Pregnancy (lat. Gravidity) refers to the condition of a woman from conception to the birth of a child. Already at fertilization it is decided whether it will be a boy or a girl. If two X chromosomes meet, a girl is born; if X and Y chromosomes meet, a boy is born. From the 9th week of pregnancy, the fruit is called an embryo, and later, from about the
4th month as a fetus.
Date of birth and duration of pregnancy
Pregnancy is the condition of a woman from conception to the birth of a child. Already at fertilization it is decided whether it will be a boy or a girl. In general, the duration of a human pregnancy is 266 days. If you count from the 1st day of the last menstruation, it is 280 days. According to the Naegele rule, the day of birth is calculated as follows:
Subtract 3 months from the 1st day of the last menstruation and add again 7 to 10 days, then you get the probable date of birth. The legal conception period, for example for the proof of paternity, is the time from the 181st to the 302nd day of pregnancy before birth.
Signs
The signs of pregnancy are divided into uncertain, probable and certain signs. The uncertain signs of pregnancy refer to the mother’s overall body without her reproductive organs. Primarily, they are nervous (nerves) and hormonal (hormones), i.e. due to reactions of the vegetative nervous system and hormonal changes of the body during pregnancy. Common manifestations during early pregnancy are nausea, morning sickness, altered appetite and often associated with a general reduction in performance and mood. In late pregnancy, the expectant mother often suffers from back pain as well as hip pain, which can occur as a result of the loosening of ligaments and joints. So-called stretch marks (lat. striae, white shiny, scar-like stripes) can appear due to the strong stretching and tearing of the skin during pregnancy, especially on the abdomen and thighs. During the course of pregnancy, the weight gain is about 8 to 12 kg. The probable signs of pregnancy originate from the reproductive organs and from the mammary gland of the woman. These include absence of menstruation, loosening and bluish coloration of the vaginal mucosa (due to heavy blood flow), loosening and enlargement of the uterus, and tightening of the mammary glands. Pathological changes can also be responsible for these signs, so a visit to the gynecologist is recommended to assign the conditions. Reliable signs of pregnancy come from the child. The heart tones of the child can be detected by ultrasound at a very early stage. Fetal movements can be perceived from about the 20th week of pregnancy (about 2 weeks earlier in multiple pregnancies), but can also be seen by ultrasound earlier in pregnancy.
Complications
Complications can occur during pregnancy in a variety of forms. These include infections, use of addictive substances, mental illnesses, pregnancy-specific diseases, miscarriage, etc. To get the appropriate security, the pregnant woman should perceive all preventive examinations at the doctor of her confidence and get competent advice. Miscarriage (Latin abortus, abortion) is when the fruit is rejected weighing less than 500 g and is considered non-viable.
Preparation for birth
As early as the 6th month of pregnancy, one should start preparing for childbirth. For this, the woman can attend a birth preparation course together with her partner, which are offered by clinics, birth centers and midwives. Together, they can learn about birth location, positions, natural and artificial pain management, delivery methods, birth processes in general, and so on. At the same time, relaxation and breathing exercises for the birth are learned and practiced in order to be well prepared at the decisive moment of the birth phase. These courses also focus on how to deal with the newborn, as well as care and feeding instructions. Fathers are gladly involved here, as nowadays they often want to actively accompany their wife’s pregnancy and the birth of the child, as well as taking over the care of the baby in many cases.With the onset of labor, the end of pregnancy is often initiated. You can find more interesting articles about pregnancy and birth in our guide under the category: Pregnancy, birth and babies.
