Pregnancy Week By Week

1st Trimester Week 1 Week 1 begins on the first day of your last menstrual cycle. So obviously conception has not yet occurred. This is the time where you shift your diet if you are not eating healthy already, take in more vitamins, especially folic acid, and quit drinking and smoking. Week 2 Week 2 is when ovulation occurs. The egg is released from the ovary and starts traveling down the fallopian tube where it meets the sperm. There are only about 4 days a month when a woman can conceive a baby and this is determined by when she ovulates. Week 3 Week 3 is when conception occurs. The sperm fertilizes the egg in the fallopian tube where it then begins its journey to the uterus where it implants itself into the uterine lining. This is known as a blastocyst at this point. Some women experience some bleeding or discomfort during this stage, but it is normal and nothing to be scared about. Week 4 This is when the blastocyst makes it to the uterus and implants itself into the uterine lining. Once there, the blastocyst's cells divide into two groups, one group forms the baby and the other group forms the placenta. By the end of this week you'll either be expecting your period if you weren't planning on having a baby or you'll be hoping your period doesn't come if you were planning on having a baby. Week 5 You're late. Now is the time to go see your health care provider or take a pregnancy test to make sure you are pregnant. You will have many signs pointing towards pregnancy at this point such as morning sickness, swollen and tender breasts, and maybe even frequent urination. This week your embryo is approximately the size of a peanut. Your embryo's heart begins beating and its spine and spinal cord begin growing at a faster rate than the rest of its body. The placenta begins functioning at this point as well. Week 6 By now you should know for sure that you are pregnant and have a due date from your doctor. Your embryo is larger now and sprouting buds which will grow into arms and legs. Make sure you are staying away from alcohol and drugs at this point, as this is the time your embryo is developing organs and a nervous system. Week 7 By week 7 you may still be experiencing morning sickness, if you had it at all. Your embryo now has visible facial features and its muscle system is developed at this point. Your embryo also has its own distinct blood type and will start to move around now as well. Make sure you are sticking to a healthy diet as well to make your baby grow nice and healthy. Week 8 By now you may or may not be showing, but should notice an increase in weight. If you have been experiencing morning sickness you may have actually lost a little weight, but this is all normal at this stage. Your embryo’s major organs are all developed by now too, but aren’t functional yet. Week 9 Since your pregnancy is filling your body with lots of hormones you may notice some changes in your skin. Some women will have perfectly clear complexions while others may experience acne breakouts. This may clear up later on in your pregnancy or after you give birth. As your embryo grows more you may experience some cramps since your uterus is being stretched at this point. If this pain is sever you may want to contact your health care provider to see if there’s any cause for alarm. Week 10 Up to this point so far you may be experiencing a lot of fatigue and mood swings. This is due to the increase of hormones and the fact that your body is working very hard to create a new baby. Feelings of doubt and whether or not you can afford a new baby fill your and your partner’s head, but don’t worry, this is totally normal. Talk around to your parents and friends and find out how they dealt with these feelings to ease the stress. Week 11 At this point your embryo has finished its most critical growth cycle and is now known as a fetus. Your uterus is about the size of a grapefruit and your fetus is about 2-3 inches long. You may or may not opt for some prenatal testing at this point that can determine how healthy your fetus is at this point. Week 12 Yeah! You’ve reached the end of your 1st trimester. This is the point where the mood swings and morning sickness die down. The sex of your baby at this point can be determined although an ultrasound won’t be able to pick it up for a few more weeks. Your baby’s eyes are now fused shut and will stay that way until almost the end of the pregnancy as the eyes develop more. The placenta will begin filling with amniotic fluid at this point, most of which will be urine from the baby. The baby’s brain at this point is functioning and the baby can feel pain now.

