Obstetrics

Pregnancy
Post-natal/ Post-Partum Care
Delivery
Ectopic Pregnancy
Fetal Distress
Pre-eclampsia
Placental Abruption
Uterine rupture
Prolapsed Cord
Obstetrical Hemorrhage
Gestational Diabetes

Pregnancy: What you should know?

Conception happens when a male sperm gets fertilized with a female egg or ovum. It normally happens in the fallopian tube in sexual reproduction after ovulation. The conception can occur within 24 hours after you ovulate. But the sperm that enters the female body during intercourse can live up to three days. So calculating the exact Conception time would be difficult. You may not have any symptoms of conception, but you will start experiencing the early symptoms of pregnancy around two weeks after conception.

Early symptoms of pregnancy

The early symptoms of pregnancy is most similar to what you experience pre or post menstrual days. You should go for a pregnancy test when you show up the symptoms like:

  • Abdominal cramps similar to menstrual cramps
  • Spotting may occur between 6-12 days of fertilization
  • Vaginal discharge of a milk-like liquid
  • Sore or swollen or tender breasts
  • Heightened smell
  • Nausea and aversion to food
  • Frequent urination
  • Back pain, head ache etc.
  • Dizziness, fatigue, fainting
  • Mood swings
  • Missed period

The stages of pregnancy are divided into trimesters of each three months period. Read about each trimester here.

The first trimester

Normally the first trimester is calculated from the last day of your last menstrual cycle to the initial 12 weeks of pregnancy. The embryo will experience fast development during the period. The mother will feel one or more from the early symptoms of the pregnancy. Weight gain, nausea, vomiting, fatigue are most common during the period.

The second trimester

The first symptoms of pregnancy will start to fade during the second trimester which is during four to six months after conception. This will be the easiest months for the mother during pregnancy but symptoms like weight gain, back pain, skin changes etc may continue. You will experience growing abdomen and enlarging breast. You will start to feel that the baby is moving inside your belly during the period.

The third trimester

The third trimester or the last three months of pregnancy can be challenging physically and emotionally as you will experience back pain, swelling in the ankles, shortness in breath, vaginal discharges, yellow fluid discharge from the nipples, fatigue, frequent urination, constipation etc. The baby is considered as full term after 39 weeks of pregnancy. You may also experience false labour pain as the body starts getting ready for the actual labour pain towards the end of the third trimester.

Labour symptoms

The symptoms and labour pain can vary from woman to woman as the body gets for the delivery of the baby. Vaginal delivery is the safest way, but in certain conditions a Cesarean delivery is advised. Severe lower back pain, increased and painful contractions and tightening, pelvic pressure, vaginal discharges similar to mucus in brown colour, amniotic fluid discharge or broken waters, etc are hinting you towards labour pain.

Medical care is recommended throughout the pregnancy and the delivery to assure the safety of baby and mother. Consult your doctor as soon as you start developing the symptoms of pregnancy.