Pregnancy Talk & the Growing Baby

07054644000, 08173658113Enquiries:

WWW.C ARROT TO P- NG.CO M

Antnatal Care Edition

A must read for Pregnant women & Moms-to-be

Pregnancy Talk & the Growing Baby

The process of baby-making is an interesting one,

involving several changes within a woman's body.

A baby goes through several stages of development,

beginning as a fertilized egg. The egg develops into a

zygote, blastocyst, an embryo, then a fetus.

GETTING PREGNANT

There are three basic stages in conception:

1) ovulation,

2) fertilization, and

3) implantation.

Ovulation is when a mature egg is released from the

ovary. This usually occurs once in each menstrual cycle.

One of the ovaries releases one egg in each cycle but in

some cases, both ovaries can release eggs within the same

menstrual cycle.

Fertilization occurs when the sperm enters into the

mature egg. If more than one egg is released and

fertilized, the pregnancy involves more than one fetus,

usually two (unidentical twins). Because the genetic

material in each egg and in each sperm is slightly different,

each fertilized egg is different. The resulting twins are thus

fraternal twins. Identical twins result when one fertilized

egg separates into two embryos after it has begun to

divide. Because one egg was fertilized by one sperm, the

genetic material in the two embryos is the same.

Introduction

1

Pregnancy Talk & the Growing Baby

Implantation is when the fertilized egg (blastocyst) fits

itself to the womb. This usually occurs within 5-8 days

after fertilization. The fertilized egg will start dividing and

will continue to do so as it moves through the fallopian

tube and into the woman's womb. The fertilized egg will

be like a solid ball containing many cells. When it gets to

the womb, the woman's body will release hormones which

will the ball of cells to fit itself within the womb(uterus). At

this stage when the embryo attaches to the uterus, some

women may experience some slight bleeding. Most

women often think this is their menstruation but No! It is

not menstruation. Implantation spotting is much lighter

in flow. The colour of the blood can be anything from red

to brown and it can last up to 1 or 2 days.

2

Pregnancy Talk & the Growing Baby

The blastocyst has inner and outer layers. The inner cells

will form the embryo, while the outer cells will form the

placenta. The placenta produces several hormones that

help maintain the pregnancy. . For example, the placenta

produces human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which

prevents ovulation during pregnancy (so the woman does

not get pregnant again while she's already pregnant). The

placenta also carries oxygen and nutrients from mother to

fetus and waste materials from fetus to mother.

Development of the Embryo

The EDD (Expected Date of Delivery) is usually calculated

as 280 days (40 weeks or about 10 lunar months) from the

first day of your last menses. Health care providers may

sometimes recommend an ultrasound to help determine

your due date more accurately.

Most of the baby's organs will begin to form about 3

weeks after fertilization (i.e. 5 weeks of pregnancy). At this

point, the embryo elongates and assumes a human

shape. Soon, the brain and spinal cord (neural tube)

begins to develop. The heart and major blood vessels

begin to develop earlier around day 16. The heart begins

to pump fluid through blood vessels by day 20, and the

first red blood cells appear the next day. Blood vessels will

continue to develop in the embryo and placenta.

Most birth defects occur during this early period when

organs are being formed. In these early stages, the

embryo can be easily affected by the effects of drugs,

radiation, and viruses.

3

Pregnancy Talk & the Growing Baby

.Folic acid is a B vitamin that helps prevent neural tube

defects (NTDs) – serious birth defects of the spinal cord

(such as spina bifida) and the brain (such as anencephaly).

It is very important for women to start taking folic acid

even before they get pregnant and up till at least 12 weeks

of pregnancy. You can continue taking folic acid even

after the 12th week but those early stages are very very

important. Other important vitamins recommended

during pregnancy are Zinc, iron, vitamin D, vitamin C, etc.

A lot of doctors recommend EVERGREEN NATAL CARE for

their pregnant patients. EVERGREEN NATAL CARE is

advised to be taken from the first month till the end of

pregnancy and can also be used during lactation. It

contains the recommended nutrients, vitamins and

minerals required to maintain a safe and healthy

pregnancy. EVERGREEN NATAL CARE prevents birth

defects, premature delivery and low birth weights. It

reduces the risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension,

relieves nausea and morning sickness in pregnancy and

gives rise to the birth of a strong and healthy baby.

Although pregnancy involves a continuous process, it is

divided into three 3-month stages known as trimesters.

So normally, there are 3 trimesters in pregnancy.

Weeks 0 to 12 is the first trimester

Week 13 to 24 is the second trimester

Week 25 to delivery is the third trimester.

4

Pregnancy Talk & the Growing Baby

BABY’S GROWTH DURING FIRST TRIMESTER

During the first trimester alone your baby changes from a

single fertilized cell (a zygote), to the embryo that

implants itself in your uterine wall, to a peach-sized

bundle of growing limbs and body systems. Organs take

shape, and baby starts to move. Here are a few of the big

highlights happening in this exciting time:

Event Week

The woman’s last period before fer�liza�on occurs.

0

Fer�liza�on occurs.

The fer�lized egg (zygote) begins to develop into a hollow ball of cells called the blastocyst

The blastocyst implants in the wall of uterus.

The amnio�c sac begins to form.

3

The area that will become the brain and spinal cord (neural tube) begins to develop.

5

The heart and major blood vessels are developing. The bea�ng heart can be seen

6

2

First Trimester

5

Pregnancy Talk & the Growing Baby

Event Week

The beginnings of arms and legs appear. 7

Bones and muscles form. The face and neck develop.

Brain waves can be detected.The skeleton is formed. Fingers and toes are fully defined.

The kidneys begin to func�on.

Almost all organs are completely formed.

