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PregnancyPregnancy is the roughly 280-day journey from conception to birth that powers the continuation of the human species. After sperm meets egg and the resulting blastocyst embeds in the uterine lining, the human body undergoes significant physiological changes to support the growth and development of this cluster of cells, enabling it to become an embryo and then a fetus.
Pregnancy triggers changes to every organ in a pregnant woman's body. As the uterus expands, abdominal organs shift; heart rate increases as it pumps more blood; feet may grow larger; and brain areas heavily involved in processing information and emotions shrink by an average of 5%. Along the way, some women experience symptoms including nausea, mood swings, heightened sense of smell, congestion, and shortness of breath. In 2023, roughly 3.6 million babies were born in the United States.
In the US, miscarriage is the most common complication of pregnancy, occurring in as many as 20% of pregnancies—or roughly 1,000,000 cases annually. There are also around 21,000 stillbirths each year, and the same number of deaths during an infant's first year of life.Explore Pregnancy
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Explore this week-by-week visualization of pregnancyThis graphic illustrates how development proceeds during each week of pregnancy, tracking what shifts and milestones typically occur during each stage of the process. It also includes typical weights of the fetus throughout. March of DimesModern pregnancy tests detect a specific hormone in a woman's urine or bloodThey pick up human chorionic gonadotropin, either in blood or urine. The hormone is produced by a woman's reproductive tissues during pregnancy. Cleveland ClinicRead the 1963 study testing out an ancient Egyptian pregnancy pee testThe study sought to test out the ancient Egyptian approach of having a woman urinate on barley and wheat seeds to ascertain pregnancy status. Surprisingly, the research concluded that a pregnant women's urine did promote growth of cereal grains the majority of the time and non-pregnant women's growth did not. Unfortunately, the sex of the child could not be accurately predicted based on which crop grew. National Library of MedicineAncient Egyptians developed the first pregnancy test—and scientists tested it in the 1960sA papyrus from about 1350 BCE discusses a test in which a woman would urinate on wheat and barley seeds over the course of several days and if the barley grows she's having a male child, if the wheat grows it's a female child, and if nothing grows she's not pregnant. Scientists went on to test this theory in 1963 and found that about 70% of the time, the urine of pregnant women did promote growth whereas the urine of non-pregnant women didn't—perhaps due to estrogen levels in the urine. National Institutes of HealthPregnancy causes a woman's blood volume to increase by up to 50%This change, to support the developing fetus, puts stress on the heart and blood vessels. A pregnant woman's heart rate also increases as she pumps more blood each minute to support fetal growth. Mayo ClinicYour feet can expand—permanently—due to pregnancyA hormone called relaxin loosens tissues in the body to allow them to expand during pregnancy, affecting muscles and body parts including the feet. The structural changes that occur in the foot as it expands are sometimes permanent. This article states that researchers have found as many as 61% of new moms did not have their foot sizes return to their pre-pregnant state. The AtlanticEvery organ in a mother's body changes during pregnancyThere's limited real estate inside a mother's body, so as the uterus grows both up and out it shifts other organs to make space. A pregnant woman's body produces hormones to loosen muscles to allow for this expansion. Pregnancy also triggers other changes, including faster breathing to compensate for decreased diaphragm range. TED-EdThe average number of IVF cycles before a viable pregnancy is 2.5Health insurance often does not cover IVF treatment, and Medicaid coverage for fertility services differs by state. As a result, the cost of IVF is often unrealistic for low-income families. USAFactsThe pregnancy test industry is worth roughly $769MThe inventor of the at-home pregnancy test, Margaret Crane, largely hasn't taken credit for her invention until recently. The HustlePregnancy at older ages increases the chances of fetal abnormalitiesChromosomal irregularities are more likely at older maternal ages so genetic testing for a fetus of mothers-to-be at age 35 and older is often recommended. Conditions that can be screened for in utero include cystic fibrosis, Tay-Sachs disease, sickle cell disease, Down syndrome, spina bifida, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and more. HealthlineHeightened sense of smell during pregnancy is not yet well understoodBoosted smell powers and strong reactions to them are often reported beginning around the six-week mark of pregnancy. Researchers say hormonal changes likely play a role, but the change remains poorly understood. The BumpNasal congestion is a common side effect of pregnancy, called pregnancy rhinitisIn one recent study, almost 100% of pregnant women experienced this condition in their third