pregnancy: Quick Facts

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Last updated

Nov. 8, 2026

News •

Scientists discover a surprising clue to autism's origins hidden in the placenta • Nov. 3, 2026, 7:53 AM ET (Science Daily)

How heat storms threaten pregnant women around the world • Oct. 30, 2026, 7:00 AM ET (Reuters)

Pregnancy night shifts associated with higher risk of developmental abnormalities in children • Oct. 27, 2026, 10:39 PM ET (News-Medical)

Night shifts during pregnancy linked to heightened risk of young child's neurodevelopmental abnormalities • Oct. 27, 2026, 6:30 PM ET (Medical Xpress)

'Digital twins' of immune system in pregnancy identify drugs to prevent early labor • Oct. 21, 2026, 2:00 PM ET (Medical Xpress)

Photos and Videos

Close-up of a home pregnancy test device showing a blue plus sign in the result window, indicating a positive result for pregnancy.

Diagram showing the female reproductive system with labeled ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, and vagina, alongside hormone pathways and the process from ovulation to fertilization and early embryo development.

A pregnant woman lies on an exam table smiling while a healthcare professional performs an ultrasound, with the baby's image visible on the monitor.

Cross-sectional medical illustration of a human uterus at seven weeks of pregnancy, showing the developing embryo inside the amniotic sac, placenta, umbilical cord, uterine wall layers, cervix, and vagina, with labeled anatomical structures related to gestation and embryology.

Three labeled cross-section diagrams show the development of a human embryo implanted in the uterine lining at 7.5, 13, and 23 days, highlighting structures such as the embryonic disk, amniotic cavity, yolk sac, trophoblast, and chorion.

Diagram showing human embryological and fetal development in three stages: at six weeks, the embryo is enclosed within halved amnion, chorion, and uterus; another view at six weeks highlights the formation of the umbilical cord; at three months, the fetus is shown within the halved amnion, chorion, and uterus, with the placenta and umbilical cord labeled.

Full-term human fetus in the uterus

How does a home pregnancy test work?

Learn how researchers use biobanks, such as the Improved Pregnancy Outcomes by Early Detection study, or IMPROvED to improve maternal and newborn outcomes

Causes of morning sickness explained

How does the Rh factor affect pregnancies?

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Topics

9 Bizarre Myths About Pregnancy high-risk pregnancy ectopic pregnancy maternal imagination prenatal care maternal mortality postnatal care reproductive system disease abortion postpartum depression birth menopause puerperium labour uterus vulva vagina gestational age How do fish reproduce?

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