Pregnancy Talk & the Growing Baby
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Antnatal Care Edition
A must read for Pregnant women & Moms-to-be
Pregnancy Talk & the Growing Baby
The process of baby-making is an interesting one,
involving several changes within a woman's body.
A baby goes through several stages of development,
beginning as a fertilized egg. The egg develops into a
zygote, blastocyst, an embryo, then a fetus.
GETTING PREGNANT
There are three basic stages in conception:
1) ovulation,
2) fertilization, and
3) implantation.
Ovulation is when a mature egg is released from the
ovary. This usually occurs once in each menstrual cycle.
One of the ovaries releases one egg in each cycle but in
some cases, both ovaries can release eggs within the same
menstrual cycle.
Fertilization occurs when the sperm enters into the
mature egg. If more than one egg is released and
fertilized, the pregnancy involves more than one fetus,
usually two (unidentical twins). Because the genetic
material in each egg and in each sperm is slightly different,
each fertilized egg is different. The resulting twins are thus
fraternal twins. Identical twins result when one fertilized
egg separates into two embryos after it has begun to
divide. Because one egg was fertilized by one sperm, the
genetic material in the two embryos is the same.
Introduction
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Pregnancy Talk & the Growing Baby
Implantation is when the fertilized egg (blastocyst) fits
itself to the womb. This usually occurs within 5-8 days
after fertilization. The fertilized egg will start dividing and
will continue to do so as it moves through the fallopian
tube and into the woman's womb. The fertilized egg will
be like a solid ball containing many cells. When it gets to
the womb, the woman's body will release hormones which
will the ball of cells to fit itself within the womb(uterus). At
this stage when the embryo attaches to the uterus, some
women may experience some slight bleeding. Most
women often think this is their menstruation but No! It is
not menstruation. Implantation spotting is much lighter
in flow. The colour of the blood can be anything from red
to brown and it can last up to 1 or 2 days.
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Pregnancy Talk & the Growing Baby
The blastocyst has inner and outer layers. The inner cells
will form the embryo, while the outer cells will form the
placenta. The placenta produces several hormones that
help maintain the pregnancy. . For example, the placenta
produces human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which
prevents ovulation during pregnancy (so the woman does
not get pregnant again while she's already pregnant). The
placenta also carries oxygen and nutrients from mother to
fetus and waste materials from fetus to mother.
Development of the Embryo
The EDD (Expected Date of Delivery) is usually calculated
as 280 days (40 weeks or about 10 lunar months) from the
first day of your last menses. Health care providers may
sometimes recommend an ultrasound to help determine
your due date more accurately.
Most of the baby's organs will begin to form about 3
weeks after fertilization (i.e. 5 weeks of pregnancy). At this
point, the embryo elongates and assumes a human
shape. Soon, the brain and spinal cord (neural tube)
begins to develop. The heart and major blood vessels
begin to develop earlier around day 16. The heart begins
to pump fluid through blood vessels by day 20, and the
first red blood cells appear the next day. Blood vessels will
continue to develop in the embryo and placenta.
Most birth defects occur during this early period when
organs are being formed. In these early stages, the
embryo can be easily affected by the effects of drugs,
radiation, and viruses.
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Pregnancy Talk & the Growing Baby
.Folic acid is a B vitamin that helps prevent neural tube
defects (NTDs) – serious birth defects of the spinal cord
(such as spina bifida) and the brain (such as anencephaly).
It is very important for women to start taking folic acid
even before they get pregnant and up till at least 12 weeks
of pregnancy. You can continue taking folic acid even
after the 12th week but those early stages are very very
important. Other important vitamins recommended
during pregnancy are Zinc, iron, vitamin D, vitamin C, etc.
A lot of doctors recommend EVERGREEN NATAL CARE for
their pregnant patients. EVERGREEN NATAL CARE is
advised to be taken from the first month till the end of
pregnancy and can also be used during lactation. It
contains the recommended nutrients, vitamins and
minerals required to maintain a safe and healthy
pregnancy. EVERGREEN NATAL CARE prevents birth
defects, premature delivery and low birth weights. It
reduces the risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension,
relieves nausea and morning sickness in pregnancy and
gives rise to the birth of a strong and healthy baby.
Although pregnancy involves a continuous process, it is
divided into three 3-month stages known as trimesters.
So normally, there are 3 trimesters in pregnancy.
Weeks 0 to 12 is the first trimester
Week 13 to 24 is the second trimester
Week 25 to delivery is the third trimester.
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Pregnancy Talk & the Growing Baby
BABY’S GROWTH DURING FIRST TRIMESTER
During the first trimester alone your baby changes from a
single fertilized cell (a zygote), to the embryo that
implants itself in your uterine wall, to a peach-sized
bundle of growing limbs and body systems. Organs take
shape, and baby starts to move. Here are a few of the big
highlights happening in this exciting time:
Event Week
The woman’s last period before fer�liza�on occurs.
0
Fer�liza�on occurs.
The fer�lized egg (zygote) begins to develop into a hollow ball of cells called the blastocyst
The blastocyst implants in the wall of uterus.
The amnio�c sac begins to form.
3
The area that will become the brain and spinal cord (neural tube) begins to develop.
5
The heart and major blood vessels are developing. The bea�ng heart can be seen
6
2
First Trimester
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Pregnancy Talk & the Growing Baby
Event Week
The beginnings of arms and legs appear. 7
Bones and muscles form. The face and neck develop.
Brain waves can be detected.The skeleton is formed. Fingers and toes are fully defined.
The kidneys begin to func�on.
Almost all organs are completely formed.
The fetus can move and respond to touch (when prodded through the woman’s abdomen).
