Babies are born after nine months because if their gestation took any longer, they would grow too large to pass through the birth canal.
And the birth canalThe passage through which the baby passes during delivery from the inlet of the true pelvis to the vaginal orifice.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions. is the size it is because if it was any larger the hips would be farther apart making it impossible for women to walk.
You will be able to confirm your pregnancy this week by taking a blood test. Measurement of human chorionic gonadotropinHuman chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone released into the maternal bloodstream by the developing placenta from about six days after the last period was due (about 22 days after the last menstrual period). Its presence can be detected in the urine by a home pregancy test and a positive result indicates pregnancy. Gonadotropins are used to treat infertility, hypogonadism and nonobstructive cryptorchidism. Often abbreviated to HCG.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions. a hormoneA complex chemical substance created in a part or organ of the body. When released it initiates or regulates activity in an organ or group of cells in another part of the body.
Hormones secreted by endocrine glands are transported through the bloodstream to their target organ. The amount of hormone secreted is regulated either by other hormones, by neurotransmitters, or simply when an excess of the organ's activity indicates a need to reduce the amount of the hormone produced.
Other hormones are produced locally by the organs themselves and are common in the digestive tract.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions. that is produced in great quantities early in pregnancy will help doctors determine whether or not you are pregnant. If you are, the next eight months will allow you to watch as your baby grows and develops into a human being.
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The blastocystThe embryonic stage of development following the morula during the early stages of pregnancy. Spherical in shape, it consists of a mass of two layers of cells surrounding a fluid filled cavity, the blastocoele. The outer layer of cells, the trophoblast will develop to form the placenta, while the inner layer, the embryoblast, will become the fetus. The blastocyst usually implants itself in the wall of the uterus on the eighth day following fertilization. It is also known as the blastula.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions. is now firmly implanted in the endometriumThe mucus membrane lining of the uterus which changes in thickness and structure during the menstrual cycle. It consists of three parts; the stratum compactum, the stratum spongiosum and the stratum basale. The first two parts combine to form the pars funtionalis, which is shed during menstruation. During pregnancy, the pars functionalis is termed the decidua, and underlies the placenta.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions., the lining of your uterus. The blastocyst is transforming from a ball of cells into three layers. Each layer will go on to develop different types of tissue.
The endodermThe endoderm, also known as the endodermal germ layer is an area of tissue which will layer form into other muscular structures. Later in the pregnancy, the endoderm will form to become the digestive tract, respiratory organs, bladder, urethra and vagina in females. Endoderm is also sometimes spelled entoderm.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions. is the inner layer. It will develop into the lungs, liver, digestive system, thyroid and pancreas. The ectodermThe ectoderm, also known as the ectodermal germ layer is an area of tissue which will layer form into other muscular and bone structures. Later in the pregnancy, the ectoderm will form to become the skin, teeth, oral glands, the nervous system and pituitary gland.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions. is the outer layer and will soon form the skin, hair, tooth enamel, nervous system and the lenses of your baby's eyes. Sandwiched between the two is the mesodermThe mesoderm, also known as the mesodermal germ layer is an area of tissue which will layer form into other muscular structures. Later in the pregnancy, the mesoderm will form to become the internal organs, including kidneys and ureters, and other muscular tissues.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions., which will become the skeleton, muscles, urogenital system including the kidneys and reproductive organs, blood vessels, heart and connective tissues.
Throughout the week, the cells move around finding their position to form a structure, which soon will become an embryoThe name given to the developing life within the female body during the first ten weeks of gestation. Since the calendar counts from the date of the last menstrual period, this corresponds to about Week 12 in the Diary. In human embryos there is little yolk in the egg, nourishment being replaced by the placenta as soon as it has formed.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions.. Surrounding the structure of cells are two fluid filled cavities. The top one is the amnionA membrane that surrounds the amniotic cavity, covering the fetal side of the placenta and the outer surface of the umbilical cord. It also becomes the outermost layer of skin on the developing fetus.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions., which will soon surround the embryo and protect it. The bottom one is the yolk sac, which will supply the embryo with nutrition (until the placentaThe placenta is a large disk shaped membrane responsible for providing nourishment to the fetus during pregnancy. It consists of three parts, the fetal part made up from the chorion membrane surrounding the fetus, the maternal part, formed from the decidua basalis layer of the uterine lining, and the intervillous space between the two plates. It is connected to the fetus by the umbilical cord and consists of tissue from both the mother and the embryo.
Its function is complex. It has been described as a simple organ that combines the functions of a kidney-dialysis machine, heart and lung machine and intravenous drip. It consists of enormous numbers of blood vessel branches that permit the exchange of nutrition and oxygen, from the mother's bloodstream to the fetus and the removal of wastes to the mother to be excreted. The placenta's remarkable quality is that it does so without the blood of the mother mixing with that of the baby.
It also is responsible for the production of vital hormones including, estrogen, progesterone, and human chorionic gonadotropin. After birth, the placenta is delivered, and is sometimes referred to as the afterbirth.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions. is developed in a few weeks) and blood cells (until the bone marrow takes over).
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You are probably visiting BabyPartner because you are expecting a pregnancy. Still, you may be unsure whether you are pregnant at this time. If you think you are, the next paragraph describes what could be happening to you this week.
The blastocystThe embryonic stage of development following the morula during the early stages of pregnancy. Spherical in shape, it consists of a mass of two layers of cells surrounding a fluid filled cavity, the blastocoele. The outer layer of cells, the trophoblast will develop to form the placenta, while the inner layer, the embryoblast, will become the fetus. The blastocyst usually implants itself in the wall of the uterus on the eighth day following fertilization. It is also known as the blastula.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions. embedded in the lining of your uterus is creating the hormone, human Chorionic Gonadotropin, or HCG, and by this time will have secreted enough for it to be accurately detected using a blood test. The home pregnancy tests, which test for HCG in the urine may reveal traces of the hormone but are not as accurate at this point in your pregnancy.
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