The fetus can move and respond to touch (when prodded through the woman’s abdomen).

10

9

First Trimester

6

Pregnancy Talk & the Growing Baby

MOTHER’S BODY DURING FIRST TRIMESTER

Ÿ During the first trimester, the woman’s body undergoes

Hormonal changes which will affect almost every organ

system in the body. These changes can trigger

symptoms even in the very first weeks of pregnancy.

Your period stopping is a clear sign that you are

pregnant. Other changes may include:

Ÿ Extreme tiredness

Ÿ Tender, swollen breasts, sore nipples, stomach upset

(sometimes with vomitting – this is morning sickness)

Ÿ Cravings or distaste for certain foods

Ÿ Mood swings

Ÿ Constipation (trouble having bowel movements)

Ÿ Need to pass urine more often

Ÿ Headache

Ÿ Heartburn

Ÿ Weight gain or loss

As your body changes, you might need to make changes

to your daily routine, such as going to bed earlier or eating

frequent, small meals. Fortunately, most of these

discomforts will go away as your pregnancy progresses.

First Trimester

7

Pregnancy Talk & the Growing Baby

BABY’S GROWTH DURING SECOND TRIMESTER

During the second trimester The baby's organs become

fully developed. The baby can also start to hear and

swallow. If this is your first pregnancy, you may not feel

your baby move until closer to 25 weeks. By the second

pregnancy, some women start to feel movements as early

as 13 weeks. The baby will develop sleeping and waking

cycles that a pregnant woman will begin to notice.

Here are a few of the big highlights happening in this

exciting time:Ÿ

Event Week

The fetus’s sex can be iden�fied.The fetus can hear.

14

The fetus’s fingers can grasp. The fetus moves more vigorously, so that the mother can feel it.The fetus’s body begins to fill out as fat is deposited beneath the skin. Hair appears on the head and skin. Eyebrows and eyelashes are present.

The placenta is fully formed. 20

The fetus has a chance of survival outside the uterus.

The woman begins to gain weight more rapidly.

24

16

Second Trimester

8

Pregnancy Talk & the Growing Baby

MOTHER’S BODY DURING SECOND TRIMESTER

Most women find the second trimester of pregnancy

easier than the first. But it is just as important to stay

informed about your pregnancy during these months.

Ÿ You might notice that symptoms like nausea and

fatigue are going away. But other new, more noticeable

changes to your body are now happening. Your

abdomen will expand as the baby continues to grow.

And before this trimester is over, you will feel your baby

beginning to move!

Ÿ As your body changes to make room for your growing

baby, you may have:Ÿ

Ÿ Body aches, such as back, abdomen, groin, or thigh pain

Ÿ Stretch marks on your abdomen, breasts, thighs, or

buttocks

Ÿ Darkening of the skin around your nipples

Ÿ A line on the skin running from belly button to pubic

hairline

Ÿ Patches of darker skin, usually over the cheeks,

forehead, nose, or upper lip. Patches often match on

both sides of the face. This is sometimes called the mask

of pregnancy.

Ÿ Numb or tingling hands, called carpal tunnel syndrome

Second Trimester

9

Pregnancy Talk & the Growing Baby

Ÿ Itching on the abdomen, palms, and soles of the feet.

(Call your doctor if you have nausea, loss of appetite,

vomiting, jaundice or fatigue combined with itching.

These can be signs of a serious liver problem.)

Ÿ Swelling of the ankles, fingers, and face. (If you notice

any sudden or extreme swelling or if you gain a lot of

weight really quickly, call your doctor right away. This

could be a sign of preeclampsia.)

Second Trimester

10

Pregnancy Talk & the Growing Baby

BABY’S GROWTH DURING THIRD TRIMESTER

You'll feel your baby kicking, punching, and moving often

in the early weeks of the third trimester. ... As your uterus

gets more crowded, you may feel your baby move less. By

the third trimester, your baby will have less room to move

in your womb (uterus). He will stay very active, but you will

notice that the type of movements you feel changes.

Here are a few of the big highlights happening in the third

trimester.

Event Week

The fetus is ac�ve, changing posi�ons o�en.

The lungs con�nue to mature.

The fetus’s head moves into posi�on for delivery.

On average, the fetus is about 20 inches long and weighs about 7 pounds. The woman’s enlarged abdomen causes the navel to bulge.

25

Delivery 37-42

Third Trimester

11

Pregnancy Talk & the Growing Baby

MOTHER’S BODY DURING THIRD TRIMESTER

You're in the home stretch! Some of the same discomforts

you had in your second trimester will continue. Plus, many

women find breathing difficult and notice they have to go

to the bathroom even more often. This is because the

baby is getting bigger and it is putting more pressure on

your organs. Don't worry, your baby is fine and these

problems will lessen once you give birth.

Some new body changes you might notice in the third

trimester include:

Ÿ Shortness of breath

Ÿ Heartburn

Ÿ Swelling of the ankles, fingers, and face. (If you notice

any sudden or extreme swelling or if you gain a lot of

weight really quickly, call your doctor right away. This

could be a sign of preeclampsia.)

Ÿ Hemorrhoids

Ÿ Tender breasts, which may leak a watery pre-milk called

colostrum

Ÿ Your belly button may stick out

Ÿ Trouble sleeping

Ÿ The baby "dropping", or moving lower in your

abdomen

Ÿ Contractions, which can be a sign of real or false labor

Third Trimester

12

Pregnancy Talk & the Growing Baby

As you near your due date, your cervix becomes thinner

and softer (called effacing). This is a normal, natural

process that helps the birth canal (vagina) to open during

the birthing process. Your doctor will check your progress

with a vaginal exam as you near your due date. Get excited

— the final countdown has begun!

Third Trimester

13