trimester. The congestion is likely due to hormonal changes and neurophysiological factors and it may also worsen at night due to circadian factors and gravitational redistribution when lying down. Treatments include saline nasal irrigation and the use of nasal strips to widen the nasal valve area. National Library of MedicineChagas disease can be transmitted to a fetus during pregnancyResearchers estimate that 63 to 315 cases of congenital Chagas disease occur annually in the US. Roughly 20 to 30 percent of all Chagas disease cases will progress to cardiac or gastrointestinal disease. US Centers for Disease Control and PreventionThe first successful IVF pregnancy was in the United Kingdom in 1978Gynecologist Patrick Steptoe and his collaborator Robert Edwards, a biologist, attempted to fertilize a human egg cell in a petri dish 101 times before finally succeeding. This resulted in the birth of Louise Brown—at the time referred to as a "test tube" baby—in 1978, who was born into the spotlight. Voice of AmericaGestational diabetes occurs when the body can't produce insulin during pregnancyPregnant people worldwide are increasingly likely to develop gestational diabetes due to rising maternal ages and obesity rates. Gestational diabetes is associated with heavier fetal weight, congenital abnormalities, and perinatal mortality, which includes stillbirths and deaths of infants younger than seven days old. Oxford University PressWhat happens during the first eight weeks of pregnancy?The first weeks of embryonic development, known as embryogenesis, are one of the most critical phases during pregnancy. This simple breakdown from the Khan Academy illustrates what we know about how the complex process unfolds. Khan AcademyPremarin was the bestselling drug in the US in 1992The drug, derived from the urine or pregnant mares, raised ethical and animal welfare concerns, but also became wildly popular until the Women's Health Initiative study findings in 2002 (which have since been largely disproved). In the 1990s, Premarin was used to treat menopause symptoms and also to protect against osteoporosis and heart disease among older women. AARPPremarin, the hormone medication derived from pregnant horses, is 'PREgnant MARes urINe'Scientists in the late 1920s and early 1930s discovered estrogens could be extracted from human placenta, and then isolated it from the urine of pregnant women. But researchers discovered the urine of pregnant horses had similar substances and the horse product was much easier to collect in significant amounts—leading to Premarin. OverlookedMifepristone, approved in 2000, is used to end early pregnancies
The drug works by blocking progesterone, a hormone that is needed to support pregnancy. Mifepristone is typically used in combination with a second drug, misoprostol, because this regimen often causes less cramping and bleeding than just using misoprostol alone. ANSIRHListen to how gaps in schizophrenia care helped to lead to a murderMichael Laudor attended Yale, succumbed to schizophrenia, and killed his pregnant fiancée. The podcast, which includes a long but moving interview with Laudor's friend Jonathan Rosen, uses the tragedy to frame how America's approach to severe mental illness has fallen short. Honestly with Bari WeissBabies taste food in the womb via amniotic fluid, and it may influence future taste budsSome estimates suggest that around week 16 during pregnancy, a growing fetus can begin to taste amniotic fluid that contains flavors in the food that their mother consumed, due to taste bud formation. Scientists think those early flavor experiences may influence future taste preferences. Other scientific resources put that date much later, however—around week 30. What to ExpectPregnant brains shed gray matter, perhaps explaining 'baby brain'The brain areas involved in processing information and emotions decrease by an average of almost 5% during pregnancy. Researchers discovered in a 2025 study that this mostly temporary change—the brain hadn't fully returned to its normal size six months after pregnancy—seems to be associated with self-reported improved bonding and less hostility toward the child postpartum. The IndependentExplore how the placenta acts as lungs, kidneys, and more in the wombThis temporary organ, formed from maternal and embryonic tissue, ultimately attaches to a fetus via the umbilical cord. It transports nutrients, oxygen, antibodies, and more from the mother to the developing fetus. It also carries carbon dioxide and waste away from the fetus. The placenta—which only forms during pregnancy—is expelled during childbirth or it needs to be removed to prevent toxic maternal infections and extreme blood loss. Dr. Jennifer LincolnDue date is calculated from the first day of last menstrual period—not when sex occurredThe standard counting system considers a woman pregnant from the first day of her last menstrual period (LMP), which means someone may technically—for the purposes of measurement—have become pregnant even before she had sex. This standard starting point is used because it reliably marks when the body began preparing for pregnancy—even though it's typically two weeks before conception. On average, most women are pregnant for 280 days from the LMP. American Pregnancy AssociationHow women grow tiny humans inside