AKA:
Bun in the oven, childbirth, expecting, having a baby, preggers, in the family way, in the club, sexual reproduction, up the duff.
What is it?
When a baby is developing inside a woman's body, she's pregnant.
How does a woman get pregnant?
- Every month women release an egg. It is microscopic and made up of a single cell, (with no shell.) Girls have two ovaries, these usually take it in turns to release an egg. This egg release is called ovulation.
- When a man ejaculates he releases millions of sperm each time. If he's had sexual intercourse, these may be released into a woman's vagina. They then start to swim up into her womb.
- It takes a single sperm to reach the egg and fuse with it. This is called fertilisation. The fertilised egg tumbles on into the womb where it attaches itself to the lining. All the time it is dividing and growing and becoming a baby! Magic.
If the egg isn't fertilised the woman will have a period. Missing a period is often the first sign a woman is pregnant.
What happens after the egg is fertilised?
Once safely embedded in the woman's womb, the fertilised egg gradually changes into a baby. It takes about nine months till the baby is ready to be born.
After the first few months a woman's belly starts to swell. Meanwhile her breasts will also get bigger, preparing to produce milk for when the baby is born.
Before any of this happens, many women feel tired, bloated and get sore breasts. This feels a bit like many of us do in the week before our period - but worse. Some women feel sick, though the morning head-down-the-toilet-pan routine is unusual.
How does it feel to be pregnant?
Most women who plan to have a baby are excited and nervous about becoming a mum. It's normal to fee a bit frightened and apprehensive as well, after all, giving birth is a big deal.
How does the baby get out?
- When the baby is ready to be born it is squeezed out by the womb. There's more in the Labour factfile.
Further help and advice
Type in your postcode and find help in your area at ruthinking.co.uk (bottom right of page).
likeitis.org
Morea bout pregnancy
Written by Dr Melissa Sayer
Last updated 17th June 2007
Previous article
alice, 15
i dont find eliza's comment offencive at all. she has a point. and its not like she is calling all teenage mothers whores.
Tasha, 16
i was told about this web site i read it and got a test done at the doctors and now i have a little baby girl my mum said when she came out she looked like a monster but when the people cleaned her up she said she was as cute as an angel and i think so to.thankyou so much xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Shauni, 16
eliza the comment you have made is very offensive to thousands of people i ahve been with my boyfriend since i was 12 years old and now hes in the army with a good income i work part time and we have a 3 month old son so we dont claim benifits or whatever my son is happy and i cant imagine life with out him so think before you speak because when it happens to you youl understand some of the joys it will bring.
w, 13
im 6 months pregnant with twins & i know how you feel i no im one of the younger ones on this site but i feel if we all stick together we could all make a big differance
sarah, 16
i was 15 when i got pregnant and it was the hardest choice i made to bring up my daughter alyssa! She is the most prescious thing in my life and yes i find it hard but i wasnt going to give up, when people found out i was pregnant they treated me really cruel and i thought to my self that im not going to let people bring me down. So i decided to have my baby and i had support of my family and some of my friends and i really dont regret having her! i have a job and it doesnt exactly pay much money but at least im providing for my little girl! So im telling girls now that its not a fashion. I knew what i was doing i was the one who decided 2 have sex in the first place and i knew what could go wrong.. so I respect these girls who have children and i know its not easy but we get by for our babies sake but for the girls who dont exactly want a babyy yet then please use contraception!!! xxx
charli, 14
i have had sex quite a few times when i have been drunk. One night a few months back i had sex and three months later i found out i was pregnant.i had to get rid of it, i regret it, but i am 14.i regret ever having sex with out protection, it wont stop me living my life, but it will stop me having sex with out a condom.
Stephanie, 16
I'm nearly seventeen and 7 months pregnant and to be honest im disgusted at what eliza said. It is not a fashion to be pregnant and I think its appalling that has been said. I think I will make a very good mother, being pregnant has changed my life. I used to be out at all hours drinking and taking drugs. Now I'm in a very stable relationship and much happier in myself. To those young mums to be, dont let anyone tell you its wrong. I'm not saying its right that so many teenagers get pregnant but the ones that do need support as much as any other expectant mother.
emma, 18
im 4 months gone and i was reading about this fasion baby, its sick - it a big deal. people should stop judging and relise how much hard work this is - this is defo a wake up call to get my ass moving and make something of my life for this baby
gemma, 18
im a young mum i got preggers when i was 17 and had my baby boy 12 days before my 18th.people look at me weridly when i say i got a baby but i dont care what they think. It is hard but i would go thourgh it all again if i had the chance because i don't belive in abortions because at the end of the day that is a little baby inside you no matter if it is only 6weeks old or what ever. i think the should ban abortions if the did it would make people think more rather think "oh if i get preggers i can get an abortion"
Amber, 17
I was 16 when i got pregnant im now 17 and my baby was born in may. I just want teenagers to know that bringing up a baby is one of the hardest things you ever have to do, ite extremely tiring and expensive. I love my little boy to bits and dont regret it but i know alot of young mums will, make sure you lie your life first and be with someone you love. Me and my boyfriend have been together nearly 3 years so i am pretty lucky id just advise people to think when they have sex, use protection because if you have a baby youre not ready for itll be so hard to cope and its not fair on the baby. But i think alot of young mums can be amazing and people shouldnt just judge before ypu know them, it was hard for me to tell my parents, i told them when i was 3 months and they didnt resct how i thought, they were good about it and i felt soooo much better. I could talk to my mum about everything and ask her stuff id wanted to know for ages. Now they always want to hold and play with my son. Im not bothered what people think about my age, im in a good relationship and i know m a good mum,my son always comes first. But i amglad i finished school first!
