Information on pregnancy and its terms

When a female carries an offspring in the form of a fetus or an embryo inside her womb which is also called the uterus, she is known to be pregnant. She may be carrying more than a single child when multiple gestations take place as in the situation of twins or triplets. Human pregnancies are the most complex of all mammalian pregnancies and there is an entire field of studies dedicated to the study of pregnancy and this study is known as obstetrics. In places which have not evolved as much as others, pregnant women are dealt by midwives, women who are not technically equipped to be called doctors but can deliver babies since they have experience and are familiar with the complications that can arise during the course of a woman’s pregnancy.

Once a child is conceived, it is usually delivered within 40 weeks from the last normal menstrual period in the case of human beings. Normally the delivery may vary from 37 weeks to 42 weeks but there are often cases that do not follow this trend and might cause the baby to be born either before or after the usual expected dates. One of the scientific terms for pregnancy is gravid and a pregnant woman is often referred to as gravida. Likewise a woman who has been pregnant a number of times is called multigravida and if she has never been pregnant then she is referred to as nulligravida. Similarly para is another word used instead of gravida. A number of unsuccessful pregnancies will reduce the parity level while a number of successful pregnancies increase the same count.

There are some terms that one needs to be familiar with during the course of pregnancy so that she is well equipped about her state and knows exactly what she is feeling and when. Pregnancy is the most perfect feeling believed to be experienced by a woman that makes her feel as a perfect whole thus she looks forward to this moment. If you are nervous which is natural since it is only your first time and want to know more, this is where you will be aided and guided to learn more about your pregnancy.

Embryo is the term used to refer to a developing baby during the initial eight weeks just after conception and fetus refers to the same baby but a little while later, around two months from the time of conception. The period of pregnancy is technically divided into three parts – first trimester, second trimester and third trimester. These trimesters can be clearly distinguished from each other. This is determined by the prenatal state of the baby inside the womb. During the first trimester, there are maximum chances of the baby getting miscarried, during the second trimester the fetus can be monitored with more ease and more conveniently while in the last trimester that is the third trimester, estimations are made about whether or not the baby will be able to survive with or without medical aid outside the womb.

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