Doctors divide the 9 months of pregnancy into 3 trimesters, with 3 months in each trimester. The first trimester starts in week 1 and lasts until week 12. The second trimester lasts from week 13 to week 15. while the last and third trimesters start at week 28 and end at the birth of the baby.
Note: We have given all the information about pregnancy, symptoms, stages, timing, etc. in this article. If any woman is pregnant or wants to become pregnant, then she should definitely read this article once.
What is pregnancy?
Pregnancy is a process in which changes occur in a woman’s body to accommodate a developing foetus. A woman’s body produces more progesterone and oestrogen during the early stages of pregnancy.These hormones help prepare the lining of the uterus for the implantation of a fertilised egg. They also help maintain pregnancy by preventing the uterine muscles from contracting too much.
During implantation, the fertilised egg attaches to the lining of the uterus. Then the placenta begins to form, which provides nutrients and oxygen to the foetus and removes waste products. As the pregnancy progresses, the woman’s abdomen will begin to expand along with the growth of the foetus. By week 40, most babies weigh between 6 and 9 pounds.
Pregnancy is a time of major changes for a woman’s body. These changes can result in some common discomforts, such as fatigue, nausea, and back pain. However, with proper care, most women can expect a healthy pregnancy and delivery.
How does pregnancy happen?
Pregnancy occurs when sperm fertilises an egg. The fertilised egg then implants itself in the lining of the uterus, where it begins to grow.
Most women have about 28 days in their menstrual cycle. This is the time from the first day of one period to the first day of the next period. Ovulation usually occurs around day 14. This occurs when the ovary releases an egg into the fallopian tube. If a sperm fertilises this egg, it can implant itself in the lining of the uterus, and pregnancy can occur.
What happens after conception?
After conception, the fertilised egg travels through the fallopian tubes to the uterus. It implants in the lining of the uterus, where it begins to grow.
The placenta begins to form, which provides nutrients and oxygen to the foetus and removes waste products. As the pregnancy progresses, the woman’s abdomen will begin to expand as the foetus grows. By week 40, most babies weigh between 6 and 9 pounds.
Pregnancy is a time of major changes for a woman’s body. These changes can result in some common discomforts, such as fatigue, nausea, and back pain. However, with proper care, most women can expect a healthy pregnancy and delivery.
Symptoms
The symptoms of pregnancy can vary from woman to woman, and not all women experience all the same symptoms. Some common early pregnancy symptoms include:
- Vomiting
- Feeling tired
- passing urine more often than usual.
- headache sensation
- Missing periods.
- breast tenderness
- Constipation or other gastrointestinal changes
These three symptoms of pregnancy start appearing only after 3–4 days of conception.
Bleeding during pregnancy
Vaginal bleeding and spotting are common during pregnancy. Up to 1 in 4 (up to 25%) of all pregnant women have some bleeding or spotting during their pregnancy.
Vaginal discharge during pregnancy
Heavy vaginal discharge is normal in pregnancy. This helps prevent any infection from passing from the vagina to the foetus.
Breast changes during pregnancy
Your nipples will become larger and more pronounced. They can also change shape. Your nipple and areola may turn quite dark. As the skin on your breasts stretches as they grow, you may experience itching or dryness.
These symptoms can occur as early as two weeks after conception, and many women mistake them for PMS or some other problem. If you think you might be pregnant, take a home pregnancy test or see your doctor.
Stages of pregnancy
Pregnancy is divided into three trimesters:
- First Trimester: from conception to 12 weeks
- Second Trimester: 12 to 24 weeks
- Third Trimester: 24 to 40 weeks
week 1
This first week is actually your menstrual period. Because your expected birth date is calculated from the first day of your last period, this week is counted as part of your 40 weeks of pregnancy, even if your baby is not yet conceived.
week 2
It is the second week of your 40-week pregnancy journey. As of week one, you’re still not technically pregnant, but you’re closer than ever to that goal. During week 2, your body is getting ready to ovulate.
week 3
You’ve conceived and are in your first month of pregnancy, although it will be a few weeks until you can confirm the news with a pregnancy test. This week, tiny clusters of cells are growing rapidly. Meanwhile, rising hormone levels can heighten the sense of smell, which is one of the earliest signs of pregnancy.
