Pregnancy is a period of about 9 months in which a woman develops a baby in the womb. During this period, several changes occur in a woman’s body, which can be identified through symptoms such as absence of menstruation, nausea and breast enlargement, for example.
Although pregnancy is divided into trimesters, its duration is counted in weeks and days. This count is important during medical monitoring to know what tests should be done and what changes can be identified each week.
To confirm pregnancy, it is important to consult a gynecologist or obstetrician, to carry out an evaluation and specific tests, such as beta HCG dosage and ultrasound.
Main symptoms
The main symptoms of pregnancy are:
- Absence of menstruation;
- Nausea, with or without vomiting;
- Breast enlargement;
- Frequent urge to urinate;
- Tiredness;
- Craving or feeling sick of certain foods;
- Bluish color of the genital region;
- Increased breast sensitivity;
- Darkening of the nipples;
- Appearance of veins in the breasts.
Pregnancy symptoms tend to be better noticed after 5 weeks of pregnancy and generally appear gradually, with symptoms such as nausea and tiredness occurring daily. Check out the first pregnancy symptoms week by week.
Additionally, pregnancy symptoms can sometimes be confused with PMS symptoms, especially in women who have never been pregnant before. Learn how to differentiate the symptoms of pregnancy and PMS.
Online pregnancy test
If you think you might be pregnant, take this online test to find out your chances:
How to know if you are pregnant
To confirm pregnancy, it is important to consult a gynecologist or obstetrician, who will evaluate the symptoms and recommend tests such as beta HCG blood levels and transvaginal ultrasound. See what the beta-HCG dosage is and how to understand the result.
Additionally, there are pregnancy tests sold in pharmacies and supermarkets that can be done at home and allow the identification of beta HCG in urine. These tests can indicate a pregnancy when the result is positive. Understand better how to know if you are pregnant.
When to take the pharmacy test
The pharmacy pregnancy test can be done as soon as a delay in menstruation is noticed, at least 8 to 11 days after unprotected intimate contact. This is the period necessary for the woman’s body to produce enough beta-HCG to be detected in the test.
Pregnancy stages
Pregnancy is generally divided into trimesters:
- First trimester: corresponds to the first 12 weeks of pregnancy;
- Second trimester: goes from the 13th week to the 28th week;
- Third quarter: is the end of pregnancy, which runs from the 29th to the 40th week.
Although pregnancy is divided this way, the count is usually done in weeks and days and is called gestational age. Gestational age is useful for defining the medical care and examinations required at each stage of pregnancy. See how to calculate gestational age.
What causes losing the baby
Baby loss, known as miscarriage, is usually caused by genetic changes that occur randomly during the baby’s development and are incompatible with life. Understand better what miscarriage is and the causes.
However, the risk is greater in older women, with a previous history of pregnancy loss, in case of smoking, alcohol consumption, diseases such as syphilis and HIV, exposure to toxic products such as heavy metals and solvents, and changes in the uterus caused by fibroids or genetic abnormalities, for example.
In addition, diseases such as diabetes and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, and some medications such as misoprostol and mifepristone can also cause the loss of the baby.
Main precautions during pregnancy
Some recommended precautions in case of pregnancy are:
- Start prenatal care as soon as possiblebecause adequate medical monitoring of pregnancy is important to prevent complications;
- Do not smoke, use alcohol or illicit drugsbecause they can harm the baby’s development;
- Maintain a balanced dietto ensure sufficient nutrients for the baby’s development;
- Do physical exercise regularly as advised by a professional, because it reduces the risk of complications, such as excessive weight gain, hypertension and gestational diabetes;
Furthermore, it is also important to always consult an obstetrician before using any medications, whether purchased from a pharmacy, in the form of teas or natural supplements, due to the risks that some may have on the baby’s health. Check out the main medications that can cause miscarriage.
