Pregnancy is the stage in a female of bearing a child of her own. It can be detected by urine test or an ultrasound. It is essential for a woman to take care of herself and baby’s health at this time, which is termed as prenatal care. It takes about 9 months or 40 weeks from the last menstrual cycle to complete, which is divided into three trimesters. The early sicknesses of pregnancy comprise Morning sickness, tiredness and changes in the body due to harmones.

These stages of pregnancy comprises of First Trimester (Week 1 – Week 12), Second Trimester (Week 13 – Week 28), and third Trimester (Week 29 to Birth of baby). In the first trimester, there is a major risk of miscarriage. The women have great hormonal changes leading to mixed feelings and emotions. The baby is growing and developing fast inside her body, therefore she should bring changes in her lifestyle which includes taking small meals after an hour, going to bed earlier. The signs are stopping of menstrual cycle, swollen breasts, craving or distaste for some food items, headache and weight gain.

The second trimester includes expansion of abdomen, going away of morning sickness, body aches, stretch marks on abdomen and other parts of body, dark patches of skin on nose, upper lip, cheeks or forehead, itching and swelling of various parts. During the third trimester, the female experiences breathing problems, heartburn, tender breasts with fluid called colostrum, movement of baby and contractions like labor pain. The baby at the end, the cervix becomes thinner and softer to help vagina to open during child birth.

Pregnancy is a stage of great excitement, and everybody wants to know the pregnancy due date from the doctor which is called Expected Date of Delivery. EDD is 40 weeks from the first day of her last menstrual cycle (LMP), but it is only an estimate as only 5% women deliver on their EDD.

After 40 weeks, the baby is in the hands of parents resulting in the starting of parenthood in their life.