The
Growth and Development of Your
Baby
 About
5 to 7 days after a sperm fertilizes
an egg, the egg attaches to the lining
of the uterus.
This process is called implantation.
The fertilized egg then begins to grow
in the uterus, doubling in size every
day. At this stage of development the
baby is called an embryo.
Shortly
after implantation the placenta and
umbilical cord begin to form. The placenta
and umbilical cord provide nourishment
and oxygen to your baby and carry away
the baby's wastes. Your baby is enclosed
in a sac of fluid, called the amniotic
sac, to protect the baby from bumps
and pressure.
In
another week the baby has a spinal
cord. A few days later, five to eight
bones of the spinal column (vertebrae)
are in place. Nerve development is
beginning. By the end of your first
6 weeks of pregnancy, your baby has
a head and trunk.
The
embryo becomes three layers around
the 5th week. The outer layer consists
of the brain, nerves, and skin. The
middle layer becomes the bones, muscles,
blood vessels, heart, and sex organs.
The inner layer holds the stomach,
liver, intestines, lungs, and urinary
tract. The eyes and other features
begin to form, as do tiny buds that
will be the arms and legs. The heart
also forms, and it begins to beat on
the 25th day after conception (5 to
6 weeks after the last menstrual period).
However, it is impossible to hear the
heart beating at this time.
By
the end of 6 weeks, your baby is about
1/2 inch long and weighs a fraction
of an ounce.
What
is Happening With You
At your first prenatal
care appointment, your health
care provider will exam you to
confirm your pregnancy and assess your
health status, record your complete
medical history, and give you some
routine tests. You may be given some
of the following common prenatal tests:
- a
pregnancy test;
- a
blood test to determine your blood
type and to check for anemia;
- urinalysis
to screen for sugar, protein, white
blood cells, blood, and bacteria;
- blood
screens to determine immunity to
diseases such as rubella;
- tests
to disclose the presence of sexually
transmitted infections and some other
diseases;
- genetic
tests for sickle-cell anemia or Tay-Sachs
disease;
- a
Pap smear for the detection of cervical
cancer; and/or
- a gestational
diabetic screening test.
The
tests you receive will depend on your
personal and family medical history--you
may not receive all of these tests.
During
your first month of pregnancy, you
may experience fatigue and sleepiness,
frequent urination, nausea,
vomiting, heartburn, indigestion, bloating,
food aversions or cravings,
and/or breast changes. These pregnancy
symptoms vary from woman to woman.
You may experience all of them, just
a few, or none of them. Emotionally,
you may feel irritable, have mood swings,
may act irrationally, and be quick
to cry. These emotions are similar
to those experienced by women who have
premenstrual syndrome. It is also common
to have a variety of feelings about
being pregnant, including misgivings,
fear, joy, and elation.
What
is Happening With Your Partner
Your partner also will likely
feel many different emotions about your
pregnancy. It is normal for one or both
of you to feel scared, upset, joyous,
or a combination of all of these emotions.
It is important to talk with each other
about how you are feeling. Click
here to read more about "You and Your
Partner".
Discomforts
and Remedies
Visit the Common
Discomforts section if you are
experiencing any discomforts. You may
or may not experience some of these
discomforts and be sure to talk to
your health care provider about them
if you have any questions.
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