While pregnancy is an amazing time for any expectant mother, you will naturally have 1001 different questions, worries and fears about your unborn child and pregnancy.
If you do have any fears about what you will be going through in the next nine month then don't worry, every expectant mother does. It's important to remember that this is a magical time and one that you will cherish and remember forever. The best advice any one can give is, enjoy it and relax!
1st Trimester | 2nd Trimester | 3rd Trimester
Here, midwife Arezou Namazy from the maternity unit at BMI Coombe Wing in Kingston Hospital NHS Trust offers you a month by month guide on how you and your baby will develop in the coming months, from the moment of conception right the way through to your labour.
First TrimesterWeeks 3 -5 (Length at 4 weeks - 5 millimetres)Mummy
Three weeks from the first day of your last period, the fertilised egg moves down to your uterus and attaches itself to your uterus lining.
While you may have been blissfully unaware that you are on your way to motherhood, as there will be no external changes to your body, there will have been changes occurring inside your body as your hormone levels start to rise. By five weeks if you have done a pregnancy test it is this rise in hormones that would have created a positive result.
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From the moment of conception, the sex of your baby was already determined. The embryo will start developing into two membranes known as the 'amnion' and 'chorion'. The amnion will become the amniotic fluid which surrounds the baby and the chorion will become the placenta.
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If you haven't already, start taking folic acid which is essential to reduce the risks of spina bifida, birth defects, miscarriage and low birth weight. You should also start taking multivitamin tablets especially those that have calcium and vitamin D. Foods to avoid include any uncooked meat, unpasteurized cheese, yoghurt, seafood and raw eggs. It's also time to stop your intake of nicotine, alcohol and caffeine drinks. Be aware of herbal teas as some do contain caffeine.
Weeks 5 - 8 (Length 8 weeks - 3cm - 0.01lbs)Mummy
By week eight of your pregnancy you may start to notice a distinct tightening of the waistband although not to an outsider's eye, so enjoy these weeks before the secret is visible to everyone. Some mothers to be also start to experience debilitating tiredness, nausea and begin to crave for certain foods. Try to eat every 2 hour to reduce the feeling of sickness you may be experiencing. You may also suffer from constipation around this time so drink at least 1.5 liters of water a day to prevent urine infection and tiredness.
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Your baby starts developing tiny buds which will eventually form its arms, fingers, toes and face. The Embryo has a huge head in comparison to his body. His chin is fused to his chest and they will now have an undeveloped mouth and ears. All their major organs will be in position and your baby's nervous system will start to develop.
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Contact your GP and get a referral to your preferred hospital. You should also book your first antenatal appointment for sometime between the eighth and twelfth week of your pregnancy.
Weeks 9 - 12 (Length - 22mm)Mummy
It's coming to the end of your first trimester and if you haven't already then you're probably dying to tell your friends and family! You might have a slight baby bump but whether you do or don't, it will be impossible to forget you're pregnant with morning sickness, strange cravings and baby brain setting in. Your breast may also start getting larger and start experiencing a strange tingling sensation.
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At nine weeks your baby is 22mm form head to bottom. Its fingers and toes are beginning to take shape and they will already have their own unique fingerprints. At 12 weeks they will be fully formed, your baby will have all its organs, muscles, limbs, and bones and its sex organs has developed. Your bay will be moving inside you but you won't be able to feel it just yet.
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Your first scan should happen between 11-13 weeks this will give you the first chance to see your baby moving around inside you, making facial expressions and even yawning. This scan is a diagnostic scan for spina bifida and downs syndrome. This scan measures the amount of fluid lying under the skin at the back of the baby's neck. This is called Nuchal Translucency (NT) measurement. A blood test is also taken at the same time.
You can check any stage of your own pregnancy by using our Pregnancy Calendar.
Second TrimesterWeeks 13 - 16 (Length 16cm - 0.30lbs)Mummy
The worst of any sickness and tiredness will be coming to an end and you can start to really enjoy yourself and share your excitement with friends and family. Your belly will grow day by day as your baby gets bigger. Many women find the second trimester the most comfortable and enjoyable part of their pregnancy.
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The tiny bones in their skeleton and ears are hardening now and they will be able to hear everything that is going on in your world. It's thought that your baby can hear and react to sound from 16 weeks so try singing them your favorite song or listening to music you enjoy. Hair on their head will begin to start growing too, and facial features will become more refined.
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You should have been seen by the midwife at the hospital and had your booking history and booking bloods done. Booking bloods are different to the NT bloods. At the booking bloods are taken for HIV, Hepatitis, Syphilis, Rubella, Bloods Group and antibodies.
Try doing regular exercise in preparation for labor and to relieve aches and pains as a result of increased pressure which your body has to endure during pregnancy. Swimming or aquanatal classes, yoga, dancing and walking are recommended as they are safe to do whilst pregnant.
Weeks 17 - 20 (Length 20cm - 0.55lbs)Mummy
You may begin to notice that your waist has begun to disappear as your baby starts to grow. You may also have a stuffy nose or suffer from bleeds from your gums and. This is due to hormones again. Try to not to lie on your back as the bump is getting bigger if you sleep on your back you may reduce the blood supply to the baby. Try to sleep on your left side.
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Your baby is super-active now, as they are small enough to swim and twist within the womb, yet strong enough for more vigorous movement which you can feel. They have yet to put on fat so their still-closed eyes will look bulbous. The neck muscles will have gained enough tone and strength to enable your baby to move their head back and forth. Your baby will be coated head-to-foot in vernix, a creamy-white waxy substance that protects their skin in the amniotic fluid that surrounds them.
