1 Week Pregnant

The gestation period of a human body us usually nine-months. If we count the days (considering that most months are not 28 days but 30 or 31 days), it will sum up to 38 weeks. Nevertheless, your doctor or health professional will talk about pregnancy and its progression over a period of 40 weeks. You must be wondering why the whole pregnancy episode is two weeks longer well there is an explanation for that. It is very important to opt for a starting date. A woman typically ovulates approximately 2 weeks before her next menstrual period; therefore the earliest date to consider is the first day of the last menstrual period (LMP). For this reason day 1 of week 1 is the first day of your LMP and day 14 17 is the day you ovulate. By the way, you havent even conceived until two weeks into your pregnancy. The above explanation about the LMP is a useful way to calculate the expected delivery date. The expected delivery date is often phrased as the expected date of delivery (EDD) by midwives, doctors and gynaecologists. If you ha an irregular menstrual cycle, not a regular 28 day cycle, the LMP method would be less accurate. Instead, an early ultrasound is the most accurate method of establishing your EDD. The common human pregnancy lasts for 40 weeks and three days. But to make things seem a little simple the 40 weeks has been divided into three trimesters. The first trimester is from week 1 to week 13 this is the most critical 3 months of pregnancy. The second trimester includes weeks 14 to 26, and the third trimester is from weeks 27 to 40. The last trimester doesnt necessarily have to go from week 27 to week 40; it can be week 27 to when the baby is delivered. However, a pregnancy rarely goes past the 42nd week. While you may think that the first week of your cycle is monotonous, many things that are important to the success of your imminent pregnancy happen. Your uterus is shed during menstruation think of it as a spring clean which is quite important for your baby, and if youre not thinking medically, surely you would want your baby to be in a healthy and hygienic environment. Tags: 1 week pregnant, pregnancy care, Pregnancy week 1 Category: Pregnancy, Pregnancy First Trimester

2 Weeks Pregnant

The last day of this week is when you will ovulate. Thats not it, theres more to it. Each ovary has numerous follicles close to its surface. Every follicle is a tiny cyst (something like an ulcer, only positive) containing and egg, which grows on the inside of its wall. As these follicles develop, a hormonal struggle occurs in the ovaries when each follicle attempts to repress its neighbours. The follicle which increases in size the fastest is known as the dominant follicle. Occasionally there is a miscalculation and hence two dominant follicles start to develop simultaneously, hence resulting in twins. A result of this sort of ovulation is generally unidentical twins such as brother and sister or two different brothers or two different sisters. They are known as non-identical twins. The two siblings are born as if they were born from two different pregnancies. When one egg is fertilised, identical twins may be produced. This happens after the cell divides into two or more cells and they consequently split into two or more cells hence continue to grow individually. Though they grow separately, each cell has the same chromosomal and genetic make-up. All the eggs you will ever have through out your life are in you ovaries from when you are born. As you grow older, so do your eggs. As the eggs grow older, energy also decreases, sometimes causing ovulation processes to go wrong consequently resulting in an abnormal pregnancy. This is the reason why older aged women who are expecting carry a high-risk pregnancy. Before you ovulate, the dominant follicle reaches around 20-24mm in diameter. The egg and the surrounding fluid are then released into the abdominal cavity. The egg is lured towards the fallopian tube. The fimbria which is situated close to the ovary creates a wafting motion assisting the egg down the fallopian tube. The follicle which was in the egg by now should have collapsed. It would have produced estrogens and progesterone, which direct the lining of the uterus to thicken (in order to be able to handle the pregnancy). Tags: 2 weeks pregnant, Pregnancy, Pregnancy week 2 Category: Pregnancy, Pregnancy First Trimester

3 Weeks Pregnant

As your egg drifts down the fallopian tube, the sperm swim upwards in a vain and glorious attempt to be the one. The one which wins will re-create itself in the form of another human being. It may take one to three days for the sperm and ovum to meet, so the date of intercourse is not necessarily the day you conceived. A strong clear shell which is called the zona pellucida protects the egg. The special hat on the head of the sperm called an acrosome has the ability to stick to the tough and strong zona pellucida and then dissolve a little tunnel in it, allowing it to successfully enter the egg. As it enters the soft egg, it carries its genetic material in a little package called pronucleus. The genetic material in the egg is also contained in a pronucleus, meaning now there are two pronuclei. Have you ever heard that having a baby girl or baby boy all depend on the male? Well if you have, you have heard it right. Girls have two X chromosomes (XX) and a boy has an X and Y chromosome (XY). The pronucleus in the egg always carries an X chromosome, never a Y. A sperm can carry either X or Y. So the results turn out to be a boy if the sperm carries Y chromosome and a girl if it carries an X chromosome. If the fertilised egg fails to enter the uterus and implants there it will result in an ectopic pregnancy which can be very dangerous. Fortunately, it is a very rare type of pregnancy, but is dangerous for the reason that it can rupture, causing severe internal bleeding. The embryo passes alongside the fallopian tube and develops into a solid ball of cells, and then enters the uterine cavity on the 4th day after you have conceived. From the 5th to 8th day it floats freely and then implants itself on the 9th-12th day. By this time it is a blastocyst, which means it has cells surrounding a cystic area. The baby or you can say egg is still very small to be confirmed as a pregnancy even on ultrasound. The lining of your uterus has by now become quite thick, concealing a lot of nutritious fluids, which makes it capable of accepting an embryo for implantation. Many conceptions do not have a correct balance of genetic material (chromosomes) and are not capable of surviving. This is what usually accounts for a very high miscarriage rate, especially in early pregnancy thats why the first three months are vital. Research shows that approximately 2 out of 3 conceptions will miscarry. However, once a pregnancy has been confirmed, more that 85 per cent of these babies survive. The remaining 15 percent either are miscarried, aborted or stillborn. During this early stage the placenta has not yet formed and is not able to take nutrients from your bodys circulation. At this point the placenta takes nutrients from the fluid surrounding the early pregnancy. This is when any insult to the pregnancy either has an all or nothing effect miscarriage or unaffected pregnancy. Occasionally, a woman may be x-rayed in early pregnancy before they even know that they are, and no precautions such as covering the abdomen with a lead apron, or not having the x-ray at all

