Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a natural process in which all women undergo sometime in their lives. And because it is a process, it involves several different stages until you reach the point of delivery. For each of these stages, there is a need to properly address the health of both mother and child. Hence, we will try to discuss each of these stages to provide you with a better glimpse on the normal development pattern of the child in the womb.

Typically, the development of women's pregnancy is broken down into trimesters, which is about three months each: first trimester, second trimester, and third trimester.

First Trimester

Doctors consider different points in measuring the length of a woman's pregnancy. It could be the last day of menstruation, fertilization, implantation, ovulation, and chemical detection. In medical terms, pregnancy happens when an embryo is implanted in the woman's uterus.

When it comes to symptoms of implantation, most women commonly experience spotting or light bleeding. Other women, on the other hand, suffer from cramps. During this stage, the embryo grows and develops all throughout the period of foetal development.

Second Trimester

The second trimester is the period which spans from the 4th to 6th month of pregnancy. During this period, most women become more energized and start to put on weight. Morning sickness, which is a symptom associated with the first trimester, begins to subside until it is completely gone. During this stage of pregnancy, the fetus starts to take on a recognizable human shape.

The movement of the fetus starts typically on the 4th month. This time, the placenta is also full functional while the fetus is also capable of urinating. Teeth will start to form as well within the fetus' gums. Since the reproductive organs are developed during this stage, it is possible to determine the gender of the baby as early as the second trimester.

Third Trimester

At this stage, the woman's abdomen is expanded that the navel begins to "pop out". In this period, the fetus inside the mother's womb begins to make movements until it becomes more regular. However, this is also an uncomfortable period during a woman's pregnancy wherein most suffer from back ache. Aside from a more frequent movement of the fetus, this stage also sees the development of the eye, brain, and muscle function for the child. The constant movement of the fetus may also contribute to a substantial amount of pain or discomfort.

Once the fetus reaches this stage, they can now prematurely survive. In cases of early births, the use of modern intensive care technologies has enabled babies to survive prematurely. However, this is not enough to ensure that babies remain healthy, especially when it comes to later life.

Childbirth and Postnatal Period

Caring for both mother and child does not end by the time the infant is born. Oftentimes, the period immediately following the birth of the child is the point wherein both mother and child must be given much care and attention until about a period of six weeks. For mothers, they undergo several biological and emotional changes.

Mothers are also prone to developing postpartum depression. In fact, 50% of women who give birth suffer from it, around 24 hours following childbirth. As for the child, it is important that it is kept away from anything that could lead to infection or ailments.

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Understanding Pregnancy Recommended Resources:

Wright State University

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital