If you have a regular menstrual cycle of 28 days, then you will ovulate, around 14 days after your last period. In simple words, ovulation is a phase of menstrual cycle when one of your ovaries releases an egg.
It is exceedingly difficult to predict the exact day of ovulation because it varies according to the length of your cycle. Once the egg is released, it slowly moves down the fallopian tube towards your uterus.
At times, ovaries release more than one egg. In such a case, your chances of having twins, triplets, quadruplets, and so forth, increases significantly.
Around day 14 or 15 of your menstrual cycle, if you have sex with your partner, there will be thousands of sperms waiting to meet the egg. However, only one of the sperms will be able to burrow into the egg. This is the moment when the egg and sperm fuse together and is called conception.
The barriers of the egg close immediately so as to prevent any more sperms from entering the egg.
In the initial stages of conception, there is a single cell with two nuclei. Soon the nuclei also fuse together to form a zygote; it is technical term used to denote a cell that during the course of 38 weeks develops into your baby. While moving down the fallopian tube, the single cell divides into two cells and then four cells. Finally, a multi-cellular blastocyst or embryo is formed.
The embryo takes about four days to reach your uterus where the endometrium is ready for implantation. The Endometrium is the inner lining of the uterus, which provides an optimal environment for the growth and development of the embryo. As the embryo implants itself in the endometrium, you may notice slight bleeding and feel mild cramps as well.
After 12 days of conception, two membranes develop on the outer part of the embryo. The first is amnion, which is surrounds the embryo. The second one is chorion, which envelops the amnion and develops into placenta.
The placenta, which is connected to the embryo via the umbilical cord, acts as an interface between you and your baby. The two newly formed membranes form the amniotic sac that holds the amniotic fluid. The fluid efficiently cushions and protects your growing baby. During the formation of the two protective membranes, the embryo can split into twins or triplets.
The embryo attaches itself to the endometrium with the help of villi or projections that develop at the base of the growing placenta. These villi also help the embryo to absorb oxygen and nutrients from your blood. At this stage, your baby is just 1mm in length.
As your pregnancy progresses, your ovaries start to produce large quantities of hormones progesterone and oestrogen. Both of these hormones play a crucial role in maintaining your pregnancy and triggering the development of fetus. These hormonal changes also produce some prominent signs of pregnancy.
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