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9
First Trimester
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Pregnancy Talk & the Growing Baby
MOTHER’S BODY DURING FIRST TRIMESTER
Ÿ During the first trimester, the woman’s body undergoes
Hormonal changes which will affect almost every organ
system in the body. These changes can trigger
symptoms even in the very first weeks of pregnancy.
Your period stopping is a clear sign that you are
pregnant. Other changes may include:
Ÿ Extreme tiredness
Ÿ Tender, swollen breasts, sore nipples, stomach upset
(sometimes with vomitting – this is morning sickness)
Ÿ Cravings or distaste for certain foods
Ÿ Mood swings
Ÿ Constipation (trouble having bowel movements)
Ÿ Need to pass urine more often
Ÿ Headache
Ÿ Heartburn
Ÿ Weight gain or loss
As your body changes, you might need to make changes
to your daily routine, such as going to bed earlier or eating
frequent, small meals. Fortunately, most of these
discomforts will go away as your pregnancy progresses.
First Trimester
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Pregnancy Talk & the Growing Baby
BABY’S GROWTH DURING SECOND TRIMESTER
During the second trimester The baby's organs become
fully developed. The baby can also start to hear and
swallow. If this is your first pregnancy, you may not feel
your baby move until closer to 25 weeks. By the second
pregnancy, some women start to feel movements as early
as 13 weeks. The baby will develop sleeping and waking
cycles that a pregnant woman will begin to notice.
Here are a few of the big highlights happening in this
exciting time:Ÿ
Event Week
The fetus’s sex can be iden�fied.The fetus can hear.
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The fetus’s fingers can grasp. The fetus moves more vigorously, so that the mother can feel it.The fetus’s body begins to fill out as fat is deposited beneath the skin. Hair appears on the head and skin. Eyebrows and eyelashes are present.
The placenta is fully formed. 20
The fetus has a chance of survival outside the uterus.
The woman begins to gain weight more rapidly.
24
16
Second Trimester
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Pregnancy Talk & the Growing Baby
MOTHER’S BODY DURING SECOND TRIMESTER
Most women find the second trimester of pregnancy
easier than the first. But it is just as important to stay
informed about your pregnancy during these months.
Ÿ You might notice that symptoms like nausea and
fatigue are going away. But other new, more noticeable
changes to your body are now happening. Your
abdomen will expand as the baby continues to grow.
And before this trimester is over, you will feel your baby
beginning to move!
Ÿ As your body changes to make room for your growing
baby, you may have:Ÿ
Ÿ Body aches, such as back, abdomen, groin, or thigh pain
Ÿ Stretch marks on your abdomen, breasts, thighs, or
buttocks
Ÿ Darkening of the skin around your nipples
Ÿ A line on the skin running from belly button to pubic
hairline
Ÿ Patches of darker skin, usually over the cheeks,
forehead, nose, or upper lip. Patches often match on
both sides of the face. This is sometimes called the mask
of pregnancy.
Ÿ Numb or tingling hands, called carpal tunnel syndrome
Second Trimester
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Pregnancy Talk & the Growing Baby
Ÿ Itching on the abdomen, palms, and soles of the feet.
(Call your doctor if you have nausea, loss of appetite,
vomiting, jaundice or fatigue combined with itching.
These can be signs of a serious liver problem.)
Ÿ Swelling of the ankles, fingers, and face. (If you notice
any sudden or extreme swelling or if you gain a lot of
weight really quickly, call your doctor right away. This
could be a sign of preeclampsia.)
Second Trimester
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Pregnancy Talk & the Growing Baby
BABY’S GROWTH DURING THIRD TRIMESTER
You'll feel your baby kicking, punching, and moving often
in the early weeks of the third trimester. ... As your uterus
gets more crowded, you may feel your baby move less. By
the third trimester, your baby will have less room to move
in your womb (uterus). He will stay very active, but you will
notice that the type of movements you feel changes.
Here are a few of the big highlights happening in the third
trimester.
Event Week
The fetus is ac�ve, changing posi�ons o�en.
The lungs con�nue to mature.
The fetus’s head moves into posi�on for delivery.
On average, the fetus is about 20 inches long and weighs about 7 pounds. The woman’s enlarged abdomen causes the navel to bulge.
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Delivery 37-42
Third Trimester
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Pregnancy Talk & the Growing Baby
MOTHER’S BODY DURING THIRD TRIMESTER
You're in the home stretch! Some of the same discomforts
you had in your second trimester will continue. Plus, many
women find breathing difficult and notice they have to go
to the bathroom even more often. This is because the
baby is getting bigger and it is putting more pressure on
your organs. Don't worry, your baby is fine and these
problems will lessen once you give birth.
Some new body changes you might notice in the third
trimester include:
Ÿ Shortness of breath
Ÿ Heartburn
Ÿ Swelling of the ankles, fingers, and face. (If you notice
any sudden or extreme swelling or if you gain a lot of
weight really quickly, call your doctor right away. This
could be a sign of preeclampsia.)
Ÿ Hemorrhoids
Ÿ Tender breasts, which may leak a watery pre-milk called
colostrum
Ÿ Your belly button may stick out
Ÿ Trouble sleeping
Ÿ The baby "dropping", or moving lower in your
abdomen
Ÿ Contractions, which can be a sign of real or false labor
Third Trimester
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Pregnancy Talk & the Growing Baby
As you near your due date, your cervix becomes thinner
and softer (called effacing). This is a normal, natural
process that helps the birth canal (vagina) to open during
the birthing process. Your doctor will check your progress
with a vaginal exam as you near your due date. Get excited
— the final countdown has begun!
Third Trimester
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