Pregnancy

Pregnancy is the most significant part of female reproductive health. It is a process which initiates with the fertilization of the ovum with the male sperm, continues with the conception period of the usual 40 weeks and concludes with the labor and childbirth. Pregnancy is the physical condition in women which evolves with the nurturing of the embryo or fetus within the woman's body, lasting from conception to birth. The fertilization of the egg and the sperm results in the embryo or the fetus which by medical terms undergoes a distinctive conceptual period of 3 trimesters covering the span of 40 weeks.

The three different stages of pregnancy known as trimesters – is categorized into first trimester, second trimester and third trimester. Of all these, the first trimester has the most risk factors and probabilities of abortion, miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy. In medical it is defined as the commencement of pregnancy when the developing embryo becomes implanted into the endometrial lining of a woman's uterus.

The second trimester is however the safest period of the three, as by that time the pregnant woman becomes accustomed to the hormonal changes in the body, dispersing of morning sickness and above all the fetus can be monitored. This period is from the month 4 through month 6 and can also be distinguished as the period when a woman starts putting on weight during pregnancy.