A Guide to your Pregnancy Calendar

Pregnancy is a wondrous and incredible experience. Pregnancy Calendar is attempting to help you understand your pregnancy and the fetal development taking place week by week through your pregnancy. Pregnancy calendar will guide you through pregnancy right up until it's time to give birth. The pregnancy calendar features information about your baby and your body while you are pregnant. The pregnancy calendar provides soupçon and tips to assist you in planning a healthy pregnancy from conception to the day your planning is over and baby is born.

Pregnancy Week one 1 begins with the first day of your menstrual period. Your last period has just commenced and you may be considering a pregnancy. For women with a 28 day cycle, ovulation occurs around 14 days after the start of your menstrual cycle. Taking a prenatal vitamin (present at most drug or grocery stores), with 0.4 mg of folic acid (to help prevent neural tube defects) is a good idea. Would-be Mums and Dads should both ensure they are getting plenty of essential fats (omega 3 and 6), which are contained in oily fish, nuts and seeds.

When the week 2 start your maternal is changes. Your uterus has shed its lining through your period and is now preparing a lush new bed of blood-rich tissue designed to house a growing fetus. Your eggs are ripening in one of the ovaries and preparing to discharge one. Same as for singletons except that in the case of fraternal twins, your ovaries will release two eggs (or 3 in the case of fraternal triplets, etc.). If you ovulate more than one egg, risks are you'll get pregnant with multiples.

Week 3 -When the egg implants some women have a tiny bit of spotting called implantation bleeding, where the egg burrows into the uterine lining, shedding a bit. Various sperm may enter the egg's outer layer, only one sperm will penetrate the ovum and fertilize it. In the middle of the ovum, the chromosomes of mother and father gurgle about and bits of information from both begin to form the chromosomes of your baby. In the case of triplets or quadruplets, etc., any affiliation is possible. Three (or four or more) eggs can be fertilized creating fraternal triplets, etc. One fertilized egg can fissure into identical twins with another fertilized egg making it a triplet pregnancy (two identical babies and one fraternal). Or one egg can split into three creating identical triplets, etc.

When The pregnancy week 4 start mother breasts may be feeling sore and heavy, and the veins underneath are more visible. You are possibly beginning to feel tired, urinate more frequently, experience mood swings, and probably have tender or rhetorical breasts - these are common signs of pregnancy. Although your body is busy building new blood vessels in your uterus to help nourish your baby, you won't see or feel anything different. You may be experiencing symptoms missed period, nausea, vomiting, wooziness, headaches, bloating, a feeling of fullness, light cramping, poor appetite, frequent urination, and breast tenderness. Meat and dairy products contain a large number of very important nutrients for your baby, such as protein, iron, zinc, calcium and vitamin D. The end of week 4, the muster of cells finishes implanting into the womb lining and is now known as an embryo. A membrane called the amniotic sac is forming around the embryo. It is filled with a clear liquid called amniotic fluid, in which the baby drifts and is cushioned.

When the pregnancy week 5 start. You might not be innate to stop yawning long. Sleeping in a jog bra can help the breast soreness. Fetal developing embryo has three layers. In the top layer (ectoderm), the neural tube will form that will later mature into the nervous system (brain, spinal cord, skin and hair). In the middle layer (mesoderm), the heart and circulatory system, bones, muscles, kidneys and reproductive organs will develop - gradually. At this stage, somewhat, the heart and primitive circulatory system will quickly form. In fact, the circulatory system is the first organ system to function. In the inner layer (endoderm), a simple tube will develop into the intestines, liver, pancreas and bladder. The hormonal variations that come with pregnancy may cause your breasts to be swollen and tender as the milk glands multiply. You may feel hungry frequently or nauseated as morning sickness kicks in. Your developing uterus will begin to pressure on your bladder causing frequent trips to the bathroom. The end of week 5, the brain and spinal cord (the central nervous system) have begun to develop.

