ConceptionIt can seem very strange, however many women are absolutely convinced that they are pregnant from the very moment of conception. Others are blissfully unaware that they are expecting a baby until they miss a period. Even then, many women experience irregular monthly periods, so may not be unduly alarmed if they are late with their period. The conception of a baby occurs after a woman has ovulated and an egg is making its way along one of the two fallopian tubes. The egg is then fertilized by a single sperm from millions that have been ejaculated by her partner during sexual intercourse. Interestingly, following conception the genetic make up of the child is made as soon as the egg is fertilized. Although conception itself should be viewed more as a process that a single event. Upon being penetrated, the egg will begin to divide, continuously dividing all the time as it moves along the fallopian tube towards its new home, the uterus. The traveling time for the egg from ovary to uterus is seven days. For many couples, conception is the start of a wonderful journey, the road to bringing new life into this world. They may have been planning this special moment for some time, so they will rightly feel proud, delighted and a huge sense of accomplishment. There will also be a slight feeling of trepidation as they step forward into the unknown. On the other hand, conception may have been the last thing on the minds of some couples. Either their contraception has failed or they were just not thinking about it. Regardless of what happened, you will soon have some very important things to consider. Following conception, it is not for another four to five weeks until the woman notices and changes. Usually, this is a missed period during week five, or her breasts are slightly swollen. A woman's sixth sense usually recognizes that something is different and will start to consider the possibility of being pregnant. At this stage, it is usually best to buy your home pregnancy testing kit to begin with. Once you have had a successful conception and a confirmed pregnancy, you can start to plan ahead. It's usually advisable to keep the news of your pregnancy to just your and your partner for the first three months or so. This is because this is the riskiest time of the pregnancy, when if something was to go wrong the likelihood is much higher. At this stage, you are still in your first trimester. You will start to experience the early signs of pregnancy; these may include morning sickness, tiredness, swollen breasts or a frequent desire to visit the toilet. Don't worry, all of this is normal and you will start to get used to it after your body becomes used to the sudden changes. The conception of your new baby is just the start, you will continue to be amazed at just how powerful and beautiful nature is. Remember this feeling; you will experience it regularly for the next nine months and many more times thereafter. Read more of our articles on conception Conception - Improving Your Chances |