All About Pregnancy
Pregnancy is the act of carrying one or more fetus inside the womb of a female. While human pregnancies are the most studied of the mammalian pregnancies, animals are also capable of carrying multiple gestations. Unlike other mammals, human pregnancies last 38-40 weeks on average, however the World Health Organization defines a normal pregnancy term as lasting between 37-42 weeks. In the beginning there are many symptoms and signs a woman looks for to determine whether or not she’s pregnant. Generally, these initial symptoms are followed by a woman taking a pregnancy test. If the test is positive, symptoms are present, and she is more than a week late on her period, chances are she’s pregnant. Find out more about pregnancy below.
Pregnancy Symptoms and Signs
Early symptoms are signs can be confusing to an unexpecting woman. Many women confuse pregnancy symptoms with menstrual symptoms, as the breast tenderness, cramping, and fatigue are also symptoms of PMS. It usually isn’t until a woman has a missed period, that she realizes her symptoms may not have anything to do with her menstrual cycle. Other early pregnancy symptoms include:
- Breast Tenderness
- Bloating
- Colostrum
- Headaches
- Missed Period
- Morning Sickness
- Spotting
- Mood Swings
- Spotting and Bleeding
- Vaginal Discharge
- Weight Loss
Later in a woman’s pregnancy, symptoms of being pregnant will include:
- Colostrum
- Varicose Veins
- Weight Gain
- Frequent Urination
- Heightened Sense of Smell
- Darkened Areolas
- Cravings
- Constipation
Taking a Pregnancy Test
If you’ve missed your period, you may be considering a pregnancy test, regardless if you’re expecting or not. Pregnancy tests can be bought over-the-counter testing urine, or you can schedule an appointment with your health care provider to take a pregnancy test that tests your blood. Blood tests tend to be more accurate, due to many things such as your doctor will not allow you to test early, reducing chances of a false positive or false negative. To learn more about reading, taking or understanding a pregnancy test, please click here.
Being Pregnant
Being pregnant can be a joyous or tough experience. A woman’s body is constantly changing inside and out, and some women struggle with the hormone imbalance that causes them to be emotional, sensitive and unstable throughout the pregnancy term. Many women and couples join child birth classes such as Lamaze, Yoga and The Bradley Method when preparing for labor and delivery. These classes help a woman understand what’s happening now, and what’s to come. If you’re interested in learning more in-depth about these changes that are occurring week by week, please click here.
Giving Birth
Giving birth can be a joyous or tough experience too. Many expectant parents go through a series of emotions during the last trimester of pregnancy. As you await the arrival of your new baby, many things can fill your head. PregnancyCorner.com suggests that you look into creating a birth plan to help you figure out the strenuous time that lies ahead. Birth plans allow you as a mother to begin making decisions for you and your baby before the baby is born. Plus, it gives everyone involved a chance to understand and meet your demands of comfort.
Each pregnancy is different. Depending on your risk level (high risk or low risk pregnancy) you may or may not be able to deliver your baby vaginally, or naturally. Occasionally problems occur as labor and delivery arrive and a woman must give birth via c-section. Other times, a woman plans ahead and gives birth to her baby via water birth. Again, each pregnancy is unique to the mother and fetus inside of her. To learn more about pregnancy in general, please feel free to browse our sections and articles.
