Skip navigation | ||
|
||
Medical Encyclopedia |
|
Other encyclopedia topics: | A-Ag Ah-Ap Aq-Az B-Bk Bl-Bz C-Cg Ch-Co Cp-Cz D-Di Dj-Dz E-Ep Eq-Ez F G H-Hf Hg-Hz I-In Io-Iz J K L-Ln Lo-Lz M-Mf Mg-Mz N O P-Pl Pm-Pz Q R S-Sh Si-Sp Sq-Sz T-Tn To-Tz U V W X Y Z 0-9 |
Contents of this page: | |
|
|
|
|
Alternative names Return to top
Early pregnancy; Pregnant - first trimesterDefinition Return to top
The first trimester of pregnancy begins when a fertilized egg implants into a woman's uterus. This occurs about 7 days after the egg is fertilized.
The first trimester ends when the fetus is about 12 weeks old. (This is about 14 weeks from the first day of the last normal menstrual period.)
Causes, incidence, and risk factors Return to top
Pregnancy is a normal condition and, in most situations, should not be approached as a problem or disease. Any fertile female engaged in a sexual relationship with a fertile male is at risk of becoming pregnant.
Symptoms Return to top
Signs and tests Return to top
The health care provider will perform an examination, which may reveal:
Tests include:
Pregnancy may also alter the results of numerous laboratory tests.
Treatment Return to top
Prior to modern medicine, many mothers and their babies did not survive pregnancy and the birth process. Today, good prenatal care can significantly improve the quality of the pregnancy and the outcome for the infant and mother.
Good prenatal care includes:
Women who choose to have an abortion usually do so in the very early stages of the pregnancy (usually before 12 weeks gestation). Abortion is legal through the 24th week of pregnancy. The abortion procedure, however, becomes more difficult with advancing gestational age, and many providers do not perform pregnancy terminations in the second trimester.
Women who plan to continue a pregnancy to term need to choose a health care provider who will provide prenatal care, delivery, and postpartum services. Provider choices in most communities include:
Family health care providers, or generalists, are proficient in managing women throughout normal pregnancies and deliveries. If a problem in the pregnancy is identified, a generalist will refer the patient to obstetric specialist.
The goals of prenatal care are to:
Women who are considering becoming pregnant, or who are pregnant, should eat a balanced diet and take a vitamin and mineral supplement that includes at least 0.4 milligrams (400 micrograms) of folic acid. This level of folic acid supplement has been shown to decrease the risk of certain abnormalities (such as spina bifida).
Pregnant women are advised to avoid all medications, unless the medications are necessary and recommended by a prenatal health care provider. Women should discuss all medication use with their providers.
Pregnant women should avoid all alcohol and drug use. They should not smoke. They should avoid herbal preparations and common over-the-counter medications that may interfere with normal development of the fetus.
Prenatal visits are typically scheduled:
Weight gain, blood pressure, fundal height, and fetal heart tones (as appropriate) are usually measured and recorded at each visit, and routine urine screening tests are performed.
Expectations (prognosis) Return to top
About 10% of known pregnancies terminate spontaneously -- usually during the first trimester. (See miscarriage.) As many as 50 - 70% of all conceptions terminate spontaneously before the woman is even aware of pregnancy. Many of these occur because there is a problem with the developing fetus.
Complications Return to top
Abnormal or high-risk situations, which may prove dangerous to the health of the mother or fetus, may occur in up to 20% of pregnancies.
Calling your health care provider Return to top
Call for an appointment if you suspect you are pregnant, are currently pregnant and are not receiving prenatal care, or if you are unable to manage common complaints without medication.
Call your health care provider if you suspect you are pregnant and are on medications for diabetes, thyroid disease, seizures, or high blood pressure.
Notify your health care provider if you are currently pregnant and have been exposed to a sexually transmitted disease, chemicals, radiation, or unusual pollutants.
Call your health care provider if you are currently pregnant and you develop fever, chills or painful urination.
It is urgent that you call your health care provider if you are currently pregnant and notice any amount of vaginal bleeding, the membranes rupture (water breaks), or you experience physical or severe emotional trauma.
Prevention Return to top
There are a variety of birth control methods designed to prevent pregnancy. These include the condom, female condom, IUD, birth control pill, hormone injections/implants, diaphragm, and family planning.
For example, women who use Depo-Provera injections or progestin implants have less than 1 pregnancy per 100 women per year. Couples who use the rhythm or calendar methods have between 20 to 30 pregnancies per 100 women per year.
The only 100% effective means of contraception is complete abstinence.
Update Date: 5/20/2003 Updated by: A.D.A.M. editorial. Previous review by Dominic Marchiano, M.D., Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
Home | Health Topics | Drug Information | Encyclopedia | Dictionary | News | Directories | Other Resources | |
Copyright | Privacy | Accessibility | Selection Guidelines U.S. National Library of Medicine, 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894 National Institutes of Health | Department of Health & Human Services |
Page last updated: 28 October 2004 |