Archive for the 'Stage Of Pregnancy' Category

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 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.

First trimester pregnancy refers to the first three months of pregnancy.

Pregnancy is divided into three trimesters: first, second and third. Each trimester includes three months.

The first trimester pregnancy is most critical period of pregnancy, as most of the body changes and fetal developments happen in this trimester.

In the first month of this trimester, implantation of the fertilized egg in the uterus takes place and the fertilized egg then starts growing and developing in the uterus until delivery.

This process of Implantation generally happens 5-7 days after fertilization. In this stage, the fertilized egg in the uterus is called an embryo.

Shortly after implantation, the corpus luteum produces progesterone, which helps in maintaining the thickened endometrium.

Even the yolk sac starts developing along with the amniotic sac, a fluid-filled sac that protects the baby in the uterus. The yolk sac helps maintain the pregnancy until the placenta and umbilical cord is formed completely.

The placenta and umbilical cord helps carry food and oxygen to the baby from mother’s body and also excretes the wastes from the baby.

Have you entered your nine-month pregnancy? You have reached the time of delivery.

In the nine-month pregnancy, you will be having some discomfort with sitting, sleeping, etc, having your baby bigger in size. Your baby is almost ready for labor in four weeks.

During this period of nine-month pregnancy, the baby’s lungs will be fully developed and surfactant production will be increased, which helps the baby to breath after birth.

The baby’s intestine will be collected with meconium called baby’s first bowel movement and the baby starts urinating.

In the nine-month pregnancy, your baby needs to put a good weight.  The lanugo hair or downy hair and vernix disappear. Because of the decreased space in uterus due to increasing size of the baby, the baby cannot move in the uterus. Now, your baby can turn the head and suck the thumb.

The baby can develop immunities to protect against many infections although the immune system is somewhat immature. The baby will receive antibodies through placenta and after birth from your milk.

The weight of the baby will be six to seven pounds with height of approximately seventeen to eighteen inches. Approximately, the baby gains about one ounce a day in this month.