Category — Parenting

SIGNS OF PREGNANCY

Pregnancy is the period of time between conception and birth during which the baby develops within the uterus. The periods of about 280 days from the time of conception to the birth of the child requires considerable attention to many things on the part of the mother to ensure a normal, healthy baby. Preparation for motherhood entails knowledge of the signs of pregnancy, the importance of prenatal care, and the preparations that have to be made before child delivery.

Pregnancy produces many physical changes in the woman. The first sign of pregnancy which a woman may observe in herself is the cessation of the menstrual flow. Other signs include morning sickness or nausea and vomiting which usually occur from the sixth week to the third month of pregnancy; frequent urination because the uterus is expanding and exerting pressure on the bladder; and enlargement of the abdomen due to the growth of the uterus. By the fourth month, the fetus has grown considerably and the mother’s expanded abdomen and gain weight become more pronounced. Marked changes in the breast include enlargement, heaviness, and a tingling feeling and increased sensitivity in the breast and nipples.

Quickening is the term for the first movement of the baby felt by the expectant mother usually between the 18^th and 20^th weeks of pregnancy

Moodiness takes place due to the hormonal changes in the expectant mother. Hormonal changes affect emotions and psychological ups and downs are likely to be experienced.

These common signs of pregnancy may or may not be experienced during a particular pregnancy. If some of these signs are due to other causes, the woman must see a doctor who then performs several tests to determine if the woman is pregnant or not