Pregnancy Stages - What To Expect
Written by Doroby on 7:47 AMBy Judy Wellsworth
Pregnancy is traditionally divided into three stages which last about 13 weeks each. Different events characterize these three stages and women must be well informed about what's going through their bodies all throughout these stages.
1st Trimester: Conception to 12th week
This is the first stage and unquestionably the time when you are most fragile. This is when the baby begins to grow and starts developing its body parts and vital organs. It is also when most miscarriages and spontaneous abortions occur.
It is important to have a checkup as early as possible, once you suspect that you are pregnant. Knowing that you are indeed carrying a baby inside you will motivate you to become more cautious of the substances that you eat or drink.
Alcohol and caffeine, for instance, should be avoided. You must also begin to take prenatal vitamins at this stage because the fetus needs certain vitamins and minerals at this crucial stage of development. Deficiencies in these important nutrients may lead to untreatable congenital defects.
This is the pregnancy stage when you could possibly experience nausea and vomiting, also known as "morning sickness." You will also find yourself looking for strange foods or having a ravenous appetite.
The cause of these cravings is unknown, although some researcher's say that it is our body's way of making us take in substances that we need during our pregnancy.
2nd Trimester: 13th to 28th week
This is perhaps the most relaxing of all three pregnancy stages, because it is when your morning sickness would have subsided and when you have already adjusted to the idea of a growing baby inside you. During this pregnancy stage, you will first experience the phenomenon known as the "quickening," or the first faint baby movements.
At the start of this pregnancy stage, your baby is already about 3-4 inches long and its facial features are already in place. Its eyebrows and hair begin to grow, its circulatory system and its urinary tract start to function, and its lungs begin to exhale amniotic fluid.
3rd Trimester: 29th to 40th week
You have finally reached the last stage of your pregnancy, and what an accomplishment you've made! At this pregnancy stage, you must be psyched enough about the arrival of your baby and already pumped up about purchasing baby products and preparing the nursery.
At the beginning of this pregnancy stage, your baby is almost a foot long and should weigh between 2 and 3 pounds. During this time, its body undergoes so many changes. It is said that the fetus is now able to discern between light and dark and can now blink or shut its eyes. By week 33, you're already gaining about a pound a week. For the next 7 weeks, the baby itself will begin to gain more than half its birthweight.
By week 36, your uterus would have expanded to a thousand times its original volume, and it now reaches the base of your rib cage. Week 37 sees you in full term. Expect that your baby could be born any time around this period.
The different pregnancy stages feature various stages in your life as well as the baby's. What's important is that all throughout your pregnancy, you should aim to keep a healthy lifestyle - observe a balanced diet, get some rest whenever you need it, and keep a journal of all the wonderful and not-so-wonderful experiences that you're going through.
You can also find more info on pregnancy development and pregnancy tests. Pregnancyhelpblog.com is a comprehensive resource to know more about pregnancy.
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