Pregnancy By Trimester

Fetal Growth at the end of the (A) third, (B) sixth, (C) ninth month, and (D) just before birth

1st Trimester (Weeks 1-12)

During the first trimester, a woman may not even know she is pregnant. The first sign of pregnancy that she may encounter is her missed period. At this point she should take a pregnancy test to confirm that she is pregnant. After her missed period a woman may begin to experience the emotional aspects of the pregnancy such as mood swings and exhaustion. These emotional changes are usually accompanied by physical changes such as morning sickness, an increase in breast size and tenderness, and a decrease in sexual desire. There is considerable variability in the ways women experience these things.

Not only does the mother go through multiple changes during the first trimester, the baby does as well. By the end of the twelfth week the baby's bones have begun to ossify, and the eyes and ears have formed. The baby's external genitalia will begin to form, but they will not be complete until well into the second trimester. By the end of the first trimester, a woman should be able to listen to her baby's heart beat.

2nd Trimester (Weeks 13-26)

The second trimester is a little bit more difficult for the mother than the first. Although a lot of the physical symptoms present during the first trimester —tenderness of the breasts, morning sickness, and cramping—have started to go away during the second trimester, there are a few new physical changes that the mother will experience. She will start to notice that her belly is growing and she is starting to look more like a pregnant woman. She will start to feel the baby moving, and may even begin to have some Braxton-Hicks contractions. . Braxton-Hicks contractions are relatively painless contractions experienced throughout pregnancy that are not associated with going into labor. A woman usually experiences more Braxton-Hicks contractions as her pregnancy progresses. The mother will also notice that she has to go to the bathroom more often and her heart is beating more rapidly. She may also begin to have heartburn. These are all very common and normal symptoms of pregnancy, hence there is no cause for concern. The mother will probably still have mood swings during this period, but they are not as severe as in the first and third trimesters.

By the end of the second trimester the baby will be moving around in the amniotic fluid, and the baby will begin breathing. Eyebrows, fat deposits, and gender are visible in an ultrasound, and fingers, toes, and teeth are growing nicely.

3rd Trimester (Weeks 27-42)

The third trimester is usually the hardest of the three trimesters for the woman. Most women begin to feel very uncomfortable because the uterus is growing rapidly. They continue to have the Braxton-Hicks contractions, and most women start to get continuous backaches. The fact that they are so uncomfortable and have such painful back problems makes it hard for many women to sleep during this period. This adds to their exhaustion and mood swings. The heartburn usually continues during the third trimester, so women should watch what they eat during these three months. Also, most women will start to experience some droplets of fluid coming from their nipples. This is normal when a woman is close to the end of her pregnancy and she is ready to start breast-feeding.

The third trimester is also one of the more uncomfortable trimesters for the baby. The space in the uterus becomes cramped as the baby grows and the mother will notice more sharp movements. The baby will also begin to turn upside down in the uterus. The baby's eyes will start to function better, and he or she will be able to sense changes in light. All the parts of the baby, including the hair and fingernails, continue to grow and develop. By the end of the third trimester the baby will be ready for life outside his or her mother's uterus.

All of the symptoms and changes mentioned above are natural and expected for a pregnant woman and her fetus. If you are pregnant and are experiencing abnormal abdominal pains or cramps, spotting, or extremely intensified versions of the symptoms described above, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible. You should also make sure to get regular examinations during the entirety of your pregnancy.