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When Does Pregnancy Begin?

From the moment the sperm and egg unite, the genetic make-up of your tiny baby is complete. This is the beginning of pregnancy.

	Day 1: Conception can occur as early as 15 minutes after having intercourse or even up to 3 days afterward. The baby's features, including gender and hair and eye color have been determined. The baby has 23 chromosomes each from the mother and father, but is a separate, unique human being no bigger than a grain of sugar.
	3-6 Weeks: The heart is beating. Blood flows in the baby's veins. The baby has his/her own blood type, separate from the mother's. The mouth, eyes, ears, and nose take shape. The brain coordinates the movement of muscles and organs. Reflex responses have begun.
	7 Weeks: Aspects of pain architecture begin. The baby begins to move spontaneously. Brain waves can be recorded. Teeth buds are forming. The eyes have a retina and lens. Fingers and toes are developed. Lips are sensitive to touch. Ears may resemble family patterns.
	8 Weeks: The baby is well proportioned. Every organ is present. The heart beats sturdily. The stomach produces digestive juices. The liver makes blood cells. The kidneys begin to function. Taste buds are forming. Fingerprints are being engraved. Eyelids and palms of hands are sensitive to touch.
	10-12 Weeks: The heart is completely developed. Twenty tiny baby teeth are forming in the gums. The baby squints, swallows, frowns, smiles, kicks, turns feet, curls and fans toes, makes a fist, sucks his/her thumb. Breathing is practiced. The brain is fully formed. Vocal cords are complete, and the baby can silently cry.
	14-16 Weeks: The baby blinks, grasps, moves his/her mouth, swims and turns somersaults. The baby's gender can be determined by ultrasound. Hair grows on the head and body. The mother can soon feel movements. At 5 months sleeping habits appear. If a sound is loud or startling, the baby may jump in reaction to it.
	20 Weeks: The baby has the ability to experience pain from 20 weeks gestation, if not earlier, as reported by some studies, and that pain perceived by the baby is possibly more intense than experienced by newborns.

During pregnancy, your body goes through many changes. Some common symptoms of early pregnancy include:

• Missed period
• Nausea
• Breast tenderness
• Frequent urination
• Tiredness
• Food cravings or aversions
• Dizziness
• Mood swings
  
  

Pregnancy Test

If you are thinking about taking a home pregnancy test or you have already had a positive home test, it is important to have a medically verified test. PCC will provide you with a free lab-certified pregnancy test. You will have the results during your appointment.

How accurate is the test?
PCC tests are laboratory rated. They can detect the hCG pregnancy hormone as early as 7 days after conception or 21 to 24 days after the first day of your last period. The test is over 99% accurate.

Changes Due To Pregnancy

During pregnancy, your body goes through many changes. Some common symptoms of early pregnancy include a missed period, nausea, breast tenderness, frequent urination, tiredness, food cravings or aversions, dizziness, and mood swings.

During pregnancy, your body goes through many changes. Some common symptoms of early pregnancy include:

• Missed period
• Nausea
• Breast tenderness
• Frequent urination
• Tiredness
• Food cravings or aversions
• Dizziness
• Mood swings
  
  

Pregnancy Definitions

Ectopic Pregnancy: A pregnancy that occurs anywhere outside of the uterus. The most common type is also called a tubal pregnancy because it occurs in the fallopian tube. If this goes unnoticed, you could be at serious risk.

Cervix: The bottom of the uterus.

Conception: The point at which a male sperm and the female egg join and a new human embryo begins. Also called fertilization.

Embryo: Human life at an early development stage with his/her own unique DNA.

Fetus: A developing unborn baby with an observable human structure.

Last Menstrual Period (LMP): The date when a woman started her last menstrual period before conception. This is the point in time from which the pregnancy and the age of the unborn baby are measured.

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG): A hormone secreted by the developing placenta shortly after a fertilized egg has implanted in the uterine lining. Urine pregnancy tests can determine pregnancy by detecting the hCG hormone in a woman’s urine.

Trimester: An interval of three months used to measure three successive stages of pregnancy (first, second, and third trimester).

Full Term Pregnancy: The stage at about 40 weeks after LMP period or 38 weeks after conception when the unborn baby is ready for birth.

Uterus: The muscular female organ that contains the developing unborn baby.