Pregnancy presents rapid physiological and emotional changes for you and your baby. To get track of the changes, monitoring your pregnancy calendar week by week is a must. Of course, you do not want to miss any important milestone in the development of your baby. You want to be prepared by knowing what to expect in all the three trimesters of pregnancy. The information you will have will make you more knowledgeable about the changes occurring inside you.
To make things easier for you, this article will discuss the changes taking place in your baby and in you. You will have the major developments involved, the changes that go with them and some tips to make things easier for you.
First Trimester
Week 1 and 2
The first week of pregnancy is often not observable. In fact, your baby has not yet been conceived during this period. However, it is counted as the first week in the pregnancy calendar week by week because the expected date of delivery is calculated based on your last menstrual period. As early as now, you have to pay attention to your nutrition. If you have unhealthy habits, you better quit them now. Your baby’s health status depends on yours, so better prepare yourself to the challenges ahead.
On the second week, your body is now preparing for the fertilization of the egg. It is important to know that out of the millions of sperms from your partner, only one successfully fertilizes your egg cell. The meeting often occurs in the fallopian tube and together, they move to your uterus for implantation. At this point, the fertilized egg cell is now called as morula and further divides to become a blastocyst. During this time the lining of the uterus thickens in response to the hormonal stimulation.
Week 3 to 5
Strictly speaking, this is just the first few weeks of fetal life. If you take a look at the pregnancy calendar week by week, the blastocyst is now called as the embryo. The major organs are in rapid development. Although the future arms and legs take their forms, they are not clearly distinguishable at this point. The couple may not yet be too excited with the changes because of the too general appearance of the baby. But with the aid of medical equipments, you will know that there is another living person inside you. The heart is beating steadily and the circulatory system moves blood to the main vessels.
The woman may now suspect that she is pregnant because of the missed period and changes occurring in her body. There may be breast tenderness and nausea and vomiting are noted in many women. A pregnancy test will show a positive result because of the release of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).
Week 6 to 8
The hands and feet are becoming more distinguishable during the sixth week of gestational age. The major organs like the heart and lungs continue to develop. For excited couples, a vaginal ultrasound will be able to deliver audible heartbeats.
On the 8th week, all major structures that you see in adults are now present in your baby. You see the eyes, nose, ears, legs, arms, etc. The process of development in the pregnancy calendar week by week tells you the coming months will now be focused in the fine development of the structures.
Since this is the crucial stage in the pregnancy calendar week by week, you have to ensure that you get adequate vitamins especially folic acid. Folic acid aids in the nervous system development and prevents spina bifida. You need to continue taking multivitamins throughout the pregnancy. As a precaution, do not take any drug without your doctor’s prescription.
Week 9 to 13
By the end of the first trimester, the head becomes bigger in proportion with the body. The genitals have grown; eyelids form and baby teeth are noticeable. To ensure safe pregnancy, you have to undergo prenatal care. The discomforts of the first trimester gradually disappear. You may be able to fight off the morning sickness as well as the nausea. Externally, your tummy may look bigger.
Second Trimester
Week 14 to 20
The skin develops at week 14 and fingerprints are visible. Nails appear and heart beat is audible with the use of stethoscope. The fetus begins to move inside and thus, the mother may feel the movements through the abdomen. The father may need to wait a while before he can feel the baby. The tummy is growing bigger and thus it is now more visible in almost all women. The baby is about 8 inches at the end of the 20th week.
Week 21 to 26
Based on the pregnancy calendar week by week, the fetus may now look like a newborn. The major organs are almost complete. Previously, it is not yet safe to give birth at this period because of the immaturity of the lungs and other organs. But with the help of medical technology, there are several cases of babies successfully thriving outside the mother’s womb.
Third Trimester
For some women they consider the beginning of the third trimester as the seventh month of pregnancy. But for more accurate assessment, experts consider the pregnancy calendar week by week.
Week 27 to 36
Week 27 marks the final maturation of the different organs including the lungs. The bones are fully developed. The baby begins to position in the uterus in preparation for birth and gains more weight. Women may feel a fuller abdomen during this period and discomforts happen due to their increasing weight. To avoid problems, it is important to eat small frequent meals throughout the pregnancy calendar week by week. You should also be careful since your body’s center of balance has changed.
Week 37 to 40
Once you reach the 37th week, your baby is now considered in full term. You have to prepare since anytime, your baby may be out. Get all your things ready. When you see blood stains, feel labor contractions or experience a gush of water, see your doctor right away.