Being pregnant is one of the scariest and most exciting moments a woman goes through.
The mind and the body go through some massive changes that get even more powerful as the belly keeps growing.
So, if you’re a first-time soon-to-be mom, this text could help you get to know what to expect from yourself and your body.
The section is divided into three trimesters, so you can quickly find the week you’re in right now.
So, dive in the 9 months of pregnancy, and congratulations!
First trimester
After the fertilization is done, your baby will be in the embryo stage for the first month or so. Embryos are really two layers of cells that will grow and develop organs and other body parts. They grow rapidly and move around the womb. Pretty soon they are about the size of a bean. The heart of your baby beats quickly, and the first to develop are the intestines followed by physical characteristics like the mouth, nose, eyelids, and earlobes. Here’s a week by week progress of embryos growing:
Week 2
The second week is the time when you ovulate, and if the sperm cell gets to the ovaries, you will become pregnant!
Week 3
The cell is fertilized, and the embryo starts to develop. At this point, it’s a couple of hundred of cells multiplying really fast. The embryo at this stage is called a blastocyst.
Week 4
The baby is still an embryo by this point. It has two layers and a primitive placenta that just started to develop.
Week 5
This is when things speed up even more as the embryo keeps growing really fast. You may experience fatigue and sore breasts at this point.
Week 6
The mouth, ears, and nose are taking shape, and this is the week where many future moms experience morning sickness and spotting.
Week 7
The developing embryo looks like it has a little tail. The feet and hands start to develop, and your uterus becomes twice as big.
Week 8
The baby keeps moving constantly, but it’s still tiny so you won’t feel it. You can do the prenatal tests to make sure that the embryo is developing as expected.
Week 9
The fetus is now close to an inch long and its starting to take the shape of a human. Your waist will become thicker.
Week 10
The fetus has developed all the organs, and it’s now ready to grow to a full-sized baby.
Week 11
The baby’s hands open and close into fists. The teeth start to develop as well.
Week 12
The brain starts to grow super-fast, and the kidneys begin to do their role of excreting urine.
Week 13
By the last week of the trimester, the developing fetus has fingerprints and is about 3 inches long.
Second Trimester
It’s now the second trimester with your baby in womb, and things get a little harder on a mom. The babies are about 3.5 inches long and weigh about 1.5 ounces. The fingerprints are fully developed, and the heart slows down, pumping 25 quarts of blood every day. Your baby’s skeleton will start to harden to bones, and it develops hearing too. You will probably feel the baby kicking by now.
Week 14
As the baby continues to grow, you will feel like you have more energy and less nausea.
Week 15
At 15 weeks, the baby can sense light, and its taste buds begin to form.
Week 16
The intense growing starts this week, so be prepared to gain a couple of pounds in the next few weeks.
Week 17
The skeleton of your baby is hardening, and the umbilical cord becomes thicker and stronger.
Week 18
This is the first time that your doctor can tell you the sex of the baby via ultrasound. The 18th week with baby in womb is when the genitals develop and when moms get their appetites back.
Week 19
You may experience some side-pain as the ligaments stretch. The babies hearing is fully formed.
Week 20
This is the halfway mark and the point when the baby starts to gain weight.
Week 21
The small movements from before turn into kicking and constant moving. Your little one has eyebrows.
Week 22
Your baby looks like a mini-baby by now. You may catch yourself touching your stomach all of the time.
Week 23
The baby can feel when you’re moving around, and you may start to experience the swelling of feet and ankles.
Week 24
The baby becomes long and lean, about the size of an ear of corn. Your uterus will keep growing, and by this time it should be the size of a football.
Week 25
The little one starts to add fat and grow hair. Your own hair may look extra shiny and healthy at this point.
Week 26
The baby starts to inhale and exhale tiny amounts of amniotic fluid, practicing to breathe.
Week 27
Your baby starts to experience his/hers first hickups and opens its eyes for the first time. Unborn babies often start sucking their fingers at this point.
Third Trimester
When the third trimester starts, the babies weigh about 2.5 pounds. They can blink, and their wrinkled skin becomes smooth as the baby gains fat. The fingernails and toenails start to develop, as well as hair. The brain develops millions of new neurons. The baby will keep gaining weight in the final weeks and will grow to about 19 inches in length and 7 pounds in weight.
Week 28
The last trimester is starting! Your little one will be able to see the light that comes into the womb through the skin.
Week 29
The baby keeps growing muscles, and the lungs continue to mature. The head also expands so it can accommodate the growing brain.
Week 30
The baby weighs about 3 pounds by now. You will probably experience a lot of mood swings and fatigue.
Week 31
What was mild movement turns into strong kicks that will keep you up at night. You can experience the Braxton Hicks contractions as well, but don’t be scared.
Week 32
Your baby keeps growing, and the growing uterus could cause shortness of breath and heartburn.
Week 33
The baby should weigh about 4 pounds, and you will probably have a hard time to find a comfortable bed.
Week 34
The central nervous system and lungs keep maturing which could lead to feelings of dizziness and fatigue.
Week 35
Your little one grows to the point where it can’t roll around in the belly, so the movements won’t be so dramatic.
Week 36
The fast-growing baby now gains an ounce a day. It will drop down into the pelvis as you get closer to the due date.
Week 37
The lungs and the brain are still maturing, and you may experience occasional contractions.
Week 38
The baby now has a firm grasp, and you will meet each other in only a couple of weeks!
Week 39
You reached the ending game with your baby in womb. Contact your doctor in case your water breaks.
Week 40
The baby has reached its full size. You shouldn’t worry if it is past your due date.
Week 41
Your baby feels cozy and safe inside the womb, but now it’s time for it to meet the world! The labor will start, and you will meet each other really soon!
Conclusion
The baby you have sacrificed so much for is finally here! However, the journey of being a mom is only beginning. You will need to take care of your little one and make sure that he or she grows up in a safe environment.
There are so many things you need to take care of when the baby comes. The high-quality bassinet is one of them. Make sure that you get the perfect one for your infant, and provide him with the safest sleep spot.
