Archive for the 'PREGNANCY STAGES' Category

Do you have the condition of excessive bleeding after the delivery? This is the condition of postpartum hemorrhage.

Up to 4% of women experience postpartum hemorrhage and it more likely occurs with a cesarean birth. Usually, hemorrhage will occur before or after the placenta is delivered.

In vaginal delivery, the amount of blood loss is about 500ml, but in cesarean birth, the amount of blood loss is 1,000ml.

Most of the times postpartum hemorrhage occurs immediately after the delivery, but sometimes it can occur later also.

Once after the delivery, the uterus continues to contract and expels the placenta. After the delivery of placenta, the uterine contractions help to compress the bleeding vessels at the region where the placenta was connected.

If there are no proper uterine contractions, then the blood vessels will freely bleed and finally results in postpartum hemorrhage. If any minute pieces of placenta remain attached, then also bleeding continues.

Some of you are at greater risk of postpartum hemorrhage when compared to others. Here are some conditions that can lead to postpartum hemorrhage:

• Multiple pregnancies: The condition in which more than one placenta exists and also over distension of your uterus.

Being pregnant is an exciting experience in one’s life.

However, it will be more exciting if you understand the prenatal development at each stage from the time of conception to childbirth.

The prenatal development in the first month of your pregnancy starts from fertilization, a process where the sperm combines with the ovum in one of the fallopian tubes to form a new egg called zygote.

After fertilization, the new egg descents from the fallopian tubes to the uterus.

Simultaneously, it divides and forms a cluster of cells where the cells separate into three layers: the ectoderm, the mesoderm, and the endoderm.

The inner group of cells forms the embryo and the outer group of cells forms the membranes, which nourish and protects it.

The placenta also starts forming to carry nutritive substances to the baby as well as to eliminate the wastes all through the pregnancy. Even the amniotic sac starts forming which surrounds and protects the developing embryo.

Also, the nervous system starts developing. At this stage, the embryo will be one-fourth inch long.

In the second month of prenatal development, the embryo will be 1½ inch long where the sides of body indicate the embryo’s arms and legs.

Pregnancy weekly will give you information about the changes that takes place during your pregnancy.

The first two weeks are counted as a part of 40 weeks although the baby has not conceived yet.

In 28-day menstrual cycle, the best period of conception is between 12-16 days from the first day of menstrual cycle.

When the fertilized egg implants into the uterus wall, you may experience spotting.

During fourth week of pregnancy weekly, you may experience heaviness and soreness in your breasts.

In fifth week, you can take a pregnancy test. You may not have morning sickness yet although your pregnancy test is positive, but you may have sense of smell.

By sixth week of pregnancy, many women experience morning sickness. The uterus swells and put pressure on bladder. Because of hormonal changes in your body, you will feel completely exhausted during seventh week and you may notice decreased appetite due to nausea.

In eighth week, you will experience fatigue, as your body needs to work hard to cope with your baby’s development. There will be watery discharge from your vaginal wall.

During ninth week, you can see the thickening of waistline. As the womb presses on uterus, you suffer from frequent urination.

Are you pregnant? Know pregnancy week by week and gain knowledge about your baby’s progress.

The first two weeks of your pregnancy in pregnancy week by week are considered to be the period of ovulation, in which ovum will be produced.

In third week, if fertilization takes place, fertilized egg will get implanted into the uterus.

By the end of fourth week, your urine pregnancy test will likely be positive. In fifth week of pregnancy week by week, your baby will be 5mm long and heart starts beating.

During sixth week of Pregnancy, umbilical cord starts developing, eyes and ears are forming, and other body organs will be under construction.

By seventh week, your baby measures about 7-mm in length by crown-rump length. Hands and legs continue to develop, but fingers have not formed. Brain starts to develop. Lenses of eyes and nasal pits are forming.

In eighth and ninth week, elbow starts forming. The arms and fingers (webbed) develop. There is appearance of eyes, ears, and tip of the nose. Teeth start developing under gums.

Are you a 40 week pregnant? This might be last week of your pregnancy.

Your baby is almost getting ready to born and is full term now.

When you are 40 week pregnant, keep in mind that you can have labor pains at anytime.

Your baby may or may not be engaged into the pelvis.

It will depend on whether you are pregnant for the first time or this is your repeated pregnancy.

If you are pregnant for the first time, it may take one more week for you to give birth to your child. You are not considered to be “post-due” until you pass forty-two weeks of pregnancy.

On an average 96% of the women will give birth to a child two weeks before or two weeks after the due date. Only some women will have delivery on their due date. Do not worry if your baby does not come out this week, as “due date” is just an estimated date.

