Finding out that your wife or girlfriend is pregnant can bring mixed feelings of joy and fear, especially if this is a first pregnancy. Understanding some of the specifics of pregnancy can help you to support your wife and deal with your own feelings throughout the journey to fatherhood.
Time Frame
A pregnancy should last 40 weeks, but may last longer or be shorter. These 40 weeks are divided into three trimesters, notes the American Pregnancy Association. The first trimester includes week 1 through week 13. The second trimester is from week 14 through week 26. The third trimester is week 27 through the delivery of the baby.
Types
Pregnancies are classified according to the number of fetuses the woman is carrying or the risk associated with the pregnancy. If she is carrying one fetus, that is a single pregnancy, but if she is carrying twins or higher order multiple fetuses, that is a multiple pregnancy. Most pregnancies are not considered high-risk pregnancies, which is where the mother or the fetus has health concerns, such as a fetus with a known congenital defect.
Symptoms
The symptoms of pregnancy vary throughout the pregnancy. Morning sickness, increased urination, back pain, an itchy abdomen and fatigue are some of the common symptoms of pregnancy noted by Epigee. Symptoms such as abdominal cramping, sharp abdominal pains, vaginal bleeding or a sudden gush of fluid out of the vagina before 38 weeks are signs of possible complications, including ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage or preterm labor. If the woman experiences any of these symptoms, a trip to the emergency room or doctor is warranted.
Considerations
During the pregnancy, a woman's hormones will fluctuate. This fluctuation may cause mood swings. She may go from being happy to crying or from being calm to angry. Once she is in labor, she may blame you for her pain or she may say things she doesn't really mean. Don't take any of her mood swings personally; remember that the mood swings are due to hormonal fluctuations and not a reflection on you or your relationship with her.
Warnings
Some pregnancies aren't as easy as others. Complications like pregnancy-induced high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, preterm labor, placenta previa and other conditions are possible. There is a chance that if the woman has any pregnancy complications, she will have to stay in bed or be hospitalized. If the doctor orders her to alter her diet or activities, it is necessary for her to follow the instructions so that she and the baby can stay as healthy as possible.
