Pregnancy Lounge

Tag: guide

  • Pregnant Week 6

    Pregnant Week 6

    Your baby is about 1/2 of an inch in length (from crown to rump) and is experiencing rapid growth. Limb buds begin to appear on the body, which will later form your baby’s arms and legs. Mid-way through this week, your baby’s eyes begin to form and tiny depressions will start to appear on either side of his or her head where the ears and inner ear will later form.

    Your baby’s digestive system is becoming more refined as the stomach and intestines develop. The appendix is in place now, as well. At this point, your baby is completely enclosed in the amniotic sac and the stalk begins to grow into the umbilical cord, forming blood vessels within. Your baby’s heart is beating and pumping blood, providing circulation for its tiny body this week.

    It’s been about an entire month now, since your baby was conceived, but you may not notice too many changes in your body quite yet. Your uterus is growing, but you probably haven’t noticed any major changes to your abdomen. It most likely hasn’t gotten much thicker at this point, especially if this is your first pregnancy.

    It’s normal for you to feel more tired and exhausted than you usually do. Fatigue is quite common throughout pregnancy, since your body is working so hard to create this little baby. Make sure you get plenty of rest (a nap in the afternoon wouldn’t hurt). Continue to take your prenatal vitamins, in addition to eating a well-balanced diet, because fatigue is often aggravated by a deficiency in iron or protein.

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  • Pregnancy Week 2

    Pregnancy Week 2

    If you are pregnant and at what you think is 2 weeks, this begins one week after the start of your last menstrual period. Your last period is finished now and the hormones estrogen and progesterone are causing your uterus to build a new layer of endometrium (your uterine lining) to prepare for your soon-to-be-conceived baby. This lining thickens and becomes engorged with blood, ready to receive, cushion and nourish your baby. At the same time, one of your ovaries is growing and ripening an egg, in preparation for ovulation.

    This is the most fertile time of your cycle and is the optimum time to make love every day or every-other day to help maximize your chances of becoming pregnant, since your body is almost ready for ovulation and an egg will very soon travel down your fallopian tube to meet up with your partner’s sperm.

    If you are using an ovulation prediction kit, this may be when you should start testing. Ovulation tests work by detecting the surge in luteinizing hormone (LH), which your pituitary gland releases just before ovulation. There are two main ovulation test varieties; one that measures LH in your saliva and one that measures LH in your urine. Be sure to read and follow the directions carefully.

    By the end of this week you may feel some cramping, particularly on one side of your abdomen, signaling, that you are ovulating. The pain typically radiates from whichever ovary is ovulating. This is called mittelschmerz (MITT-ul-shmurz) and is fairly common, although not all women feel ovulatory pains.

    Slight spotting is also not uncommon during this time. In addition to these symptoms of impending ovulation, you may notice your cervical mucus increasing and becoming more and more slippery and stretchy, because of higher estrogen levels. This will help your partner’s sperm penetrate your cervix on their way to meet your egg.

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  • 19 Weeks Pregnant

    19 Weeks Pregnant

    If you are at 19 weeks pregnant, your baby is approximately 5 – 6 inches in length (crown-to-rump) and weighs 7-8 ounces. A white, cheesy-textured coating called Vernix is now being secreted by your baby’s skin and beginning to form on your baby. This substance protects his or her delicate skin throughout pregnancy and assists with passage through the birth canal.

    If your baby is a girl, her uterus is clearly visible at this point and she has six million eggs in her ovaries — six times the number she will have at birth! If your baby is a boy, his testes are apparent and the prostate gland is beginning to develop.

    Your baby may be able to hear sounds from outside your body and he or she will begin to recognize the voices of you and your partner. Loud noises outside the uterus may cause your baby to become startled and jump a bit.

    The size of your uterus (along with your baby) has grown considerably over the last few weeks. The top of your uterus is now just over halfway between your pubic bone and your belly button. Your breasts have increased in weight and are enlarging more and more as your pregnancy progresses, about 6-7 ounces each so far. Many women have an increase of one or two cup sizes, so a good support bra is a valuable investment.

    Your uterus may practice contracting about now. These are called Braxton Hicks contractions and aren’t the same as labor contractions. They only happen once in a while and tend to go away when you move around. If you have more than 5 in an hour or experience severe backache and cramping, you need to contact your doctor or midwife.

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  • 18 Weeks Pregnant

    18 Weeks Pregnant

    If you are at 18 weeks and pregnant, your baby is about 5 inches in length (crown-to-rump) and weighs close to 5 ounces by now. Meconium (your baby’s first bowel movement) is beginning to collect in the colon. Meconium is made up of undigested debris from the amniotic fluid and various secretions of the digestive tract and is greenish black or brown in appearance.

    Circulation of blood is now established and the umbilical cord lengthens and thickens in response to the rapidly growing needs of your baby. Though there is no direct exchange of blood between you and your baby, the placenta is transferring nutrients and oxygen from your blood to your baby via the umbilical cord. Your baby and the placenta are now almost equal in size.

