Pregnancy And Childbirth

The 280 or so days leading up to the birth of a child are a very special time in a women's life. Even before conception takes place, her body undergoes regular, monthly changes to prepare for birth. Beginning at the onset of puberty and for the next 30 to 40 years, she experiences a monthly process known as ovulation, in which the ovaries release tiny egg cells (called an ovum)for fertilization; at the same time, the hormonal system prepare the uterus, or womb, for the possibility of pregnancy. If fertilization doesn't occur, the lining of the uterus, which has been enriched with blood and tissue to receive the fertilized egg, breaks away as the menstrual flow. if the egg and sperm cell do meet, the fertilized egg embeds itself in the uterine lining and continues the remarkable process of growth and development that, if all proceeds normally, will culminate in the birth of healthy baby.

As recently as our grandparents' time, pregnancy and childbirth were fraught with danger. Death during childbirth was not uncommon, and about 25 % of all pregnancies ended in premature delivery, miscarriage or infant death. Today, thanks to advances in antenatal and neonatal care and to the availability of sophisticated screening tests and fetal monitoring techniques, childbirth fatalities and defects occur far less often.

Below will provide answers to many questions concerning pregnancies and childbirth.You will learn how fertilization takes place, how to prepare for pregnancy, what to expect during pregnancy, and how to avoid or cope with possible complications. Some of the answers also explain how modern obstetrics has made pregnancy and childbirth safer and brought new hope to couples facing the difficult problems of infertility...

I am experiencing many of the symptoms of pregnancy i have read about. What is the best way to confirm whether I am pregnant?

You should have a pregnancy test performed by your doctor or at a clinic, or you may want to use a home pregnancy test kit. If you choose to go tp your doctor or a clinic, there are several tests that can be dome to confirm pregnancy. Urine tests are popular because the are simple and provide quick results--urine tests ow availbale can detect pregnancy within few days of your first missed menstrual period. You will be asked to bring a sample of early morning urine for best results. If you are pregnant, the test will reveal the presence of a hormone secretion, which is called human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG).

Many women nowadays have a pregnancy test even before they see a doctor. You can test your urine yourself, using a home pregnancy kit, or else many pharmacists also do pregnancy tests. If using a home kit, follow the instructions carefully. Whoever does the test, even if it is negative you could still be pregnant, and if there is any doubt you should have the test repeated a week later. Both laboratory and home tests can produce inaccurate readings. If the signs of preganancy persist, check with your doctor, who will do an internal examination and, in some cases, order a blood test which is more reliable than a urine test. The procedure is simple: a sample of blood is taken and sent to a laboratory where it is tested for HCG hormone.

It is important that you should have the pregnancy confirmed early on, because if you think you are not pregnant and actually are, you could do something, such as take medications or other drugs, that may harm you or your baby. Early diagnosis is also important in high-risk pregnancies, where special precautions or investigations may be needed, such as chorionic villus sampling, or CVS.