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Your body will experience many changes during your pregnancy. Learn what to expect as the baby grows and what is happening with you physically and emotionally:
Your baby
Features were determined from the moment your egg and the sperm of the baby's father met.
Gender has already been determined by father's sperm.
Tiny limb buds appear, which grow into baby's arms and legs.
Heart and lungs begin to form; by the 22nd day the heart starts to beat.
Neural tube begins to form, which becomes the brain and spinal cord.
By month's end, baby is about ¼ inch long.
Your body
Hormones increase to help your baby grow.
Increased hormones may make you feel moody or cranky.
Breasts may increase in size and may hurt and tingle.
May feel nauseous – this is called morning sickness, but can occur any time of day.
Have not gained much weight.
May crave certain foods or hate foods you usually like.
May begin to feel fatigued.
May feel ambivalence about pregnancy – this is normal.
Uterus grows larger, softer and rounder.
Your baby
Major body organs, like the brain, the heart and lungs, are forming.
Head is large because baby’s brain is growing faster than other organs.
Heart begins to beat.
Ears, ankles, wrists, fingers and toes form.
Eyelids form but are sealed shut.
Stomach, liver, and kidneys are forming – kidneys can produce urine.
By month’s end, baby is about 2 ½ inches long and weighs ½ to 1 ounce.
Your body
Breasts continue to be sore and have grown larger, nipples and the area around them begin to darken.
Uterus has grown and begins pressing on bladder, making frequent trips to the bathroom necessary.
Vaginal secretions are becoming thicker, whiter and stickier.
Nausea may still be present.
May feel tired and need to rest more often.
Uterus may feel like a small bump above your pubic bone.
May feel a wide range of different emotions; you may be happy and sad without any obvious reasons.
Your baby
Umbilical cord is well-formed and blood is circulating between baby and the placenta.
Major body organs, like the brain, the heart and lungs, are forming.
Head is large because baby’s brain is growing faster than other organs.
Neck is well-defined and the head (still the largest part) can be held erect.
Heartbeat can be heard with the use of a Doppler. Heart beats 120-160 beats per minute.
Mouth has 20 buds that become baby teeth.
Ears, ankles, wrists, fingers and toes form.
Fingernails and toenails are formed.
Eyelids form but are sealed shut.
Stomach, liver, and kidneys are forming – kidneys can produce urine.
Baby can move but is still too tiny to be felt.
By month’s end, baby is about 2 ½ inches long and weighs ½ to 1 ounce.
Your body
Breasts continue to be sore and have grown larger, nipples and the area around them begin to darken.
Uterus has grown and begins pressing on bladder, making frequent trips to the bathroom necessary.
Vaginal secretions are becoming thicker, whiter and stickier.
Nausea may still be present.
May sweat more easily.
May feel tired and need to rest more often.
Uterus may feel like a small bump above your pubic bone.
Placenta is now completely formed and hormones are produced in amounts needed to keep your pregnancy healthy.
May feel a wide range of different emotions; you may be happy and sad without any obvious reasons.
May have gained 2 to 4 pounds; clothes may begin to feel snug.
Your baby
The amniotic fluid increases and baby enjoys moving about freely inside the amniotic fluid.
Moves, kicks and swallows.
By month’s end, movements may become strong enough for some to be felt.
Skin is pink and see-through and hair begins to appear on the head.
Kidneys now make urine.
Eyebrows and eyelashes begin to grow.
By the end of the month, baby is about 10 inches long and weighs about ¾ of a pound.
Your body
Uterus grows to your belly button.
Weight starts to increase by about ¾ to 1 pound a week now. Belly begins to show and may need to wear maternity clothes.
Placenta secretes hormones into body that helps to soften some joints and muscles, helping to make labor and birth easier.
May be hungrier more often. Cravings may start for certain foods and continue throughout pregnancy.
A line down the middle of abdomen may darken (linea nigra).
May be less tired and may begin to find pregnancy enjoyable.
Skin may be very dry, hair fuller, and nails grow rapidly.
Your baby
More active and can turn from side to side and sometimes head over heels.
Movement of the arms and legs are easier to feel now.
Goes to sleep and wakes up.
A white secretion (vernix caseosa) covers the skin to protect it as the baby moves in the amniotic fluid.
Some hair may be present on the head.
Eyelids are still closed.
Skin is wrinkled and red but slowly being filled out with fat.
By the end of this month, baby is about 12 inches long and weighs 1.5 pounds.
Your body
Continue to gain about ¾ pounds a week or about 2-4 pounds a month.
