| The normal term of pregnancy in a woman constitutes of 40 weeks (9 calendar months or 10 obstetric months). Pregnancy diagnosis is done by the doctor according to a 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 a most accurate counting method, which determines the important development stages of the fetus. Normal pregnancy ranges from 38 to 42 weeks. Also, the 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 the pregnancy is about10 obstetric months.
On an average, the duration of pregnancy is 280 days. Counting is done from the first day of the last menstrual period.
Prenatal diagnosis is done in several stages.
The embryonic period ends between the 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.
The optimal period for triple biochemical screening of Downs, Edwards's syndrome and defects of the nervous tube is between the 16th and 18th weeks. Threefold screening can be done between the 14th to 20th weeks.
The first moving of the fetus is usually felt in the 18th week in women with a previous childbirth (multigravida) and on the 20th week in women with a first pregnancy (primigravida). However this can vary by some weeks. Thin women as a rule start to feel quickening earlier, than obese woman
In the 22nd week the USG (ultrasonography) is repeated for assessing the development of the organs in the fetus
In the 24th week, a Doppler test for placental circulation is done to rule out any placental insufficiency and in the 26th week a glucose tolerance test (Sullivan test) is done to rule out gestational diabetes.
In the 28th week for multigravida and in the 30th week for primigravida antenatal leave is sanctioned and the exchange card is given which is necessary to carry everywhere. On the 32nd week the third ultrasound is done to assess the condition of the fetus and placenta.
After 38 weeks of pregnancy it is considered as term. The delivery normally takes place but less than 5% of women give birth on precisely the calculated date. A variation of 2 weeks on both sides is considered normal. Pregnancy lasting more than 41 weeks is considered postdated.
Complications of pregnancy:
Not always the 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 a minimum.
Vitamins for pregnant women
During pregnancy the metabolism changes, the work of the hormonal system is reconstructed. During pregnancy in a woman, the requirement for vitamins and minerals increases. For example, calcium is required one and half times more than normal; zinc, iodine, vitamins В6 and В12 (on an average of 30%); and iron and folic acid are needed twice as much.
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How's this for Friday news - Oregon man Thomas Beatie is five months pregnant. As shocking as it may seem, the pregnancy is confirmed by doctors. The truth is that Thomas Beatie was born a woman, but had a gender reassignment operation, however he kept the female parts necessary for pregnancy. He said he made a decision to become pregnant when his wife became infertile due to medical complications. Here's a picture of him 