When the pregnancy week 6 start. Your nausea may truly get worse this week as your hormone levels rise. Indigestion and bloating are common complaints of pregnancy. The baby is now an embryo and is about 1/17 of an inch long. Growth is very quick this week. The umbilical cord develops. The eyes and ears begin to form as well as an opening for the mouth. The heart has begun to pump blood and most of the other organs are well under development. Buds form on the body that will become the arms and legs. Your breasts may shudder, feel heavy, the areola (dark nipple portion) may become darker. Avoid changing cat litter for there is a risk of toxoplasmosis. You need to keep energetic in pregnancy, so if you’ve not already got a routine exercise schedule. Week 7 baby will have grown this week and is about the size of a 5p piece. The first embryonic movements can be detected by ultrasound. The baby is about 1/3 of an inch, the size of a grain of rice. Development of the arms and legs continue though the fingers and toes.

When the pregnancy week 8 start-baby will be about 8-11 mm CR by the end of the week. The baby's hind brain is clearly visible. This week the baby's gonads will become either testes or ovaries. The intestines start to form in the umbilical cord. Teeth develop under the gums. Your babies are growing at the same rate as singletons and each are nearly the length of two grains of rice. You may start to feel your trousers getting tight around the waistband. Maternity clothes are probably too big at this stage. Try letting out the buttons or using an elastic band to stretch the fastening a few extra inches, or borrow clothes from a friend who’s a larger size. During pregnancy your gums are probably to bleed more easily, because of the changes in hormones and the fact you are producing more blood. Walk through and you could be surrounded by fresh fruits and vegetables that you had forgotten about, along with some you never knew existed. But this is one healthy habit that you should reacquaint yourself with as early as possible in your pregnancy. Folic acid, iron and other essential nutrients are just a few reasons you should get plenty of the fresh stuff.

When the pregnancy week 9 start. The babies are developing just like singleton babies. Each baby is about one gram in weight and about the same size as singleton babies. Facial features such as the nose and mouth are developing, but the eyelids will be closed till around 27 weeks. The baby is starting to move in respond to external light and sounds.You will probably be observing how many times you go to the toilet during the night as your womb presses on your bladder. Cut down on tea, coffee and other drinks containing caffeine, but not your general fluid intake. Hormonal changes can affect your sense of taste and digestion, and your ligaments have begun to soften to prepare your baby for the growth and expansion that lies ahead. It is normal to develop a tracery of veins at this stage, but you may have espialed them earlier. Your baby's heart has four chambers and beats twice as fast as yours. Muscles are developing so a scan would now show real movement. Your baby is now about the size of a jelly baby.

When the pregnancy week 10 start. The baby has begun moving inside the womb. Baby now enters it's fetal period. The average size is about 27-35 mm crown to rump length (CRL), or 1.06-1.38 inches. She/he weighs in at 4 grams, or 4 paper clips. Tiny toes have formed. The eyes are mostly open, but the eyelids are beginning to fuse, and will stay that way until 25-27 weeks. External genitalia is beginning to differentiate. External ears are completely formed, as well as the upper lip. Weight pregnant women gain differs from woman to woman and even pregnancy to pregnancy in each woman. Mother blood volume will increase 40%-50% during pregnancy. As a result, you may start to notice your veins more, especially in your tummy, breasts, and legs. Week 11, Starting with this week, the baby is now called a fetus. The most critical part of the baby's development is over. This is a period of rapid growth, and the baby is about an inch or so in length at the beginning of the week and will be about 2 inches by the end of the week. Weight gain is a concern of a lot of women during pregnancy. By this stage of pregnancy most women have gained very little weight. Normally we say that you will gain about 1-2 lbs. a month in the first trimester.

When the pregnancy week 12 start. Mother is fell morning sickness is usually getting better by this time, and you may be less tired. Headaches and light-headedness are often now thanks to the increased blood volume but be sure to discuss these symptoms with your care provider. During pregnancy, you might have some uncomfortable side effects. Fluctuating hormone levels can disrupt the balance of bacteria in your vulval area, resulting to infections such as thrush. Usually it is fine to use antifungal creams on the skin to treat thrush, but speak to your pharmacist or GP first. Week 13-This is the most comfortable and pleasurable stage of pregnancy. You may feel some abdominal achiness. The ligaments which hold up your uterus expand to accommodate your growing uterus. Your breasts continue to grow and may also feel "lumpy" as glands and milk ducts begin to form. Veins frequently become visible just under the skin as the weight of your breasts increases.

