Pregnancy

Pregnancy, or gestation, is the period during which an embryo or fetus develops inside a woman's uterus. Medically, it begins with the fertilization of an egg by a sperm, resulting in a zygote, which then undergoes multiple cell divisions and implants in the uterine wall to form an embryo. The embryo matures into a fetus and continues to grow until childbirth. The process is divided into three trimesters, each with distinct physiological changes in both the mother and the developing offspring. Hormonal changes regulate this process, maintaining the pregnancy and preparing the mother's body for childbirth and lactation.

Throughout the pregnancy, the mother's body undergoes significant alterations to support the fetus, including cardiovascular, metabolic, and anatomical changes. These result in characteristic symptoms like nausea, weight gain, and an enlarged abdomen. Prenatal care is crucial to monitor the health of the mother and the developing fetus, which involves regular medical appointments for physical assessments, blood tests, and imaging studies like ultrasounds. A normal pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks, culminating in labor and delivery. Complications can arise during pregnancy, necessitating medical intervention to ensure the health and safety of the mother and child.