Jess, 17
Im 16 years old and i have a 3 month old baby. i cope. i never intentionally put myself in this position and i wouldnt do it again. my daughter evie is the best thing in my life and i wouldnt change whats happened but i wouldnt have wanted a child this young. i live with my mum and dad but they do little more than help out when i am tired. i support myself by having a part time job 3 days a week and while i am at work my boyfriend looks after our daughter and vise versa he also works 3 days a week. i do not sponge off the government for any additional benefits than i am entitled to (child tax credit) and i do not think having my daughter is a fashion accessory. i dont ask for sympathy i thought i was big enough to lie down and have sex so ive had to be big enough to stand up and be a mum. my childhood has gone though and i miss it. i would advise girls to be careful and think carefully of the potential consequences there actions could have.
c, 18
i got pregnant when i was 17 i am now 18 and have a 1 year old son i am on benifits but that is not the reason i got pregnant he was completly unplanned i think its unfair that teenage mums have a bad name i dont want 2 live on benifits and its not as easy as people say it is you dont just get a house and money handed 2 you i am going back to college so that somtime in the future i can get off benifits and provide a better life for my son, however if i didnt have the benifits at the moment my son would have no life at all.
Emma, 17
i think teenage girls should be made more aware of the hard work and responsablity that is needed to have a child. however it always takes two everyone is having a go at these young single mums what about the dads are they not half to blame? instead of outing these young girls we should be understanding. making them feel wrong will actually, in the long run, harm that childs unbringing. should we not be supporting these young girls and make sure the the next generation of people, can learn from the mistakes and hard learnt lessons, to ensure that these children are brought up to know whats right and wrong. also what is a good reason to do sumthing and what is not a good reason for doing sumthing. not all young mothers want to live of tax payers, however they all desevered to be helped, as helping them will hlp that child whoafter all didnt ask to be brought into our extremely judgemental and discriminary world!
anon, 21
Many young mothers would disagree eliza. I fell pregnant at 18, wasn't planned but very welcomed although we were anxious about it all. I'm 21 nearly 22 now, i have another child due soon, i have my own well paid job (well paid enough for my other half to look after the kids) we pay our own rent, tax, and my son is healthy and happy and wants for nothing. It's not a fashion, mothers in these situations know it hard to bring up a child but contrary to what you think these mothers are making a decent living off their own backs, we are entitled to certain benefits eg. child benefit, as is every mother 18 or 48! It's just the media and few exemptions that advertise us and steriotype us as benefit scroungers....which is infact offensive!
Lauren, 17
I used to bunk off school, smoke, drink, and generally brake the rules. I had been a rebel scince i first started school, its just the way I was and no amount of counceling and behaveiour management helped. When I was 15 i go pregnant and I realised that if I wanted to bring up a baby i was gonna have to change and it worked! Being pregnant made me give up the fags and the drink and made me a better person.
jen, 16
pregnancy isnt just for chavs and the typical teenage ' thing '. i'm pregnant and it was very much unexpected so dont think stereotyping is the right way to look at it. its not pretty and its definatly not easy. if you are pregnant, chill out , tell people who can help and just try and stay healthy because thats the way forward. =]
Kathryn, 21
Pick your battles eliza, if you take away the benefits and sympathy we offer young mothers today, the teenage pregnancy rate will barely even change.It will still remain a problem. But what you will get instead is more young families struggling to meet ends meat and being forced into crime and other ways of surviving, therefore more young criminals on the street with no guidance or the means to make their way in life.Not all girls get pregnant to sponge off the tax payers. Mistakes can be made and just because there are a very small minority who do intentionally get pregnant to take advantage of the benefits we offer, does not mean that every young mother shud be tarnished with the same brush.Also, why are teenage mothers being labled as the problem? what is the difference between a 16 yr old who isnt mentally ready or has the financial stability to have a baby, than a 31 yr old who also isnt ready to have a baby or have the means to bring it up n also has to take advantage of benefits? My aunty got pregnant when she was 17, and with a little help from benefits and my granny she now has a happy son, a career and a happy life. Teenage pregnancy can actually turn some peoples lives around and send them in a better direction and i think the sympathy we show young mothers is essential.
eliza, 19
why....why is teenage pregnancy becoming a new fashion? why is having a baby replacing 'velour tracksuits and Ugg boots?teenage pregnancy is now becoming too welcome in our society and is almost being regarded as the norm- unless we stop 'reassuring' young girls that if they get pregnant, they'll get benefits and general sympathy form society....it will just become a growing epidemicthese poor young women are not being informed of the hardships of bringing up a child, INSTEAD they are being fed with unsuccessful lectures on the ovaries!!!COME ON PEEPS!
jo, 16
i was 14 when i got pregnant im now 16 with a 7month old baby. while i was pregnant no1 new except me. and it was really hard 2 cope so if you do think u are pregnant tell ur parents cus they are alot more understanding than wot u think.
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