At your 40 week pregnant, your baby will be around 20 inches long and weighs up to 7.5 pounds. Most of the babies will be in the ideal position with the head lying down and back against your abdomen.

Are you 32 week pregnant? Only eight weeks to go for your pregnancy to end.

Your uterus will be approximately five inches above the navel.

The movements of your baby will peak this week and they change in quality and quantity.

Your baby is almost eighteen inches long from head to toe and weighs approximately four pounds at your 32 week pregnant.

The baby sleeps almost all the time (approximately 90-95% of the day). The five senses of your baby are functional now. Your baby is fully formed with fully developed brain and nervous system.

During this week, the baby’s skin will become thicker and it changes from red to more of a pinkish color. A layer of fat is forming underneath the wrinkly skin.

Most of the wrinkles have gone from your baby’s face and the hair on the head continues to grow. The toenails are fully formed by the end of this week.

At your 32 week pregnant, your baby can move the head to the side. The baby is practicing to open the eyes and also practicing breathing. As your baby is occupying most of the available space in the uterus, the movements will slowly start to decrease.

It is important for every pregnant woman to know that there are chances of pre-term pregnancy during 28 week pregnant.

Your baby measures about 16 inches from head to toe when you are 28 week pregnant and weighs around 2.5 pounds.

The skin is still wrinkled, but to a less extent. The lanugo hair starts disappearing, but some will present even after birth.

The baby’s skin becomes plumper with two to three percent body fat. The hair on the head continues to grow.

Eyebrows and eyelashes also continue to grow. The eyelids that remained shut till now will be opened during this week and the eyes will be completely formed.

The eyes can perceive light. The baby’s nostrils will also open during this week. Your baby is now able to recognize your voice, so talk to your baby as much as possible.

The baby’s lungs develop air sacs and it will take several more weeks for the air‑exchange sacs to form completely. The lungs will be able to breathe air. Apart from the lungs, all other major organs will start to function.

Feel happy that you are 24 week pregnant, as your baby is formed almost completely.

During this period, your uterus starts to extend the navel. By seeing you, everyone can say that you are pregnant now.

At your 24 week pregnant, the baby weighs approximately 1.5 pounds and almost one foot long from crown to rump.

Your baby is continuing to deposit the brown fat on the body in order to regulate body temperature, as newborns cannot regulate enough body temperature at first. The baby continues to gain weight in muscles and organs develop during this week.

When you are 24 week pregnant, the growth of your baby slows down. However, the digestive system of your baby continues to mature. Vernix caseosa, a waxy and creamy substance produced by oil glands of baby, protects the skin of your baby from amniotic fluid.

In twenty-fourth week, changes in lung development take place and buds for teeth start to form in this week.

If you are 24 week pregnant, you can identify your baby’s movements and you can say the wake/sleep timings of your baby.

Are you a 20 week pregnant? Congratulations! You are in the middle of your pregnancy and your uterus is almost even with your navel now.

Your belly will come out and continues the same as your uterus grows.

If you have multiples in your uterus, the uterus will be two or more inches higher.

In your 20 week pregnant, your baby will have same sleep and wake up times as new born has.

In this week, you can feel “fluttering” or “quickening” of your baby. Indeed, by your baby’s movement, you can tell if your baby is sleeping or awake.

During this week, your baby weighs approximately ten ounces or close to one pound and about seven inches long from crown to rump.

Even though the lungs are not matured enough yet, your baby starts practicing breathing motions.

During your 20 week pregnant, your baby’s ears are completely functional and start hearing voices – your voice as well as voices outside the uterus. Sometimes, if there is a loud noise near you, the baby may even startle and jump.

Pregnancy is divided into three trimesters. Each pregnancy trimester includes three months. The first trimester ranges from 0-12 weeks.

The second trimester starts from 12 weeks and completes at 24 weeks where as the third trimester ranges from 24 weeks to till the completion of pregnancy.

Each pregnancy trimester has its importance with major developmental changes.

The first trimester is the most flimsy stage where all major body organs and systems form. Even most of the birth defects and miscarriages happen in the first trimester of pregnancy.

During the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, the fetus organs and structures forms completely and the fetus grows speedily.

The crucial part of pregnancy is to stay healthy by taking special care at each pregnancy trimester, as it helps provide healthy baby and safe delivery.

During the first pregnancy trimester, your body undergoes several changes due to hormonal imbalance and you may experience various pregnancy symptoms such as morning sickness, frequent urination, constipation, dizziness, fatigue, sore breasts, and many more. So, it is essential to take proper care starting from the first trimester.