are taken. Generally no harmful or detrimental effect is seen, even if the x-ray was taken in the abdominal area, because the fetuss organs would not have been formed at this early stage. Tags: 1 week pregnant, 2 weeks pregnant, Healthy pregnancy, Pregnancy Category: Pregnancy, Pregnancy First Trimester

4 Weeks Pregnant

Your Body at 4 Weeks of Pregnancy

This week you would be expecting your next menstrual period you either get it or youre pregnant! Sometimes you may experience some light bleeding even if you are pregnant. This bleeding is due to the implantation process, where the pregnancy buries into the lining of the uterus. Many women falsely believe they are having a period when they see this light bleeding resulting in the (expected due date) EDD for the pregnancy being incorrect by 4 weeks. When you are 4 weeks pregnant, the changes you normally experience just before your menstrual period, such as breast tenderness, continue. Your breasts however continue to enlarge and become even more sensitive. As each day passes by without a period, the possibility of a long menstrual cycle decreases and the possibility of a long menstrual cycle decreases and the probability of a pregnancy increases. Now urine and blood tests are able to detect your pregnancy.

Your Baby at 4 Weeks of Pregnancy

The blastocyst is rapidly growing and soon some of the cells start to become the embryonic disc. This will continue to develop and with time will become the fetus. The fluid-filled area now becomes the amniotic cavity in which your baby will live throughout the pregnancy. The placental tissue grows and raids the lining of your uterus. Your vessels in the region of the placenta dilate to supply more blood to the developing baby. You pregnancy still will not be able to be seen on ultrasound, as it is still microscopic. Nevertheless, the thickened lining of the uterus is visible. Tags: 4 weeks pregnant, Healthy pregnancy, Pregnancy, pregnancy week 4 Category: Pregnancy, Pregnancy First Trimester

5 Weeks Pregnant Your Body at 5 Weeks of Pregnancy

You have now missed your menstrual period and it is becoming more likely that there is an ongoing pregnancy, not a late period. This is just the beginning of hormonal changes. The level of hCG produced by the placental cells is increasing rapidly, doubling every second day. Once the hCG level is above 1000 mL, the pregnancy should be able to be seen on ultrasound. If you do have an ultrasound this week, only gestation sac which contains the yolk sac and the developing fetus can be seen. The yolk sac usually disappears by 12 weeks of pregnancy as it would have fulfilled its function of supporting the young fetus.

Your Baby at 5 Weeks of Pregnancy

As you approach the end of the fifth week of your pregnancy, your baby will become visible on ultrasound. At this stage it will only look like a blob on the screen, but once it reaches 5 mm in length, a heartbeat may be seen. It will be slow compared to a normal human heart beat, but will rapidly increase beating to 180 beats per minute by 9 weeks. If a heartbeat can be seen, it is definite proof of an existing pregnancy. Now the risk of a miscarriage has reduced enormously, with about 90 per cent of pregnancies likely to survive to birth. Some couples are very excited to tell family and friends about their pregnancy, but others prefer to wait until the miscarriage rate is lower and tests have shown that the baby is developing normally. Once you reach the 12th week, risks of miscarriage become very low. Tags: 5 weeks pregnant, Healthy pregnancy, Pregnancy, pregnancy diet, pregnancy week 5 Category: Pregnancy, Pregnancy First Trimester

6 Weeks Pregnant

Your Body at 6 Weeks of Pregnancy

At 6 weeks pregnant, the hormonal changes will continue to change rapidly; you may start to really feel pregnant now. One of the early symptoms of pregnancy is feeling very tired and frequent passing of urine. Nausea may also have started. The same hormones that cause mood swings during the menstrual cycle are acting now, but at a higher level. So dont be surprised if you are feeling very emotional at times for no apparent reason. Relaxin is a hormone produced by the corpus luteum. Your relaxin levels are higher during the early staged of pregnancy compared to the later ones. It causes your ligaments to be more able to make a large range of movements in most joints. This allows the ligaments holding the pelvic bones to stretch, hence allowing a wider opening for the baby to pass through. However, there is still many months for that, in the meantime, you will notice that joints between your vertebrae in the back can move more than usual. These movements can sometimes be too much to cause pressure on your nerves. Beware, this pain will be more sever later on during the pregnancy as the womb enlarges and hence alters your posture.

