Month 1 (weeks 1 through 4)

As the fertilized egg grows, a water-tight sac forms around it, gradually filling with fluid. This is called the amniotic sac, and it
helps cushion the growing embryo.

During this time, the placenta also develops. The placenta is a round, flat organ that transfers nutrients from the mother to the
fetus, and transfers wastes from the fetus. Think of the placenta as a food source for the fetus throughout your pregnancy.

In these first few weeks, a primitive face will take form with large dark circles for eyes. The mouth, lower jaw and throat are
developing. Blood cells are taking shape, and circulation will begin. The tiny "heart" tube will beat 65 times a minute by the end of
the fourth week.

By the end of the first month, the fetus is about 1/4 inch long – smaller than a grain of rice.

Month 2 (weeks 5 through 8)

Facial features continue to develop. Each ear begins as a little fold of skin at the side of the head. Tiny buds that eventually grow
into arms and legs are forming. Fingers, toes and eyes are also forming.

The neural tube (brain, spinal cord and other neural tissue of the central nervous system) is well formed now. The digestive tract
and sensory organs begin to develop too. Bone starts to replace cartilage.

The head is large in proportion to the rest of the body at this point. At about 6 weeks, a heartbeat can usually be detected.

After the 8th week, healthcare providers refer to it as a fetus instead of an embryo.

By the end of the second month, the fetus is about 1 inch long and weighs about 1/30 of an ounce.

Month 3 (weeks 9 through 12)

The arms, hands, fingers, feet and toes are fully formed. At this stage, the fetus is starting to explore a bit by doing things like
opening and closing its fists and mouth. Fingernails and toenails are beginning to develop and the external ears are formed. The
beginnings of teeth are forming under the gums. The reproductive organs also develop, but gender is still difficult to distinguish
on ultrasound.

By the end of the third month, the fetus is fully formed. All the organs and limbs (extremities) are present and will continue to
develop in order to become functional. The circulatory and urinary systems are also working and the liver produces bile.

At the end of the third month, the fetus is about 4 inches long and weighs about 1 ounce.

Since the most critical development has taken place, your chance of miscarriage drops considerably after three months.

Second trimester

This middle section of pregnancy is often thought of as the best part of the experience. By this time, any morning sickness is
probably gone and the discomfort of early pregnancy has faded. The fetus will start to develop facial features during this month.
You may also start to feel movement as the fetus flips and turns in the uterus. During this trimester, many people find out whether
their baby will be designated male or female at birth. This is typically done during an anatomy scan (an ultrasound that checks
physical development) around 20 weeks.

Month 4 (weeks 13 through 16)

The fetal heartbeat may now be audible through an instrument called a doppler. The fingers and toes are well-defined. Eyelids,
eyebrows, eyelashes, nails and hair are formed. Teeth and bones become denser. The fetus can even suck his or her thumb,
yawn, stretch and make faces.

The nervous system is starting to function. The reproductive organs and genitalia are now fully developed, and your doctor can
see on ultrasound if the fetus will be designated male or female at birth.

By the end of the fourth month, the fetus is about 6 inches long and weighs about 4 ounces.

Month 5 (weeks 17 through 20)

At this stage, you may begin to feel the fetus moving around. The fetus is developing muscles and exercising them. This first
movement is called quickening and can feel like a flutter.

Hair begins to grow on the head. The shoulders, back and temples are covered by a soft fine hair called lanugo. This hair
protects the fetus and is usually shed at the end of your baby's first week of life.

The skin is covered with a whitish coating called vernix caseosa. This "cheesy" substance is thought to protect fetal skin from the
long exposure to the amniotic fluid. This coating is shed just before birth.

By the end of the fifth month, the fetus is about 10 inches long and weighs from 1/2 to 1 pound.

Month 6 (weeks 21 through 24)

If you could look inside the uterus right now, you would see that the fetus's skin is reddish in color, wrinkled and veins are visible
through translucent skin. The finger and toe prints are visible. In this stage, the eyelids begin to part and the eyes open.

The fetus responds to sounds by moving or increasing the pulse. You may notice jerking motions if the fetus hiccups.

If born prematurely, your baby may survive after the 23rd week with intensive care.

By the end of the sixth month, the fetus is about 12 inches long and weighs about 2 pounds.

Month 7 (weeks 25 through 28)

The fetus continues to mature and develop reserves of body fat. At this point, hearing is fully developed. The fetus changes
position frequently and responds to stimuli, including sound, pain and light. The amniotic fluid begins to diminish.

If born prematurely, your baby would be likely to survive after the seventh month.

At the end of the seventh month, the fetus is about 14 inches long and weighs from 2 to 4 pounds.

