The development of fetus inside mother’s womb is a long process of 37 weeks consisting of many stages. The stages of Pregnancy are explained below:
- Release of mature ovum - A mature ovum becomes available for fertilization once it is released from the ovary through the fallopian tube.
- Fertilization - Through the journey of the ovum, even if one sperm manages to make its way into the fallopian tube and penetrate into it, fertilization occurs.
- Simultaneously, as a routine, the lining of the uterus thickens to prepare for the implantation of the fertilized egg.
- Cell division - The fertilized egg or the zygote begins to undergo cell division within 24 hours. By the time it travels down the fallopian tube and reaches the uterus, it has already become a multicellular blastocyst. This blastocyst attaches itself to the uterine wall where the fetus further matures.
- Development inside the uterus - A typical pregnancy lasts 40 weeks and is divided into three stages or trimesters.
- Parturition - The last stage of fetus delivery is as crucial as the previous stages that comprise the process of its development.
Usually, by the end of 37 weeks, the baby is the baby is considered fully grown and its organs are capable of functioning on their own. Nearing due date, the baby aligns itself into a head-down position for birth.
Childbirth occurs through labor which usually involves three stages:
- shortening of the cervical opening (accompanied with abdominal cramps),
- contractions causing the fetus to descend and come out, and finally
- pushing out of the placenta.
The exact mechanism that initiates parturition in humans is largely unknown. The placenta and fetal membranes apparently play the major role in the initiation of labor, and the fetus may influence the timing of labor.
Why if You Take a Pregnancy Test You’ll Never Truly Know the Age of Your Fetus
Drug store pregnancy tests work because they test the level of HCG in your urine. HCG or human chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone produced by the embryo following implantation. About 5-6 days after pregnancy a fertilized embryo has multiplied into a multicellular organism called a blastocyst. Read More..
Acetaminophen: Pregnancy Caution?
Acetaminophen is amongst the most commonly-used medicines worldwide, for all age groups- starting in infancy for fever, right through till old age for pain control and other ailments. It is packaged into almost all prescription as well as non-prescription analgesics. Read More..
