Question 1

First trimester

Hormonal changes will affect almost every organ in the body. Some signs of early pregnancy in many women include symptoms like:

Extreme fatigue
Tender, swollen breasts. Nipples may protrude.
Nausea with or without throwing up (morning sickness)
Cravings or aversion to certain foods
Mood swings
Constipation
Frequent urination
Headache
Heartburn
Weight gain or loss

Changes in a Woman's Daily Routine Some of the changes you experience in your first trimester may cause you to revise your daily routine. You may need to go to bed earlier or eat more frequent or smaller meals. Some women experience a lot of discomfort, and others may not feel any at all. Pregnant women experience pregnancy differently and even if they've been pregnant before. Pregnant women may feel completely differently with each subsequent pregnancy. First Trimester: The Baby at 4 Weeks At 4 weeks, your baby is developing:

The nervous system (brain and spinal cord) has begun to form.
The heart begins to form.
Arm and leg buds begin to develop.
Your baby is now an embryo and 1/25 of an inch long.

First Trimester: The Baby at 8 Weeks At 8 weeks, the embryo begins to develop into a fetus. Fetal development is apparent:

All major organs have begun to form.
The baby's heart begins to beat.
The arms and legs grow longer.
Fingers and toes have begun to form.
Sex organs begin to form.
The face begins to develop features.
The umbilical cord is clearly visible.
At the end of 8 weeks, your baby is a fetus, and is nearly 1 inch long, weighing less than ⅛ of an ounce.

First Trimester: The Baby at 12 Weeks The end of the first trimester is at about week 12, at this point in your baby's development:

The nerves and muscles begin to work together. Your baby can make a fist.
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 week 28.
Head growth has slowed, and your baby is about 3 inches long, and weighs almost an ounce.

Answer

First Trimester: Week 1 (conception) – Week 12 Physical and Emotional Changes a Woman May Experience

Question 2

Second Trimester

Back, abdomen, groin, or thigh aches and pains
Stretch marks on your abdomen, breasts, thighs, or buttocks
Darkening of the skin around your nipples
A line on the skin running from belly button to pubic hairline (linea nigra)
Patches of darker skin, usually over the cheeks, forehead, nose, or upper lip. This is sometimes called the mask of pregnancy (melasma, or Chloasma facies).
Numb or tingling hands (carpal tunnel syndrome)
Itching on the abdomen, palms, and soles of the feet. (Call your doctor if you have nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, yellowing of skin, or fatigue combined with itching. These can be signs of a liver problem.)
Swelling of the ankles, fingers, and face. (If you notice any sudden or extreme swelling or if you gain a lot of weight quickly, call your doctor immediately. This could be a sign of a serious condition called preeclampsia.)

Second Trimester: The Baby at 16 Weeks As your body changes in the second trimester, your baby continues to develop:

The musculoskeletal system continues to form.
Skin begins to form and is nearly translucent.
Meconium develops in your baby's intestinal tract. This will be your baby's first bowel movement.
Your baby begins sucking motions with the mouth (sucking reflex).
Your baby is about 4 to 5 inches long and weighs almost 3 ounces.

Second Trimester: The Baby at 20 Weeks At about 20 weeks in the second trimester, your baby continues to develop:

Your baby is more active. You might feel movement or kicking.
Your baby is covered by fine, feathery hair called lanugo and a waxy protective coating called vernix.
Eyebrows, eyelashes, fingernails, and toenails have formed. Your baby can even scratch itself.
Your baby can hear and swallow.
Now halfway through your pregnancy, your baby is about 6 inches long and weighs about 9 ounces.

Second Trimester: The Baby at 24 Weeks By 24 weeks, even more changes occur for your growing baby:

The baby's bone marrow begins to make blood cells.
Taste buds form on your baby's tongue.
Footprints and fingerprints have formed.
Hair begins to grow on your baby's head.
The lungs are formed, but do not yet work.
Your baby has a regular sleep cycle.
If your baby is a boy, his testicles begin to descend into the scrotum. If your baby is a girl, her uterus and ovaries are in place, and a lifetime supply of eggs has formed in the ovaries.
Your baby stores fat and weighs about 1½ pounds, and is 12 inches long.

Answer

Second trimester: Week 13 – Week 28 Second Trimester: Changes a Woman May Experience Once you enter the second trimester you may find it easier than the first. Your nausea (morning sickness) and fatigue may lessen or go away completely. However, you will also notice more changes to your body. That "baby bump" will start to show as your abdomen expands with the growing baby. By the end of the second trimester you will even be able to feel your baby move! Second Trimester: Physical and Emotional Changes in a Woman Some changes you may notice in your body in the second trimester include:

Question 3

Third Trimester

Swelling of the ankles, fingers, and face. (If you notice any sudden or extreme swelling or if you gain a lot of weight really quickly, call your doctor right away. This could be a sign of a serious condition called preeclampsia.)
Hemorrhoids
Tender breasts, which may leak a watery pre-milk called colostrum
Your belly button may protrude
The baby "dropping," or moving lower in your abdomen
Contractions, which can be a sign of real or false labor
Other symptoms you may notice in the third trimester include shortness of breath, heartburn, and difficulty sleeping

Third Trimester: Changes as the Due Date Approaches Other changes are happening in your body during the third trimester that you can't see. As your due date approaches, your cervix becomes thinner and softer in a process called effacement that helps the cervix open during childbirth. Your doctor will monitor the progress of your pregnancy with regular exams, especially as you near your due date. Third Trimester: The Baby at 32 Weeks At 32 weeks in the third trimester, your baby's development continues:

Your baby's bones are soft but fully formed.
Movements and kicking increase.
The eyes can open and close.
Lungs are not fully formed, but practice "breathing" movements occur.
Your baby's body begins to store vital minerals, such as iron and calcium.
Lanugo (fine hair) begins to fall off.
Your baby is gaining about ½ pound a week, weighs about 4 to 4½ pounds, and is about 15 to 17 inches long.