When the pregnancy week 14 start. Our baby is a whopping 3 1/2 inches long and is 1 to 2 ounces. You may have developed a dark line down the centre of your abdomen to your pubic bone called a linea negra. Avoid constipation by eating lots of high-fiber fruits and vegetables (think apples and broccoli), and whole wheat bread. Week 15-your baby sucking his/her thumb. The bones are getting harder each day. The baby's skin is very thin and transparent. Mother heart is increasing its output to supply the baby with oxygen. Your enlarged heart is pumping about 20% more blood than pre-pregnancy. Week16-Your baby's nails are well formed, and some babies are even in requirement of having their nails trimmed at birth. The ears have also moved from the neck to the head. You can stop those nasty germs in their tracks simply by eating more fresh food, getting plenty of sleep, and drinking a lot of water. Week 17-This is a period of rapid growth as the fat begins to form under the baby's skin. Baby and placenta are about equal in size now. Mother uterus is now about halfway between your pubic bone and navel.

When the pregnancy week 18 start. Mother Feel dizzy, lightheaded or faint are normal during pregnancy. These symptoms aren't injurious unless they occur frequently or severely. Your heart is working 40 to 50 per cent harder than normal. You may be feeling your baby more by now, but many women don't feel anything until as late as 22 weeks. Your baby is making breathing movements and even hiccupping inside your womb. Later in pregnancy you’ll be able to feel these hiccups. Week19-The baby will increase in weight to 8 ounces (227 grams)! If you are having a girl, her ovaries now contain primitive egg cells. Some women develop patches of darkened skin, called chloasma, and you may also notice a dark line between your pubic bone and navel called the linea nigra. You may start developing stretchmarks, about 90% of women do. Help keep them at bay by keeping your weight gain steady with exercise and a healthy diet. There is not much you can do to avoid them if you are prone to them. Try using wheatgerm/vitamin E cream or oil on your breasts or stomach. Stretchmarks do fade to silvery lines in the months after birth.

When the pregnancy week 20 start. Lanugo forms from sebum and skin cells to create vernix. This creamy white substance is believed to help guard the baby inutero. It will cling to the lanugo and in the creases. This is also something that can be seen sometimes after the birth. Most women gain between one to three stone. Your navel may flatten and pop inside out until after the birth. High levels of oestrogen and progesterone circulate in your body to soften and swell your cervix for childbirth, and can have the same effect on the mucus membranes of your nose causing stuffiness and nosebleeds. Week 21-The babies are kicking each other frequently as they move around. The membrane separating them is very very rubbery so don't worry about them kicking each other. Insomnia can be a common problem in pregnancy, particularly if your baby is keeping you awake at night with kicks and movements. Week 22-The baby is probably close to a pound and very thin but very developed. The eyelids and eyebrows are now formed, and the brain begins rapid growth.

When the pregnancy week 23 start. You may perhaps feel Braxton Hicks contraction, or you might just happen to notice with your hand a slight tensing of your abdomen. Some parts of your baby’s body, such as the eyes, are still continuing to develop. The baby can hear noises outside the womb, and it’s thought that he or she will be able to recognise these sounds and voices after birth. Week 24- The baby gains about 6 ounces this week as the body begins to fill out. This weight is in muscle, bone mass and the growing organs and tissues. The weight could top 1 1/3 pounds by the end of the week. Some women become diabetic during pregnancy. This means you have unusually high levels of sugar in your blood. Pregnancy-related diabetes usually vanishes after you’ve given birth. It will be picked up in the routine blood and urine tests you have during pregnancy.

When the pregnancy week 25 start. Usually babies at this stage are more than 450grams (1 pound) in weight. The bones are continuing their ossification process, meaning that they are becoming hardy. Your growing uterus places stress on your back and pelvis and may cause periodic shooting pains in your lower back and legs. Many women report all-over itching called Pupps that may begin as early as this week, and could last until you deliver. Week 26- The complicated structure of your baby’s eyes is continuing to develop, and the baby will now turn in response to a light being shone through the womb. The eyelids are no longer shut, and your baby can make blinking movements. Week 27-During this week, the brain continues its rapid growth, and the lungs continue to grow. Eyelids begin to open, and the retinas begin to form. The baby will grow over 1/2 inch this week and will be about 1 1/3 feet long (from crown of head to the toes or 9.6 inches from crown to rump).

