Your body

Congratulations, you are pregnant!

In this period a lot of women do not even feel and look differently, but this is no reason to be worried. If you feel differently, you are probably more tired than normally or even exhausted, and you might as well have vertigo. A lot of pregnant women feel nauseous, which can be associated with vomiting. This nausea is called “morning sickness” although it may occur at any point of day or night, and if you are less lucky, the sickness may last throughout the whole day. This also is no reason to worry – “morning sickness” is a sign of healthy pregnancy, and you will probably feel much better after the 13^th – 14^th week of pregnancy.

In this period your metabolism will slightly increase and you will start to gain some weight. Your breasts will probably start to feel tender. You might also be constipated, or have a more frequent need to urinate. Nevertheless, consumption of water, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables should not be reduced.

If you haven’t already visited your gynecologist, now would be the time to book your firs appointment in order to confirm your pregnancy and get initial information and advice.

Your baby

In this period of pregnancy, until 8^th week, all baby’s inner organs will be in their right position, although there is a lot more development to be done. At the end of this period your baby will start to resemble the typical look of a human baby and will be approximately 2.5 cm long. Its heart will start ponding, which is detectable on ultrasound, with about 180 pumps per minute. This shows that there is blood circulation already working in its small body.

Your body

If you are among those women having “morning sickness” or feeling tired because of the pregnancy, the good news is that, from this point the symptoms will most likely start to withdraw. By this time your uterus has grown to the size of a grapefruit. You might as well experience some changes in your face skin, like discoloration in the form of darker stains called melasma, which will disappear after the pregnancy. As your breasts and lower abdomen are increasing you might as well consider obtaining a suitable bra and clothes.

Your baby

By the end of this period your baby resembles the look of a human being, although they are only about 6cm long, head to bottom. You won’t be able to feel, but they are also active and move in your uterus. They can move their arms, stretch the fingers and the sex organs are starting to form, although they are still not detectable on ultrasound. The ultrasound examination in this period will confirm your baby’s heartbeat.

Your body

In this period your pregnancy is becoming evident, as your stomach grows. You probably would have gained some 2.5 – 4.5 kg and it is time for suitable clothing. Since the nausea and fatigue have passed, it is advisable that you start exercise adjusted to your pregnancy, which would help you stay in shape and prepare for delivery.

Your baby

This is a period of intense growth of your baby, and in the last 4 weeks they have doubled their length and weigh about 130 gr. The outer sex organs are already formed and your doctor should be able to detect on the ultrasound examination whether you are expecting a girl or a boy. In this phase your baby might start to suck their finger, and if you are lucky you might have the chance to see this on ultrasound. Your baby already has their own finger prints.

Your body

Congratulations, you are half way through! You will probably notice that in this period not only your stomach, but also your thighs and bottom are increasing.  This of course is no reason to be worried, because it is a natural process of your body making fat reserves to use later on when you would be breastfeeding. Some stretch marks might appear on your stomach and breasts as well. You could gently massage some cream or oil on your breasts and stomach skin, to keep its softness and elasticity. As your baby grows you might start to feel some heartburn, which is also normal. It is advisable to eat smaller portions of food, to avoid alcohol, spices and other foods or beverages that you feel are worsening the symptoms. If needed there are medications safe for pregnant women, to be advised by your physician or pharmacist.

Your baby

Your baby’s senses are now developing fast and they are able to hear sounds through the uterus. Although they are still small, you can now feel their movements. Some hair will also grow on their head and the first teeth are formed in the gums. The nervous system is developing fast and with the development of muscles, they start to gain control over their movements. They are about 15 cm long, head to bottom, and weigh about 270 gr. By 20 weeks, your baby’s skin is covered in a white, greasy substance called vernix, which is thought to protect the skin during the many weeks in the amniotic fluid.

Your body

As your stomach grows, your pregnancy becomes more evident to other people. In this period of pregnancy your uterus will start making exercises in the form of contractions called Braxton Hicks contractions, which are actually helping it prepare for delivery. You will feel from time to time your stomach hardening for a few seconds, which is how they manifest. Your breasts might also start to feel tenderer, which is due to hormonal changes preparing them for breastfeeding, and may leak a little pre-milk, which is quite normal.

Your baby

By the end of this period your baby has grown to about 20 cm in length, head to bottom, and over 600 gr in weight. At the end of 24^th week your baby’s eyes will open for the first time. Their face lines are formed and they now resemble the look of the baby you are going to meet after delivery. The rhythm of their heart slows down to about 140-150 pumps per minute. Around this time, the baby is covered in fine, soft hair called lanugo. It’s thought that lanugo keeps the baby at the right temperature. It usually disappears before birth, but some lanugo can be left on your baby’s skin even after birth, and fall off afterwards. Your baby now has cycles of sleeping and being awake, which you might notice in the following period, and which might not be in sync with your own rhythm. Your baby is getting oxygen via the placenta through the entire pregnancy. At this time the lungs are not yet able to work properly, but your baby is practicing breathing movements to prepare for life outside the uterus. By the time you’re 24 weeks pregnant, the baby has a chance of survival if he or she is born, but there are increased risks of disability.

