Concept in Definition ABC

The word prenatal It is used to refer to the first stages of the development of living beings, this covers the entire process that takes place from the conception or fertilization of the new being, which occurs when the ovum and sperm unite, until its growth and development culminates within the mother's uterus, giving way to childbirth or birth.

Prenatal development is studied by a branch of medicine known as embryologyFrom the point of view of its study, it consists of main stages, fertilization, the embryonic period and the fetal period.

Stages of the prenatal phase

The prenatal stage begins at the same moment in which the new being is formed, which occurs after the fertilization and it occurs inside the human body. After the union of the egg and the sperm the zygote is formed, which immediately begins a division process that gives origin to new cells which makes it progressively increase in size and manage to implant itself in the wall of the uterus to receive your nutrition through the mother's blood.

In the case of humans, from the second week of gestation the zygote is renamed embryo. During the embryonic stage the various organs and systems are formed and developed. This stage extends from the second week after fertilization to the twelfth week, covering the first three months of pregnancy. The embryonic period is a particularly delicate phase since any exogenous substance be it medicines, toxins, drugs, radiation, disorders nutrition and even the presence of viruses bacteria or parasites product of infections, are capable of affecting the development of the embryo producing congenital malformations or even embryonic death that manifests itself in the form of a abortion.

Upon reaching 3 months of pregnancy, the embryo has already been fully formed and has a human form, and is called a fetus, thus entering the third and last phase of the prenatal period or fetal phase that runs from the 12th week to the end of the pregnancy that occurs between the 37th and 40th week. At this time the various organs of the fetus develop, mature and begin to function. Once the fetus is prepared to survive independently of the mother, birth occurs.

Prenatal control

Pregnancy is a critical stage in the development of the new being, for this reason there is a medical specialty called obstetrics which is in charge of monitoring or caring for the woman during the prenatal phase.

This care consists of monitoring the process of growth and development of the embryo and fetus as well as maternal health, with the purpose of identifying or preventing possible complications that may arise during pregnancy and that may affect both the mother and the child.

Obstetrics places special emphasis on women who develop diseases during pregnancy, as well as those who had a disorder or diseasechronicle since before the gestation occurred, as is the case of pregnant women who suffer from chronic diseases such as arterial hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, epilepsy, diabetes or problems with some glands such as thyroid In these pregnancies it is necessary to carry out a good prenatal control since they constitute high-risk pregnancies, in those that the decompensation of any of these maternal diseases will have serious consequences on the fetus and the mother.

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