Pregnancy and Birth: Challenges and Concerns

The term pregnancy refers to the period when one or more fetuses develop inside a woman's womb or uterus. It involves a series of changes that occur in a woman's body as a baby develops within the body. The complete process from conception till birth is completed in about 9 months, which is an average of 266-270 days. The preliminary signs of pregnancy include missed menstrual periods, morning nausea, and feeling of fullness. Enlarged and tender breasts, unusual and persistent fatigue, and frequent urination are some other signs of pregnancy. During the first trimester, all pregnant women experience vomiting and nausea. There are several methods that help in determining pregnancy such as pelvic examination by an obstetrician. The most reliable and affordable method is agglutination test. Prenatal care is important for both mother and fetus. Pregnant women must restrict the consumption of substances like smoking, alcoholic beverages, and non-prescription drugs that harm the fetus. Some of the major challenges that are faced during pregnancy include bladder and bowel changes, hair changes, skin color changes, indigestion, heartburn, leg cramps, etc. This book contains some recent studies on pregnancy and birth. It unravels the recent researches related to the challenges and concerns related to pregnancy and birth. Those in search of information to further their knowledge will be greatly assisted by this book.