarean section. Patients are at higher risk for ectopic pregnancy with advancing age. Vaginal douching is thought by some to increase ectopic pregnancies; this is speculative. Women exposed to diethylstilbestrol in utero also have an elevated risk of ectopic pregnancy, up to 3 times the risk of unexposed women.

In a normal ectopic pregnancy, the embryo does not hit the womb, but instead adheres to the lining of the Fallopian pipe. The implanted embryo burrows actively into the tubal lining. Most usually this invades vessels and will induce bleeding. This bleeding expels the implantation out of the tubal end as a tubal abortion. Many factors are known to increase the risk of having an ectopic pregnancy. Taking hormones, specifically estrogen and progesterone, can slow the normal movement of the fertilized egg through the tubes and lead to ectopic pregnancy. Most women who have had one ectopic pregnancy are later able to have a normal pregnancy. A repeated ectopic pregnancy may occur in 10 - 20% of cases. Women who have in vitro fertilization or who have an intrauterine device using progesterone also have an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy.

Early symptoms are either missing or delicate. Some women thinking they are having an abortion are really having a tubal miscarriage. There is no inflammation of the pipe in ectopic pregnancy. Patients with a late ectopic pregnancy typically experience pain and bleeding. This bleeding will be both vaginal and internal and has two discrete pathophysiologic mechanisms. The pain is caused by prostaglandins released at the implantation site, and by free blood in the peritoneal cavity, which is locally irritant. Sometimes the bleeding might be heavy enough to threaten the health or life of the woman. Later presentations are more common in communities deprived of modern diagnostic ability. An ectopic pregnancy is usually a failing pregnancy and falling levels of progesterone from the corpus luteum on the ovary cause withdrawal bleeding.

An ectopic pregnancy has to be suspected in any woman with lower abdominal pain or unique hemorrhage who is or might be sexually involved and whose pregnancy examination is constructive. If left untreated, about half of ectopic pregnancies will resolve without treatment. These are the tubal abortions. Early treatment of an ectopic pregnancy with the antimetabolite methotrexate has proven to be a viable alternative to surgical treatment. The advent of methotrexate treatment for ectopic pregnancy has reduced the need for surgery, however, surgical intervention is still required in cases where the fallopian tube has ruptured or is in danger of doing so. Surgeons use laparoscopy or laparotomy to gain access to the pelvis and can either incise the affected Fallopian and remove only the pregnancy or remove the affected tube with the pregnancy.



Ana

Bright asked:


I had my period at the begining of the month (Sept. 4-9). The last few days I have been waking up very neausous & this morning I had dry heaves. I have an appointment with my GYN next week, should I ask for a pregnancy test?

Miranda