Your body

Your stomach and breasts are getting bigger and you need to adjust your movements to your new “proportions”. You might start to feel some pressure, or even cramps in your legs, and swelling of your legs and arms, which are more common in the afternoons. This is normal and caused by water retention. As your baby grows, they take up some of the space where your stomach is. If you don’t already have indigestion and heartburn, you might start to feel the symptoms now, which is quite normal as well. You could help yourself by eating smaller meals and avoiding food which makes the symptoms worse. If the symptoms are persistent and cause discomfort, consult your doctor or pharmacist for treatment. You might also feel some shortages of breath caused by the pressure your uterus is doing on the diaphragm under your lungs.

Your baby

By the end of this period your baby will weigh over 1 kg. They are still able to change position in the uterus and will become more active in this phase. They respond to touch and sound and a very loud noise may make them jump and kick. They are now regularly passing urine in to the amniotic fluid. At this time your baby is starting to intensively build fat and the lungs are developing fast to prepare for the process of breathing after birth.

Your body

You are now entering the 3^rd trimester of your pregnancy. You will probably start to feel tired again because of all the additional needs of your body and the growing baby. Use every possibility to rest and put your legs up as often as you can. Your pelvic joints will start to spread to prepare for delivery. Because of this you might feel discomfort or even pain, especially if you have been on your legs for a longer period of time. Try not to make sudden movements to avoid any damage of the pelvis. As the pressure on your bladder increases, you might feel you need to empty it more often, even during the night. If you have difficulties to sleep at night, try curling up on your side and supporting your bump with a pillow for more comfort.

Your baby

At the end of this period your baby’s weight is almost 2 kg and is about 30 cm long, head to bottom. They have less space to move now and keep their legs pressed on the chest most of the time. If they are turned head down they will stay in this position until delivery. If not, there is still time for them to turn. Their eyes are developed sufficiently to make difference between light and dark. As they are building fat, their skin becomes less wrinkled and smoother. The vernix and lanugo begin to disappear. In this period the lungs are developing intensely and filling with surfactant important for breathing later on.

Your body

You are entering the final weeks of your pregnancy. Your stomach is now quite big and affects all your bodily activities. You might feel pain in your back and low stomach when standing for a prolonged period of time, and your feet and arms might be swollen, especially in the evenings. The Braxton Hicks contractions are becoming more evident as your uterus is preparing for the upcoming delivery. If they become painful or frequent, you should contact your health provider. Your baby will settle lower in your pelvis to prepare for delivery, which if you have experienced heartburn or shortage of breath, will help reduce the symptoms. In this period a lot of women feel the need to “clean the house”, but be careful not to overdo it.

Your baby

Your baby is now making fat reserves and gaining some significant weight, approximately 140 gr per week. The central nervous system is still developing, and their reflexes are becoming better every day. The bones are hardening, but skull bones will stay soft and separated until after birth, to enable easier passage of your baby’s head through the birth canal during delivery and still protect the brain. By 36^th week of pregnancy your baby will be about 32 cm long, head to bottom, and will weigh about 2.5 kg. Their skin will be soft and smooth, they will have nails and possibly up to 5cm of hair on their head. The lungs will be prepared for breathing if the baby is delivered at 36 weeks of pregnancy, and the digestive system will be able to process breast milk.

Your body

As you are approaching your delivery date, your stomach is quite big and you are bearing a significant load. It is very important to rest as much as possible. Do your pelvic floor exercises regularly, for the baby is making a significant pressure on your bladder now. You will probably visit your gynecologist once weekly, or even more often if needed. The weight gain should have stopped. Although pregnancy is calculated in 40 weeks, it is considered that the baby is “on time” if it’s delivered anywhere between 38th to 42nd week.

Your baby

Normal delivery weight of your baby is considered between 2.5 kg and 4 kg. The lungs and the nervous system which are developing slower than the rest of the organs should be completely functional by the end of the pregnancy. Your baby moves their eyes all the time and has a rhythm of sleeping and being awake. Because they are much bigger now, the movements are limited and not very intense, and there is less amniotic liquid in your uterus. In the final hours of pregnancy, it will turn from transparent to milky white. In your baby’s digestive system there is a green substance, called meconium. It will be your baby’s first poo after birth. The lanugo should also be almost entirely gone, but some babies are born with small patches of it.

At this phase your baby is prepared for delivery and you will have the joy of meeting each other soon. Best of luck!