Your Baby at 6 Weeks of Pregnancy

Your baby at 6 weeks of pregnancy is now approximately 5-10 mm from the head to the bottom. This measurement is known as the crown rump length or CRL. This measurement can be used to determine the age of the baby accurately to within three days, which is quite useful if you are unsure about your last menstrual period (LMP) or if you have an irregular menstrual cycle. Many couples who see their baby at this stage refer to it as a bean due to its shape at this point. Though you cannot see any numerous changes, the heartbeat is obvious. The heart beats at 100 beats per minute, quicker than the maternal heart rate, but in the coming weeks it will increase to even a higher rate. The spine has been completing its development, and by the time you reach the 27th day after conception, both ends of the spine shall close over. There are many factors that can affect the spines development, the best known is folic acid or folate. There are many other vitamins and multivitamins that can help other than folate to help in healthy baby development. Elevit, Blackmores, Natal Complete and Cenovis are commonly suggested these days. These tablets or formulas commonly contains fish oils, calcium, minerals, antioxidants omega 3, zinc, and almost all the essential vitamins, and can be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Tags: 6 weeks pregnant, Healthy pregnancy, pregnanct diet, Pregnancy, pregnancy week 6 Category: Pregnancy, Pregnancy First Trimester

7 Weeks Pregnant Your Body at 7 Weeks of Pregnancy

At 7 weeks of your pregnancy your breasts are continuously undergoing changes as it increases in size. This increase in breast size is due to proliferation of glandular tissue, whereas later in the pregnancy the ductal tissue of the breast will proliferate. The nipples also undergo changes as it becomes larger, more pigmented and erectile. The placenta is now starting to function and is producing more than just hCG. Progesterone levels are increasing. Progesterone commonly causes the relaxation of smooth muscle, which is found in the bowel and also the uterus. This is what eventually leads to constipation, which is very common in pregnancy. The placenta also produces another hormone called human placental lactogen (hPL), which causes resistance in your own natural insulin. As the hPL level rises, the ability of your body to cope with sugars decreases. This is how gestational diabetes occurs. Occasionally, some women require insulin if their body is not being able to maintain the blood sugar level, however your body will return back to having the ability to handle blood sugar levels after birth. Fluid retention is common in pregnancy, thus causing an increase in you weight. This weight increase has little to do with the pregnancy, it is only happening to you. This is the reason why some obstetricians have now stopped weighing patients at every visit.

Your Baby at 7 Weeks of Pregnancy

Your baby is now approximately 1 cm long. The bean shape is still continuing, and the heart rate has increased to around 140 beats per minute. Tags: 7 Weeks Pregnant, Pregnancy, pregnancy complaints, pregnancy diet, Pregnancy First Trimester, pregnancy week 7 Category: Pregnancy, Pregnancy First Trimester

8 Weeks Pregnant

Your Body at 8 Weeks of Pregnancy

Your pregnancy at 8 weeks is still very small and is not yet using much extra oxygen. The hormones created by the pregnancy however cause dramatic changes in you. Your heart is beginning to work harder, hence raising the amount of volume pumped by around 50 per cent. The increased blood flow passes through other organs such as the kidney, resulting in larger and frequent urine production which will result in regular visits to the toilet. Your body temperature has slightly risen, and with the dilating blood vessels in your body, you seem to feel hotter. You will begin to breathe deeply. Deeper breathing and large blood volumes passing through your heart, decreases the level of carbon dioxide in your body. The composition of the blood changes with an increase in the proportion of red blood cells, which carry oxygen. The combination of alteration in the heart, lungs and blood extremely increases your bodys ability to take oxygen to the fetus. These changes will occur as it has in advance for the pregnancys requirements. You will soon begin to realise that your pre-pregnancy clothes have stopped fitting you as well as they did before you were pregnant. Your body shape will quickly change over the weeks to come. It may seem too early for maternity shopping, but loose fitting clothes will feel very comfortable now.

Your Baby at 8 Weeks of Pregnancy

You baby now measures approximately 1.6 cm from head to the boron. It is now beginning to be recognised as a human being, when on ultrasound one end will be seen as developing head. It will soon begin to look something like a seahorse as some couples say. The limbs have begun to develop and small limb buds can also be seen. At this stage the head is as large as the rest of the baby. Many of the organ systems are reaching their final stages of development, only the change in size will continue throughout the remainder of the pregnancy. The heart rate has increased even further to approximately 160 beats per minute. When this heart rate is compared to an adult heart rate, it seems incredibly quick. Adults can only achieve a similar heart rate during strenuous exercise. Tags: 8 Weeks Pregnant, first trimester, Healthy pregnancy, Pregnancy, pregnancy week 8, trimester one Category: Pregnancy, Pregnancy First Trimester

