Gauge your Baby?s Growth with a Monthly Pregnancy Calendar

Pregnant women are forever anxious about the growth of their baby. They try various means to keep a tab on the development of their fetus. It is here that a pregnancy calendar can come in handy for you. Bring informed about the monthly progression of your baby will help you get rid of pregnancy jitters.

A typical pregnancy calculation is 40 weeks from the starting date of your last period. This automatically transforms into a rough figure of ten months, although most babies are delivered any time after the beginning of the ninth month.

You can make use of the pregnancy calendar to make notes on the changes in your body at different stages of pregnancy.

Month 1

This is the time when conception takes place. During this period, the egg is fertilized by the sperm and gradually reaches the uterus.

Month 2

The baby’s heart starts beating and it develops arms and legs. The heart even starts circulating blood to the baby’s body. The primordial of the liver, pancreas, lungs, and stomach are evident in this stage of the pregnancy calendar.

Month 3

The baby starts moving around, although you may not be able to feel the movement as yet. Formation of toes begins and the baby will move away by touching the uterine wall. The external genitalia are now differentiated; the external ears and the upper lip are fully formed.

Month 4

You can now start feeling the baby around. At an ultrasound screening, you can even see how it sucks its thumb. All his twenty teeth have formed and are starting to grow by now. The scalp hair pattern is developing and the heart is pumping about 25 quarts of blood a day.

Month 5

During this period, the pads of the fingers and toes are formed and the fingerprints are developing. Gradually, permanent teeth buds are forming behind the already-formed milk teeth buds.

Month 6

According to the pregnancy calendar, this is the stage when fat deposits tend to build upon the baby’s body. It weighs up to 283 g and measures about 25 cm by this time. Towards the end of this trimester, the baby might begin to settle in a head down position.

Month 7

As the third trimester sets in, the baby starts hearing noises from the outside world. The veins are visible through the skin, and now it can hear you and those around you. In fact, you may even feel it jump at a sudden noise. Your uterus also allows the baby to see some light so as to make him aware of lightness and darkness.

Month 8

By this time, your baby’s eyes start to move. The head grows in size and almost all the internal organs are fully developed. In this stage, the baby is capable of regulating his own temperature even as the bone marrow starts producing red blood cells. It is urinating about a half liter of urine into the amniotic fluid everyday. This pregnancy stage is a period of high activity as your little one’s sleep cycles become more prominent.

Month 9

During the 35th week, the baby weighs about 2.15 kilos. The growth continues as your baby snuggles down into your pelvis. This will relieve you of the breathlessness that you have been feeling in the previous month. However, with increased pressure on your uterus and pelvis, you will have to urinate more often.

Month 10

The lungs of your baby are ready to breathe all by themselves during this stage. You can give birth to your baby any time now. Maximum deliveries take place in the 36th or 37th week of pregnancy. The onset of labor is usually marked by water breaking, increased contractions, and dilation of the cervix.

An expectant mother should refer to a pregnancy calendar in order to track her baby’s growth in the womb. Kid Spot is a comprehensive online resource on pregnancy, childbirth and parenting. Use our pregnancy calendar to connect to your baby before he/she is born.

The pregnancy stages are broken up into three trimesters, and most of the development of the baby occurs during the first trimester. Understand what happens during each stage with helpful information from a practicing ob-gyn in this free video on pregnancy. Expert: Dr. Mieke Lane Contact: www.cascadiawomensclinic.com Bio: Dr. Mieke Lane is an OB/GYN at Cascadia Women’s Clinic in Vancouver, Wash. Filmmaker: Lisa Fenderson
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3 Stages Of Pregnancy – What You Can Expect

The guide to the different stages of pregnancy helps the new parents to be to know what to expect as the pregnancy advances and what are the changes that are taking place. This is a general outlook of the what to expect. there may be a little difference as every one does not have similar symptoms. What is common to all however, is good care of the mother during the prenatal stages. The parents to be should have a good understanding with the obstetrician so that they are told by the doctor about the developments as the days advance.

1. The different stages of pregnancy
A full term pregnancy is normally 40 weeks. This full term is divided into trimesters which are about 13 weeks each. The progress of the fetus development is as per the trimester. During the first trimester of the pregnancy the woman may not realise that she is pregnant and will not associate the feeling of nausea to this. Though this is referred to as morning sickness, it could happen at any time of the day and not necessarily in the mornings only. This feeling of nausea is because of the hormonal changes in the woman’s body. These hormonal changes also bring about cravings for certain foods in pregnant women and also mood swings. All this reduces by the time it is the second trimester of the pregnancy.

