Esther

Are you pregnant? See what it entails. Congratulations! Being pregnant is one of the most awesome moments any woman can dream of. However, the child-bearing journey is not as smooth as many would think. Early Symptoms The old tale of pregnancy symptom is when a woman no longer receives her menses. However, this is not final since lack of menses can also be attributed to other factors like family planning and some drugs. The most common symptoms of early pregnancy include: Breast tenderness Feeling tired Mood swings Lack of menses Nausea Any woman who experiences these symptoms should seek medical attention and perform a pregnancy test. Stages of Pregnancy The pregnancy journey can be divided into 3 stages; the first, second and the third trimester. A full term pregnancy takes 40 weeks. 1. The First Trimester Pregnancy occurs when a sperm fertilizes a woman’s ovum. Fertilization occurs in the fallopian tube. The fertilized egg moves to the uterus where it attaches itself and forms a foetus and a placenta. This stage lasts from the 1st week to the 12th week of pregnancy. Mood swings, puking and tiredness are some of the issues women have to deal with in this stage. 2. Second Trimester This is the stage between week 13 and week 28 of the pregnancy. Foetus movements are recorded to being felt in the middle of this stage. A foetus can survive outside its mother’s womb from week 28 if given favourable conditions. 3. Third Trimester This is the last stage of pregnancy which lasts from week 29 to week 40. The belly is huge, baby kicks, tiredness and heart-burns being some of the recorded issues women fight with. At week 37, the baby is considered to be full term. Women can opt to have their babies naturally or through Caesarean Section (CS). The Bottom Line Every pregnancy is different. Pregnant women should be cautious and observe any abnormality. Ante-natal clinics are very vital and should be observed.