Stages of Pregnancy

Pregnancy is measured in trimesters from the first day of your
last menstrual period (LMP) and normally lasts about 40

weeks from conception to the birth of a baby. This time is
roughly divided into 3 periods: the first trimester, second
trimester and third trimester.
The Three Stages of Pregnancy
The first trimester is measured from

conception to about the 12th week of
pregnancy; the second trimester, from about
13 to 27 weeks of pregnancy; and the third
trimester, from about 28 weeks of pregnancy
until birth.
First Trimester Week 1 - Week 12
Early Changes in a Woman's Body
During the first trimester your body undergoes many

changes. Hormonal changes affect almost every organ
system in your body. These changes can trigger symptoms
even in the very first weeks of pregnancy. Your period
stopping is a clear sign that you are pregnant.
Physical and Emotional Changes a
Woman May Experience
Other changes you may experience during

the first trimester include:
Extreme tiredness
Tender, swollen breasts.
Sickness
Cravings or distaste for certain foods
Mood swings
Constipation (trouble having bowel movements)
Need to pass urine more often
Headache
Heartburn
Weight gain or loss
Changes in a Woman's Daily Routine
As your body changes, you might

need to make changes to your daily
routine, such as going to bed earlier
or eating frequent, small meals.
Fortunately, most of these
discomforts will go away as your
pregnancy progresses.
The Baby at 4 Weeks
Your baby's brain and spinal cord

have begun to form.
The heart begins to form.
Arm and leg buds appear.
Your baby is now an embryo and
1/25 of an inch long.
The Baby at 8 Weeks
Your baby's heart beats with a regular rhythm.
The arms and legs grow longer, and fingers and

toes have begun to form.
The sex organs begin to form.
The eyes have moved forward on
the face and eyelids have formed.
Your baby is nearly 1 inch long and weighs less

than 1/8 of an ounce.
The Baby at 12 Weeks
The external sex organs show if

your baby is a boy or girl.
Eyelids close to protect the

developing eyes. They will not open
again until the 28th week.
Head growth has slowed, and your

baby is much longer.
Second Trimester Week 13 - Week 28
Changes a Woman May

Experience
Most women find the second
trimester of pregnancy easier
than the first. You might
notice that symptoms like
nausea and fatigue are going
away. But other new, more
noticeable changes to your
body are now happening.
Your abdomen will expand as
the baby continues to grow.
As your body changes to make room for

your growing baby, you may have:
Body aches, such as back, abdomen, groin, or

thigh pain
Darkening of the skin around your nipples
Patches of darker skin, usually over the cheeks,

forehead, nose, or upper lip.
Numb or tingling hands, called carpal tunnel

syndrome
Call your doctor if you have nausea, loss of appetite, etc.

Muscle tissue and bone continue to

form, creating a more complete skeleton.
Skin begins to form. You can nearly

see through it.
Your baby makes sucking motions with the mouth
(sucking reflex).
Your baby reaches a length of about 4 to 5 inches and

weighs almost 3 ounces.
Your baby is more active.
Your baby is covered by fine,.
Eyebrows, eyelashes, fingernails,

and toenails have formed.
Your baby can hear and swallow.
Now halfway through your pregnancy, your baby is about 6

inches long and weighs about 9 ounces.
Taste buds form on your baby's

tongue.
Footprints and fingerprints have

formed.
Your baby sleeps and wakes

regularly.
Your baby stores fat and has

gained quite a bit of weight. Now at
about 12 inches long, your baby
weighs about 1½ pounds.
Third Trimester Week 29 - Week 40
Changes a Woman May Experience
You're in the home stretch! many women find

breathing difficult and notice they have to go
to the bathroom even more often. This is
because the baby is getting bigger and it is
putting more pressure on your organs.
Emotional and Physical Changes
a Woman May Experience
Shortness of breath
Heartburn
Swelling of the ankles, fingers,
and face.
Hemorrhoids
Tender breasts, which may
leak a watery pre-milk called
colostrum
Trouble sleeping
Changes as the Due
Date Approaches
As you near your due date, your cervix becomes

thinner and softer (called effacing). This is a
normal, natural process that helps the birth canal
(vagina) to open during the birthing process. All
are check by your doctor.
Your baby's bones are fully formed,

but still soft.
Your baby's kicks and jabs are

forceful.
The eyes can open and close and

sense changes in light.
Lungs are not fully formed, but

practice "breathing" movements occur.
Your baby is gaining weight quickly,

about ½ pound a week
The protective waxy coating called vernix

gets thicker.
Body fat increases. Your baby is getting

bigger and bigger and has less space to move
around.
Your baby is about 16 to 19 inches long and

weighs about 6 to 6½ pounds.
The Baby at 37 to 40 Weeks
By the end of 37 weeks, your baby

is considered full term.
As you near your due date, your

baby may turn into a head-down
position for birth.
At birth, your baby may weigh

somewhere between 6 pounds, 2
ounces and 9 pounds, 2 ounces and
be 19 to 21 inches long.
conclusion
In pregnancy you should make an
appointment with your doctor. Your first
prenatal visit will likely be when you are 6 to
8 weeks pregnant. Your doctor will probably
start by talking to you about your medical
history and how you've been feeling. You'll be
weighed and have your blood pressure taken.

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Pregnancy is measured in trimesters from the first day of your

last menstrual period (LMP) and normally lasts about 40

The first trimester is measured from

Early Changes in a Woman's Body

During the first trimester your body undergoes many

Other changes you may experience during

As your body changes, you might

Your baby's brain and spinal cord

Your baby's heart beats with a regular rhythm.

The arms and legs grow longer, and fingers and

The sex organs begin to form.

The eyes have moved forward on

the face and eyelids have formed.

Your baby is nearly 1 inch long and weighs less

The external sex organs show if

Eyelids close to protect the

Head growth has slowed, and your

Changes a Woman May

As your body changes to make room for

Body aches, such as back, abdomen, groin, or

Darkening of the skin around your nipples

Patches of darker skin, usually over the cheeks,

Numb or tingling hands, called carpal tunnel

Call your doctor if you have nausea, loss of appetite, etc.

Muscle tissue and bone continue to

Skin begins to form. You can nearly

Your baby reaches a length of about 4 to 5 inches and

Your baby is more active.

Your baby is covered by fine,.

Eyebrows, eyelashes, fingernails,

Now halfway through your pregnancy, your baby is about 6

Taste buds form on your baby's

Footprints and fingerprints have

Your baby sleeps and wakes

Your baby stores fat and has

Changes a Woman May Experience

You're in the home stretch! many women find

As you near your due date, your cervix becomes

Your baby's bones are fully formed,

Your baby's kicks and jabs are

The eyes can open and close and

Lungs are not fully formed, but

Your baby is gaining weight quickly,

The protective waxy coating called vernix

Body fat increases. Your baby is getting

Your baby is about 16 to 19 inches long and

By the end of 37 weeks, your baby

As you near your due date, your

At birth, your baby may weigh

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