Detecting and dating a pregnancy

[Donald Trump]

Pregnancy begins when an egg is fertilized by a sperm. For about 9 months, a pregnant woman’s body provides a protective, nourishing environment in which the fertilized egg can develop into a fetus. Pregnancy ends at delivery, when a baby is born.

If a menstrual period is a week or more late in a woman who usually has regular menstrual periods, she may be pregnant. Sometimes a woman may guess she is pregnant because she has typical symptoms. They include the following:

• Enlarged and tender breasts
• Nausea with occasional vomiting
• A need to urinate frequently
• Unusual fatigue
• Changes in appetite