2. The second trimester
By this time the mother to be has become used to the fetus in her womb and is not feeling as uneasy as she did in the beginning. It is during this period that the fetus has started the developing of its own organs. The mother will now start gaining weight, which though natural should not be too rapid. Sometimes if there are more than one fetus in the womb there may be a rapid weight gain, but this could also point to some problem with the health of the mother or the fetus.

3. The final trimester
By now all the organs of the fetus have developed completely and are fully functional too. In case the mother delivers a premature fetus during the 30th week, it will be able to survive with some assistance on the technological side. However, as this would be a premature birth the doctor’s would have to take extra precautions about its health. A normal term baby would be born only after 38 or 40 weeks.

At this time the mother will feel rather uncomfortable because of the pressure of the fetus on her own internal organs and also give her a back ache. She will feel like urinating frequently and will not have proper sleep. This will make her tired and fatigued.

This is just an outline of the different stages of pregnancy, the gynecologist will be able to give a more detailed explanation to the parents to be.

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Pregnancy Stages – Learn About Various Stages Of Pregnancy

The news about a positive pregnancy is received with mixed feelings, not only by the expectant mother but also by all the other adults in the household! This is but natural since the arrival of the “bundle of joy” is bound to affect the lives of all those connected with it, in some way or the other—be it the mother-to-be (especially if it is her first child), the father-to-be, grandparents, other relatives, close friends, etc. Everyone’s thoughts now center round the stages of pregnancy and what changes to expect in the next few months till the actual birth of the baby.

As far as the expectant mother is concerned, her next step involves a visit to her family physician who will counsel her regarding health and nutrition and so on. The doctor may even send her to a qualified expert to undergo certain tests and examinations. The expert is able to provide better guidance and education concerning the different stages of pregnancy.

For the other members of the household, it is a different situation altogether. If the women have undergone pregnancies themselves or at least come in contact with other pregnant women, they generally know what to expect in the succeeding months following the conception. The others are totally in the dark, however! A brief description about what takes place during the varied stages of pregnancy is therefore presented in the paragraphs below.

Since no glaring changes are visible in the earliest weeks of pregnancy, the mother-to-be may not even know she has conceived! It is only when she experiences feelings of nausea or what is generally termed as “morning sickness” that she is prompted to go to a doctor, who then confirms that she is pregnant. How the news is received is dependent on the expectant mother herself! Anyway, mood swings can be expected during the initial weeks as her body is trying to cope with all the changes taking place within.

Hormonal changes are constant during the first trimester, that is, the commencement of the different stages of pregnancy. The pregnant woman’s body is trying to keep up with the growing fetus within her womb. Without her actually being aware of it, she is subject to vacillating moods and emotions. They stabilize at the end of two months or even more. As a matter of fact, she is already planning ahead and preparing herself to welcome the new arrival into the house! So housecleaning may probably be taken up vigorously and things which have been stored for years are ruthlessly discarded. This is also the time when the mother-to-be starts to gain weight.

During the middle stages of pregnancy, the pregnant woman is more inclined to discuss the pregnancy and what she is experiencing from within. She may even try to complete all the tasks which she might have taken up before becoming aware of her pregnant state.

The last stages of pregnancy usher in a lot of discomfort for the expectant mother and she is eagerly waiting to deliver her child! The discomfort may have been present from much earlier, but she takes notice of it only in the final two months. She tends to feel fatigued all the time. The growing fetus puts pressure on her bladder, causing her to make frequent trips to the bathroom. The baby is actually shifting its position and trying to create more room for itself; so the mother-to-be feels heavier in her front and experiences back pain. To get rid of these feelings of discomfort, she may again indulge in housecleaning!

With the last stages of pregnancy coming to an end and signaling the imminent arrival of the newborn, the expectant mother is too preoccupied to give much thought to other members of the household or even outsiders. This is very normal as she is going to take up a new responsibility and has to plan for her life ahead.

Know What Happens During the Different Stages of Pregnancy

Pregnancy is one of the most wonderful experiences that women can go through in their life. However, most women who are pregnant for the first time are unaware of the many different stages of pregnancy and they have to go through. Some women will categorized their pregnancy based on morning sickness and other problems that they experience and they refer to this as phases of the pregnancy. In actuality there are three stages to a pregnancy.

The first stage of pregnancy is referred to as the first trimester. This first stage of a pregnancy extends to about fourteen weeks. Some doctors will argue that it is the first thirteen but most will agree that fourteen weeks is the beginning of the next stage. It is during the first trimester that women begin to notice differences in their body. Some women will experience morning sickness during this stage, some more than others. It is the common misconception that morning sickness only happens in the morning but if you were to ask women who has experienced morning sickness, they will tell you that it can happen at any time. During this stage that you will also begin to notice that your breasts becoming more tender and sore and some women report that they noticed an increase in the size of their breasts at this time.  At the end of the first trimester, your baby will be about two inches in length.

The second stage of pregnancy, the second trimester, begins after the first three and half months of pregnancy. This stage of the pregnancy will last about another three months. It is during this phase that there is an extensive amount of growth in the fetus or baby. Many people will say that the first stage of pregnancy is the most important but the second stage is just as important because this is when your baby grows and develops the most. It is during this stage that you will begin to show. You will find that none of your clothes fit anymore and you now have to turn to those dreaded maternity clothes. At the end of this stage the baby will be almost fourteen inches in length.

The third and final trimester begins around month six of the pregnancy and continues until the baby is born. The belly continues to grow and get bigger and bigger. During this stage women begin to complain of increased back pain and the general feeling of being uncomfortable. Women in this stage of the pregnancy tend to be more emotional about the arrival of the baby and sometimes about things in general. Women have reported that they were tense and testy during this stage, while others reported they cried a lot during this time. This does not happen to all women at this stage. For most women there is an increase the amount of worrying that occurs. At the end of this stage, the baby should be between eighteen and twenty-two inches in length and should weigh close to eight pounds, which is the size of the average baby.

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Understanding the Different Stages of Pregnancy

Pregnancy can be a puzzling time for the newly expectant dad. As your spouse experiences a hormonal rollercoaster, her body is likely to undergo some very surprising changes.

You will probably have heard the obstetrician refer to the term ‘trimester’. The nine months of pregnancy are divided into three trimesters. These mark important stages in the development of the fetus. Knowing about the trimesters will help you to understand your baby’s development better and also serve to demystify pregnancy for you.

First Trimester

The baby: This stage of pregnancy is marked by the speedy development of your baby. The first twelve weeks will see your baby grow to about three inches and have many of its organs already functioning – a lot when you consider that it all began with the fusion of two cells at the time of conception.

The mom: The frenzied discharge of hormones during the early months of pregnancy may be difficult for your spouse to handle. Nausea and an aversion to food items may be present. She will also complain of fatigue during this stage of pregnancy, as the growing baby makes its demands felt on her body. A healthy diet and a multivitamin prescribed by her obstetrician may help her cope with this.

Second Trimester

The baby: Your baby will continue to grow and develop normal functions. In fact, through these three months, your baby will grow to weigh two and a half to three pounds and measure fourteen inches. By the end of this trimester your baby, if it is born prematurely, will have matured enough to stand a good chance of surviving with appropriate medical care.

The mom: Your spouse’s belly will expand to accommodate the baby’s rapid growth. Thankfully, the distress caused by hormonal changes, such as nausea, will now start subsiding and allow her to enjoy the stages of pregnancy.

Third Trimester

The baby: During this last stage of pregnancy, the baby’s organs will become ready to support the baby once it is out of the womb. The baby will grow to weigh around seven pounds and measure twenty inches by the time it is born.

The mom: Carrying the extra weight will be uncomfortable as your spouse may find it difficult to move around. Swelling on the hands and feet are common symptoms during the third pregnancy trimester.

The third trimester of pregnancy culminates in labor, which marks the beginning of the process of childbirth. Here are some commonly accepted natural labor inducer.

Stages of a pregnancy www.pregnancywithoutpounds.com.

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What to expect on Different Stages of Pregnancy

What First Time Moms Need to Know

Most women happily look forward to enjoying the wonders of pregnancy and the profound gift of motherhood. However, many first time moms are often caught unaware of the significant changes that their bodies undergo during the different stages of pregnancy. Some would simply categorize pregnancy based on the different symptoms they experience all throughout the phases.

However, every responsible woman should know that there are actually three phases of the human pregnancy, which is divided into trimesters. Each trimester ushers in new changes and brings physical signs of the advancing condition.

First Trimester

The very first stage of pregnancy is known as the first trimester. This stage covers the first fourteen weeks. While there are some medical experts who argue that the first trimester should only refer to the first thirteen weeks, it is generally accepted and agreed upon that it extends up to the fourteenth week of pregnancy.

