webmd pregnancy week by week?

Pregnancy Week-by-Week - First, Second, Third Trimester)
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What Should You Know about Your Baby's Growth Week-by-Week?
What Are the Early Pregnancy Symptoms and Signs?
When Should You Call a Doctor or Midwife During Pregnancy?
What Questions Should You Ask Your Doctor about Pregnancy?
What Tests Confirm That You Are Pregnant?
What Monitoring May be Necessary during Your Pregnancy?
What Can You Do at Home to Have a Healthy Baby?
What Factors Determine the Outcome of You and Your Baby's Health?
What Medications Are Safe to Take if You Are Pregnant?
What Are the Complications During Pregnancy?
What Birth Control Methods Prevent Pregnancy?
Pregnancy Week by Week Topic Guide
Doctor's Notes on Pregnancy Week by Week Symptoms

What Should You Know about Your Baby's Growth Week-by-Week?
Picture of The Three Stages of Pregnancy
Picture of The Three Stages of Pregnancy

Pregnancy occurs when an egg is fertilized by a sperm, grows inside a woman's uterus (womb), and develops into a baby. In humans, this process takes about 264 days from the date of fertilization of the egg, but the obstetrician will date the pregnancy from the first day of the last menstrual period (280 days 40 weeks).

After the initial visit and during the first six months of pregnancy, you should see your doctor approximately once per month. Visits should be scheduled every two weeks during the seventh and eighth month and weekly during the ninth month. Electronic fetal monitoring, sequential ultrasound examinations, or admission to the hospital may also be required depending on your circumstances. Pregnancy occurs with the fertilization of a woman's egg by a man's sperm. Fertility drugs may improve a woman's odds of achieving a pregnancy.

The doctor will probably provide the woman who is pregnant with information to read regarding her pregnancy. She should ask questions if she needs help understanding the written information or what is happening during the pregnancy.

Your doctor or midwife will use certain terms when he/she talks to you about your pregnancy.

Intra-uterine pregnancy: A normal pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg is implanted in the uterus (womb) and an embryo grows.

Embryo: The term used for the developing fertilized egg during the first 9 weeks of pregnancy.

Fetus: The term used for the developing embryo after 9 weeks of gestation.

Beta human chorionic gonadotropin (also called beta-hCG): This hormone is secreted by the placenta and can be measured to determine the presence and progression of the pregnancy. Urine or blood can be tested for its presence, and it is the hormone involved in the performance of a home pregnancy test. A positive result means a woman is pregnant; however, this test result can stay positive for several weeks after delivering a baby or following a spontaneous miscarriage.

Trimester: The duration of an individual pregnancy is divided into three periods called trimesters (approximately three months in duration). Each trimester is characterized by specific events and developmental markers. For instance, the first trimester includes the differentiation of the different organ systems.

Estimated date of delivery (EDD): The delivery date is estimated by counting forward 280 days from the first day of the woman's last period. It is also called the estimated date of confinement (EDC).

What Are the Early Pregnancy Symptoms and Signs?

Symptoms of pregnancy include breast tenderness pr discharge, nausea, vomiting, or both, missing a period or having an abnormal period, weight gain, breast enlargement, nipples darkening, or breast discharge, and urinating more often than usual. Fetal movement (may be perceived after 20 weeks for new mothers)

When Should You Call a Doctor or Midwife During Pregnancy?

If a woman suspects that she may be pregnant or if she has a positive home pregnancy test, she should make an appointment with a health-care professional, which could be a doctor, an obstetrician (women's health specialist), a family physician, a midwife, or a nurse practitioner. Early prenatal care is essential to insure a favorable pregnancy outcome.

A woman who is pregnant should call her healthcare professional if any of the following conditions develop:

Labor or rupture of membranes (leaking fluid)
Serious abdominal or vaginal pain
Bright red vaginal bleeding
Vomiting more frequently than three times per day or vomiting blood
Severely elevated blood pressure (above 140/90)
Sudden and rapid weight gain
Severe headache or visual changes
Severe leg or chest pain

Go to your nearest Emergency Department if you have any of these symptoms:

Fainting
Vaginal bleeding through more than one pad per hour
Having severe pain in the abdomen or shoulder or severe dizziness
Passing pink, gray, or white material from the vagina that does not look like a blood clot (The woman who is pregnant should take the material to the hospital.)
Having a bloody discharge or gush of fluid from the vagina during late pregnancy (this may indicate that the onset of labor is imminent).
Seizure activity but without a history of epilepsy (This may indicate eclampsia, a complication of pregnancy).
Having an injury, such as a fall, a blow to the stomach or pelvis, or a car accident

Lower abdominal pain during late in pregnancy may indicate the onset of labor. Labor pains occur secondary to uterine contractions. A patient may attempt consumption of clear liquids or lying on her left side for a short time to determine if the contractions will resolve spontaneously. If the pain persists, her health care provider should be notified.
QUESTION
The first sign of pregnancy is most often: See Answer

What Questions Should You Ask Your Doctor about Pregnancy?

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Your OB/GYN or Midwife should ask you these questions when you get pregnant.

Am I at risk for genetic diseases?
How much weight should I gain during pregnancy?
Am I gaining weight too fast?
How should I alter my diet (especially if she is a vegetarian or a vegan)?
What tests should I have and when should I schedule them?
Am I a high-risk patient?
What is my risk for cesarean birth?
What exercises are safe?
What vaccinations should I receive during pregnancy?
What medications may I take?
May we develop a birth plan?
Should I hire a doula?
Will I be allowed to have keepsake ultrasound pictures?