My Destination, My Bondita

137 - Pregnancy: To Create a Universe Within

It was time to learn about the different phases of the menstrual cycle and how pregnancy occurred.

Anirudh looked at his eager student and smiled, caressing her hair. She was lying on top of his bare chest, just in her blouse and petticoat.

"Do you want to wash up or change first?" he asked her softly.

She just hugged him more tightly, shaking her head against his chest.

"Not yet," she told him. "I want to feel your body on mine for more time."

He smiled, and hugged her to him lovingly.

"Then I'll explain how it works," he told her. "In all of this, we will assume a 28 day menstrual cycle -- that is, the time between your periods, to be 28 days."

She slowly got off of his body and sat up on the bed. Anirudh sat up beside her and propped a pillow against the headboard. He leaned against it and opened his arms out for her. She sat beside him and rested her head on his shoulder, one of his arms wrapping around her body from behind, and the other one hugging her from the front.

He moved his hand that was hugging her from the front and placed it on the lower part of her belly gently.

"Here, Bondita, everything happens. The universe is created," he told her fondly, and she blushed, as she imagined that one day they would have children. "The cycle begins with your menstruation. Around the time your menstrual period is ending, the follicular phase starts -- hormones are released from the pituitary gland of your brain and signals for an egg to be prepared to be released. Inside of your ovaries, there are many follicles, which contain eggs. The strongest of the follicles releases the egg by the time the follicular phase ends."

Bondita nodded slowly, and Anirudh continued, as he gently caressed her navel.

"At the same time, the uterus begins to develop a thick lining, and this is called the proliferative phase. When you get your period, this uterus lining is shed, because the egg was not fertilized by the sperm. After every period, this lining is rebuilt," he explained. "It does this so that the fertilized egg can implant itself and grow into a baby."

"So it's a home for our babies?" she asked excitedly.

Anirudh couldn't help but smile, "In the future, yes, your uterus is where our babies will grow."

"Then my uterus walls should be very thick! I want my babies to have a strong home!" Bondita said with a smile.

Anirudh chuckled and kissed her cheek.

"I have such a strong Bondita, won't our kids have a strong home?" he asked her with a smile.

She smiled back at him with excitement.

"About midway through the cycle, on the fourteenth day after your period begins, ovulation takes place. This is the most optimal time for pregnancy to be successful, because the ideal conditions are met," Anirudh explained. "During ovulation, the egg that was prepared during the previous phase is released into the fallopian tube. Again, these are signaled through hormonal changes."

"Wow all of this happens inside of me," Bondita gasped.

"Yes Bondita," he said with a smile, "You are a very powerful being. All of this happens inside of you."

She placed her hands on her navel over his hand and she smiled.

"After ovulation, if the egg was fertilized by the sperm, then the next phase of the cycle helps the pregnancy attach to the uterus. If not, it starts to break down the lining, to prepare for the next menstruation," he explained. "The hormones that are released during this time is part of the luteal phase and the preparation of the pregnancy or breakdown of the lining, is called the secretory phase."