Midwifery and Womens Health

Pregnancy and Prenatal Care

Pregnancy, also called gestation, is a period in which a woman gives birth to one or more offspring.  Pregnancy can result in surviving births, miscarriages, induced miscarriages, or stillbirths. Birth usually occurs about 40 weeks after the start of your last menstrual period little over 9 months (gestational age). The average is 31 days per month. Signs and symptoms of early pregnancy may include delayed menstruation, breast tenderness, morning sickness (nausea and vomiting), hunger, and frequent urination. Prenatal care is the health care that is received during pregnancy. This includes health screenings and prenatal screenings. Prenatal care can help you and your baby stay healthy. Babies born to mothers without antenatal care are three times more likely to have low birth weight and five times more likely to die than babies born to mothers who receive health protection. Prenatal care is especially important for women at high risk of pregnancy. A pregnancy with an increased risk of complications is called a high-risk pregnancy.

Related Societies/ Associations: The American Urogynecologic Society | The American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists | The Association of Professors of Gynaecology and Obstetrics | The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine | The Society for Academic Specialists in General Obstetrics and Gynaecology |