pregnancy stages
We all know that the typical pregnancy has three trimesters and lasts around 40 weeks from the first day of a woman’s last period. In that each trimester, the fetus gone through specific developmental milestones
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40 weeks is the usual time , but a full-term baby can be born as early as 37 weeks and as late as 42 weeks also.
trimesters of pregnancy chart
Here In this article, we will discuss more information about what to expect during each pregnancy trimester
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The first trimester
First of all ,the first trimester of pregnancy lasts for the first 12 weeks of the pregnancy and is crucial for the baby’s development also. At the time of conception, the egg and sperm combine to form a zygote, which will implant in the uterine wall.
After that, the zygote becomes an embryo as the cells divide and grow. In this time, all of the major organs and structures of your baby begin to form.
At the weeks of 4–5, the embryo is only 0.04 inches long but will grow to around 3 inches long by the end of the first trimester of pregnancy. At this time, the embryo is looking a lot more like a human baby.
On a doppler machine, your fetus’s heart rate can be heard as early as 8 weeks , but it is more likely closer to 12 weeks.
During this 8 week the eyelids remain closed to protect its eyes.At this stage, the fetus can also make a fist.And also, external genitalia will have formed and may be visible during an ultrasound, it means, that a doctor can tell someone whether the fetus is male or female.
During the first trimester of pregnancy, a woman will experience many changes too.
Many of the women will start to feel morning sickness, or nausea and vomiting at this 6 to 8 weeks.
As its name says, but this nausea or morning sickness,does not just occur in the morning.many of the pregnant women get sick at night, while others are sick all day too.
In this pregnant woman might also feel very tired and notice that she is more emotional than usual due to hormonal changes.
Many of the women, also report experiencing food cravings or aversions during early pregnancy, along with that, a stronger sense of smell and breast tenderness is also very common.
The second trimester
The second trimester of pregnancy lasts between 13 weeks and 26 weeks of pregnancy. During this time the fetus will go through a lot of changes and it grow from approximately 4 to 5 inches long to around 12 inches long.
During the second trimester of pregnancy, the fetus will also go from weighing about 3 ounces to weighing 1 pound (lb) or more than that.
In addition to that,all the major structures and organs, and also the other important parts of the body will form.
During the second trimester of pregnancy, including:
The skeleton
Muscle tissue
Skin
Eyebrows
Eyelashes
Fingernails and toenails
Blood cells
Taste buds
Footprints and fingerprints
Hair
The testes begin to drop into the scrotum,If the fetus is male.And if the fetus is female, the ovaries begin to form eggs.
During this time,the fetus has regular sleeping and waking patterns.Also they can hear sounds from outside the womb, and they will begin to practice swallowing, which is an important skill after delivery.
Pregnant woman will also likely begin to feel better in this time. In most of the cases, morning sickness and fatigue start to go away at the beginning of the second trimester of the pregnancy. However,food cravings and aversions can continue,
Pregnant woman may notice that her belly is starting to grow and that’s why, she is beginning to “look pregnant.”During this time, she should also start to feel the baby moving, which is called “quickening.”
In the end of the second trimester of pregnancy,braxton–Hicks contractions may start toward
A pregnant woman may also begin to experience other symptoms in the second trimester of pregnancy, including:
Round ligament pain
Nipple changes, such as darkening
Stretch marks
Headaches in the second trimester of pregnancy
Cramping in the second trimester of pregnancy
The third trimester
3rd trimester lasts from week 27 until your delivery, which is usually around 40 weeks. During this trimester, your developing baby will grow from around 12 inches long and 1.5 lbs in weight to about 18–20 inches long and 7–8 lbs in weight.
By this time,most of the organs and body systems have formed , but they will continue to grow and mature during the third trimester.
Your fetus’s lungs are not fully formed at the beginning of this trimester, but they will be fully formed by the time of delivery.
Your growing baby will start practicing breathing motions to help prepare for life after its birth.Babys kicks and rolls become stronger, and a pregnant woman should feel her babys move regularly.
During this 3rd trimester, a pregnant woman may also begin to feel uncomfortable , because her belly starts to grow. Most of the pregnant women start to feel Braxton–Hicks contractions getting stronger, and they may also have back pain from carrying a heavy belly.
Other third trimester symptoms that a pregnant woman may experience during the third trimester include:
Heartburn
Swollen feet
Insomnia
Mood swings
Leakage of milk from the breasts
Other breast and nipple changes
Frequent urination
As, at this time the woman gets closer to the delivery, your baby should turn in to a head-down position to make birth easier.
On the other hand anxiety about delivery and parenthood are also common toward the end of pregnancy.
Many of the people unofficially call the baby’s first 3 months of life the fourth trimester, or the time when the baby adjusts to life outside the womb.
Compared with the most other animal in this earth,human babies are born very immature.In this world, many baby animals can stand up and walk within hours of birth.
Human babies have very large brains compared to others, so they must be born at 9 months’ of gestation. If the birth occurred any later, it would be very because their heads might not be able to pass through a woman’s pelvis safely.
Since the human baby are still very immature, newborn human babies need constant care during their first few months of there life.
This period can be very difficult for both the baby and their parents also. Keeping your newborns baby calm means replicating life in the womb as closely as possible.
This can be accomplished by:
Holding your newborn baby close
Gently swaying or rocking your baby
Making swishing or shushing noises
Swaddling
By giving your newborn baby opportunities to suck, either during breastfeeding or by using a pacifier.
Also it is true that, the fourth trimester can be challenging for new parents. It is very importent to rest as much as possible.
You can try to accept help from family and friends,to make this time a little easier,
After birth, new mom will experience lochia, or bleeding and vaginal discharge, that continues for 4–6 weeks. Also her breasts may be sore and leak as she adjusts to breastfeeding.
After the child birth,many of the new mom experience mood swings, or “baby blues,”. This is occurring usually due to the fluctuation in hormones.
Some of the new mom may experience postpartum depression after childbirth. This depression includes feelings of intense sadness, fatigue, anxiety, and hopelessness that can affect her ability to care for herself and the baby.
Postpartum depression is also treatable, so anyone new mom experiencing these symptoms should speak to a doctor as soon as possible.
FAQ
When is the most fragile time during pregnancy?
the first trimester of pregnancy (weeks 1-12) is the most fragile period, during this time all major organs and systems in your baby’s body are formed. Most of the birth defects and miscarriages occur during the first trimester.
Which is the hardest trimester in pregnancy
Each trimesters has its own major milestones.But the first trimester of pregnancy is the most fragile period. It is the time when all major organs and systems are formed.And it’s also true that most of the birth defects and miscarriages happen during the first trimester.
Which trimester is most critical?
the first trimester of pregnancy is the most crucial to your baby’s development. During this period, your baby’s body structure and organ systems develop. Most of the birth defects occur during this period. Your body also undergoes major changes during the first trimester.
Which trimester is the most painful?
third trimester weeks is the final stage of pregnancy. In this stage, the growing uterus and fetus put new demands on the body that can cause pain and discomfort too.
pregnancy trimester break down,
the first trimester of pregnancy is from week 1 to the end of week 12
the second trimester of pregnancy is from week 13 to the end of week 26
third trimester weeks is from week 27 to the end of the pregnancy
Summary
All the things,Pregnancy, childbirth, and the first few months with a newborn are unlike any other time in life.All those are full of new experiences, great uncertainty, and many new emotions.
Getting your regular prenatal care is vital during each trimesters. Your doctor can help ensure the growing baby is meeting their developmental milestones, and also that the woman is in good health.