Pregnancy

This refers to the carrying of an unborn child by a human female. The period of gestation is usually for 9 months or so though this is not an exact figure.

The process starts with fertilisation of a human egg or ovum, by the male sperm which then starts the development of a foetus. The sex of this foetus is determined at the point of conception though this does not become readily apparent until the 12th week or so. Up until this point, the foetus appears to be ambiguous in appearance but once this point is reached, the foetus then shows itself to be male or female.

Pregnancy causes a range of physical changes for the woman. These include weight gain, enlarged breasts, back pain, swollen ankles and morning sickness (nausea and vomiting). Some of these symptoms happen in the early stages of pregnancy and so tend to disappear whereas others are present throughout.

Nutrition is of vital importance at this time as the woman will be in effect, eating for two. She will need to ensure that she takes in enough nutrients and a good balance between fats, protein and carbohydrates.

In order to ensure that the foetus develops normally, the woman will avoid potentially harmful substances such as cigarettes, drugs and alcohol. Any of these can cause problems in the developing foetus such as birth defects or low birth weight, and so it is important that the woman maintains healthy habits throughout her pregnancy.

For further information on cosmetic surgery following pregnancy for procedures such as breast enlargemen and tummy tuck you should visit cosmetic surgeon.