PREGNANCY

Pregnancy starts when a male's sperm fertilizes a female's ovum (egg), and the fertilized ovum implants in the lining of the uterus (see Fertilization; Reproductive System). Because pregnancy changes a woman's normal hormone patterns, one of the first signs of pregnancy is a missed menstrual period (see Menstruation). Other symptoms include breast tenderness and swelling; fatigue; nausea; sensitivity to smells; increased frequency of urination; mood swings; and weight gain. Some women also experience cravings for unusual substances such as ice, clay, or corn flour; this condition, called pica, can indicate a dietary deficiency in iron or other nutrients. By the 12th week of pregnancy many of these symptoms have subsided, but others appear. For example, a woman's breasts usually increase in size and her nipples darken. The most obvious symptom is weight gain; most doctors now recommend a gain of about 9 to 12 kg (22 to 26 lb) by the end of pregnancy.

The first few months of pregnancy are the most critical for the developing infant because during this period its brain, arms, legs, and internal organs are formed. For this reason a pregnant woman should be especially careful about taking any kind of medication except on the advice of a doctor who knows that she is pregnant. X-rays should also be avoided, as well as smoking and alcohol consumption.

COMPLICATIONS

Most women worry about the health of their unborn child, especially mothers over the age of 35, when genetic problems are more common. Safe, effective tests are available which can detect genetic disorders that cause mental retardation and other problems. The most common test is amniocentesis; in about 95 per cent of the cases tested the baby is found to be normal. Some doctors recommend that all pregnant women over the age of 35 have an amniocentesis test.

Although most pregnancies proceed normally, certain complications can develop. One rare but life-threatening complication is ectopic pregnancy, in which the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, in the abdomen, or in a Fallopian tube. Symptoms include sudden, intense pain in the lower abdomen about the seventh or eight week of pregnancy. If not promptly treated by surgical means, ectopic pregnancy can result in massive internal bleeding and possibly death.

About 15 per cent of all pregnancies end in miscarriage, most of which occur between the 4th and 12th weeks of pregnancy. A doctor should be contacted immediately if a woman suspects that she is pregnant and then experiences severe abdominal cramping or vaginal bleeding.

Toxaemia is another potentially serious complication of late pregnancy. Symptoms include high blood pressure; rapid, large weight gain due to oedema (swelling) of as much as 11 to 13 kg (25 to 30 lb) in a month; and protein in the urine. If untreated, toxaemia can lead to seizures and coma, and death of the infant. Once severe toxaemia is diagnosed, the infant is usually delivered as soon as possible to protect both mother and child. The condition disappears with birth.
 

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