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| | The normal term of pregnancy in a woman constitutes 40 weeks (9 calendar months or 10 obstetric months). Pregnancy diagnosis is done by the doctor according to series of symptoms.
In medical practice, it is important to determine the exact term of pregnancy. Generally, the duration of pregnancy is counted in weeks. It is most accurate counting method, which determines the important development stages of fetus. Normal pregnancy ranges from 38 to 42 weeks. Also, term of pregnancy can be counted in obstetric months. One obstetric month equals to 28 calendar days or 4 weeks. While counting the term of pregnancy by this method, the duration of pregnancy is about10 obstetric months.
On an average, duration of pregnancy is 280 days. Counting is done from the first day of last menstrual period.
Prenatal diagnosis is done in several stages.
Embryonic period ends between 10th and 13th weeks. In this period, the screening of relative risk of Down’s and Edwards's syndromes are done on the basis of ultrasound and biochemical markers.
Optimal period for triple biochemical screening of Down, Edwards's syndrome and defects of a nervous tube is between 16th and 18th weeks. Threefold screening can be done between 14th to 20th weeks.
The first quickening of fetus usually occurs on 18th week in women with previous childbirth (multigravida) and on 20th week in women with first pregnancy (primigravida). However this can vary in some weeks. Thin women as a rule start to feel quickening earlier, than obese woman
On 22nd week USG (ultrasonography) is repeated for assessing the development of organs in the fetus
On 24th week, Doppler test for placental circulation is done to rule out any placental insufficiency and in 26th week glucose tolerance test (Sullivan test) is done to rule out gestational diabetes.
On 28th week for multigravida and on 30 week for primigravida antenatal leave is sanctioned and the exchange card is given which is necessary to carry everywhere. On 32nd week the third ultrasound is done to assess the condition of fetus and placenta.
After 38 weeks pregnancy is considered as term. Delivery normally takes place passes in 40th week though less than 5 % of women give birth on the precisely calculated date. Variation of 2 weeks on both sides is considered normal. Pregnancy lasting more than 41 weeks is considered postdated.
Complications of pregnancy:
Not always pregnancy proceeds smoothly. Some of the complications are listed below.
Anemia in pregnant women;
Varicose veins in pregnant women;
Ectopic pregnancy;
Uterus hyper tonicity;
Fetal hypoxia;
Stillbirth;
Isthmo-cervical insufficiency;
The Immunologic conflict;
Inflammation of myometrium;
Infertility;
Late toxicity: eclampsia, preclampsia, coma;
Early toxicity;
Incompatibility of Rhesus factor of mother and fetus;
Midtrimester abortions
Feto-placental insufficiency
In most cases due to the advances in diagnostics, modern medicine can forecast and lower the unfavorable outcomes to minimum.
Vitamins for pregnant women
Basic article: Vitamins for pregnant women
During pregnancy the metabolism changes, work of hormonal system is reconstructed. During pregnancy in a woman, the requirement for vitamins and minerals increases. For example, calcium is required in one and half times more than during usual time; zinc, iodine, vitamins В6 and В12 — on the average of 30 %; and iron and folic acid — twice. |
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