Third trimester

This is the final part of your pregnancy. You may be tempted to start the countdown till your due date and hope that it would come
early, but each week of this final stage of development helps the fetus prepare for birth. Throughout the third trimester, the fetus
gains weight quickly, adding body fat that will help after birth.

Remember, even though popular culture only mentions nine months of pregnancy, you may actually be pregnant for 10 months.
The typical, full-term pregnancy is 40 weeks, which can take you into a tenth month. It’s also possible that you can go past your
due date by a week or two (41 or 42 weeks). Your healthcare provider will monitor you closely as you approach your due date. If
you pass your due date, and don’t go into spontaneous labor, your provider may induce you. This means that medications will be
used to make you go into labor and have the baby. Make sure to talk to your healthcare provider during this trimester about your
birth plan.

Month 8 (weeks 29 through 32)

The fetus continues to mature and develop reserves of body fat. You may notice more kicking. The brain develops rapidly at this
time, and the fetus can see and hear. Most internal systems are well developed, but the lungs may still be immature.

The fetus is about 18 inches long and weighs as much as 5 pounds.

Month 9 (weeks 33 through 36)

During this stage, the fetus continues to grow and mature. The lungs are close to being fully developed at this point.

The fetus has coordinated reflexes and can blink, close the eyes, turn the head, grasp firmly, and respond to sounds, light and
touch.

The fetus is about 17 to 19 inches long and weighs from 5 ½ pounds to 6 ½ pounds.

Month 10 (Weeks 37 through 40)

In this final month, you could go into labor at any time. You may notice that there is less movement because space is tight. At this
point, The fetus's position may have changed to prepare for birth. Ideally, it's head down in your uterus. You may feel very
uncomfortable in this final stretch of time as the fetus drops down into your pelvis and prepares for birth.

Your baby is ready to meet the world at this point. They are about 18 to 20 inches long and weigh about 7 pounds.

​ regnancy stages
P
First trimester, week 1-12:
Mother feels fatigue and nausea. Heartbeat and breathing rate are faster. Breasts become larger.
Mother gains weight, most of it is in the placenta (which feeds the baby), breasts, uterus and extra blood.
Growing uterus puts pressure on the bladder, so you need to urinate a lot.
Baby:

At 8 weeks At 12 weeks
At 4-5 weeks

Brain, spinal cord, and heart have Major organs and external body Nerves and muscles begin to work
begun to form.Arm and leg buds structures have begun to form. Heart together. Babies can make a fist.
appear. Baby is an embryo and 1 mm beats with a regular rhythm. Arms External sex organs show. An
long. and legs grow longer, and fingers ultrasound in the second trimester or
and toes have begun to form. Sex later might be able to find out the
organs begin to form. Eyes move baby's sex. Eyelids close to protect
forward on the face and eyelids have the developing eyes, they will open in
formed. Umbilical cord is clearly the 28th week. Head growth has
visible. At the end of eight weeks, the slowed, and the baby is much longer.
baby is a fetus and looks more like a Now, at about 7.5 cm long, your baby
human. 2.5 cm long and weighs less weighs almost 28 gr.
 than 3.5 grams.

Second trimester, week 13-28:

Mother feels better: less fatigue, morning sickness and moodiness. Gains about 6 kg.

Cravings

Baby:

-​ Skin begins to form, is almost see-through

​- Organs are totally formed and keep
maturing.
​- Can open and close hands, separate
fingers, eyes are closed but still move, can
move extremities.
​- Sucking reflex: baby makes sucking
motions with the mouth
​- Lanugo: thin hairs that cover the baby
​- Baby can listen and recognize some
sounds
Third trimester, week 29-40:

- Bone marrow begins to make blood cells. - Footprints and fingerprints have

formed.

- If the baby is a girl, the uterus and

ovaries are in place, and a lifetime supply of eggs have formed in the ovaries.

- Baby stores fat

- About 30.5 cm long, your baby

weighs about 0.5 kg.

Lack of backflow, blood circulation can’t function properly and causes liquid to accumulate in feet and ankles.

“Spider veins”: increased volume of blood creates pressure on blood vessels, causing even small veins to swell in stomach and
legs.

Colostrum: first form of milk produced by the mammary glands in mother

Mother gains about 5 kg. Most of this weight is the baby, but also amniotic fluid, placenta, breasts, your blood and uterus.

Back pain
Baby may be placing pressure on her lungs, making it harder to breathe.

Braxton Hicks contractions (tightening of the muscles of the uterus). They do not mean labour is starting.

Baby:

-​ Bones are formed (but they are cartilage and aren’t fused yet)
​- Body fat increases. Baby is getting bigger and has less space to move around.
​- At 39 weeks, the baby is considered full-term: organs are fully formed.
​- Baby may turn into a head-down position for birth: most babies "present" their head down.
​- Baby weighs between 2.8 kg and 4 kg and is 30 and 48 cm long.