Rutherford The Brave
June 7th, 2008, 10:47 PM
What is it? Pregnancy is the carrying of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, inside the uterus of a female human. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets. Human pregnancy is the most studied of all mammalian pregnancies. Obstetrics is the medical field that studies and treats pregnant patients.
Childbirth usually occurs about 38 weeks from fertilization, i.e., approximately 40 weeks from the start of the last menstruation. Thus, pregnancy lasts about nine months, although the exact definition of the English word “pregnancy” is a subject of controversy.
Trimester 1; Its the first month to the third. During this time its not uncommon to have a little light bleeding during the implantation stage when the Fertilized egg (zygote gets to the uterus.) The placenta is then formed followed by the umbillical cord. This period is the period in which most women lose their babies.
Trimester 2; Its the fourth month to the sixth month. Women begin to feel more energized they get sick less as they gain more weight to accomodate the fetus. The movements of the fetus can be felt and the fetus begins to carry out normal functions like urinating and such.
Trimester 3; Its the seventh through the ninth month.Final weight gain takes place, and the fetus begins to move regularly. The woman's navel will sometimes become convex, "popping" out, due to her expanding abdomen. This period of her pregnancy can be uncomfortable, causing symptoms like weak bladder control and back-ache. Movement of the fetus becomes stronger and more frequent.
Hormonal changes;progesterone and oestrogens rise continually throughout pregnancy, suppressing the hypothalamic axis and subsequently the menstrual cycle.Prolactin levels increase due to maternal Pituitary gland enlargement by 50%. This mediates a change in the structure of the Mammary gland from ductal to lobular-alveolar.
*remember 12-15kg of weight is gained during pregnancy.
Cardiovascular Changes; Blood volume increases by 40% in the first two trimesters. This is just to an increase in plasma volume through increased aldosterone. Progesterone may also interact with the aldosterone receptor, thus leading to increased levels. Increased heart rate and increased stroke volume. A decrease in vagal tone and increase in sympathetic tone is the cause.
*A balanced, nutritious diet is an important aspect of a healthy pregnancy. If the woman is healthy, balancing carbohydrates, fat, and proteins, and eating a variety of fruits and vegetables usually ensure good nutrition
*When a female is pregnant she can still engage in sexual activities yet the have to be careful as to not damage the uterus.
Postnatal depression (also called postpartum depression and referred throughout this article by the acronym PPD) is a form of clinical depression which can affect women, and less frequently men, after childbirth. Studies report prevalence rates among women from 5% to 25%, but methodological differences among the studies make the actual prevalence rate unclear.[1]
Sadness
Hopelessness
Low self-esteem
Guilt
Sleep disturbances
Eating disturbances
Inability to be comforted
Exhaustion
Emptiness
Inability to enjoy things one previously enjoyed
Social withdrawal
Low energy
Becoming easily frustrated
Feeling inadequate in taking care of the baby (or feeling like one cannot take care of the baby)
I felt that this was rather important and I know that people already know but its just a good refference and I hope you guys think its good.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pregnancy
Childbirth usually occurs about 38 weeks from fertilization, i.e., approximately 40 weeks from the start of the last menstruation. Thus, pregnancy lasts about nine months, although the exact definition of the English word “pregnancy” is a subject of controversy.
Trimester 1; Its the first month to the third. During this time its not uncommon to have a little light bleeding during the implantation stage when the Fertilized egg (zygote gets to the uterus.) The placenta is then formed followed by the umbillical cord. This period is the period in which most women lose their babies.
Trimester 2; Its the fourth month to the sixth month. Women begin to feel more energized they get sick less as they gain more weight to accomodate the fetus. The movements of the fetus can be felt and the fetus begins to carry out normal functions like urinating and such.
Trimester 3; Its the seventh through the ninth month.Final weight gain takes place, and the fetus begins to move regularly. The woman's navel will sometimes become convex, "popping" out, due to her expanding abdomen. This period of her pregnancy can be uncomfortable, causing symptoms like weak bladder control and back-ache. Movement of the fetus becomes stronger and more frequent.
Hormonal changes;progesterone and oestrogens rise continually throughout pregnancy, suppressing the hypothalamic axis and subsequently the menstrual cycle.Prolactin levels increase due to maternal Pituitary gland enlargement by 50%. This mediates a change in the structure of the Mammary gland from ductal to lobular-alveolar.
*remember 12-15kg of weight is gained during pregnancy.
Cardiovascular Changes; Blood volume increases by 40% in the first two trimesters. This is just to an increase in plasma volume through increased aldosterone. Progesterone may also interact with the aldosterone receptor, thus leading to increased levels. Increased heart rate and increased stroke volume. A decrease in vagal tone and increase in sympathetic tone is the cause.
*A balanced, nutritious diet is an important aspect of a healthy pregnancy. If the woman is healthy, balancing carbohydrates, fat, and proteins, and eating a variety of fruits and vegetables usually ensure good nutrition
*When a female is pregnant she can still engage in sexual activities yet the have to be careful as to not damage the uterus.
Postnatal depression (also called postpartum depression and referred throughout this article by the acronym PPD) is a form of clinical depression which can affect women, and less frequently men, after childbirth. Studies report prevalence rates among women from 5% to 25%, but methodological differences among the studies make the actual prevalence rate unclear.[1]
Sadness
Hopelessness
Low self-esteem
Guilt
Sleep disturbances
Eating disturbances
Inability to be comforted
Exhaustion
Emptiness
Inability to enjoy things one previously enjoyed
Social withdrawal
Low energy
Becoming easily frustrated
Feeling inadequate in taking care of the baby (or feeling like one cannot take care of the baby)
I felt that this was rather important and I know that people already know but its just a good refference and I hope you guys think its good.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pregnancy