"A pregnancy is the time during which one or more offspring develops (gestates) inside a woman's uterus (womb)."
A thorough understanding of normal pregnancy physiology and milestones, as well as complications and their management, is essential in providing comprehensive prenatal care and managing high-risk pregnancies.
Fetal Development: Understanding the stages of fetal growth and development can give insight into what to expect during pregnancy.
Pregnancy Nutrition: Proper nutrition is essential for the health of both mother and baby during pregnancy.
Prenatal Care: Regular prenatal care is crucial for mother and baby health and can help detect any potential concerns early on in the pregnancy.
Labor and Delivery: Understanding the stages of labor and delivery and various birthing options can help prepare for a smoother delivery.
High-Risk Pregnancy: Certain medical conditions or complications during pregnancy can increase the risk of health problems for both mother and baby.
Pregnancy Complications: Various complications can arise during pregnancy, including ectopic pregnancy, gestational diabetes, and preeclampsia.
Postpartum Care: Understanding how to care for oneself and a newborn after delivery is critical for maternal and infant health.
Family Planning: Understanding different options for birth control and family planning can help prevent unintended pregnancies and promote maternal and infant health.
Fertility: Understanding how conception occurs and the causes of infertility can help when planning for pregnancy.
Reproductive Anatomy: Understanding the female reproductive system and how it functions can help when trying to conceive and throughout the pregnancy.
Genetics and Inheritance: Understanding basic genetics and inheritance patterns can help determine the likelihood of certain inherited disorders and conditions during pregnancy.
Maternal Health: Maternal health concerns include mental health, physical health, and overall wellness. Understanding the impacts of these concerns on pregnancy is essential.
Newborn Care: Understanding basic newborn care, feeding, and appropriate infant growth and development can aid in caring for a newborn after delivery.
Breastfeeding: Breastfeeding is a natural and healthy way to feed an infant, and understanding the benefits, techniques, and challenges is helpful for new mothers.
Postpartum Depression: Postpartum depression affects many new mothers and can negatively impact maternal, infant, and family health. Understanding its causes and symptoms is critical.
Ectopic pregnancy: A pregnancy where the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube.
Molar pregnancy: A rare abnormal pregnancy where a tumor grows in the uterus, instead of a fetus.
Twin pregnancy: A pregnancy where there are two fetuses or more growing in the uterus.
High-risk pregnancy: A pregnancy where the mother, fetus, or both are at increased risk of complications due to medical conditions, age, or other factors.
Reproductive health issues related pregnancy: Conditions such as PCOS, Endometriosis, Hypothyroidism, Fibroids, etc. may lead to complications in pregnancy.
Teenage pregnancy: A pregnancy in a young girl who is not yet fully physically or emotionally mature, which can pose additional risks.
"Pregnancy usually occurs by sexual intercourse, but can also occur through assisted reproductive technology procedures."
"A pregnancy may end in a live birth, a miscarriage, an induced abortion, or a stillbirth."
"Childbirth typically occurs around 40 weeks from the start of the last menstrual period (LMP), a span known as the gestational age."
"Implantation occurs on average 8–9 days after fertilization."
"An embryo is the term for the developing offspring during the first seven weeks following implantation (i.e. ten weeks' gestational age), after which the term fetus is used until birth."
"Signs and symptoms of early pregnancy may include missed periods, tender breasts, morning sickness (nausea and vomiting), hunger, implantation bleeding, and frequent urination."
"Pregnancy may be confirmed with a pregnancy test."
"Pregnancy is divided into three trimesters of approximately three months each."
"During the first trimester, the sperm fertilizes the egg, which attaches to the inside of the uterus, where it begins to form the embryo and placenta."
"Around the middle of the second trimester, movement of the fetus may be felt."
"At 28 weeks, more than 90% of babies can survive outside of the uterus if provided with high-quality medical care."
"Prenatal care improves pregnancy outcomes."
"Prenatal care may also include avoiding recreational drugs (including tobacco and alcohol), taking regular exercise, having blood tests, and regular physical examinations."
"Complications of pregnancy may include disorders of high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, iron-deficiency anemia, and severe nausea and vomiting."
"Babies born before 37 weeks are 'preterm' and at higher risk of health problems such as cerebral palsy."
"Babies born between weeks 37 and 39 are considered 'early term,' while those born between weeks 39 and 41 are considered 'full term.'"
"Babies born between weeks 41 and 42 weeks are considered 'late-term.'"
"Delivery before 39 weeks by labor induction or caesarean section is not recommended unless required for other medical reasons."
"Nutrition during pregnancy is important to ensure healthy growth of the fetus."