A Complete Guide To Pregnancy And Its Tests, Stages, Symptoms, And Health

You get pregnant when a sperm fertilizes an egg inside the ovary during ovulation. The fertilized egg later travels to the uterus where it implants itself. Pregnancy lasts for nearly 40 weeks and can be divided into three stages. Women who discover they are pregnant early are more likely to deliver a healthy baby and lead healthier lives.

What are the symptoms of pregnancy?

Some symptoms are self- evident and occur in the early stages of your pregnancy. These are:

1. Missed periods

This symptom is the most classic one related to pregnancy. If you have missed a period, please consult a gynecologist. Visit website to book an appointment. Missed periods does not necessarily mean you have a baby in your uterus. There are other reasons too behind this symptom.

2. Headaches

Headaches are caused by increased hormone levels and blood volume in your body. If your headache is excruciating, please consult your doctor.

3. Spotting

Pregnant women bleed during the initial days of pregnancy. This light bleeding is also called spotting and is the result of implantation of the egg. Bleeding can also result from miscarriage and other pregnancy-related causes.

4. Hypertension

Several factors cause Pregnancy-induced hypertension. Some of them are:

• Being obese
• Smoking
• Previous family history of hypertension

5. Weight gain

You can expect to gain 1 to 5 pounds during your first trimester. This gain maybe even more in the second trimester.

6. Heartburn

There is a valve between your esophagus and the stomach. Raised hormone levels can open this valve, and some acid might spill over into your esophagus. This causes heartburn. You may also experience cramps and constipation during pregnancy. If you think you are pregnant, you need to go in for some tests. Home-based tests are quite simple to determine your pregnancy. Once it has been established, your doctor will conduct an ultrasound test to finalize the date of your delivery. You may also get an HCG test to determine the advanced stages of pregnancy.

Stages of Pregnancy

There are in all three trimesters of pregnancy, and each is different from the others. The first trimester lasts from the 1st to the 12th week. In this period, the spinal cord, brain, and organs begin developing. The heart of the fetus starts beating in the first trimester. Be careful during this period. Some studies suggest that 1 in every ten pregnant women will have a miscarriage, and 85% of this many women will have a miscarriage in the first trimester.

In the second trimester ( 13-27 weeks), your baby will begin to kick, move and turn inside your stomach. Your doctor will conduct some ultrasound tests to determine the health of the fetus. These tests are necessary to discover any abnormalities of the baby. Once the 23rd week has passed, your baby is ‘viable’. This means that it can survive outside your stomach. Please pay extra attention to your doctor’s advice in this trimester.

The third trimester lasts from Week 24 to 40. In this period, you will gain weight sharply. You will feel tired more often, and your legs would begin to swell. Your pelvic area would become heavier, and you would start getting false pelvic contractions well before your actual date of delivery.

Your baby is now able to sense light and can open or shut her eyes. You can preserve your health during pregnancy against UTIUTI or urinary tract infections are caused by bacteria that enter the bladder of the pregnant woman through her urinary tract. If you experience burning, itching, etc. get in touch with a doctor.