9 Weeks Pregnant

Your Body at 9 Weeks of Pregnancy

At 9 weeks, hormonal changes continue. Your blood pressure tends to decrease now, and you may begin to feel light headed and faintish when you get up too quickly. Your blood will appear and feel flushed and warm due to the dilation of small blood vessels. Your face will begin to look fuller due to oedema, which is due to the retention of more fluid. An increase in the melanocyte-stimulating hormone will allow small amounts of ultraviolet light to create a considerable change in the amount of skin pigmentation. This is why pregnant women generally tan quite easily. It is very important to continue to use sun protection as you would have before pregnancy as the risk of skin cancer is still the same. An increased amount of pigmentation on the face is known as chloasma, or as the mask of pregnancy. Lanugo is the growth of fine hair; this is also stimulated around this time. If you visit the doctor at this stage for a routine check-up, there will be numerous of blood tests youll need. They are very useful for establishing your blood group, whether there are any antibodies that could affect your baby, and the level of haemoglobin to exclude anemia. Other blood tests you might need to have taken include; checking for hepatitis, syphilis and rubella. A urine test may also be needed to check for infections.

Your Baby at 9 Weeks of Pregnancy

Your babys heart rate had now reached approximately 180 beats per minute the fastest a resting heart rate ever goes. By the time the baby is born the heart rate should reach up to 140 beats per minute, and then to around 60 beats per minute like adults. Some people believe that the heart rate of the baby indicates if it is male pf female, this isnt truly the case its only a myth. The best and most accurate way to determine the sex of the baby is at the 19-20 week ultrasound, or from a genetic testing. Though it is technically possible to determine the babys gender before birth, you may prefer to wait for a little surprise. Your baby is almost fully developed. The arms and legs are obvious on ultrasound. The baby is now able to make small movements and is really starting to look like a human baby, not a bean or a seahorse. It now measures approximately 2.4 cm from head to bottom. Tags: 9 weeks pregnant, first trimester, pregnant, trimester one Category: Pregnancy, Pregnancy First Trimester

10 Weeks Pregnant

Your Body at 10 Weeks of Pregnancy

At 10 weeks of pregnancy, your uterus is still increasing in size as the fetus and the placenta grows. At this stage the size of your uterus is about the size of a grapefruit and can be felt through your abdomen. The risk of miscarriage at 10 weeks of pregnancy becomes very small, around 2 to 3 per cent only. You should now switch from worrying whether this pregnancy will continue or not to wanting to know whether your baby is normal and growing well. Although no individual tests can determine that, but some common problems can be detected and excluded by ultrasounds.

Your Baby at 10 Weeks of Pregnancy

Your baby now measures roughly 3.3 cm and is becoming very mobile by the day. At 10 weeks your babys proportions are also changing. The limbs are growing rapidly as well as the body now the head wont seem as large as it did in the earlier weeks of the first trimester. The limbs are easily recognisable and move in a co-ordinated way. Compared to the amount of fluid surrounding it, the baby is very small and has plenty of room to move around in. The yolk sac is no longer adjacent to the fetus and is seen quite separately on ultrasound. However, the yolk sac is still visible up to around 12 weeks of pregnancy, after this it will be absorbed. The umbilical cord from the fetus to the placenta is also visible on ultrasound. Diagnosing twins in the first trimester is relatively easy, as is determining if they share one placenta and if they are in the same or different gestation sacs. Identical twins share the placenta, which is a chance event. The risk of this occurring in different populations is quite similar. Nonidentical twinning is a result of multiple ovulation, which can be more likely if there is a family history, and also as the mothers age increases. Infertility treatment that stimulates the ovaries also tends to cause non-identical twinning. Tags: 10 weeks pregnant, first trimester, Pregnancy, week by week pregnancy Category: Pregnancy, Pregnancy First Trimester

11 Weeks Pregnant

Your Body at 11 Weeks of Pregnancy

You are now approaching the end of the first trimester, and also hoping that the nausea ceases, which generally happens around the 12th or 13th week. This is the time where you should be deciding whether or not you want to have a definitive test, regardless of whether they are considered to be at high risk. This could be due to religious beliefs, or possibly the experience of having a disabled relative. Many couples do not have fixed ideas on this topic and may not have given much emotional thought about it. Read about chronic villus, Triple test or maternal serum screen and 1st trimester biochemical screening as it is due to happen around the time you are 11 weeks pregnant.

