PREGNANCY

Pregnancy Symptoms

Symptoms of pregnancy include the following:

• Breast tenderness
  
  
• Nausea, vomiting, or both
  
  
• Missing a period or having an abnormal period
  
  
• Weight gain
  
  
• Breast enlargement, nipples darkening, or breast discharge
  
  
• Urinatingmore frequently than usual
  
  
• Fetal movement (may be perceived after 20 weeks for new mothers)

Pregnancy Overview

Pregnancy occurs when an egg is fertilized by a sperm, grows inside a woman's uterus (womb), and develops into a baby. In humans, this process takes about 264 days, but the obstetrician will date from the last menstrual period or 280 days (40 weeks).

• The doctor will use certain terms in discussing a woman's pregnancy. Some of the following definitions are useful:
  
  
  • Intra-uterine pregnancy: A normal pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg is implanted in the uterus (womb) and an embryo grows.
    
    
  • Embryo: The term used for the developing fertilized egg during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
    
    
  • Fetus: The term used for the developing embryo after 12 weeks of gestation.
    
    
  • Beta human chorionic gonadotropin (also called beta-hCG): This hormone is secreted by the placenta and can be measured to determine the presence and progression of the pregnancy. Urine or blood can be tested for its presence, and it is the hormone measured by a home pregnancy test. A positive result means a woman is pregnant; however, this test result can stay positive for several weeks after delivering a baby or after a miscarriage.
    
    
  • Trimester: The length of time of a pregnancy is divided into three sections called trimesters (about three months each). Each trimester has particular events and developmental markers. For instance, the first trimester builds the foundation of the different organ systems.
    
    
  • Estimated date of delivery (EDD): The delivery date is estimated by counting forward 280 days from the first day of the woman's last period. It is also called the estimated date of confinement (EDC).
  
  
• The woman who is pregnant and her doctor will monitor the pregnancy either to prevent certain conditions from developing or to treat those conditions early. These conditions include the following:
  
  
• High-risk pregnancy: If a woman is considered to be likely to have complications during pregnancy, the pregnancy may be termed high risk. Examples include pregnancies in women with diabetes and those with high blood pressure. Age-related complications can occur in women such as teenagers, women who are over the age of 35, or women who have been treated for infertility or with pregnancies from the use of assisted reproductive technologies.
  
  
• Ectopic pregnancy: This is a pregnancy in which the egg implants somewhere other than the uterus. This can be life threatening. Ectopic pregnancy must be diagnosed early to avoid damage tothe Fallopian tubes and to prevent serious illness or death. It is also called tubal pregnancy (if the egg implants in the Fallopian tubes) or extra-uterine pregnancy.
  
  
• Cervical Incompetence or Preterm Labor: This is a condition in which the cervix begins to dilate (widen) and efface (thin) before the pregnancy has reached term. Cervical incompetence can be a cause of miscarriage and preterm birth in the second and third trimesters.
  
  
• Preeclampsia/eclampsia: Preeclampsia is a systemic disease that can affect various organ systems. Vascular effects cause the blood pressure to rise in the woman who is pregnant, changes in kidney function, swelling throughout the body, and alterations in blood chemistry and nerve reflexes. If left untreated, preeclampsia can lead to eclampsia, a serious illness that causes seizures, coma, and even death.
  
  
• Multiple Gestation (for example twins, triplets): Preterm birth is twice as likely in twin pregnancies as in singleton pregnancies. The percentage of preterm birth is even greater for triplet pregnancies and quadruplet pregnancies. Preeclampsia also occurs three to five times more frequently with multiple gestation.

EXAMS & TESTS

Several tests may be conducted while a woman is pregnant.

• Pregnancy tests: The woman's urine or blood may be tested.
  
  
  • Women may choose to use a home pregnancy test. This is a urine test kit that can be purchased at a pharmacy or grocery store. The test can indicate whether a woman is pregnant. This type of test is known as a qualitative test. It can only test yes or no for the pregnancy hormone, beta-hCG. If a doctor is considering prescribing a medication that might not be appropriate to take during pregnancy, one of these simple tests may be performed in the office to determine if a woman is pregnant or to make sure she is not pregnant. If the test is performed very early in a pregnancy, the hormone level may still be negative. Some home pregnancy tests might not show positive results until 7-10 days after a missed period.
    
    
  • More sophisticated tests are called quantitative because they measure hCG levels in the blood. This type of testing is completed by drawing blood for testing at a hospital or doctor's office. These levels indicate how far along a woman is in her pregnancy. If levels of hCG do not rise as she progresses in her pregnancy, it could indicate something is wrong (such as an ectopic pregnancy with low levels) or surprising (high levels may indicate twins).
  
