What is Pregnancy

Pregnancy is the fertilization and development of one or more offspring, known as an embryo or fetus, in a woman's uterus. Childbirth usually occurs after approximately 40 weeks from the start of the last menstrual period (LMP).

Symptoms of pregnancy include the absence of menstrual periods, morning sickness, breast changes, tiredness, nausea, mood swings, or other symptoms. A pregnancy test measures the human chorionic gonadotropin hormone in the urine or blood.

By the end of 37 weeks, a baby is considered full term and its organs are ready to function on their own.


Related  Articles :

• EDD (Expected date of delivery)
• Hyperemesis gravidarum during pregnancy
• Chloasma gravidarum
• Linea nigra and Striae gravidarum
• HIV infection in pregnancy
• What is cervical pregnancy ?
• Multiple pregnancy (Twins)
• Pregnancy related Terminology
• Role of gravity after childbirth

Pregnancy related Terminology III

Linea nigra :-

It is the bluish pigmentation of the mid line of xiphisternum to the pubis. It disappear after the delivery.


Straie gravidarum :-

It is depressed linear marks on the abdomen during pregnancy.


Chloasma gravidarum :-

It is an extreme form of pigmentation around the cheek, forehead and around the eyes. Disappear after the delivery.

Pregnancy related Terminology II

Preterm labour :-

It is defined as one where the labour start before the 37 completed week, continuing from the 1st day of the last menstrual period.


Post term pregnancy :-

A pregnancy continuing behind two weeks of the expected date of delivery (>42 week) is called post term pregnancy.


Prolonged labour :-

When the combined duration of 1st and 2nd stage is more than arbitrary time limit of 18 hrs.

Uterine Contraction and Retraction

Uterine contraction :-

It is the temporary shortening of the uterus muscles for starting the labour process. In easy way, contraction is essential for starting the labour. It is very difficult or impossible to born baby without contraction in normal delivery.Because in this process, the uterus muscles becomes short and space in uterus becomes less, so pressure is increased in uterine cavity. This pressure push down the baby in lower portion of uterus and force the baby to delivery. It starts naturally but in some conditions or in emergency, contraction is induced manually for saving the baby or woman.


Uterine retraction :-

Retraction is a phenomenon of the uterus in labour in which the muscle fibers are permanently shortened. Unlike any other muscle of the body, the uterine muscles have this property to become shortened once and for all. It is the permanent shortening of the uterine muscle fibers for help in controlling the postpartum haemorrhage. In other way, retraction is very important process for stopping the bleeding. After delivery, bleeding starts by separating the placenta from uterine wall, it is called postpartum haemorrhage. It is dangerous to woman's health if not controlled, so naturally retraction process occur. In this process, the blood vessels are blocked and closed to it's uterine end.

Related  Articles :

• Physiology of normal labour
• Pain during labour
• Mechanism of birth
• Labour process

Pregnancy related Terminology

Hyperemesis gravidarum :-

It is excessive vomiting in the pregnancy. Mostly occur in first trimester of the pregnancy period.


Polyhydramnios :-

If the liquor amnii is excessive in amount about 2000 ml or above.


Oligohydramnios :-

If the liquor amnii is reduced about 200 ml.


APH (antepartum haemorrhage) :-

It is a bleeding from or into the genital tract before the birth of the baby, affect the BP and pulse rate of the woman.


PPH (postpartum haemorrhage) :-

It is the bleeding from or into the genital tract atleast 500 ml or more after the birth of the baby upto the end of puerperium.


MTP :-

It is medical termination of the pregnancy.


Related  Articles :

• Antepartum haemorrhage
• Pregnancy ralated Terminology II
• Pregnancy related Terminology III