week 4
During week 4, the tiny life you and your partner created just a week ago is implanted in your uterus, where it will grow and develop.
week 5
At 5 weeks pregnant, you are now in your second month of pregnancy. At 5 weeks, most women will not know they are pregnant. Since not everyone has regular cycles, you may not realise that your period is late. It’s possible to notice some light bleeding and mistake it for your period, but implantation bleeding (when an embryo attaches to the lining of the womb) can also occur.
week 6
The baby is now known as a foetus. Its length can reach up to about 3 mm. By this stage, it is secreting special hormones that prevent the mother from menstruating. And you may see symptoms like fatigue, sore breasts, and headaches this week.
week 7
Congratulations! The seventh week is when most women find out they are pregnant. Your foetus is now 10,000 times larger than it was when it arrived in your uterus at 7 weeks gestation! As your baby grows rapidly, 100 new brain cells are produced every minute.
week 8
Your baby has already come a long way, and growth will soon be at the right pace! Your little one is 1.3 cm in length. Your clothes might feel a bit stingy, but on the other hand, you can hear your baby’s heartbeat for the first time.
week 9
Congratulations! You have successfully completed 2 months of your pregnancy, and your baby’s eyes, mouth, and tongue are forming this week. Small muscles start moving the foetus around.
week 10
You are now in your third month of pregnancy, and your baby has officially turned from an embryo to a foetus. These two terms simply refer to different stages of development.
week 11
As your baby develops, teeth are budding inside the gums, including fingers and toes!
week 12
Meanwhile, at 12 weeks pregnant, your baby bump may be a bit more visible. The head is about half the length of the body. Although the legs remain short, the arms appear to be of more normal length. The kidneys are functioning, and the baby is swallowing and urinating amniotic fluid. They are practising breathing movements, and their digestive system is also starting to practise.
week 13
At 13 weeks pregnant, you are in the last week of your first trimester. Now its length has exceeded 7 cm.
week 14
Your baby’s reproductive system has already begun to form. Your blood and your baby’s blood come into close contact across the placenta, but they don’t mix. This is because you and your baby may belong to different blood groups.
week 15
At 15 weeks, you can see your baby moving all over the body, and the baby can move his arms and legs and stretch.
week 16
Your baby’s little muscles are getting stronger! Inside your 16-week pregnant belly, the baby is listening to your voice. Your 16-week-old foetus is growing hair, eyelashes, and eyebrows, and his taste buds are forming.
week 17
At 17 weeks pregnant, your baby is putting on a bit of bulk and developing muscles. In the meantime, you may feel some new pains. The baby’s rubbery cartilage is now turning into bone.
week 18
This week, you can feel your baby move. Not all pregnant women will be able to feel any movement, and this should not worry you.
week 19
In the 19th week, the baby is working on its five senses. On the 19th week of your pregnancy, as your bump grows, you may feel more sore, and your legs may swell slightly.
week 20
You may find yourself awake at night with a sudden, sharp pain in your calves. It is probably cramping, which is common in pregnancy and is caused by muscle spasms.
week 21
At 21 weeks pregnant, your baby has more control over limb movements, which explains why you may feel more kicking and pulling down there.
week 22
Baby hairs appear on your little one’s head. It’s thinner now, but it may thicken and shine by the end of the pregnancy.
week 23
You may notice a slight swelling in your feet and ankles. And you might be surprised to learn that your baby can hear your voice.
week 24
The top of your uterus is now just above your belly button. As your baby’s movements get stronger, you can feel them by placing your hand on your belly.
week 25
At 25 weeks, the baby weighs about 0.7 kg, and their heart is beating at about 140 beats per minute—much faster than it did after birth. This week the baby’s eyelids opened for the first time.
week 26
You are now entering the sixth month of pregnancy. If you are watching your weight during your pregnancy and sticking to a balanced diet, your weight should be between 7.25 and 10 kg.
week 27
You’re nearing the end of the second trimester, and it may be easier for your family to feel your baby’s movements. At 27 weeks inside your belly, the baby is practising inhaling and exhaling with his rapidly developing lungs.