  
• Ultrasound: A doctor may use sound waves to examine the internal structures such as the uterus, ovaries, and the embryo or fetus.
  
  
  • Transabdominal ultrasound: A jelly is put on the abdomen, and a hand-held sound-wave wand is moved around to look at the internal structures. The woman's bladder must be full to help transmit the sound waves, so she may be asked to drink two to three glasses of water starting an hour before the test. This method works best later in pregnancy when the fetus is well developed. The doctor may have a scan performed during the first trimester to make sure the pregnancy is in the uterus and not outside it (ectopic pregnancy) and to assess the woman's risk for having a miscarriage. The scan can also tell if more than one fetus is developing. During the remainder of the pregnancy, scans may be used to look for problems, assess the age and development of the fetus, check out its position, and,by 17 weeks,determine the sex. There is no risk to the woman or her developing fetus with ultrasound, and it is not uncomfortable. Ultrasounds help doctors establish the due date. Due dates can now be predicted within two to four days if the ultrasound is performed early enough.
    
    
  • Endovaginal or transvaginal ultrasound: A long, thin, sound-wave wand is covered with a condom and put inside the vagina. This type of ultrasound is usually performed early in pregnancy to make sure that the embryo or fetus is inside the uterus where it belongs. This type of ultrasound also gives more detail, for instance, about the structure of the woman's cervix and the early embryonic anatomy.
    
    
  • Targeted Ultrasound Tests: A targeted or level II ultrasound exam provides a detailed assessment of fetal anatomy. It is recommended if there are concerns for fetal problems based on other tests or history.
    
    
  • Nuchal Fold Translucency Tests: A non-invasive screening for genetic defects. A certified ultrasound technologist measures the fold at the back of the neck. Measurements are then formulated to calculate the risk factor for certain birth defects. It is usually done at 10-14 weeks gestation and offered with a blood test that also screens for birth defects.
    
• Blood tests
  
  
  • Complete Blood Count
    
    
  • Blood type, Rh status, and antibody test
    
    
  • Thyroid test (optional)
    
    
  • Urine culture
    
    
  • Sickle cell screening if of African American heritage
    
    
  • Syphilis tests, HIV test, and tests for hepatitis B
    
    
  • Alpha fetoprotein tests or Quad Screen Test: A Quad Screen looks for four specific substances, Alpha fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin, Estriol (an estrogen), and Inhibin-A (a protein produced by the placenta and ovaries).
    
• Culture tests
  
  
  • Gonorrhea culture (GC) and chlamydia culture
    
    
  • Group B streptococcal test by 35 weeks
    
    
  • Test for bacterial vaginosis (BV), an infection in the vagina,if the woman has vaginal discharge, burning during urination, or itching around the outside of the vagina

Pregnancy Treatment

Normal pregnancy is not an illness and needs no treatment other than standard prenatal care. After the initial visit, during the first six months of pregnancy, you should see your doctor about once per month. Visits should be scheduled every two weeks during the seventh and eight month and weekly during the ninth month. If a woman's pregnancy is difficult or complicated, her treatment can vary from simple bedrest to amniocentesis, which is removal, for testing, of a small amount of amniotic fluid from the amniotic sac surrounding the fetus. Fetal monitoring with a machine, an ultrasound physical assessment, or a stay in the hospital for testing or medication may also be part of the treatment.
Flu shots are recommended for women who are pregnant

Pregnancy Treatment

Normal pregnancy is not an illness and needs no treatment other than standard prenatal care. After the initial visit, during the first six months of pregnancy, you should see your doctor about once per month. Visits should be scheduled every two weeks during the seventh and eight month and weekly during the ninth month. If a woman's pregnancy is difficult or complicated, her treatment can vary from simple bedrest to amniocentesis, which is removal, for testing, of a small amount of amniotic fluid from the amniotic sac surrounding the fetus. Fetal monitoring with a machine, an ultrasound physical assessment, or a stay in the hospital for testing or medication may also be part of the treatment.
Flu shots are recommended for women who are pregnant

STAGES OF PREGNANCY

Pregnancy Treatment

Normal pregnancy is not an illness and needs no treatment other than standard prenatal care. After the initial visit, during the first six months of pregnancy, you should see your doctor about once per month. Visits should be scheduled every two weeks during the seventh and eight month and weekly during the ninth month. If a woman's pregnancy is difficult or complicated, her treatment can vary from simple bedrest to amniocentesis, which is removal, for testing, of a small amount of amniotic fluid from the amniotic sac surrounding the fetus. Fetal monitoring with a machine, an ultrasound physical assessment, or a stay in the hospital for testing or medication may also be part of the treatment.
Flu shots are recommended for women who are pregnant

Source:emedicinehealth.  website