    You may have gained between 10-13 pounds by now, however weight gain varies greatly from woman to woman and pregnancy to pregnancy. The top of your uterus should be just below your belly button now and due to the growth of your belly, your sense of balance may be affected. Maternity clothes may be a “must” now if you’ve been pregnant before, otherwise it’s about time to start shopping for that new maternity wardrobe!

    You may be having an ultrasound around this time, which can detect many physical abnormalities in your baby. This ultrasound is also valuable for determining placental position, amniotic fluid level and your baby’s anatomy. You may be able to determine your baby’s gender, if you’d like to know, although remember that ultrasounds are not 100% accurate. If you choose not to find out the gender of your baby, tell this to the technician at the beginning of your ultrasound.

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  • 17 Weeks Pregnant

    17 Weeks Pregnant

    If you are pregnant and at 17 weeks, your baby is about 4 inches in length (crown-to-rump) and weighs close to 3 ounces. Your baby is forming “brown fat” deposits under his or her skin now. This fat will help your baby to maintain his or her body temperature after birth.

    Your little one is drinking an average of 16 ounces of amniotic fluid a day now and also inhaling and exhaling it, in preparation for breathing after birth. Your baby may get hiccups at this point, although you probably won’t be able to feel them quite yet.

    The taste buds are developed enough now for your baby to distinguish sweet and bitter and more reflexes are developing, including blinking. Your baby’s movements have become more coordinated and soon you will start to feel him or her exercising muscles.

    You, as well as others notice your expanding belly easily now. Your uterus has grown significantly since the early weeks of pregnancy and this needs to be supported by your muscles and ligaments. Round ligaments are attached to each side of the upper uterus and also to the pelvic side wall. These ligaments are stretching to accommodate your enlarging uterus, which may explain the general achiness and pain you may notice in your belly. If you experience this type of discomfort, lying down may help.

    Many women begin to experience the first detectable movements of their baby (called quickening) around this time, which can easily be described as one of the most exciting moments of your pregnancy and will undoubtedly be very reassuring. You may be more likely to feel your baby earlier if you are thin or if this is your second pregnancy.

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  • Pregnancy – Week 12

    Pregnancy – Week 12

    BABY

    By the end of this week of pregnancy, your baby will be about 2 1/2 inches in length (crown-to-rump) and will weigh about 14 grams. Your baby’s digestive system (small intestines) is starting to function and is capable of producing contractions that push food through the bowels. After your baby swallows, urine can be excreted from your baby’s kidneys into the amniotic fluid, at this stage as well. The amniotic fluid is completely replaced every 3 hours, so your baby’s environment stays fresh.

    Your baby will start to develop some new reflexes now such as: opening and closing his or her mouth, clenching fists, curling toes and even making facial expressions. Your baby has periods of being awake and asleep, although these are relatively short and you won’t be able to tell when these periods are quite yet.

    MOM

    Your uterus has grown in size and can now be felt above your pelvic bone. Your doctor or midwife will be able to feel it during an abdominal exam. Your uterus will increase in capacity about 500 to 1,000 times during your pregnancy, to hold your growing baby, the placenta and amniotic fluid. You may notice a dark line running down the center of your abdomen from the top to the bottom of your belly. This line is referred to as the “linea nigra” and will most likely fade back to normal after you deliver your baby.

    Now that you are officially twelve weeks along, your chance of miscarriage has reduced significantly, so you may be able to relax a bit more and begin to enjoy your pregnancy. Many women begin sharing their exciting pregnancy news with their loved ones now (if not before!). Some people may have already guessed that you are pregnant, especially if this is a second or third pregnancy, because of your swollen, growing abdomen.

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  • 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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  • 10 Weeks Pregnant

    10 Weeks Pregnant

    If you are pregnant and at 10 weeks, your baby is between 1 – 1 1/2 inches in length (crown-to-rump) and weighs close to 5 grams. Your baby’s umbilical cord is now completely formed and is performing the important function of delivering nutrients and oxygen to your developing baby.

    The arms and legs are growing longer and your baby toes and fingers are becoming recognizable, although they are still webbed. By this week, the external ears should be fully formed and visible, but your baby’s head is still large in relation to the rest of his or her body. Your baby’s heart will continue to develop and grow and the heartbeat may be picked up using a Doppler device.

    Even though you don’t look pregnant yet, you may start to gain some weight now; probably only 3-5 pounds so far. Your body temperature has risen slightly, caused by increased blood volume.

    You may find that you feel warmer than you did previously and your veins will become more noticeable. Due to normal hormonal changes during pregnancy, your gums may become softer and swollen. They may even bleed at times. You need to brush and floss them regularly to avoid gum infections.

    You may find yourself feeling very emotional and moody at this point, which is perfectly normal. Pregnancy hormones have this affect on your emotional state, causing shifts in your mood and for you to cry more easily.

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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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