week 28
Your baby is settling into the proper position for birth, which will be head-down on the exit side closest to your body!
week 29
Your little one is getting ready to meet you! He is able to put on weight more quickly. During the last two and a half months of your pregnancy, she will continue to put on more padding and will probably double her current weight.
week 30
During your 30th week of pregnancy, your baby is still developing. Along with other third trimester symptoms like fatigue and bloating, you may also find that you experience emotional symptoms like mood swings this week.
week 31
Your baby and belly are still growing. The brain and nerve development of your week-31 foetus is at its peak.
week 32
The child spends most of its time sleeping. Its movements are strong and coordinated. In preparation for birth, it has probably assumed the “head down” position by now.
week 33
If you are 33 weeks pregnant, you are in your 8th month of pregnancy. It is possible that you are having difficulty sleeping at this point in your pregnancy. With your increased size and bulging belly at 33 weeks pregnant, sleeping through the night can be more difficult.
week 34
Considering your baby’s weight gain, it is no wonder that you are feeling stressed. Like most people at 34 weeks, you may experience symptoms such as trouble sleeping, frequent urination, fatigue, swelling in your face, shortness of breath, heartburn, and indigestion.
week 35
Your little one can begin to plan for the exit by shifting to a head-down position and working on important body preparations like body fat and brain formation.
week 36
Your baby is about 34 cm from head to foot and weighs about 2.5 kg. Most babies’ heads are “attached” at this stage. Some don’t for a few more weeks, and some don’t until after their labour has started.
week 37
Your baby may be putting the finishing touches on important tasks like sucking and swallowing, while your body may be giving you signals that it is preparing for labour and delivery. And you’re going to meet her sometime in the next few weeks.
week 38
This week means month 9 of pregnancy is almost halfway through. Your baby’s lungs get stronger this week. And your breasts may leak colostrum.
week 39
This week your baby, or foetus, is about 50.7 cm long from head to heel and weighs about 3.3 kg. The baby’s brain is still developing rapidly. Baby’s nails can now grow beyond the fingers.
week 40
Your little one is all set for life outside the womb, including organs and reflexes. Very few babies reach their due date, and about half of all pregnancies are over 40 weeks.
At 41 weeks pregnant, this is considered a late pregnancy but is still within the normal range. If your pregnancy lasts longer than 42 weeks, it is called post-term. The average pregnancy lasts 37 to 42 weeks, but some last longer.
You should consult your doctor for more information about pregnancy, week by week. And tell the doctor how you are feeling at this point in your pregnancy.
complications of pregnancy
Most pregnancies are uneventful, sometimes with complications. The complications associated with pregnancy include the following: We’ve listed some of the more common pregnancy complications.
Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes is similar to other types of diabetes in that it affects how your cells use sugar (glucose). But if your body can’t make enough insulin or stops using insulin, your blood sugar levels rise, and you get gestational diabetes.
Placenta previa (low-lying placenta)
The placenta previa is the cause of bleeding in the third trimester. Bleeding in the third trimester is due to placenta previa. Placenta previa is rare and occurs in 1 in 200 women.
Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia is a high blood pressure (hypertension) disorder that can occur during pregnancy. Preeclampsia occurs in about 2–8 out of 100 pregnancies worldwide. Some women with preeclampsia may have seizures. This is called eclampsia.
Hyperemesis gravidarum
Morning sickness, also known as hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), is a condition that causes severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.Hyperemesis gravidarum may often require hospital treatment.
While these conditions can vary from woman to woman, it is important to consult with your healthcare provider to talk about what women can do to reduce their risks.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days after a period can you get pregnant?
You are more likely to get pregnant after your period is over. Most women have a menstrual cycle of 28 days. This means that you have about 6 days each month when you can get pregnant. If you are planning to conceive, then perhaps the doctor will advise you to have sex twice or three times a week.
What week do pregnancy symptoms start?
At about 4 weeks of pregnancy, which is also 4 weeks from the first day of your last period, you may miss or be late with your period. This is often the first and most common symptom of pregnancy.