Pregnancy
What is pregnancy?
Pregnancy occurs when sperm fertilizes an egg after it’s released from the ovary during ovulation. The fertilized egg then travels down into the uterus, where implantation occurs. A successful implantation results in pregnancy. Many factors can affect a pregnancy. Women who receive an early pregnancy diagnosis and prenatal care are more likely to experience a healthy pregnancy and give birth to a healthy baby.
What are the symptoms of pregnancy?
You may notice some signs and symptoms before you even take a pregnancy test. Others will appear weeks later, as your hormone levels change.
A missed period is one of the earliest symptoms of pregnancy (and maybe the most classic one). However, a missed period doesn’t necessarily mean you are pregnant, especially if your cycle tends to be irregular. Other symptoms include headaches, light bleeding 2 weeks after fertilization. As pregnancy progresses symptoms are:
- Mild weight gain
- Nausea and vomiting due to early pregnancy hormones
- Heart burn which is often caused by a relaxed valve between the stomach and oesopahagus due to hormones
- Constipation as a result of a slow digestive system
- Cramps as the muscle in the uterus begin to stretch and expand
- Back pain
- Anemia: Pregnant women have an increased risk of anemia, which causes symptoms such as lightheadedness and dizziness.
- Breasts may begin to feel tender, swollen, and generally heavy or full. Your nipples may also become larger and more sensitive, and the areolae may darken.
How is pregnancy confirmed?
Signs and symptoms are helpful, but it is not advisable to rely solely on them. Take a urine pregnancy test at home or blood pregnancy test at the hospital. A pelvic ultrasound done trans-vaginal or trans abdominal can confirm the presence and position of pregnancy. Do well to register for antenatal care once pregnancy is suspected and confirmed at your nearest health facility.
What should I expect as the pregnancy progresses?
First trimester
A baby grows rapidly during the first trimester (weeks 1 to 12). The fetus begins developing their brain, spinal cord, and organs. The baby’s heart will also begin to beat. During the first trimester, the probability of a miscarriage is relatively high compared to other trimesters.
Second trimester
During the second trimester of pregnancy (weeks 13 to 27), your healthcare provider will likely perform an anatomy scan ultrasound. This test checks the fetus’s body for any developmental abnormalities. The test results can also reveal the sex of your baby, if you wish to find out before the baby is born. You’ll probably begin to feel your baby move, kick, and punch inside of your uterus. The first time you feel this is termed quickening. In Ghana a baby in utero is deemed viable at 28 weeks. This means it can survive living outside the womb.
Third trimester
During the third trimester (weeks 28 to 40), your weight gain will accelerate, and you may feel more tired. Your baby can now sense light as well as open and close their eyes. Their bones are also formed. As labor approaches, you may feel pelvic discomfort, and your feet may swell. Contractions that don’t lead to labor, known as Braxton-Hicks contractions, may start to occur in the weeks before you deliver.
How can I prevent pregnancy?
Women who are sexually active should consider birth control or family planning methods if they are not interested in getting pregnant.
Pregnancy versus Premenstrual syndrome
The symptoms of early pregnancy can often mimic those of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). It may be difficult for a woman to know if she’s pregnant or simply experiencing the onset of another menstrual period. It is important for a woman to know as soon as possible if she’s pregnant so that she can get proper prenatal care. She may also want to make certain lifestyle changes, such as abstaining from alcohol, taking prenatal vitamins, and optimizing her diet. Taking a pregnancy test is the best, and easiest, way to determine if it’s PMS or early pregnancy. You can take a home test or visit your healthcare provider.
