Pregnancy occurs when the sperm fertilizes an egg after it had been previously released from the ovary during ovulation. Fertilization takes place in the fallopian tubes but the fertilized egg then travels to the uterus where it implants. If the implantation process is successful pregnancy occurs.
On average, a full-term pregnancy lasts around 40 weeks, but this number can vary from person to person. Women who receive prenatal care and diagnose their pregnancies earlier have a higher chance of experiencing a healthy pregnancy and giving birth to a healthy baby.
Signs and symptoms of pregnancy
- A missed period. The most common sign is a missed period, however this doesn’t necessarily confirm a pregnancy, especially if you experience irregular menstrual cycles. There are many health conditions besides pregnancy that can cause a missed or a late period.
- Headaches or dizziness. Headaches or dizziness are very common in early pregnancy and are caused by the normal fluctuation of hormones and increased blood volume.
- Bleeding. Some women also experience spotting or light bleeding and can sometimes be mistaken with an actual period. Keep in mind that this is called implantation bleeding and takes place 2 weeks after fertilization so around the day your period should have started. Sometimes the bleeding has other causes, such as infections, irritations, miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies or placenta previa. You should always contact your doctor if you’re concerned something might be wrong.
- Weight gain. Weight gain should be expected in the first trimester of pregnancy although it is more noticeable toward the beginning of the second trimester.
- Pregnancy induced hypertension. Pregnancy induced hypertension sometimes develops during pregnancy. Some of the risk factors include: