Location: Home
ยป
Pregnancy Information
10/22/2008 - by Anne Marie Nielson
Pregnancy
Trimesters
Pregnancy is measured from the first day of your last menstrual
period until your estimated due date (EDD) 40 weeks later. Even
though you aren't technically pregnant until two weeks into
this time period when the egg gets fertilized, it is easier for
most women to know when their period started than to know when
they ovulated.
First Trimester
When the egg is fertilized by a sperm cell, pregnancy begins.
Approximately a week after fertilization, the new ball of cells
begins to implant in the lining of the uterus. This triggers
the release of hormones like hcG, which is what makes a
pregnancy test show positive.
The embryonic period lasts from week three to week eight. This
is a time of great change and development as the embryo
develops most major organs of the body. This is when the embryo
is most at risk from substances the mother ingests or is
exposed to, like radiation, alcohol and disease. Once the ninth
week has been reached, the embryo is now known as a fetus. This
term is used for an unborn child until birth. By the end of the
first trimester, your baby is a little over an inch in length
and your uterus will have grown from the size of a fist to the
size of a grapefruit.
Early in the first trimester, most women are looking for
symptoms of pregnancy. Fatigue, breast tenderness and increased
urination are common to most pregnant women. For some, the
first symptom they notice is their missed period. Other signs
may include feeling a fullness or achiness in your lower
abdomen and nausea. Morning sickness does not affect every
pregnant woman, and it may strike at any time of day. It is
common for pregnant women to have a thin, white discharge from
the vagina. Other changes you may experience include mood
swings due to hormonal changes and fatigue and constipation
from iron supplements in prenatal vitamins and hormonal changes
that affect the bowels.
Second Trimester
The second trimester runs from week 13 to week 27. The fetus
will soon be large enough for you to feel movement, even though
he or she has been moving for some time. Most moms feel the
first flutters between the 14th and 20th week. The baby
continues to develop and grow. The baby will grow a coating of
fine hairs known as lanugo.
During this trimester, most women begin to show and will
probably be shopping for maternity clothes. At 16 weeks, the
fundus (top of the uterus) can be felt halfway between your
pubic bone and your navel. By 20 weeks, it should hit
navel-level. By 27 weeks, the fundus should sit about two
inches above your navel.
Most women find the second trimester easier than the first.
Morning sickness has abated for most, and many will feel more
energized. As the uterus lifts out of the pelvis, the pressure
on your bladder is relieved, and you'll find you don't need to
run to the bathroom as frequently. Many women will notice
breast changes as more blood flows there to prepare for
breastfeeding. Some women may also suffer from leg cramps, back
pain and aches in the pelvis or hips. As the belly grows,
stretch marks and other skin changes may appear. Some women are
plagued by hemorrhoids or constipation, though not everyone is
affected. As the growing uterus pushes on your stomach, you may
feel more heartburn.
Third
Trimester
The third trimester lasts from week 28 until birth. A baby is
considered to be born at full term any time between weeks 38
and 42. Your baby continues to grow larger, lays down a fat
layer to help regulate body temperature, and the organs
continue to mature. You may notice vigorous movement from the
baby. Towards the end of pregnancy, most babies will settle in
a head-down position in preparation for birth.
You'll begin to run to the bathroom more frequently again as
the baby gets larger and settles back on your bladder. Braxton
Hicks contractions will work on toning your uterus in
preparation for labor. In late pregnancy, it is common to feel
fatigue, back pain, aches in your hips and pelvis and
experience hemorrhoids or constipation. Swelling of the ankles
and feet is common. Try to put your feet up occasionally.
Signs of impending labor may include lightening (baby settles
into the pelvis), your cervix begins to thin and open and your
Braxton Hicks contractions become stronger and more
frequent.
At From Pregnancy To Baby, we try
to provide you with all of the latest information about going
through your pregnancy from your first trimester to the first
years of your new babies life. We also provide the highest
quality books and products to help you through that time.
Source: http://www.frompregnancytobaby.com/Pregnancy-Trimesters.html
|
