How Does a Woman Becomes Pregnant?

Pregnancy occurs when an egg is fertilized by a sperm, grows inside a woman's uterus, and develops into a baby. In humans, this process is takes place about 280 days or 40 weeks.

The Doctor will use certain terms in discussing a woman's pregnancy. Some of the following definitions are useful:

•  Intra-uterine pregnancy: A normal pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg is implanted in the uterus and as embryo grows.
• Embryo: The term used for the developing  fertilized egg during the first 12 weeks of gestation.
• Fetus: The term used for the developing embryo after 12 weeks of gestation.
• Beta Human Chorionic Gonadotropin: This hormone is secreted by the placenta and can be measured to determine the presence and progression of the pregnancy. Urine or blood can be tested for its presence, and it is the hormone measured by a home pregnancy test. A positive result means a woman is pregnant; however, this test result can stay positive for several weeks after delivering a baby or after a miscarriage.
• Trimester: The length of time of a pregnancy is divided into 3 sections called trimesters (about 3 months each). Each trimester has particular events and developmental markers. For instance, the first trimester builds the foundation of the different organ systems.
• Estimated Date of Delivery (EDD): To estimate your delivery date, add 7 days to the date of your last normal menstrual period and count back 3 months. Ex, if your last menstrual period was june 1, 2010, your EDD will be on March 8, 2011.