Third Trimester: The Baby at 36 Weeks At 36 weeks, as your due date approaches, your baby continues development:

The protective waxy coating (vernix) thickens.
Body fat increases.
Your baby is getting bigger and has less space to move around. Movements are less forceful, but you will still feel them.
Your baby is about 16 to 19 inches long and weighs about 6 to 6½ pounds.

Third Trimester: The baby at 37 to 40 Weeks Finally, from 37 to 40 weeks the last stages of your baby's development occur:

By the end of 37 weeks, your baby is considered full term.
Your baby's organs are capable of functioning on their own.
As you near your due date, your baby may turn into a head-down position for birth.
Average birth weight is between 6 pounds 2 ounces to 9 pounds 2 ounces and average length is 19 to 21 inches long. Most full-term babies fall within these ranges, but healthy babies come in many different weights and sizes.

Answer

Third Trimester: Week 29 – Week 40 (birth) Third Trimester: Changes a Woman May Experience The third trimester is the final stage of pregnancy. Discomforts that started in the second trimester will likely continue, along with some new ones. As the baby grows and puts more pressure on your internal organs, you may find you have difficulty breathing and have to urinate more frequently. This is normal and once you give birth these problems should go away. Third Trimester: Emotional and Physical Changes a Woman May Experience In the third and final trimester you will notice more physical changes, including:

Question 4

Preparing For Delivery

You’ll gain weight, typically at a rate averaging about one pound a week during the last trimester.

As your baby grows in size and places pressure on nearby organs, you may experience episodes of shortness of breath and back pain.

You may urinate more frequently as pressure is placed on your bladder, and you might have episodes of incontinence.

You may find it harder to get comfortable, and sleep may become more difficult. You may prefer to sleep on your side.

You could experience more fatigue than usual.

You may have heartburn, swelling in your feet and ankles, back pain, and hemorrhoids.

You may have “false labor” contractions known as Braxton- Hicks contractions. These Braxton-Hicks contractions begin to soften and thin the cervix, preparing it for the delivery of the baby. But unlike true labor contractions, they are irregular, do not occur more often as time passes, and do not become stronger or more intense.

While you’re pregnant, you and your spouse/partner may be participating in childbirth education classes, which will give you information about labor and birth, provide the chance to meet other parents-to-be, and help you prepare for the birth. Several types of classes are available in many communities. The Lamaze method, for example, uses approaches such as focused breathing, massage, and labor support that can be used during the actual childbirth process. The Bradley method emphasizes natural childbirth, and relies heavily on deep breathing techniques. Many childbirth education classes discuss a combination of these as well as other methods to teach expectant parents about the birth process and ways to make the delivery successful, comfortable, and enjoyable. Whatever class you’re considering, ask in advance about the topics and methods of childbirth that will be emphasized, and whether the classes are primarily lectures or also involve your active participation. What is the instructor’s philosophy about pregnancy and birth? Is he or she certified? Will you learn proper methods for breathing and relaxation? What will the classes cost? Is there a limit on class size? At the same time, consider signing up for other classes that can help prepare you for the parenting challenges ahead. Ask your doctor for referrals to breastfeeding classes, infant care programs, or instructional courses on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Some education classes encourage their participants to develop a “birth plan,” and may provide guidance in helping you do so. The birth plan is usually a written document for both you and your doctor in which you’ll record your own preferences for labor and delivery. For example:

Where will you be delivering your baby?

Based on your doctor’s instructions, do you plan to go directly to the hospital when labor begins, or will you call the office first? What arrangements have you made for transportation to the hospital or birthing center? Do you have a doula or want to participate in a doula program? (A doula provides various forms of nonmedical support in the childbirth process.)

Who would you like to deliver your baby (an obstetrician or a nurse midwife)?

Who do you want to be present to support you during the childbirth experience?

What position would you prefer to be in during delivery?

What are your preferences for pain medication (if any is going to be used)?

What options would you consider if unexpected circumstances develop (e.g., the need for an episiotomy or a Cesarean section)?

If you deliver prematurely, does the facility have adequate resources to take care of your prematurely born infant?

Not only should you talk about and share this document with your doctor, but also let your family members and friends know of your decisions.

Answer

As the weeks and months pass leading up to your delivery date, you’re probably eagerly planning for the new addition to your family, and adjusting to what is going on in your own body. During the third trimester, you’ll notice many changes that may affect how you feel:

Prenatal

First trimester

Second Trimester

Third Trimester

Preparing For Delivery