"Pregnant" Natural Recordings by Native Speakers
Pregnant refers to the state of being carrying a developing fetus inside the womb. This is typically due to a woman becoming pregnant, but can also apply to some species of animals. During pregnancy, the woman experiences a range of physical and emotional changes as the fetus develops. After a gestation period of around 38 weeks, pregnancy usually ends with childbirth, where the woman gives birth to a baby.
Pregnanediol is a steroid hormone that is a major metabolite of progesterone, a sex hormone that plays a key role in the menstrual cycle and in maintaining the early stages of pregnancy. Pregnanediol is produced in the liver from progesterone, which is produced by the ovaries and placenta, and is then excreted in the urine.
The term "pregravid" refers to the period before pregnancy, specifically the time from when the menstrual cycle stops to when pregnancy begins, usually identified by a missed menstrual period.