When the pregnancy week 28 start. Baby eyebrows and eyelashes are now present, and the hair on the head is growing. Colostrum, a sweet watery milk, will be forming in your breasts in preparation for feeding, which could leak out at times. The increased pressure on your abdomen could cause back pain, discomfort when sleeping, an increased need to urinate and reduced mobility in certain situations (such as when you get out of the bath or a deep chair). Week 29- Your baby's eyes are the colour of muscle, slate grey and the irises can now widen and contract in response to light. Constipation can make haemorrhoids worse so avoid it by eating plenty of foods that are high in fibre, like wholemeal bread, fruit and vegetables, drinking lots of water and getting regular gentle exercise. Week 30- By 30 weeks your baby is about 24cm long (nine and a half inches) from head to toe. As mums belly really beings to expand, the skin is being stretched quite cogently and can start to feel itchy.

When the pregnancy week 31 start. Your baby is growing rapidly, but is still half the weight of a full term baby. Your baby is stronger than ever and still has plenty of room to move around. Breathlessness is common by now, as your bump starts to get bigger and you feel more clumsy. Week 32- The baby is up to four pounds now and all five senses are functional. The toenails are completely formed and the hair on the head continues to grow. During pregnancy, a hormone called relaxin is also released, softening the hip joints and causing the characteristic pregnancy shuffle. Week 33- At this point, the amniotic fluid is at the highest level in the pregnancy. The amount will remain constant until delivery. Mums could be noticing little bumping movements across their belly every now and then. This might mean that baby has the hiccups. Your baby's brain is expatiating rapidly, with the hearing and speech centres are maturing to a point where she will be able to recognise your voice at birth.

When the pregnancy week 34 start. Your baby weighs around 5lb. Baby’s brain and nervous system are now fully developed. Your baby's bones are also starting to harden, even though the skull bones will stay soft and separated to make the peregrinate through the birth canal easier. Week 35-In these last weeks, mums may start noticing some signs of pre-labour. These can comprise Braxton Hicks contractions, which are small practise contractions that last about 25 seconds. Your baby has rundown the last two weeks growing in preparation for birth. Your baby reacts very strongly to pain, light and sound. The volume of amniotic fluid shrinks as she fills almost all the space in your womb. Week 36-Your baby is gaining about half an ounce of fat a day to cope with the lower temperatures she will experience after the birth. Your baby is running out of room and may writhe vigorously to get comfy. Week 37-Children can feel spurned and sad when a new baby is on the way, because they realise that they will have to share you with someone else from now on.

When the pregnancy week 38 start. Your pregnancy journey is almost complete. But another, even more exciting adventure is just around the corner. Eating for two doesn’t finish once your baby is born. Your baby is now very close to full-term height and weight. Your baby's fingernails are getting long and may even have scratched her face. Week39-Most of the lanugo is gone as the baby prepares for its final womb days. Your baby will atrophy into your pelvis, sometimes called engagement or lightening, usually before labor in first time moms and during labor in subsequent births. The average size baby is over seven pounds at this point. You may be very tired and uncomfortable by now, so enjoy any rest you can get. You may also have trouble sleeping now because of your big bump.

When the pregnancy week 40 start.This isc last week of your Pregnancy. There are a number of pain relief options for women in labour. They comprise gas and air, which is breathed in through a mask and helps you to cope with contractions, pethidine, that is injected into your buttock or thigh every 3-4 hours. Your baby is now ready to be born. Your baby is now fully mature, with fingers and toenails fully grown. Your baby's eyes will be blue, although they can change in the months after the birth. Women who go a long time over their evaluated due date may be given the option of having the labour induced. This can be done by synthetically breaking your waters, giving you a pessary of hormones that are absorbed into your cervix, or giving you hormones straight into your blood through an oxytocin drip.

A Guide to your Pregnancy Calendar

More Pregnancy Related Articles