Learn about the causes of Pregnancy & find a practitioner in Auckland, Hamilton, Bay of
Plenty, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin to help you overcome Pregnancy within New
Therapies which may benefit Pregnancy
Pregnancy is the period of time from conception to birth and lasts
approximately 40 weeks. Pregnancy is divided into three three month
periods known as trimesters. During the first trimester the embryo
forms into a foetus. In the second trimester the foetus grows and
movement is felt. During the third trimester the foetus attains full
Causes of pregnancy
Pregnancy can occur after
sexual intercourse or from IVF treatment when a sperm cell from a man
fertilises with one ovum (egg) from a woman and becomes an embryo. This
process happens in one of the woman's Fallopian tubes and if the embryo
is then transported to the womb for implantation pregnancy begins.
are a lot of factors which determine fertilisation and implantation.
Ovum must be regularly released from the ovary and the fertilised egg
must be able to move freely along the Fallopian tube. Sperm cells must
be healthy and delivered in high numbers as only one will penetrate the
egg to form an embryo. The uterus (womb) lining must be receptive to
the embryo to allow it to embed into the lining.
Symptoms of pregnancy
Symptoms of pregnancy vary from woman to woman and the early symptoms can be experienced within a few days of conceiving.
The common symptoms of early pregnancy include:
- Nausea/vomiting – often referred to as 'morning sickness', nausea and vomiting can actually occur at any time of day.
- Breast tenderness
– an increase in the hormone HCG can make breasts larger, swollen and
tender when pregnant. Nipples can become more sensitive and change
- Increased urination – during pregnancy, the uterus swells placing pressure on the bladder. This results in needing to urinate more frequently.
– the body goes through some major changes while pregnant which can
cause tiredness. Higher levels of progesterone in the body can also
- Spotting –
from ovulation, light bleeding can occur as the fertilized embryo
embeds into the lining of the womb. This can often be mistaken for a
- Feeling light-headed
– as the uterus grows it places pressure on the arteries in the legs
causing a drop in blood pressure. This can make a pregnant woman feel
dizzy and even faint. Dizziness can also be a symptom of a drop in
blood sugar so it is important to eat regular meals when pregnant.
– hormones involved with pregnancy can slow bowel function to enable
the body to absorb nutrients and vitamins. This can result in
constipation which typically worsens over time.
- Mood swings – an increase in hormones can cause mood changes, emotional outbursts or irritability.
- Heart burn
– an increase in HCG slows down digestion which results in the stomach
taking longer to empty. This can increase stomach acid which leaks back
into the oesophagus causing heartburn.
Diagnosis of pregnancy
Pregnancy can be confirmed using home-testing kits which are available
from your local chemist. However, you will also need to confirm your
pregnancy with your local GP.
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