During this stage, most women will begin to notice the different changes in their bodies. Among the common physical changes during this stage include the following:

• missed menstrual periods
• nausea and vomiting, also known as “morning sickness”
• breast tenderness
• fatigue
• urinary frequency
• weight gain

On the first trimester, you learn about your impending motherhood and start to come to terms with your ardent hopes and fears for you and your baby’s future. It is in the first three months that the embryo develops from a cluster of cells and becomes a fetus. Below are the important milestones of your baby’s development during the first trimester:

1-4 weeks
• embryo implants (attaches) to the wall of the uterus and develops rapidly
• heartbeat begins on the 25th day
• arm buds appear on the 26th day
• leg buds appear on the 28th day
• digestive system starts to develop

5-8 weeks
• the fetus face starts to form
• ears covered by thin membrane
• spines starts to form
• liver, brain, bloodstream, kidneys and digestive system are developing
• arms and legs develop

9-12 weeks
• facial features are present, the nose and outer ears form
• nail beds are established
• teeth buds form
• swallows amniotic fluid
• movement, such as head turning or sucking, begins
• all internal organs form

Second Trimester

As you enter the second trimester, the pregnancy will start to show and the changes in the body become all the more apparent. During this phase, encouragement and support from the husband and family becomes significantly more important. For most women, nausea and fatigue starts to ease up. You can expect the following changes during the second trimester:

• The uterus grows
• Breast will start to develop colostrums
• Areolas starts to get larger and darker
• Blood pressure increases causing varicose veins and other discomforts on the lower extremities.
• Changes in the skin, particularly on the face

13-16 weeks
• strong heart beat begins
• fine body hair starts to develops

17-20 weeks
• heartbeat can be heard with a stethoscope
• sucks thumb
• finger and toe nails form
• grows hair and eyebrows
• baby responds to noise
• movements become vigorous

21-24 weeks
• eyes are open
• a creamy substance covers the skin
• skin is wrinkled and the fetus appears very thin

Third Trimester

On the third trimester, the following physical discomforts may be experienced:

• backache
• heartburn
• leg cramps
• the need to urinate frequently
• shortness of breath

It is in this period that the most dramatic changes occur as the fetus grows and reaches full development. At this time, the fetus may weigh from 5 – 8 pounds and undergoes the following development:

• eyes open and close
• fetus responds to light
• body stores iron and builds skeleton

Just a short slideshow on the stages of pregnancy.
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Stages of Pregnancy – What Mums-To-Be Must Know

Congratulations if you have just come to know that you are pregnant. Everybody must be telling you so many things about the different stages of pregnancy now. Right! It is true that now you must know how you as well as your baby with grow with pregnancy week by week. You must keep adequately well-informed so that you do not panic at the drop of the hat any time during your pregnancy!

So, What Are These Stages of Pregnancy?

The stages of pregnancy are the three trimesters that have duration of three months each.

Stage 1

The first stage begins with morning sickness, though why it is called so, one wonders since this nausea can happen anytime throughout the day! Breast heaviness, general exhaustion and of course an upheaval of emotions are the other pregnancy symptoms of the first trimester.

The joy of imminent motherhood along with constant worries about labor, delivery, parenthood etc., will change your moods as if you were the clock pendulum during this stage! Keeping a close watch on your pregnancy diet and regular doctor-approved exercise is a must. Your baby, meanwhile, will have progressed from just a couple of cells to becoming a small living being in these first three months.

Stage 2

The second trimester is that stage of pregnancy by when you will become accustomed to some of the changes. With butterfly kicks fluttering inside you, you would actually feel the little one nesting in you. The sickness bit would have mostly ended and you will find that you are eager to discuss your pregnancy with others, so that views can be exchanged and new insights explored.

Physical changes would mean that your tummy will be slightly distended; the urge to urinate will be more and quite uncontrollable, your nipples will darken. On the brighter side, you will get your appetite back, as well as have a heightened sexual drive. This is the most enjoyable period in all of the three stages of pregnancy.

Last, But Not The Least Stage 3

Finally, you would enter at the last trimester – the beginning of the end to the stages of pregnancy. This period would seem to crawl on slowly, what with a big, swollen tummy and the anxiety to quickly get child birth over with. The fear of delivery pains, general all-day fatigue, combined with sleeping problems, swollen feet, frequent urination, will make days seem very slow and laborious.

Many women grow restless, as they develop what is called the Nesting urge. It is important now that you follow every part of your doctor advice, so that complications can be avoided. Your pregnancy is going to be over soon and you will be a momma, so take extreme care and caution.

Remember, a pregnancy is once-in-a-lifetime experience. So, try to have fun and enjoy your stages of pregnancy. Best of luck!