PREGNANCY

What is pregnancy?
State of a woman who has
within her body the growing
product of conception or a
fecundated germ
Commencement: egg cell
is fertilized
Termination: product is
delivered
Duration: 270 280 days
from the first day of the last
menstruation
Legal Importance of the Study of
Pregnancy
1. Ground for suspension of the execution
of the death sentence of a woman
(Article 83 Revised Penal Code)
2. A conceived child is capable of receiving
donation (Article 742 Civil Code)
3. A conceived child may exercise civil
rights (Article 40, 41 Civil Code)
4. Concealment of the woman that she is
pregnant at the time of marriage is a
ground for the annulment of marriage
(Article 85, 86, 87 Civil Code)
Instances Why Some Women Claim
Pregnancy Even if None Exists
1. Ground for the suspension of
the death sentence in a
woman
2. A lawful plea in mitigation
when charged with theft
3. A ground for widows larger
claim
4. Claim for the posthumous
child
5. For black-mailing purpose
Instances Why Some Women Deny
the Existence of Pregnancy

1. When there is no ground for

them to become pregnant
2. Defense when accused of
infanticide or abortion
3. Marriage inducement
Medical Evidences of
Pregnancy
A. Presumptive or Probable Signs
and Symptoms

1. Cessation of Menstruation
2. Morning Sickness
3. Changes in the Breast
4. Progressive Enlargement of the
Abdomen
5. Changes in color of the vagina
and softening of the cervix
6. Funic Souffle or Umbilical Souffle
7. Ballottement
8. Braxton Hicks Sign
9. Bladder Irritability
10.Capricious Appetite
11.Abnormality in Pigmentation
12.Easy Fatigability
B. Positive Signs and Symptoms of
Pregnancy

1. Hearing of the Fetal Heart

Sounds
2. Outlining of the Fetal Parts
3. Movement of the Fetus
(Quickening)
4. X-ray Examination
Proofs of Previous Pregnancy
1. Laxity of the abdominal wall
2. Presence of striae of pregnancy
on the abdominal wall
3. Perineum is lax with a scar if
there was previous laceration.
Fourchette is markedly retracted
4. Vestige only of the hymen is
present
5. Breast is lax with enlarged
nipples
6. Vaginal examination shows
previous laceration of the cervix
Pseudocyesis or Spurious
Pregnancy
Imaginary pregnancy usually
observed among women nearing
menopause or in younger women
who are very desirous of having
children
There is great difficulty in
persuading the woman to believe
that she is not pregnant
Diagnosis of Fetal Death
Proofs that fetus is dead:

1. Size of uterus remains stationary even

after a lapse of a number of weeks and
months
2. Endocrine test for pregnancy
3. Cessation of the fetal movement
4. Absence of fetal heart sounds
5. Palpation of softened macerated fetal
head, with bones freely movable on
each other and the scalp hanging over a
loose sac
6. Breast cease to enlarge and become