Pregnancy Lounge

Tag: forty

  • 11 Weeks Pregnant

    11 Weeks Pregnant

    If you are pregnant and at 11 weeks, your baby is between 1- 2 inches in length (crown-to-rump) and weighs approximately 8 grams. Your baby’s most vital internal organs are fully formed and functional, but will continue to grow. The head is almost half the length of the entire body, but its growth begins to slow.

    During this week ossification centers will form in the skull and continue to develop and become a little more solid. Your baby’s little fingers and toes are growing nails now. The intestines are beginning to migrate into the abdominal cavity at this stage. Your baby’s external genitalia are present now and shows male and female characteristics, but are difficult to distinguish this early in development.

    Your uterus just about fills your pelvis and if you press your fingers into your belly just above your pubic bone, you may be able to feel it. You may be starting to think about maternity clothes at this point, but probably won’t need them for another month or more, depending on if this is your first pregnancy or not.

    You may notice a significant increase in your vaginal discharge at this time, which is quite common. The odorless (or mild-smelling) whitish discharge is called leukorrhea. It’s caused by increased blood flow to the vaginal area because of increased estrogen levels. This discharge tends to increase as your pregnancy progresses and you may have to wear sanitary pads or panty liners to feel more comfortable.

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  • Pregnancy Week 1

    Pregnancy Week 1

    This is the beginning of your pregnancy journey and week 1. It is one of the most fascinating and magical journeys you may ever go through in your life. Chances are you are on this page to find out when and if you have pregnancy symptoms or signs of pregnancy.

    Your forty weeks of (or 280 days, if you deliver full-term) of pregnancy officially begin on the first day of your last known menstrual period. Even though you haven’t ovulated or conceived yet, your doctor or midwife considers this to be the first week of your pregnancy. This means that the average gestation for a baby is really only about 38 weeks full-term.

    At the beginning of this first week you will have started the first day of your monthly cycle, meaning the first week of pregnancy is when you are on your period. Your uterus is being cleansed in preparation for another cycle. Ovulation usually occurs about two weeks after the first day of this “cleaning stage”, but it varies greatly depending on how regular your cycles are. Your body is starting to prepare itself for the possibility of an upcoming ovulation and fertilization.

    Since you may be thinking about conception at this point, planning ahead for this experience can improve your chances of conceiving and having a healthy pregnancy. You should start by pretending that you are already pregnant, since just about everything you eat, drink, or take into your body during your pregnancy will be passed on to your developing baby. If you smoke, now is a good time to kick the habit and give up cigarettes (if you haven’t already done so), because smoking while you’re pregnant will put your baby in danger, in many ways. Other people in your home who smoke should also cut back or quite. They shouldn’t smoke around you when you’re pregnant.

    Now is the time to begin healthy eating habits, including cutting down on caffeine. You need to eat a healthy, balanced diet to keep you healthy and prepare your body for pregnancy. If you are hoping or planning to become pregnant, you need to incorporate a prenatal vitamin supplement (with folic acid) into your diet, if you haven’t already. By taking a supplement that contains folic acid, you can dramatically reduce the risk of your baby being born with neural-tube defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly. The sooner you begin taking folic acid, the better. It is generally recommended that women take a folic acid supplement even a few months prior to becoming pregnant.

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  • 14 Weeks – Pregnant

    14 Weeks – Pregnant


    If you are pregnant and at 14 weeks, your baby is between 3 and 4 inches in length (crown-to-rump) and weighs about 2 ounces now. Fine hair is forming on your little one’s head, as well as downy hair all over his or her body, which is called lanugo. Most of the hair that covers your baby’s body will disappear before birth.

    Your baby’s neck is longer and now complete and your baby’s fingerprints have appeared. As your baby’s facial muscles attach themselves, your baby is able to smile, frown and make cute expressions.

    Your baby is able to suck his or her thumb now, since the sucking reflex is developed, which you might get lucky enough to catch on ultrasound. You most likely will begin to hear your baby’s heartbeat during your monthly prenatal visits from now on.

    You may want to consider buying some maternity clothes now (or at least some larger, loose-fitting clothes that are less restrictive), because your uterus is becoming noticeably thicker. You may be suffering from heartburn, indigestion and bloating now. Wearing loose-fitting clothes, along with eating small frequent meals may help bring you some relief.

    You may also be suffering with more frequent headaches as a result of the changes in your hormone levels. Drinking plenty of fluids and getting an adequate amount of sleep can prevent this from happening.

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  • 13 Weeks – Pregnant

    If you are pregnant and at 13 weeks, your baby is about 2 – 3 inches in length (crown-to-rump) and weighs close to 1 1/2 ounces. Your baby’s face has a distinctly human appearance and is really starting to look like a little baby. Your baby’s chest is rising and falling as he or she practices breathing movements.

    All twenty baby teeth are formed and waiting beneath the gums until well after your baby’s arrival. Vocal cords are now developing in the voice box, forming the larynx, even though your baby won’t be able to make any sound until after birth. Your baby has many reflexes and squirms inside of your belly, as well as turns his or her head from one side to the other.

    Your uterus has grown quite a bit and loose-fitting clothes may be much more comfortable by now. You aren’t extremely big yet, so you’re probably feeling quite comfortable. Your appetite will start increasing, as your nausea fades into only a bad memory and you may begin to feel a little less tired.

    You may notice that your sense of smell has become more sensitive and some women even notice an odd metallic taste in their mouths which affects the taste of foods. These likely are caused by changes in your hormone levels during pregnancy.

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  • Pregnancy Week 9


    This week 9 of pregnancy your baby is about an inch in length (crown-to-rump) and weighs about a gram. Your baby’s rapid growth is phenomenal! All the major internal organs, muscles and nerves are ‘now in place and will continue to grow and develop throughout your pregnancy.

    Your baby’s eyes are fully formed and covered by a thin membrane, which are the eyelids. The eyelids are fused shut, but will eventually open later on in your baby’s development (between 24-27 weeks along). Your baby is now beginning to straighten its body and blood vessels can be seen through his or her skin, because of its transparency.

    By now, your baby is very active, although you can’t feel your baby moving around or kicking yet, since he or she is still so small. Your baby can respond to touch at this point and your baby would move and turn away from the source.

    If you were not pregnant, you would be having your second period this week. Some women have a small amount of light spotting at this time. You may notice some changes to your body shape by this stage and you may have gained a small amount of weight, although if you are still suffering from morning sickness, you may have lost a little instead. Your body has started preparing itself for the extra demands placed on it during your pregnancy. Your heart is beating faster than normal and your blood volume is increasing. The largest increase in blood volume will occur during the second trimester by about 50% or more.

    Occasionally, some women may feel dizzy or light-headed if they stand up quickly or for too long. This is fairly common during pregnancy and often caused by low blood pressure (hypotension). It can also be caused by high or low blood sugar levels. Make sure you don’t skip meals and that you are eating regularly. Also, when you stand up, do it slowly to avoid feeling faint.

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