Plimmer - Pregnancy made simple: an illustrated guide from conception to birth

Copyright 2018 by Claire Plimmer All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018. Skyhorse Publishing books may be purchased in bulk at special discounts for sales promotion, corporate gifts, fund-raising, or educational purposes. Special editions can also be created to specifications. For details, contact the Special Sales Department, Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018 or .

Skyhorse and Skyhorse Publishing are registered trademarks of Skyhorse Publishing, Inc., a Delaware corporation. Visit our website at www.skyhorsepublishing.com . 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file. Cover design by Olga Zakharova Print ISBN: 978-1-5107-4154-6 Ebook ISBN: 978-1-5107-4156-0 Printed in China DISCLAIMER No two pregnancies are the same, because every woman is unique. The information and advice provided in this book is of a general nature, and therefore it may not be applicable in all instances. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this book is accurate and current at the time of publication.

The author and the publisher cannot accept responsibility for any misuse or misunderstanding of any information contained herein, or any loss, damage or injury, be it health, financial or otherwise, suffered by any individual or group acting upon or relying on information contained herein. None of the opinions or suggestions in this book is intended to replace medical opinion. If you have concerns about your or your babys health, please seek professional advice. CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Pregnancy can sometimes seem like an overwhelming subject for parents-to-be. But fear not. The following chapters will take you through this amazing journey, from beginning to end, in a fresh, simple and helpful way.

Each chapter has been designed to give you a balance of essential advice and fascinating trivia. From the basics of fertility and conception through to the miracle of giving birth, this colourful and creative book will be your trusty companion, based on up-to-date information and the experience of real women. Whether youre a first-time mother, a curious dad, or just looking to offer informed advice and support, youll find plenty of useful tips and intriguing facts in the pages that follow.

This chapter is a guide to all the things you can do, both individually and as a couple, in order to maximise your fertility and thereby maximise your chance of conception and a healthy pregnancy. CONCEPTION FACTS: EGGS By her twelfth week in the womb, a female foetus will have produced all the eggs she will ever carry in her lifetime. These undeveloped eggs will lie dormant within her ovaries until she reaches puberty, when they will begin to be released (usually once a month) from a follicle into the fallopian tube. Women are born with all the eggs theyll have in their lifetime (around 2 million). Which means, effectively, that your maternal grandmother carried you as an unfertilised egg when she was about to give birth to your mother. But by the time a woman reaches puberty, only about 300,000 to 400,000 eggs are left.

Around 1,000 will die during each menstrual cycle. A woman at the age of 40 will have only about 60,000 eggs. Around 400500 mature eggs are released from the ovaries in a typical womans lifetime. An egg is the size of a grain of sand (around 0.12 mm / 0.005 inches), which is visible to the naked eye. The matured egg only lives about 12 to 24 hours before being expelled during menstruation. CONCEPTION FACTS: SPERM Over the course of his lifetime, a man will produce around 525 billion sperm, and will ejaculate around a billion sperm every month (depending on how sexually active he is).

Each ejaculation contains around 3 ml / 0.1 fl oz of semen, which contains around 100 million sperm. Of these, only 1 in 14 million will actually reach the fallopian tube most die in the journey from the cervix. And only a single sperm can fulfil its ultimate purpose of fertilising the egg. At the moment of fertilisation, the tail of the sperm breaks off and only the head will penetrate the egg. It does this by producing an enzyme called acrosome to dissolve the outer layer of the egg. Each sperm has a unique genetic code.

It contains the 23 chromosomes that will combine with the mothers to create a zygote (fertilised egg) with 46 chromosomes. The combination of these chromosomes is random and unique. As soon as one sperm penetrates the egg (or ovum), the egg secretes a membrane to prevent any other sperm getting in. Sperm can live for up to five days inside the uterus, meaning conception can happen several days after sexual intercourse. WHAT MAKES A HEALTHY SPERM? The frequency of ejaculation will affect a mans sperm count. A mans diet is very important. A mans diet is very important.

Foods that contain high levels of selenium, zinc and Vitamin D will improve sperm motility (the ability to swim towards the egg). Antioxidant-rich foods such as fruit will also help improve the quality of the sperm.