Baby’s patterns of stillness and moments of activity will be more noticeable.
Uterus can be felt at or above the belly button.
Breasts continue to grow larger and may get softer. Veins in breasts will begin to show and colostrum (clear fluid) may leak.
Heart beats faster and you may feel faint or dizzy, especially with sudden changes in position – this is normal.
Constipation may be more troublesome.
Hair may begin to feel thicker and oilier.
Feeling good; people may be complimentary.
Varicose veins may appear.
May need eight or more hours of sleep each night.
May have feelings of not being able to cope. These feelings can occur anytime during pregnancy.
Your baby
Skin is still red and wrinkled and is covered with fine, soft hair.
Can kick strongly now and can cry and hiccup.
Can respond to noises from the outside; may move or become quiet.
Parts of baby will be big enough to be felt by the doctor when abdomen is examined.
Eyes are almost completely formed; soon they will start to open and close.
Ridges for fingerprints are forming.
By the end of the month, baby is about 14-15 inches long and weighs 2 to 2.5 pounds.
Your body
Skin on belly may itch and stretch marks may appear on abdomen, hips and breast.
May have occasional heartburn, especially after eating heavy, greasy or spicy foods.
Back may hurt.
As uterus grows, may feel pain down the sides of your belly.
May notice tightening and relaxing of uterus (Braxton-Hicks contractions).
You have special glow to your skin and a sparkle in your eyes; you look healthy.
Sex drive may increase or decrease; may change week to week.
May find lying on side with many pillows is more comfortable for sleeping.
Your baby
Can open and close eyes and suck his/her thumb.
Covered with fine, soft hair called “lanugo.”
Fingerprints are set.
Has definite periods of sleeping and waking.
Kicks and stretches.
Responds to light and sound.
Brain and nervous system are rapidly maturing.
If a boy, testicles will start to descend into the scrotum.
By the end of the month, baby is about 15 to 16 inches long and weighs about 2.5 to 3 pounds.
Your body
Uterus is now moving up closer to ribcage; may feel kicking against your ribs.
Can watch abdomen move as baby moves about.
Breasts may leak enough that wearing a padded bra is necessary. If breasts are not leaking, there will be plenty of milk for baby.
Weight may increase faster than expected; this begins the period of greatest growth for baby.
Begin to tire more easily.
Ankles and feet may swell.
May be aware of a loosening in the pelvic bones while walking.
May have contractions; this is okay. Call healthcare provider if more than four to six contractions occur in one hour.
As belly grows, it is harder to keep balance and movements may feel a bit awkward. May also notice lightheadedness when arising from a lying position. Careful – this makes it easier to fall.
May have trouble sleeping.
Your baby
Can kick strongly and roll around.
Skin is smooth as fat begins to fill out the wrinkles.
The soft downy hair begins to disappear.
Eyes are open.
Fingernails have grown to the tips of fingers.
Brain and lungs are still growing.
May settle down into the position for birth.
By the end of the month, baby is about 18 to 19 inches long and weighs about 4.5 to 5 pounds. Baby gains about 2 pounds this month.
Your body
May feel stronger contractions this month.
May have trouble breathing as the baby pushes on lungs.
May crowd stomach.
Heartburn may increase.
May have trouble with hemorrhoids and constipation.
Can feel the parts of baby through abdominal wall.
May see the shape of his elbow or heel against belly.
Begin to tire easily.
Vaginal secretions increase more and breasts may leak.
May easily perspire.
Should gain about one pound a week this month.
Your baby
Lungs are ready to work on their own.
Fingernails become complete and may grow long.
Moves to a head-down position and rests lower in your belly.
Amniotic fluid equals about 1 quart.
By the end of this month, baby grows 2.5 inches and gains 2 pounds (½ a pound a week).
Is 19 to 21 inches long and weighs 6 to 9 pounds.
Your body
Belly button may stick out.
Abdomen may appear lopsided as baby moves arms and legs or shifts positions.
Abdomen is increasing in size; begin to wonder how much longer before baby arrives.
Tire easily and often feel drowsy.
Breathing should be easier once the baby moves to a head-down position.
Baby is pressing on bladder; may need to urinate more often.
Sleep may be interrupted by the need to urinate and change position.
May be uncomfortable because of the pressure and weight of baby.
Feet and ankles may swell.
Cervix opens up (dilates) and thins out (effaces) as it prepares for birth.
Tired of being pregnant and are ready for birth.
May not gain any weight this month; may even lose 1 or 2 pounds.