2nd Trimester Week 13 Now that you’re in the 2nd trimester you can relax more. Your baby is starting to look more and more like a baby each day now as the organs begin to move into place and your risk of miscarriage is much lower. Your uterus is still stretching so you may still feel some cramps in your abdominal region, but this is normal. Week 14 Now your baby can start to move his or her hands around. Your baby is receiving all its nourishment through the placenta and is even practicing to breath in and out. You should be able to hear your baby’s heartbeat through a Doppler at this point as well. Week 15 Your baby is growing hair and nails now. It may be possible to get the sex of your baby through an ultrasound now, but the doctor will only be making an educated guess at this point since it’s still a little early. A very fine hair known as lanugo covers the entire body at this point of the pregnancy. Bones are developing now and blood vessels can be seen through the fetus’ transparent skin. Week 16 Your baby is now about 6 inches long and will be moving around to the point that you can start to feel it. This far along your pregnancy it is common to get both a stuffy nose and nosebleeds. This is due to the extra blood circulating in your system. In response to this your estrogen levels may cause your nasal membranes to swell. Try sleeping with a humidifier to help relieve this. Week 17 Your baby and placenta are equal in size now. Your baby can now suck, swallow, and blink. Your baby is going through a growth spurt at this point so you may notice yourself gaining some extra pounds now as well. Week 18 Your baby is now looking more and more human. It is now over 6 inches long and about half a pound. Your baby’s bones are becoming harder at this stage. Your baby’s legs are growing longer now and its eyes are shifting to the front of the face from the sides. Week 19 You may be noticing changes in your complexion. Many moms-to-be will get red blotches on their face and skin known as chloasma. This is due to the hormones running through your system and will most likely fade by the end of your pregnancy. Your feet may be swollen too due to water retention. At this point vernix forms on your baby that is a cheese-like substance that protects the skin from sitting in amniotic fluid for so long. Week 20 Your baby is moving around a lot more now and you should definitely be noticing this. If your baby is a girl this is the week where she develops her uterus. Your baby should also be growing hair on the top of its head now. You may notice your belly button has popped out now since your uterus is now behind it and the baby pressing on it may have caused it to do this. Week 21 You made it to the halfway point! Congratulations! At this point you are most likely showing. You have probably gained about 10-15 pounds as well. Your feet and ankles may be swollen, so to help counteract this drink plenty of fluids and rest with your feet slightly elevated. Week 22 By now your baby is about 1 pound and your uterus is about an inch above your belly button. Your baby is very thin at this point but mostly developed. The rapid growth of the body has slowed, but you will be gaining weight at a steadier rate at this point as your baby fills out. Week 23 You’re probably noticing the baby kicking since there’s still room for him or her to move around. If preterm labor and delivery occurs at this point it is still possible for your baby to survive, but weight and development are factors. One of the problems with preterm delivery is that the chance of disabilities occurring in your child is high at this point. Hopefully your baby waits several more weeks before thinking of coming out. Week 24 By now your baby is opening and closing its eyes. Your baby also has eyelashes and eyebrows now. This week your baby will be gaining weight due to muscle, bone, organ, and tissue development. Sometime between weeks 24-28 your prenatal doctor will give you a glucose screening test to make sure you don’t have gestational diabetes, which is temporary and can occur during pregnancy. Week 25 Your baby is approximately 10 inches in length now and should be able to hear you now if your stomach makes noises or you sing to him or her. Your baby will also be opening and closing its hands. Your uterus now is about 2 inches above your belly button and is roughly the size of a soccer ball. Week 26 At this point in your baby’s development, the lungs should be excreting surfactants that prevent the lungs from sticking together when the baby is born so it can take in oxygen and breathe on its own. Your baby has probably reached a weight of 2 pounds by now. Week 27 At this point, your baby’s brain is still growing, as well as the lungs and other organs. More fat is filling out your baby’s skin and smoothing out all the wrinkles. Your baby’s eyes are now developing more to get used to the light that it will see upon delivery.