of themPregnancy is a complex biological journey, lasting about 40 weeks. When a sperm fertilizes an egg, that event triggers intricate cellular and hormonal processes, driven by hardwired cellular instructions, which lead to cell division, differentiation, and development—ultimately culminating in the birth of a baby. CrashCourseHow to consider the ethics of 3-parent IVF, which is illegal in the USEthical concerns with this controversial procedure include that a little bit of a child's offspring would be from a third person and that the decisions made with this pregnancy will affect numerous generations, making a permanent change to the gene pool. CBS MorningsSocial worker tips on how to support someone grieving miscarriage or infant lossAs many as 20% of pregnancies end in miscarriage. Annually in the US, 21,000 babies are born stillborn, with roughly the same number of babies dying before their first birthday. Grief for these individuals and families may be a lifelong process and there is no correct way for the person to grieve but actions that acknowledge the loss and allow them to discuss it—including asking the name of the child they lost—can be comforting. NewYork-PresbyterianMany of the new prenatal genetic tests for rare genetic conditions are inaccurateEstablished screening tests for Down syndrome in utero are reliable and accurate. But a New York Times investigation into expanded prenatal genetic tests for very rare diseases—much rarer than Down syndrome—found that more than 80 percent of the positive test results turned out to be wrong based on follow-up testing. These expanded tests for rare diseases are performed from a blood draw at 10 weeks of pregnancy and aim to detect chromosomal abnormalities linked to rare diseases. Companies that offer these controversial tests counter that it's only a screening test—not a diagnosis—picking up true positives and noting that patients can and should be counseled about what the findings mean. (Some users may encounter a paywall.) The New York TimesExplore this interactive visualization of the IVF journey as a parent or childThis step-by-step graphic takes the viewer through different challenges and stages of the IVF journey, from a parent's and a child's perspective, including a parent's struggle when other families become pregnant around them, even as IVF is not working for their family. The PuddingTouch is the first sense a fetus develops in the wombDuring gestation, our sense of touch begins to develop around 8 weeks, starting with the development of sensory receptors in the face and, about a month later, in the palms and soles of the feet. Female Anopheles mosquito bites are the primary way malaria spreadsFemales are the only ones that bite: They need blood to get essential nutrients for egg development. Very rarely, the disease is also spread via blood transfusions, organ transplants, shared needles, or from mother to fetus during pregnancy or birth. US Centers for Disease Control and PreventionChildren under 5 account for 76% of all malaria deaths in AfricaThe main hypothesis for why the disease hits this age group the hardest is that children this young have still-developing immune systems. Pregnant women and people with HIV/AIDS are also at higher risk of severe infection. World Health OrganizationZika virus shocked scientists because the mosquito-borne disease causes birth defectsThis revelation, confirmed in 2016, marked the first time that a mosquito-borne disease was known to cause birth defects. Fetuses exposed to the Zika virus during pregnancy sometimes suffer from neurological complications and microcephaly, a small-headed condition associated with neurological development issues and impairment. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention'Sloth fever' is an emerging health threat, especially to pregnant womenThis disease, caused by the Oropouche virus, is found in animals including sloths, primates, and birds. It primarily spreads through the bite of midges—insects commonly called "no-see-ums." It's endemic to the Amazon region, but US travelers are increasingly contracting it internationally. University of Florida Emerging Pathogens InstituteMinnelli dealt with high scrutiny and gossip from the press beginning at a young ageAfter reaching superstar status by the 1970s, Minnelli was often mired in gossip, with reporters asking questions about nonexistent pregnancies or commenting on her appearance. Thanks to her upbringing in the industry, she often took these interactions in stride. PBSThe best items to buy at dollar stores, according to a financial expertExperts advise purchasing items like greeting cards, pregnancy tests, candy, gift and party supplies, and other items from the dollar store to maximize savings. KiplingerMost adults don't need a daily vitamin, and it won't extend your lifeA 20-year study by the National Cancer Institute involving almost 400,000 people found that daily multivitamins did not help people live longer. In some cases, these vitamins also increased the risk of death. Although some subpopulations—such as those with documented vitamin deficiencies and pregnant individuals—should take vitamins, daily multivitamins should not be taken uniformly by adults. Instead, patients should discuss vitamins with their clinicians and consider baseline vitamin