Pregnancy is divided into three trimesters.
The first trimester lasts from week one to week 12.
The due date is calculated 40 weeks after the first day of your last period.
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This article will provide an overview of pregnancy, focusing on how it feels and what to expect.
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When Does Pregnancy Start, and How Do You Know?
Knowing exactly when your pregnancy starts is not as straightforward as youd imagine.
Many people refer to how many weeks they are to keep track of their pregnancy.
This is based on the fetussgestational age.
Gestational age starts on the first day of your last period before conception.
The average length of a menstrual cycle is 28 days but can range from 24 to 38 days.
A person with a 28-day menstrual cycle usually ovulates around day 14.
The first two weeks of your pregnancy include your menstrual period and fertilization.
The timing can vary depending on the length of your menstrual cycle.
The average day to ovulate is day 14.
During ovulation, your ovaries release their most mature egg, which travels down the fallopian tube.
This is where the egg meets the sperm and is fertilized (if pregnancy occurs).
It usually reaches the uterus about three to four days after fertilization.
Implantation occurs about six days after fertilization and takes three to four days to complete.
Most people do not know that they are pregnant in these early weeks because there are usually no signs.
The first sign of pregnancy is often a missed menstrual period.
Once you notice that you did not get your period, its time to take apregnancy test.
When used correctly, home pregnancy tests are 99% accurate.
You may not look very different on the outside, but your body is hard at work.
The first trimester includes conception, implantation, and embryo development.
The second trimester is the time when many people begin to show and develop a pregnant belly.
Many pregnant people begin feeling fetal movement around week 20.
This often feels like light flutters (as opposed to strong kicks).
By the 24th week of pregnancy, your fetus is beginning to sleep and wake at regular intervals.
Loud noises may even wake them up.
Most pregnant people have anultrasound between 18 and 20 weeksof pregnancy.
The second trimester is often a time of improved symptoms.
You may notice that you suddenly feel less tired and nauseous.
Its common for new symptoms to begin as well.
Their bones are soft and almost fully formed by week 32.
Babies born between 37 and 38 weeks are considered early term.
Babies born after 42 weeks are considered post-term.
In the third trimester, many of your symptoms continue.
These include fatigue, shortness of breath, and Braxton-Hicks contractions.
Infertility
If you have been experiencinginfertility, youre not alone.
Infertility is defined as not becoming pregnant after trying for one year.
(The terms for sex or gender from the cited source are used.)
If you are experiencing infertility, talk with a healthcare provider.
There is so much to remember each day, and the care can start to feel overwhelming.
Receiving regular prenatal care reduces the risk of pregnancy complications.
About 80% of pregnancy-related deaths in the United States are preventable.
Youre likely feeling a range of emotions, and that is normal.
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