3rd Trimester Week 28 Two down, one to go…trimesters that is. By now your uterus is about 3 inches above your navel. You may have already been feeling Braxton Hicks contractions, which are your uterine muscles tightening and relaxing. Most often they are painless and confused with real contractions, especially in new mothers. They can be painful at times, but when you’re in real labor you’ll know. Labor contractions are noticeably longer, more frequent, and more painful than Braxton Hicks contractions. Week 29 By now your baby’s lungs are almost fully developed and can breathe air if born right now, but may need assistance. Your baby’s growth has slowed down at this point as well, but will still gain about 4 or 5 pounds before birth. At this point in your pregnancy you’ve most likely been experiencing leg cramps, back pain, heartburn, itchy skin, and hemorrhoids. This isn’t fun, but realize it’s only temporary and you’re almost at the end. Week 30 As you get closer and closer to the end of your pregnancy you may notice it is difficult to sleep. Sleeping on your side is best to ensure proper blood flow throughout your body. This may be uncomfortable but can be made better by placing a pillow between your legs and under your stomach to support the weight. Your baby is about 3 pounds now and getting heavier every day. The wrinkles are disappearing as more fat and muscle develop. Week 31 Make sure you are still sticking to a vitamin rich diet since your baby is still growing and needs many nutrients. Things are beginning to tighten up inside as your uterus continues to stretch. Now is probably a good time to start narrowing down the baby names you and your partner like if you haven’t already. This is also a good time to start shopping for clothes for your little one. Week 32 By now your baby is about 4 pounds and your uterus is approximately 5 inches above your navel. You have probably been having difficulty breathing as your uterus is pressing against your diaphragm, but in a few weeks your baby will drop down and that will go away. Constipation is another problem during pregnancy because as the baby gets larger and larger it begins to push on various organs. Eating lots of fiber can help this. Week 33 Your baby’s senses are all functioning at this point and as more fat fills in your baby’s skin begins to turn from red to pink. From here on out you will be gaining about a pound a week. If you have been experiencing swelling in your face, seeing spots, sever headaches, and nausea you may be developing pre-eclampsia and should contact your health care provider immediately. It is very bad for pregnant mothers and is characterized by high blood pressure, swelling, and protein in the urine. Week 34 Now your baby should be in the head first position. Not all babies are in this position before birth and an ultrasound will determine this. Things to be thinking about by now are do you have a pediatrician? Do you have a car seat? Setting up a phone tree is a good idea as well so you don’t have to call everyone you know once the baby is born. If your baby is a boy the testes should be in their proper position by now. Your baby is now opening its eyes when awake and closing them while sleeping. You should also decide if you want to breastfeed your baby or bottle feed. This choice is yours to make and no one else’s. Another choice to make, which has become a controversial issue, is if it’s a boy whether or not you want to circumcise him. Once again, this is your decision. Week 35 Now your baby is about the same size of the uterus and weighing in at about 5 pounds. By now your baby can barely move in there. Your baby has even developed sleep patterns by now. Remember to keep talking to your baby because he or she can recognize your voice at this point. Week 36 As you approach the last month of pregnancy your baby will be dropping down into the birth canal making breathing easy for you again. You’ll probably notice a lot of kicking now because your baby is cramped in there with barely any room to move. Week 37 You’re almost there! Your baby is just about done growing and can come at any time now. Your uterus is about 12 inches in size and your baby is about a foot and a half long at this point. Your baby is practicing breathing now to get ready for life outside the womb. By now you should have a hospital bag packed and sitting by the door since your baby will be born soon. Week 38 You may be experiencing false labor pains at this point. They can be painful and come in an irregular manor. True labor will come at a steady pace, becoming more and more intense. Your baby’s head and abdomen are about the same size now and his or her intestines are accumulating meconium, which is the baby’s first bowel movement that will be released at or near birth. Week 39 As you approach the end you may notice that you need to run to the bathroom every few minutes. This is because your baby is resting against your bladder. You’re doing great! Hang in there. The average baby at this point is about 7 pounds and ready to come out at any time. Week 40 You made it! Now your baby may or may not come out this week. Not all babies are born on their due dates and you won’t officially be overdue for another 2 weeks. Some doctors may want to induce labor they feel he or she is too large or in danger. There are many ways to induce labor naturally as well such as having intercourse and nipple stimulation.