Your Baby at 11 Weeks of Pregnancy

Each day your baby grows 1-2 mm in length and by the end of this week it is 4.4 cm long. The fetal proportions are continuing to change with the body and legs growing slightly faster than the head. The baby is often active but has short sleep-wake cycles, which can range from 5 to 10 minutes long. If your baby is close to waking, something a cough can move the baby enough to wake it up. Most commonly fetal movements are limb movements. There is very little movement of the body and neck, but much less than is seen in the coming two weeks. This is the reason why the CRL measurement is quite accurate at this stage, and becomes progressively less accurate over the next two weeks. Tags: 1 week pregnant, first trimester, weekly pregnancy, weeks Category: Pregnancy, Pregnancy First Trimester

12 Weeks Pregnant Your Body at 12 Weeks of Pregnancy

You are now approaching the end of the first trimester, and guess what; the nausea and tiredness are beginning to subside. The hormonal changes occurring are due to the hCG levels declining after their peak in the 11th week of pregnancy. An ultrasound around this week can determine the number of babies, the position of the placenta, the volume of amniotic fluid, the structure of baby or babies and the size of nuchal translucency. The nuchal translucency is the measurement of the soft tissue thickness on the back of the babys neck. Read more about the nuchal translucency test, as you will need to take time to decide if you are willing to go ahead with the test.

Your Baby at 12 Weeks of Pregnancy

At 12 weeks pregnant, your baby is 5.6 cm long that is as long as a matchbox. A small nuchal translucency test indicates a fetus at lower risk for heart and genetic problems. If the risk determined by the nuchal translucency test is less than 1 in 300 then it is classified as low risk. As 95 per cent of pregnancies are found to be low risk, this screening test will be reassuring for the majority of mothers and fathers. Category: Pregnancy, Pregnancy First Trimester

13 Weeks Pregnant Your Body at 13 Weeks of Pregnancy

This is the last week of the first trimester. Nausea and tiredness are making there way out, but constipation is still relatively common. You are most likely aware about your pregnancy, but those around you may not have noticed it yet. Though you may notice the subtle changes in yourself and your body, these arent obvious to others. Your uterus is not yet large enough to be seen, and your clothes may still fit. However, your favourite pair of jeans may not seem to feel as comfy as before. During most of the first 13 weeks there have been many changes, with some like, tiredness and nausea, being difficult to hide. Hiding these pregnancy symptoms while at work can be quite challenging and so can being expected to drink your usual glass of wine when going out. Though it is recommended that you should stick to a regimen of no smoking, drugs or alcohol in pregnancy, and occasional glass of wine is unlikely to have any adverse effect. The alteration in your taste may mean that you no longer enjoy a glass of wine meaning resisting alcohol any is not so difficult for you. As well as other mothers, you will feel an overwhelming sense of responsibility to protect your unborn child.

Your Baby at 13 Weeks of Pregnancy

Your baby now measures 7.0 cm. The heart rate is staring to slow down, beating at 160 beats per minute. Breathing movements can now be seen, however your baby is breathing in amniotic fluid. It does not need to breathe direct oxygen as this is supplied directly by the mother that is you! These breathing movements serve to exercise the chest wall and are essential for lung development. The kidneys have now started to function and babys fluid-filled bladder can usually be seen on ultrasound. The amniotic fluid or liquor, which was predominantly fluid that has passed through the skin, changes to being mostly fetal urine. The skin is starting to become keratinised meaning that it is more waterproof, blocking the passage of fluid across it. The placenta is now completely formed and now has taken over hormone production from the ovaries. Fetal movements will be much more complex. Your babys arms and legs move independently and it can turn its head from side to side. Tags: first trimester, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Tests Category: Pregnancy, Pregnancy First Trimester

14 Weeks Pregnant Your Body at 14 Weeks of Pregnancy

Congratulations, youre officially in the second trimester the so called honeymoon phase of pregnancy. This is great news if you havent had complications in the first trimester, meaning the chances if miscarriage is less than 2 per cent now. If you have lost a previous pregnancy in the second trimester it is a good time for your doctor to put a stitch around the cervix, a procedure known as cervical cerclage to make it stronger for this pregnancy. You may be amongst those lucky women who find that their morning sickness starts to subsidise around 14 weeks of pregnancy. However, it may still continue for a little while longer. Some women may experience nausea throughout pregnancy, and some may not at all this all depends on each individual body. Your uterus has grown a bit now, just a little bigger than the size of your fist. It is growing up out from your pelvis into your abdominal area. With an empty bladder, you may be able to feel the top of your uterus (the fundus) about 1 or 2 cm above your pubic bone in the midline. Dont worry of you yet you will be able to sooner or later. You may also have started to notice that your clothes are getting tighter as the top button of your clothes is becoming difficult to do up.

Your Baby at 14 Weeks of Pregnancy

The alien, bean, or seahorse looking creature you saw in your earlier ultrasound scan now looks more human, and if you looked inside your womb you would see a fully formed baby complete with fingerprints. Your baby measures approximately 7-9 cm and weighs around 25.5 28.4 g. The babys head and body appear to be more in proportion at this stage. The neck can be clearly recognised as the head is now up and away from the chest. The eyes have moved closer together and the ears are moving up on the side of the head. You babys arms and legs are getting longer as well, the muscles are also beginning to form and together with developing joints, allow full body movement. Your baby is moving and jumping hundreds of times a day, secure in its thick walled uterus. You would be very lucky to feel it at this early stage, especially of it is you 1st baby. Downy hair which is called lanugo will begin to grow this week over the entire body to protect the babys delicate skin. This hair should start to disappear a few weeks before birth. If you do tend to have an early baby, it may still have lanugo on its body which will fall off eventually in a matter of weeks. The head and eyebrow hair also start to emerge. At this busy time the fingernails and toenails begin to form too. The eyelids are forming as well, but are shut firmly and wont open till the seventh month of pregnancy. Your baby is starting to produce hormones because its thyroid gland has matured, and about this time the reproductive organs accelerate in their development. In boys the prostate gland is clearly developing an in baby girls the ovaries

have begun to descend from high in the abdomen, where they develop close to the kidneys, to enter into the pelvis. Your baby begins to swallow. The kidney now makes urine and blood also begins to form in the bone marrow. During periods of fetal activity, your baby urinates into the amniotic cavity. Tags: Pregnancy, Second Trimester, week Category: Pregnancy, Pregnancy Second Trimester

