Pregnancy is a natural process involving changes in a woman's body.
Most women have uncomplicated pregnancies and their daily routines may not change
until the last few weeks before delivery.
Other women have difficult pregnancies that change their
daily lives right from the start.
Most women experience emotional shifts and mood
swings. It's natural to feel doubt, anxiety, and fear
about pregnancy and childbirth, as well as
happiness, excitement, and anticipation. Keeping a online pregnancy journal can help you keep track of your emotions. Plus, it will serve as a wonderful keepsake of your pregnancy in the years to come.
As soon as you think you might be pregnant, you should visit a
pregnancy help center or clinic right away for a pregnancy test.
If you are pregnant it is important to learn more about what to
expect from pregnancy and how to care for yourself and your
growing baby. If you smoke or drink, you should stop
immediately -- tobacco and alcohol can harm your unborn child. Certain medications can also harm your child. [More about prenatal risks.]
Pregnancy typically lasts 40 weeks, or 9 months. That
time is divided into three periods called trimesters
(three-month intervals), during which different things happen
to your body and to the baby. Below is a list of some of
the normal things a pregnant woman may experience during
each trimester. The changes described here may
happen earlier or later than they appear on this list, and
some may continue throughout the pregnancy.
DID YOU KNOW... Pregnancy is counted from the first day of a woman's last period.
This means that at conception, the unborn child is already considered two weeks old!
The First Trimester (Week 1 - Week 12)
Six Weeks: By twenty-one days after fertilization, the embryo's tiny heart has begun beating.
You may feel nausea or queasiness. Some women
vomit. ("Morning sickness" can happen any time of day --
it may help to eat small meals throughout the
day, snack on crackers or toast, or drink juice
or lemonade.)
Your breasts swell and may be tender.
Your nipples and the area around the nipples
(areola) get darker and broader.
You have to urinate more often.
You feel tired.
You may become constipated and have
heartburn (Tums may help).
You may have headaches.
You experience mood swings -- feel angry,
sad, or happy for no reason.
WARNING: Although most pregnancies are uncomplicated, dangerous situations can develop.
If you experience a sharp pain on the side in early pregnancy, or bleeding and/or cramping at anytime during pregnancy,
call your doctor immediately!
The Second Trimester (Week 13 - Week 26)
Eighteen Weeks: By this time
eyebrows, eyelashes, and fine hair appear. The child can grasp with his hands, kick, or even somersault.
The skin on your stomach stretches and may get dry.
(Use lotion to lessen
the chance of stretch marks.)
Your breasts get bigger.
It helps to wear a supportive bra.
A small amount of thin
fluid (called colostrum)
may come out of your nipples.
You may experience ongoing heartburn,
indigestion, and constipation.
You may get nosebleeds.
Your feet, hands, ankles and face may swell (this
is called edema).
A dark line develops on your skin between your
navel and your pubic area.
A "mask" or darker area or pigmentation may
develop on your face. (It disappears after the
pregnancy ends.)
You may begin to develop varicose veins. Varicose vein relief is available if you are suffering.
The Third Trimester (Week 27 - 40)
Twenty-four Weeks:
Seen here at six months, the unborn child is covered with a
fine, downy hair called lanugo and a waxy
substance called vernix. The fetus still has much growing to do, but
some babies could survive if born this early.