Life Stages of a Woman

• birth (0 years),
• puberty (~12 years),
• menstrual cycle (~14 years),
• contraception (~14+ years),
• exercise and menstrual cycle (~14+ years),
• pregnancy, infertility and menopause (~55 years).

• birth (0 years),

  Birth - The beginning of life. The baby changes dramatically in the first few months.

  Age	Skills Most Should Know	Advanced Skills
  1 month	lifts head when lying on tummy studies human face strong reflex movements responds to loud sounds reacts to bright lights	smiles vocalizes turns to familiar sounds/voices
  2 months	vocalizes (gurgles, coos) follows objects that cross his field of vision studies his hands	holds head steady smiles, laughs
  3 months	recognizes mommy/daddy’s face/scent lifts head 45 degrees holds head steady reaches for dangling objects tracks objects with his eyes	brings hands together blows bubbles kicks/straightens legs when placed on her back turns towards loud sounds
  4 months	smiles, laughs responds vocally when you talk to him stands with assistance rolls over (tummy to back)	able to grasp toys recognizes breast or bottle cries to express pain, fear, loneliness, discomfort
  5 months	able to distinguish between colors interested in his hands and feet recognizes name rolls over in both directions	separation anxiety begins teething sits without support for a moment
  6 months	turns towards sounds and voices reaches for/grabs objects imitates sounds	ready for solid foods (opens mouth for spoon) drinks from a cup with help makes sounds that combine syllables passes objects from hand to hand
  7 months	sits by himself imitates variety of sounds enjoys peek-a-boo experiences stranger anxiety	distinguishes emotion through tone of voice bangs objects together can feed himself some finger foods
  8 months	says ‘mama’ and ‘dad’ (doesn’t necessarily specify) rolls all the way around responds to name chews on objects	reaches for utensils during feeding gets in crawling position (on arms and knees) stands while holding onto something indicates wants/needs with cries/gestures uses thumb and finger to pick up things
  9 months	vocalizes using combination of syllables understands object permanence sits up on his own drops objects and looks for them	identifies mom/dad in mirror says ‘mama’/ ‘dada’ to correct parent plays patty-cake/peak-a-boo
  10 months	waves good-bye uses thumb and finger to pick things up crawls comfortably	stands alone for a couple of seconds puts objects into container
  11 months	says ‘mama’/ ‘dada’ to correct parent plays patty-cake/peak-a-boo stands alone for a couple of seconds cruises claps hands	understands ‘no’ and simple instructions says one word other than ‘mama’ or ‘dada’
  12 months	imitates gestures of others identifies self in mirror shakes head ‘no’ dances to music understands use of certain objects walks with help enjoys opening/closing doors interested in books may become attached to certain objects	walks alone says two words other than ‘mama’ or ‘dada’ scribbles with crayon

  Back to Top

• puberty (~12 years),

  Puberty - The main stage of the life cycle is the reproductive years - the time when a woman's body has the ability to reproduce. Her body will change, demanding different types and levels of care at different times, and becoming more vulnerable to a variety of different medical conditions that she has not been susceptible to before.

  Back to Top

• menstrual cycle (~14 years),

  Menstrual cycle is central to all reproductive aspects of a woman's life, our first step was to develop a graphical simulation of the normal cycle incorporating changes in hormones, feedback regulation and in ovarian follicular and endometrial structure. The simulation dynamically links the endocrine and endometrial profiles with feedback regulation during the menstrual cycle with a graphical representation of follicular development.

  Back to Top

• contraception (~14+ years),

  contraception - Birth control, also known as contraception, is designed to prevent pregnancy. Birth control methods may work in a number of different ways. These include

  • Blocking sperm from getting to the eggs - condoms and diaphragms work this way
  • Keeping the woman's ovaries from releasing eggs that could be fertilized - birth control pills work this way
  • Preventing fertilized egg from attaching to the lining of the uterus - intrauterine devices (IUDs) work this way
  • Sterilization, which permanently prevents a woman from getting pregnant or a man from being able to get a woman pregnant

  Your choice of birth control should depend on several factors. These include your health, frequency of sexual activity, number of sexual partners and desire to have children in the future. Your health care provider can help you select the best form of birth control for you. Back to Top

  exercise and menstrual cycle (~14+ years),

  Exercise - Yoga-based exercises that follows will cultivate relaxation and flexibility in a safe, unstrenuous way. Pregnancy is a unique and marvelous time to let go of habitual tensions and to allow your body to become more relaxed. If you've never exercised before, you may find some of the positions difficult at first. But gradually, with practice, you'll loosen up.

  Menstrual Cycle - The time during the menstrual cycle when a woman is potentially most fertile depends on the life span of sperm as well as the life span of the egg. While an egg lives for about 24 hours, a man's sperm can live inside a woman's body generally up to five days and possibly up to seven days. Although the total number of days in a woman's cycle may vary, ovulation usually occurs 14-16 days before the onset of the next menstrual period. For women who have regular cycles between 26-32 days, pregnancy is most likely to occur between days 8-19 of the menstrual cycle. It is more difficult to predict ovulation in women with irregular periods and therefore some women may become pregnant at any time of the cycle. In women with regular cycles, knowing when ovulation is most likely to occur can help to both plan and prevent pregnancy.

  Back to Top

  pregnancy, infertility and menopause (~55 years).

  Pregnancy - It involves your giving birth quite naturally and spontaneously through your own will and determination, having the complete freedom to use your body as you choose and to follow its urges. Active birth is an attitude of mind. It involves acceptance and trust in the natural function and involuntary nature of the birth process, as well as an attitude or appropriate positioning of your body. It is not merely a vaginal extraction in which the attendants are in control and you are a passive patient. It is more comfortable, safer, and more efficient than a passive "confinement. " This is supported by the many scientific studies comparing women who are active in labor with those in a passive, recumbent position.

  Infertility - Most experts define infertility as not being able to get pregnant after at least one year of trying. Women who are able to get pregnant but then have repeat miscarriages are also said to be infertile. Infertility can be due to many causes. In most cases of possible female infertility, the problem is found to originate with the male partner's sperm motility. Some cases are due to physical problems or malformations of the female reproductive system. Others are due to genetic difficulties, such as Rh incompatibility between mother and fetus. Most experts define infertility as not being able to get pregnant ... Is infertility a ... another one third of cases, infertility is due to the man.

  Menopause - When the body moves out of the reproductive phase of her life. Usually this change starts to happen for women who are in their late 40s or early 50s, but the age range is wide: actually covering anywhere from the mid 30s to almost 60. During menopause, the ovaries stop making hormones, causing estrogen levels to fall. This decreased amount of estrogen leads to the stoppage of a woman’s menstrual cycle. According to MenopauseRx.com, the strict definition of menopause is that it occurs after missing 12 months of menstrual cycles.

Send me your favorite story.

	Enter your search terms Submit search form
	Web www.a-woman.com

~ Become a Travel Agent and book your own tickets and save. As your own travel agent you can get commissions when other people ordering hotels and travel packages thru your very own travel website.