As this year has progressed in the biomed field, I have become much more aware of what pregnancy is really like. Though the book Get Me Out : A History of Childbirth from the Garden of Eden to the Sperm Bank by Randi Hutter Epstein did teach me about sperm banks and the evolution of pregnancy along with the methods used for delivery, it did not explain or cover the topic of what really happens in the uterus as the baby grows, something I have been interested about for a long period of time.
Pregnancy is something that many people fear due to the lack of knowledge one has. Many females aren’t even aware they are pregnant until their second or third month! It’s quite fascinating how one small sperm can create an entire living human. As known by many, the female body goes through many changes rapidly in order to adjust with the fact that it has a second human inside. Many people say pregnant females are crazy and exaggerate everything, which may be partly true, but not all the way.
During the first few weeks/months, a soon to be mom experience something called morning sickness. Along with morning sickness, ones stomach stretches as the uterus grows in size, thus leading to stretch marks. The uterus goes from the size of an orange to the size of a watermelon.
Of course, each month has its own individual uniqueness, but overall, the discomfort can be frustrating for many moms to be. The first three months are the start to a new life. The most important (in my opinion) is the first month, which is when the heart begins to beat, eyes and ears form along with the nervous and digestive. To me, a heart beat brings tears to my eyes, as the heart is the most important organ in the body. The second and third month includes the development or the toes and fingers, head and brain along with the genitals, the time period in which the gender is identifiable, and the excretory system.
Entering the second trimester is when the baby begins to “awake” in which I refer to make its presence well aware by others. During the fourth month, the fetus begins to move and develop the integumentary system . This is the beginning to a play ride with the mother and child, as the child starts to kick and dance around. During the fifth month, many mothers are quite fed up, as milk ducts start to really kick in, elevated hormones (hens the emotional stereotype of a pregnant female), frequent urination (as the child’s head rests on the bladder) along with stomach compression and much more. What’s actually going on inside the womb is the baby’s lungs begin to form, development of the brain and growth of hair! During the sixth month, the child’s eyes open, though never be fooled, as many baby’s aren’t born wide eye opened.
The third trimester is often when mother’s begin to panic, as birth is right around the corner. During the last three months, the baby continues to grow and during the last two months, all it’s organs develop. It is around this time that the baby’s head faces down in preparation for birth. Final steps for the baby, beginning ride of fear for the mom.
There are many different forms of delivery, as demonstrated and explained in Get Me Out, contractions are something fearful. “You may get an occasional, uncomfortable tightening in the stomach — that’s your uterus getting its act together, and exercising for the grand finale,” says Paul du Treil, M.D.” Many moms plan on giving home birth and stick to the idea until the last second, when pain becomes unbearable. The good news is that there are many ways to relieve some stress for mothers, such as breathing exercises during contractions/delivery along with many other things.
It is important to realize that being a mother is a beautiful thing and something to not fear. The growth of a fetus within nine months set to live for around 75 years of age is nothing but fascinating. The fact that a mothers body adjusts accordingly should be a comfort for those who fear.
Though a mothers heart may have to work harder to provide enough blood for both along with frequent urination and back pains may seem as scary or unwanted, birth is a beautiful thing, something I have come to accept this past semester. My knowledge of how a baby develops and what happens to a mother has been expanded far from what I thought was possible. Though having a child scares me, the fact that a females body was built to support a child comforts me. I am excited to see what else is in store for me about baby’s in the future months!
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