testing before starting vitamin regimens. CBS MorningsImproved 19th-century sanitation meant kids encountered polio later, with worse resultsAlmost all children likely used to contract poliovirus, but scientists suggest that when infants encountered it very early in life—due to poorer conditions and hygiene—they still had some maternal protection from pregnancy or through breastmilk, so the symptoms were more flu-like. American Society for Microbiology1 in 6 Americans get food poisoning each yearThe US federal government estimates there are about 48 million cases of foodborne illness in the country annually, resulting in as many as 3,000 deaths and 128,000 hospitalizations. Food poisoning puts those with weakened immune systems, the elderly, pregnant people, and young children at particularly high risk. This chart of common disease-causing pathogens highlights common threats and details about them, including likely food sources. US Food & Drug AdministrationAn 18th-century woman tricked doctors into believing she gave birth to rabbitsMary Toft was a poor servant in Surrey who reportedly sought fame and money by perpetuating the story of her "monstrous birth." After having a miscarriage a month earlier, Toft claimed to still be pregnant and called obstetrician John Howard to witness her give birth to animal parts, including a cat without a liver, a rabbit’s head, the legs of a cat, and nine dead baby rabbits. Eventually, after fooling the court physicians of King George I, she confessed to orchestrating the births. The Devil's TaleOnly about 0.0001% of sperm successfully reach the uterine cavity, on averageWe've evolved to make pregnancy a complex and difficult process. From the initial development of the blastocyst, to the energy and nutrients needed to grow a new human, our bodies are both fighting and supporting fetal development. KurzgesagtUnlike other bears, polar bears do not hibernateThey do not need to wait out winter because they can find enough food in the Arctic winter, using sea ice as hunting grounds. Pregnant polar bears may be mistaken for hibernating while they den for months at a time. IFLScienceWhy pregnant teachers were banned from classroomsUntil the 1970s, many schools required pregnant teachers to leave the classroom by mid-term. In 1974, the Supreme Court ruled these policies unconstitutional, establishing that women could choose to keep working while pregnant.
1440Menopause is defined as 12 months without a periodMenopause is officially when a woman stops getting her period, meaning she has stopped ovulating and can no longer get pregnant. A woman has to go a full year without bleeding or spotting to know she has hit menopause. Cleveland ClinicWhy humans evolved single-child pregnanciesWhile birthing twins has been a rare occurrence for humans, research suggests that twins were actually the norm much further back in primate evolution. It’s proposed that single-childbearing turned out to be critical for the evolution of larger babies with larger heads. Discover more about the shift that gives insight into primate evolution. The ConversationTriplet birth numbers are dropping—and that may be a good thingPregnancies involving three kids or more have dropped 62% from 1998 to 2023, a trend that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention link to fewer embryo transfers during assisted reproduction procedures—a transition prompted by more refined techniques and technical advances. Though multiple births can occur naturally, often pregnancies involving multiple births have been the result of efforts to ensure pregnancy success by transferring multiple embryos. USAFactsA step-by-step overview of the IVF processIn-vitro fertilization involves a sequence of complex steps to move from egg production to birth. This include stimulating egg production in the ovaries, egg harvesting and fertilization outside the body, embryo culturing and transfer, and methods to support in and increase the likelihood of full-term pregnancy. Cleveland ClinicEach day, about 60 US pregnancies end in stillbirthThis online memorial for families who experienced the unexpected death of a fetus 20 weeks or older is the result of Propublica reporters inviting 60 families to share their baby's name and answer some questions about their unfulfilled wishes for their children. About 21,000 babies are stillborn in the US annually. About the same number of children die in the US during their first year of life. ProPublicaAmerica trails behind other developed countries in reducing its stillbirth rates and may learn from AustraliaAustralia is in the vanguard of efforts to bring down stillbirth numbers with a national stillbirth plan integrated into its health care system, supported by clinicians, nurses, midwives, and politicians. Its work also includes a public awareness campaign, more regular fetal monitoring and follow-up for potential interventions, and more maternal advice about care and safety during pregnancy. ProPublicaThe ultrarare 'Er' blood type has only been documented around 40 timesIn 2022, the tragic loss of a pregnancy led researchers to the discovery that the rare 'Er' blood type could potentially cause a mismatch in blood types between mother and fetus during pregnancy, with devastating consequences. (Some users may encounter a paywall.) WIRED