Pregnancy, also known as gestation, takes place when one or more fetuses develop inside a woman's uterus after fertilization through sexual intercourse or assisted reproductive technology.
Fertilization, also known as conception, occurs when a sperm meets and penetrates an egg. At this moment, the baby’s genetic makeup is complete, including the sex of the baby.
Pregnancy usually lasts about 40 weeks, or just over 9 months, as measured from the last menstrual period to delivery. Health care providers refer to three segments of pregnancy as trimesters.
