Response from: Macgrath

Pregnancy occurs when an egg is fertilized by a sperm, grows inside a woman's uterus (womb), and develops into a baby. In humans, this process takes about 280 days (40 weeks). * The doctor will use certain terms in discussing a woman’s pregnancy. Some of the following definitions are useful: o Intra-uterine pregnancy: A normal pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg is implanted in the uterus (womb) and an embryo grows. o Embryo: The term used for the developing fertilized egg during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. o Fetus: The term used for the developing embryo after 12 weeks of gestation. o Beta human chorionic gonadotropin (also called beta-hCG): This hormone is secreted by the placenta and can be measured to determine the presence and progression of the pregnancy. Urine or blood can be tested for its presence, and it is the hormone measured by a home pregnancy test. A positive result means a woman is pregnant; however, this test result can stay positive for several weeks after delivering a baby or after a miscarriage.