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You will be having your second scan around this time, a chance to see your unborn baby looking more developed and human-like than the previous 12 week scan. During this scan you will also have the option of finding out whether you're having a baby boy or girl.
If you chose to you can also opt for a 4D scan of your baby, giving you the chance to begin the bonding process and see your baby moving in glorious 3D.
Weeks 21 - 24 (Length 25cm - 1.05lbs)Mummy
This is the trimester where your baby will grow rapidly. You should feel your baby moving by now. At first you feel fluttering or bubbling, or a very slight shifting movement. This can feel a bit like indigestion. Later, you will be able to tell that it is the baby's movements and you may even see the baby kicking about. Sometimes you will see a bump that is clearly a hand or foot.
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Your baby will be perfectly formed now, but will still be gaining weight. Their major organs will be maturing and they will be moving much more vigorously and may have sleep and play times throughout the day and night.
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You will be having your second scan around this time, a chance to see your unborn baby looking more developed and human-like than the previous 12 week scan. This is called anomaly. The main purpose of this scan is to look for abnormalities in your unborn baby.
Weeks 25 - 28 (Length 34cm - 2.20lbs)Mummy
As your baby bump expands. You may start to have backache and you may notice some swelling in your feet and ankles. If it is summer you will need to drink lots of water and stay out of the midday sun. Your body temperature is higher when you are pregnant, so its easy to overheat. The added baby weight will also put more pressure on your bladder, meaning you're visiting the bathroom often. You may have trouble sleeping, and become forgetful. It is easy to pull a muscle, so be careful with exercise and lifting heavy bags. Around 28 weeks you may have blood test for anaemia and if your blood group is negative you will be offered an anti-D injection.
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Your babies' eyes will open any day and they will, by now, have eyelashes and eyebrows. Your baby can feel touch from the outside world and will react to prodding and any touch or contact with their skin. The baby can cough, hiccup and even suck thumbs. Your baby will have period of sleep and period of activity in general babies may sleep for 20 min in 24 hours whilst in the womb.
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Make sure you have booked your antenatal classes. Make sure your diet is rich in calcium, this is the time you may develop piles so make sure you are eating plenty of fibre-rich foods such as fruit, vegetables, and drink lots of water.
You can check any stage of your own pregnancy by using our Pregnancy Calendar.
Third TrimesterWeek 29 - 32 (Length 42cm - 3.74lbs)Mummy
Your tummy is getting bigger its putting pressure on your lungs so may feel breathless. You may also feel difficult to eat big meals. You may suffer from varicous veins so avoid standing for a long time, wear support tights and don't cross your legs. You may start feeling your uterus tighten and harden for a few seconds this is called Braxton Hicks. Contractions, this is normal and is the uterus preparing for the oncoming labour.
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Fat deposits under her skin conceal the blood vessels that were visible until now and loose skin and wrinkles on their face will start to fill out. Eye colour appears around week 31 but the real eye color won't develop until six to nine months after birth.
By this time your baby would be so far developed that they would have fingernails on their hands. Your baby's eye lids will be open and the baby will even be able to respond to light outside the uterus.
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With the final stretch in sight, it's now time to start making a list with all the things that you might possibly need ready for labour, birth and for after your baby is born.
Week 33 - 36 (Length 44cm - 5.5lbs)Mummy
If this is your first baby, it may move into a head down position ready for labour. When your baby engages you may find it more comfortable to breath. However sometimes the head doesn't engaged till labour starts. Hormones relax the pelvic joints for preparation of labour so you may feel a few aches and pains in your pelvic. Your breasts will feel heavier and you may start leaking colostrum. At 36 weeks it's a time to measure for breast feeding bra.
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Your baby should have at least 10 movements a day. Your baby will begin to move into the pelvis and will hopefully be head down, although some babies remain breech and are delivered naturally or through a caesarean section you need to discuss this with your doctor or midwife.
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If you haven't already, write a birth plan! Not all births go to plan so remember to be flexible and ready to try plan B. Don't plan air travel as many airlines won't take heavily pregnant women. If you have other children make arrangement for when you go into labour. Think about how you will get to the hospital. Practise some positions for labour with your partner.
Weeks 37 - 40 (Length 51cm - 7.5lbs)Mummy
By the time you would have reached your full term and your baby on average will weigh around weighs about 7lb 5oz, but you may have gained around 28lb and your uterus will have expanded by 1000 times its normal size. Most of it is fluid, increased blood volume and placenta which will disappear after the birth. You can go into labor at any moment so look out for tell tail signs such as a 'show' (a bloody, gel-like substance in your knickers), waters breaking or contractions that increase in strength and frequency. However 80% of babies are overdue by up to 2 weeks and the chances it will happen on the exact date are pretty slim. You may start to feel restless and fed up, but don't you are almost there!
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Your baby will be engaged and will stay like this until birth. A collection of mucus, bile and gut cells will build up in your baby's bowel and this will form his or his or her first few poos, which is called meconium - a dark and sticky substance.
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Check and recheck that your hospital bag is packed with everything you might possibly need. Don't expect your baby to look like a picture perfect magazine image straight after birth. Think about breathing and relaxation techniques that you may want to consider during labour.
For more information on the maternity services available at BMI Coome Wing, a private maternity unit in Kingston Hospital NHS trust please visit: www.bmihealthcare.co.uk/coombewing or call 020 8546 6677.
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Legal Rights After Pregnancy?