15 Weeks Pregnant

Your Body at 15 Weeks of Pregnancy

Has it sunk in that youre pregnant yet? Many women dont actually feel that they are pregnant until they trade in their jeans for maternity clothes and people around them start noticing their swelling abdomen. This realisation is both joyful and also scary. Its quite normal to feel this way your hormones are the one to thank.

Your Baby at 15 Weeks of Pregnancy

Your baby is continuing to grow rapidly now weighing 49.6 g and measuring around 9 11.5 cm. The baby at this stage has paper thin skin which you can see the network of fine blood vessels coursing over its body. The bone and marrow continue to develop as the skeleton is getting harder now transforming from soft cartilage to bone as the baby continues to lay down calcium. These bones however still remain flexible so that your baby can pass easily through your pelvis and vagina at birth. This week the facial muscles become sporadically active and contract to form squints, frowns and grimaces. This doesnt mean that your baby is upset; it is just a part of the maturation process and is involuntary. It generally happens in the arms and legs. Hair growth continues this week on the eyebrows and the head. If your baby is going to have dark hair, the hair follicles may begin to make the pigment that colours the hair. Your babys ears are almost in position now, although they are still set a bit low on the head. Sexual development also continues. The genitals are becoming more definite and it is becoming easier to determine male from female by looking at the external genitalia on ultrasound.

Category: Pregnancy, Pregnancy Second Trimester

16 Weeks Pregnant Your Body at 16 Weeks of Pregnancy

At 16 Weeks, you might be starting to feel much more energetic now than the earlier weeks of pregnancy. The nausea should have been gone, but heartburn may replace it. The top of your uterus is now out of your pelvis; by the end of this week it will reach to about two to three finger breadths above your pubic bone. The pressure on your bladder should decrease as the uterus grows and hence you wont be going to the toilet as frequently as before. You can also expect and increase in vaginal secretions if you havent already. It may be troublesome enough to wear a pad. If you have had babies before, you will experience one of the most exiting moment of pregnancy feeling your baby move. However if this is your first pregnancy, then you may not be able to notice those fluters and tickles for a week or two more. Once you do realise the babys movements, let your doctor or midwife know at your next antenatal visit.

Your Baby at 16 Weeks of Pregnancy

Your baby at 16 weeks of pregnancy is still small enough to fit into the palm of your hands measuring 10.9 11.7 cm and weighs around 79.3 85 g. Its skin is still transparent and is pink in colour. The babys hands can now grasp and legs kick actively. If you were to look at your baby on ultrasound, you may be able to see your baby doing continuous back flips. The babys muscles and bones have matured, and its nervous system begins to exert control. The first muscle movements which happened sometime around last week or the week before were involuntary, but this week the baby will bring voluntary movements this week. Motion increases as the fetus moves its body and swallows. Your baby may start to hold its head erect this week. The baby will start to feel light senses and a bad case of hiccups will begin. You wont be able to hear the hiccups as the babys trachea will be filled with fluid rather than air. Your baby is firmly attached to the placenta via the umbilical cord. The umbilical cord is growing thicker and stronger as the blood and nutrients constantly rush through it. The umbilical cord not only carries nutrients but also carries toxins and poisons from tobacco, smoke, alcohol and other drugs from the mother to the fetus. The placenta grows to accommodate your babys growth. More than 2.5 cm thick, the placenta now contains thousand of blood vessels than exchange nutrients and oxygen from your body to your babys developing body.

If your baby is a female then millions of eggs or ova form in her ovaries this week. Tags: Pregnancy, Second Trimester, weeks Category: Pregnancy, Pregnancy Second Trimester

17 Weeks Pregnant Your Body at 17 Weeks of Pregnancy

By the time you are 17 Weeks pregnant, you would have probably gained at least 2.2 Kg or perhaps as many as 4.5 Kg by now. Your uterus is continuously growing every week and as a result you may begin to feel an occasional pain in the lower abdomen or groin. Dont be alarmed about it its just the stretching of your muscles and the ligaments supporting your growing uterus. As your breasts prepare to make milk for your baby after birth, they are changing considerably. The milk lobules and ducts are developing, more blood is flowing to your breasts and the breast veins begin to become visible, particularly around the nipple and areola. Your breasts may have increased by one or two cup sizes, and you may need to buy supportive bras in a variety of sizes to accommodate beast growth during your pregnancy. You and your partner may be feeling a little stressed about the babys health, what labour is like and how you will cope as new parents. Its perfectly normal to have concerns.

