Pregnancy Calendars for Fun and Education

If you have recently found out that you are pregnant, you have a lot to think about! Whether it’s your first child or your sixth, the development of your new baby is really pretty miraculous when you consider all that happens during those nine months. And while you are interested in how your baby is developing and changing, you’re also interested in what’s going on with your own body as well. The changes you undergo during your baby’s gestation period are major, and it’s easier to cope if you know what types of changes the various parts of your own body are undergoing.

In the “old days,” women went to their obstetrician when they knew or suspected they were pregnant, and the doctor would use a wheel chart to determine the due date based on the first day of the last menstrual period. Today, you can easily enter this information into a pregnancy calculator on the web and find out your due date. Of course, the due date is an estimate, because babies have a way of deciding exactly when they’re ready to be born, but knowing your expected due date gives you a spot on the calendar to look forward to, and to use when making your plans about things like decorating a nursery and planning maternity leave from work.

Though every baby’s development is a little different, even with the same mother and father, there are well-documented milestones along the way from conception to birth. Knowing what these are not only makes pregnancy more exciting, but also helps expectant parents make the best possible health choices throughout pregnancy to help ensure the healthiest baby. And if you’re expecting a multiple birth, you can learn more about the special development aspects of multiples and see ultrasound images of what they look like as they develop, as well as how multiple births affect your own body.

The average human pregnancy lasts for 269 days, and every day your baby is changing more rapidly than he or she ever will. Today you can read all about what development is going on at any given stage of pregnancy, and you can see 3D images of babies at every stage. Even if you only have one or two ultrasound images of your baby, you can view collections of ultrasound and other images to get a good idea of how big he or she is, and which bodily systems are developing, whatever your stage of pregnancy.

Pregnancy calendars are terrific for keeping track of all the many things you have to do to prepare for your baby’s arrival, as well as feeling more engaged in the great changes you and your new baby are undergoing week by week. As you look at images of babies at the same stage of development as yours, you really appreciate how hard your body is working to bring a new life into the world. And reminding yourself of every stage of the journey from zygote to newborn helps you continue to make the healthiest lifestyle choices as you prepare for your new arrival.

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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
Video Rating: 5 / 5

Interactive Pregnancy Calendar

The presence of early pregnancy symptoms is an indication that your spouse needs to undergo a pregnancy test. If positive, it means your spouse is on her way to give birth to your baby.

However, pregnancy-divided into three trimesters-remains a mysterious period for most women. And as for the men, most expectant dads go through these months without a slightest clue as to what is expected of them. Here is a pregnancy calendar to prepare you on what to expect from your spouse and how best to help her.

Pregnancy Calendar: First Trimester

What your spouse will experience:

The sudden hormonal rush during this phase may lead to a host of uncomfortable symptoms and sensations for your spouse. Nausea (commonly referred to as morning sickness) and an aversion for certain foods items may become apparent. Weakness or fatigue is another common symptom at this stage.

What you can do:

As the full import of the pregnancy starts to sink in, you can discuss the baby with your spouse. You could also accompany her during her visits to the obstetrician. Make use of this relatively relaxed period by spending quality time together, at home and outside.

Pregnancy Calendar: Second Trimester

What your spouse will experience:

The initial distressing symptoms such as nausea will now subside. However, your spouse’s belly will continue to expand throughout this stage. This will restrict her movements considerably. Bleeding from the nose and gums, heartburn, indigestion, and the appearance of varicose veins or hemorrhoids are the other symptoms that she will have to bear with.

What you can do:

Her pregnancy will increasingly impede your spouse’s capacity to live a normal life. You can help by taking over at least some of her domestic duties. This is also a good time to help her plan her pregnancy in detail.

Pregnancy Calendar: Third Trimester

What your spouse will experience: The developing baby will make further demands on your spouse’s body: her weight will continue to increase and may lead to back and hip pain. Swellings on the ankles and face may also be present. Besides, even mild exertion during this period may leave her gasping for breath.

What you can do: In this final stage of pregnancy, your spouse may become increasingly housebound. Try to find ways to make her feel comfortable and keep her spirits high-an occasional gentle massage will be highly appreciated. This is also the time to finalize arrangements for the birth of your baby.

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