The 7 types of pregnancy (and their characteristics)

Pregnancy is the period from the moment the fertilized egg implants in the uterus until the moment of delivery.. This event involves various physiological processes in the woman's body, whose ultimate goal is to allow the development of the fetus. The future mother will experience important changes in her body at a metabolic, emotional and, of course, physical level.

Thus, the female body makes adaptations to ensure that the fetus grows and survives. An example of this is the interruption of menstruation or the increase in the size of the breasts, which will be necessary later in lactation.

The nature of human pregnancy

Human pregnancy lasts approximately nine months. Particularly, the first trimester is the one that implies a greater risk of spontaneous abortion, so that after that first stage the loss of the baby is much less likely.

Although the stages of pregnancy are the same in all women, the truth is that each pregnancy is a unique case. Even the same woman can have several pregnancies, these being very different from each other. For this reason, many times generalizations cannot be established, since each experience of motherhood is lived differently.

Generally, human pregnancies are singletons, meaning that only one baby is born. However, multiple pregnancies can sometimes occur. In recent years, the percentage of pregnancies of this type has increased, as many couples resort to assisted reproduction techniques.

Nevertheless, beyond the type of pregnancy based on the number of children, there are many other classes what is important to know. In this article we are going to delve into each of them in order to understand their characteristics.

What kinds of pregnancies exist?

Next, we are going to know the different types of pregnancy and their respective characteristics.

1. Intrauterine pregnancy

This type of pregnancy occurs when the fertilized egg implants correctly inside the uterus. Therefore, this pregnancy is the one that adjusts to normality, allowing an adequate development of the fetus without any anomaly. Fortunately, most women who have experienced a pregnancy have had this type. The fact that the egg has implanted properly is a great first step for the placenta and umbilical cord to form so that the fetus can receive the nourishment it needs to grow.

Intrauterine pregnancy consists of three stages, the first begins with conception until week 12, the second from 13 to 20 and finally the third that culminates with birth. Since pregnancy lasts approximately nine months, each stage constitutes a trimester. In each of them it will be pertinent to carry out certain tests to ensure that the development of the future baby is correct.

2. Molar pregnancy

A molar pregnancy is one in which the fertilization of the ovum has not been correct. This is a dangerous pregnancy the placenta overgrows forming cysts. In addition, the embryo does not usually get to form and, if it does, it is very unlikely that it will survive. In other words, a molar pregnancy gives rise to a noncancerous tumor that grows in the uterus. However, in some cases this can become complicated and lead to cancer.

3. Ectopic pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy happens when the egg has been fertilized, but implants outside the uterus. In this case, it is not possible for the pregnancy to continue, since the life of the mother would be put at risk. That is why early medical attention is very important. This pregnancy experience can be very traumatic for the woman, since the baby never develops and survives. That is, the pregnant woman lives a strong mourning for the loss of a child that was not born.

In addition, many women who have experienced this situation fear reliving it if they become pregnant again. Although this fear is natural, the good news is that an ectopic pregnancy does not mean that all subsequent pregnancies will be the same. A woman can have had an ectopic pregnancy and still have normal pregnancies afterwards.

4. High-risk pregnancy

High-risk pregnancies are those in which there is any condition in the woman that could endanger the development of the baby. Normally, those in which the mother is over 35 years old or under 18, or in which there are diseases such as diabetes and other pathologies that can affect the fetus, are classified as high-risk pregnancies. Those in which the mother comes into contact with infections such as rubella, toxoplasmosis, syphilis, HIV or human papillomavirus would also be included in this category.

This type of pregnancy must be carefully supervised, with much more frequent visits to the gynecologist than in a normal pregnancy. It is especially important to review the pregnancy of women who need to take some treatment to keep their pathologies under control. The good news is that high-risk pregnancies can be adequately carried to term, without risk to the mother or the baby, as long as the relevant medical control is followed.

5. Low risk pregnancy

Low-risk pregnancy is the one experienced by most women. For this security to exist, the expectant mother must be between 19 and 35 years old, as well as be free of diseases that could put her life or that of the fetus in danger.

6. Multiple pregnancy

Multiple pregnancy is one in which several ovules are fertilized at the same time, so they can give rise to twins, twins, etc. Dizygotic twins, also called fraternal twins, develop when each of the zygotes gives rise to a separate placenta and amniotic sac. That is, there are two placentas and two amniotic sacs.

Monozygotic twins, also called identical twins, are formed when the embryo divides, but the placenta does not. Twin pregnancies require more careful monitoring, since a single placenta must feed two fetuses.

7. Intra-abdominal pregnancy

This type of pregnancy usually happens when the woman has previously undergone a cesarean section. In some cases, the scar may weaken and rupture, allowing the fetus to slip into the abdominal cavity. The outcome of this type of pregnancy will depend on the gestational age at which this tear occurs.

precautions during pregnancy

As we can see, there are different types of pregnancies. Some can be more or less dangerous, but many times how the pregnancy develops cannot be prevented. However, it is worth remembering some essential precautions that every pregnant woman must follow to promote her well-being and that of her baby.
From the moment a woman knows that she is expecting a child, it is essential that she adopt a series of measures to avoid any preventable harm to your baby. Among the most prominent are:

• Avoid the consumption of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs and substances harmful to health.
• Maintain a balanced diet, excluding foods such as: raw or undercooked meat, shellfish and fish, as well as fish rich in mercury (bluefin tuna, shark...), raw eggs (contained for example in mayonnaise), soft cheeses, unwashed vegetables and fruits, among others.
• Perform regular physical exercise, but always low impact. High-impact exercise can be dangerous for the baby. This point should always be consulted with the doctor, since not all pregnancies are the same and sometimes rest may be necessary.
• Do not take any medicine that the doctor (knowing that you are pregnant) has not allowed you.
• Always inform doctors that you are pregnant before undergoing radiological tests.
• Go to the corresponding reviews with the specialist.

Conclusions

In this article we have talked about the existing types of pregnancy. Generally speaking of pregnancy without further specifications, but the truth is that Beyond a normal pregnancy, more or less dangerous phenomena can occur for the mother and her baby. Human pregnancy lasts approximately nine months, beginning at conception and ending in childbirth.

The most common is that this is unique, so that it only gives rise to a baby. However, multiple pregnancies are possible, especially in couples using assisted reproductive techniques. Pregnancy requires basic monitoring and the performance of certain tests in each of the trimesters. Precisely, the supervision of a doctor is key to detect early if a pregnancy is out of what is considered normal.

Some of the pathological pregnancies that can occur can be ectopic, intra-abdominal or molar. There are also high-risk pregnancies, but these do not necessarily mean that the baby and her mother will have problems, as long as the appropriate medical follow-up is carried out. Multiple pregnancies do not imply pathology, although in the case of monozygotic twins it is considered necessary to have more frequent check-ups with the specialist, since a single placenta must feed two babies.

Pregnancy is a unique experience and each woman experiences it differently. In any case, following proper habits during pregnancy and going to doctor's visits are key to reducing the chances of something going wrong.