Your Baby at 17 Weeks of Pregnancy

The babys movements are becoming stronger and more frequent. The babys advanced body systems including the circulatory system and urinary tract are working without a hitch now. Your baby has begun inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid so its lungs will be strong enough at birth to breathe on their own. The baby now weighs 99.2 g ad measures approximately 12 cm. Though the babys organs are still in place, it is still very thin and lanky. During this week and on the baby will start to form brown fat which will help it keep warm after birth. This type of fat is important in heat production and metabolism. Towards the end of the pregnancy the baby will add extra layers of fat for warmth and protection. In fact, in a newborn baby at term, the fat makes up about 2.4 Kg of its total weight considering that the baby is an average of 3.5 Kg. Tags: Pregnancty, Second Trimester, weeks Category: Pregnancy, Pregnancy Second Trimester

18 Weeks Pregnant

Your Body at 18 Weeks of Pregnancy

You now have officially begun your fifth month of pregnancy meaning your four months pregnant. The top of your uterus has reached to halfway between your pubic bone and your navel. If this is your first baby and you havent felt your baby move yet, then there is a good chance you might feel it this week and more in the next few weeks. Many women report that the first baby movements they feel are like a butterfly fluttering while held in the hand. Later on in the pregnancy you will feel licks, punches and possibly hiccups.

Your Baby at 18 Weeks of Pregnancy

Your mid-pregnancy ultrasound is due soon (20 weeks pregnant ultrasound). It will help to delineate your babys anatomy, placental position and fluid volume. While ultrasound cant pick up many of the abnormalities that may be affecting a baby, it is pretty good at picking up physical abnormalities such spina bifida, cleft lip, kidney disorders and some hearts problems . When you see your baby during the ultrasound procedure, you will be amazed at how much it ha developed. Your constant concern for your babys health may give way to reassurance when everything seems to be okay at your next scan. Take your partner with you to this exiting examination. You might be able to see your baby kick, flex, reach roll around or even sucking his thumb. The sonographer may also be able to determine the sex of your baby. You might want to leave this as a surprise for you and the family let the sonographer know if you wish to know o not. Your Baby Life is an endless cycle. To prove this is the fact that less than half a year ago your baby was just an egg, and if shes a girl then she would have eggs of her own. A female fetus would by now have developed the tiny follicles that hold all the eggs shell ever have. She would have as many as six million, but they will come down to 1 million by the time she is born. Some of your baby girls ovarian follicles may even develop and grow, thanks to those female hormones flowing from mother to baby. However, these tiny eggs wont develop to the point of ovulation until your daughter reaches puberty. The baby is still growing, but at a less rapid rate than before. Your baby looks very much like a human now. It measures 13 14.4 cm and weighs 148.8 155.9 g. Your babys fingerprints start to appear at the tips of its fingers this week. Finite features of the babys heart are visible on ultrasound this week. Some but not all abnormalities can be detected. The baby can suck his thumbs and now has tastebuds. The bones of the inner ear and the nerve endings from the brain have developed sufficiently for your baby to sense sounds such as your heartbeat and blood moving through the umbilical cord. Your baby may get startled by sounds. As the eyes are also developing the retinas would probably be able to detect a beam of light if it wasnt pitch black in your uterus.

The placenta is now as big as the baby. The placenta not only provides the baby with a steady diet of nutrients and oxygen but also receives waste products from the fetuss blood and deposits them back into your bloodstream. Your kidneys eventually filter out the waste. Tags: Pregnancy, Second Trimester, weeks Category: Pregnancy, Pregnancy Second Trimester

19 Weeks Pregnant Your Body at 19 Weeks of Pregnancy

At 19 weeks, youre just a week away from the halfway mark of pregnancy. Now it is a must to wear bigger and more comfortable clothes not your usual pair of tight jeans. You might find that your sex drive fluctuates during various stages of pregnancy. Some women find it increases, especially in the second trimester as the nausea goes away and energy returns, but many find its down. Many factors such as tiredness, anxieties about the baby, physical changes, work stresses and a host of other concerns have an impact on your libido. Let your partner know about how you are feeling. Though you may be preoccupied with the baby, it is very important to have some together time. Some couples wonder whether having sex will affect their baby. The answer is no. Sex is considered safe throughout pregnancy as long as there are no complications. Once your water has broken you may not have sex. If you do have any concerns about this talk to your doctor or midwife about it at your next antenatal visit.

Your Baby at 19 Weeks of Pregnancy

This week your babys eyes are starting to look forward instead of to the side, and its ears are in or nearly in their final spot on the sides of its head. Your baby now weighs 198.5 g and measures 13.2 15.2 cm. Throughout your babys body, a fatty substance called myelin is coating and insulating the nerves so that impulses can flow smoothly. The speedy paths from sensory organs to brain will carry senses of the touch of a soft blanket or the sound of your voice. Myelination of the spinal cord also takes place now. Over the next few days the buds for the permanent teeth will begin to form behind the milk teeth buds.

