As women stroke their round bellies and ponder the mystery unfolding inside them, and as their partners feel that first ripple of life under their curious fingertips, it is natural to wonder how their baby is changing throughout the pregnancy week by week. Then there are the physical symptoms – the nausea and tiredness, the calves that cramp in the night, and the breasts that have never been so LARGE. Women often wonder if the amazing changes they are experiencing are normal, and when they should seek help.
As if pregnancy symptoms aren’t enough to cope with, there are all the appointments and tests, and trying to remember when to see who, about what, and how often? To help you understand and contend with what is happening during your pregnancy week by week, we've put together a guide to the three trimesters of pregnancy. It explains how your baby is developing, what symptoms you may experience and the tests and appointments that may be needed.
Pregnancy Week by Week Articles
Nine Months of PregnancyPerhaps you have just discovered you are pregnant, you are hoping to be, or your partner has just given you the news. This article gives a brief snapshot of what nine months of pregnancy holds in store.
The First Trimester - Weeks 1 to 14By the end of the first trimester of pregnancy (14 weeks) the risk of malformations and miscarriages diminishes significantly. The baby will weigh around 45gms and be around 8cm long. They float comfortably in a pool of warm liquor.
The Second Trimester- Weeks 15 to 28The second trimester is a period of rapid growth for your baby. By 18 weeks of pregnancy the baby will weigh around 200gms and be approximately 14cm long.
The Third Trimester- Weeks 29 to BirthIn the third trimester of pregnancy the baby increasingly matures as well as gains weight. At 34 weeks of pregnancy the baby weighs around 2 kilograms and their chances of survival are very good. At 38 weeks of pregnancy the baby will be around 45-55cm long and around 3000-4000gms.