Pregnancy Stages: Week by Week

Significance

• Caring for another human being growing inside the womb entails great handling and attention. Knowledge of having a normal pregnancy week by week can safeguard the birthing process.

Time Frame

• It takes 40 weeks to ensure proper development of the baby inside the mother's womb. These 40 weeks are divided into three trimesters. There are marked changes that come with every trimester.

Features of Pregnancy Every Trimester

• The first trimester happens in the first 14 weeks. The initial weeks include the conception. Some women do not feel pregnant until the fourth or fifth week. Many women experience morning sickness. At this early stage, the embryo is experiencing growth, beginning with the head and cells.
  The heart starts to beat during Week 6, and by mid-week, other developing organs follow suit. In the seventh to ninth weeks, eyes, tongue, legs and arms grow. By Week 9, the gender of the baby is determined and the embryo reaches full growth. Within the next four weeks, the mother's morning sickness will decrease. Areolas might turn darker and larger; the baby begins to practice breathing and sucking.
  Second trimester starts in Week 15, with the baby now resting on its neck instead of his shoulders. He slowly turns to his head and feet and the head and neck become straighter during Week 16. His muscles also develop, enabling him to blink, swallow and suck. A baby girl starts to grow her egg cells in her ovaries by the 19th Week. A boy's reproductive organs develop with the testes moving into the scrotum in Week 22.
  Blood vessels grow stronger during Week 25 and, soon after, brain activity starts. By the third trimester, much of the baby's organs are intact, giving him survival chances if premature birth occurs around Week 28. His senses are developing from Weeks 29 to 32. His immune system is the last part of his growth in the womb. Delivery can be anticipated beginning Week 37 until Week 40.

Effects of a Good Pregnancy

• Pregnancy is an important period for a woman, especially when it comes to dealing with the changes in her body. A healthy pregnancy results in a happy, healthy baby. It has lasting positive effects for both the baby and the mother.

Considerations

• Nutrition is first and foremost in ensuring that the pregnancy is healthy and stable. Eating well-balanced meals and taking prenatal vitamins are beneficial to the infant. Living a healthy lifestyle away from alcohol, drugs and tobacco prevents abnormalities. Mothers beyond the age of 35 should seek more medical assistance to screen for possible signs of birth defects.