The vernix caseosa starts to produce this week. It is produced by the sebaceous glans. Its purpose is to protect the delicate fetal skin from the amniotic fluid. This coating is usually largely gone before birth; however, the baby may still be covered with this cheesy coating if it is born premature. Tags: Pregnancy, Second Trimester Category: Pregnancy, Pregnancy Second Trimester

20 Weeks Pregnant

Your Body at 20 Weeks of Pregnancy

Congratulations, you are half way through your pregnancy at 20 weeks. Your uterus has grown well into your abdomen by this point. By the end of this week the top of your uterus will be about two fingerbreadths below your belly button, or umbilicus. From now on it will grow at a rate of about 1 cm per week. You may start to notice that the areolas of your breasts are getting larger. The areola may sometimes cover as much as half your breast. This is a harmless side effect of pregnancy and should not last for more than a year after your babys birth. Though your babys birth is still months away, your breasts would have already started making the fluid that feds your baby for the first few days after birth before the milk starts to flow. Sometimes the nipple my discharge some of this whitish milk (colostrum) for this reason its a good idea to be prepared with tissues or breast pads. Even the most organised woman may feel scatterbrained during pregnancy. Women for some reason become forgetful, clumsy and unable to concentrate. Try keeping stress in your life to a minimum and take your mental lapses in your stride and remember they are only temporary.

Your Baby at 20 Weeks of Pregnancy

Your baby has grown significantly since it was that first dividing cell. The baby weighs approximately 255.2 283.5 g and measures around 14 1 cm. All of the babys organs and structures have formed, and now a period of simple growth begins. The baby is now large enough that its movements are stronger and more easily felt. It is a crucial time for sensory development. The brain is developing specialised areas for the senses smell, taste, hearing, vision and touch. Your babys skin is thickening under the vernix caseosa and is developing layers, including the dermis, epidermis and the subcutaneous layer. Hair and nail growth continues this week.

Respiratory movements occur, but the lungs are not yet developed enough to permit survival outside the mothers womb. The fetal heart beat is growing stronger now twice as fast as yours does. In the latter part of this trimester, its distinctive whoosh whoosh can be detected with a simple at-home monitoring advice. You can hire one from the chemist

21 Weeks Pregnant

Your Body at 21 Weeks of Pregnancy

At 21 weeks, exercise is the best way to stay in shape during pregnancy. Dont even consider dieting as this will be harmful for your developing baby. You need to eat at regular intervals to stay healthy for yourself and the baby. If you eat healthy to stay in shape eat fruits, frozen yoghurt and other foods that are advised during pregnancy. Exercising can even keep some pregnancy symptoms such as varicose veins, excessive weight gain and back ache. Exercise such as regular walking can also help to put the babys pressure down on the pelvic floor preparing the pelvic bones to widen to make labour a little less difficult and to set the baby in position. Dont start training for a marathon; going slow and steady is the name of the game. Your ligaments become relaxed during pregnancy, meaning you are at higher risk for injury, so low or non-impact exercise such as yoga, swimming and walking are preferable. Exercising three to four times a week is fine, but more than this will be overdoing it. Remember you also need to rest as well during pregnancy. If you are planning to begin an exercising program while youre pregnant, it is best to talk to your doctor or midwife first. Make sure your getting enough calcium and iron. The baby needs the calcium to strengthen the skeleton and needs the iron to make red blood cells. Its almost impossible to get too much calcium and iron from food alone, as long as youre not overeating. A sensible and balanced diet is always best. To get an adequate amount of iron into your diet eat lean red meat, poultry, fish, lentils, spinach and iron-fortified cereals. Calcium rich foods include dairy products. However, do remember to avoid soft cheese and ricotta.

Your Baby at 21 Weeks of Pregnancy

Your baby at 21 weeks of pregnancy is still putting on weight. However, this is still only 10 per cent of its final birth weight. The baby weighs 297.7 g and measures around 18.5 cm. Until now your babys liver and spleen have been responsible for the production of blood cells. The fetal liver will continue to produce blood cells till birth, but the bone marrow space are now developed enough to contribute to blood cell formation as well.

Your babys sleep patterns begin to emerge in the coming weeks. You might be able to tell that your baby is snoozing if its movements show a marked slowdown at certain times of the day. Research shows that your eating and sleeping habits as well as the level of light and noise around you function as signals and help your baby set its internal clock to match the outside worlds even before birth. The babys brain at this pint in its development begins to grow very quickly, especially in whats called the germinal matrix. This structure, deep in the middle of the brain, serves as a kind of factory for brain cells and disappears shortly before birth. The brains capacity continues to grow after birth until your child reaches the age of five years. As your pregnancy progresses, meconium begins to accrue in your babys bowels. This black goo is the product of cell loss from your babys bowel loops, digestive secretion and swallowed amniotic fluid. This will be the babys first poo, which will appear usually after birth. Though, occasionally the first poo can appear in utero. Tags: Healthy pregnancy, pregnancy diet, Second Trimester Category: Pregnancy, Pregnancy Second Trimester