A pregnancy lasts 40 weeks from the last missed period to the birth of baby and this phase of pregnancy isdivided into three stages called first trimester, second trimester and third trimester.
Let’s discuss in brief about the pregnancy stages.
FIRST TRIMESTER: WEEK 1- 12
A woman goes through a lot during her first trimester from body changes to physical and emotional changes. The changes occurs in the first trimester are as follows:
• Your ovulation and realeasing of mature eggs has ceased and you are pregnant.
• You go through lot of physical changes in the pregnancy stages as the hormonal changes will affect almost every organ in the body.
• Extreme fatigue, tender and swollen breasts are the most common symptoms.
• You may feel nausea with the aversion of throwing up early in the morning.
• Cravings for certain foods, mood swings, constipation, frequent urination, headache,heartburn weight gain or loss are the common symptoms of pregnancy stages in women.
• Pregnancy is subsequently different for every women you may feel discomfort or you may not though it may be your second pregnancy you will feel it completely different from the first one.
• At this pregnancy stage i.e week 4 baby is growing and developing,the nervous system begins to develop, arms and leg buds begin to form.
• The baby is 3 inches long by 12 weeks, muscles and nerves begin to work and it can make a fist, external sex organ is grown, eyelids are close to protect the developing eyes.
SECOND TRIMESTER: WEEK 13 – 28
• As you enter the second trimester you will find it easy and somewhat free from fatigue and morning sickness.
• As the fetus continues to grow youmay feel pelvic pressure and your baby bump becomes visible.
• In the second trimester the baby is growing lot more between3 -5inches longbabies external sexual, organs are grown and ultrasound may detect its gender.
• The baby keeps growing and developing it becomes more active and starts kicking.
• As the baby grows your body will feel changes like dark patchy skin, stretch marks on abdomen and breasts.
THIRD TRIMESTER:
• It is the final pregnancy stage the baby grows and lays pressure on your internal organ increasing the discomfort.
• In third trimester you will follow some more bodily changes like swelling on the ankles and on face.
• As the time passes you will find difficulty in breathing, tender breasts, heart burn and difficulty in sleeping.
• As your due date approaches your cervix will start preparing itself for childbirth.
• At 32 weeks the baby bonesare soft but fully formed, it can open and close eyes,and baby is now 15 to 17 inches long.
• By the 36 week baby’s body fat increases and it gets bigger and finds less space to move around.
• Finally at 37 to 40 weeks thefinalpregnancy stage arrivesbaby’s organs are fully capableof function on their own and as you near your date yourbaby is ready for birth.