YOUR CHANGING BODY

Normally, somewhere between the ages of 8 1/2 and 13 years, a young girl will begin to notice changes in the appearance of her body. She is entering the early stages of puberty. Puberty is associated with many physical changes, bone development, changes in body fat and muscle composition as well as changes in the way you think about things and relationships. There are also many hormonal changes effecting a girl's reproductive anatomy and physiology (body functions).

Puberty

Menstrual Cycle

Perimenopause and Menopause

PREGNANCY

Pregnancy is a natural, human process for a woman. But, this process makes a number of demands on, and major changes in, a woman's body. The body can accommodate these stresses because of the adaptive mechanisms occurring during pregnancy. While some women experience difficult pregnancies, the majority have uncomplicated pregnancies.

Pregnancy typically lasts 40 weeks, or 9 months. It is divided into three time periods called trimesters. Each trimester is approximately three months long. During these time periods, the body is changing daily. What follows is a brief, general description of how the body is changing throughout each trimester.

Anatomy and Physiology

Prenatal Care

Nutritional Needs

Exercise During Pregnancy

Labor and Delivery

Things to Consider During Labor

Post-partum Body Changes

Effects of Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking on Pregnancy

ABORTION - Medical and Surgical Methods

ABORTION is the termination of a pregnancy. This termination may occur spontaneously or may be performed through an elective, induced procedure.

EMOTIONAL - The impact of abortion.

POST ABORTION STRESS - Learn more about PAS.