Pregnancy Lounge

Category: Week by Week

  • Pregnant Week 3

    Pregnant Week 3


    In your pregnancy, you are now in week 3. About 2 weeks before your next expected menstrual period (at the beginning of this week), the amount of estrogen in your body increases dramatically and then drops. This triggers your pituitary gland to release a surge of luteinizing hormone (LH), prompting one of your ovaries to release a ripened egg (ovum). The egg moves down into the fallopian tube towards your uterus, with the help of muscular contractions and millions of hair-like cilia; to wait for one lucky sperm to penetrate it. Sometime between 12-48 hours after you ovulate, one sperm will break through the outer layers of the ovum and complete conception. Now, you are officially pregnant! This is also the moment when the gender of your baby is determined.

    The ball of cells divide and multiply, as it travels down the fallopian tube to your uterus. After about a 7-10 day journey, the fertilized egg arrives and briefly floats freely in your uterus, as it continues it’s growth and development. It then attaches to the wall of your uterus and implants into the lining.

    Occasionally, when the fertilized egg implants itself into the uterine wall, women may experience a small amount of spotting. Implantation bleeding typically occurs just before or at the same time you would normally expect your period to begin, but it’s less heavy than a regular menstrual period and a different shade, usually pinkish or brown.

    You need to eat good food to keep both you and your tiny growing baby healthy. Your baby’s health at birth is closely tied to what your diet is like right now. Make sure you get plenty of fruits and vegetables, as well as foods that contain calcium and protein. Try to avoid junk foods, such as those that have been fried and those that are full of sugar.

    If you’ve already had a few alcoholic drinks during your pregnancy, don’t worry about it, but don’t continue to consume alcohol. It’s best not to drink any alcohol during pregnancy at all; even when you’re planning to become pregnant. Alcohol affects how your baby’s brain and body develop, because when you drink, alcohol reaches your baby very fast and just a few drinks can lead to a condition called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). The brain of a baby with FAS may work more slowly than the brain of a healthy baby and also they may have severe heart problems.

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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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  • 16 Weeks Pregnant

    16 Weeks Pregnant

    16 weeks pregnant
    If you are pregnant and at 16 weeks, your baby is a little over 4 inches in length (crown-to-rump) and weighs about 2 – 3 ounces. Rapid and sustained growth will continue all through this week, as muscles grow stronger and your baby’s head and neck grow straighter. The body is finally starting to catch up with the head growth now.

    Your baby’s eyes are sensitive to light and if a bright light is held against your belly, it may gradually move its hands up to shield its eyes, even though they are still firmly closed. Your little baby’s genitals are formed well enough now that it may be possible to tell the gender on ultrasound, although ultrasounds can be wrong when it comes to gender determination, especially done this early in pregnancy.

    Your uterus will continue to move upwards which will start to relieve the pressure on your bladder, and as a result, your need for frequent urination should be reduced. The top of your uterus has risen up, so you can probably feel it easily about 3 inches below your belly button.

    Sleeping on your belly has most likely become too uncomfortable, while sleeping on your back may cause your growing uterus to compress major blood vessels (the aorta and the inferior vena cava). You will need to learn to sleep on your side, using extra pillows for support.

    Some women experience constipation during pregnancy and a change in bowel habits. Make sure that you drink lots and lots of water, as much as eight 8-ounce glasses a day and add extra fiber to your diet. Exercise also helps, so try going for a daily walk.

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  • 15 Weeks Pregnant

    15 Weeks Pregnant

    pregnant 15 weeks
    If you are pregnant and at around the 15 weeks mark, your baby is about 4- inches in length (crown-to-rump) and weighs a little over 2 ounces. Your baby can move around in the amniotic fluid and may feel like fluttering sensations or even a gas bubble to you. If you cant feel anything now, that’s normal since most women don’t notice any movements until closer to the 18th week.

    Eyebrows and eyelashes are present and the hair on your baby’s head is getting thicker. Your baby’s skin is still very thin and transparent, making the blood vessels underneath clearly visible. The development of your baby’s genitals has been continuing and they are now nearing the point where they could be identified by ultrasound.

    Your uterus is just popping up above the pubic bone. You are at a very in-between stage right now and your favorite pair of jeans may not fit anymore, especially around the waist. Your uterus is easily felt and your doctor or midwife will use its position to check the progress of your pregnancy, measuring the distance from the top of your pubic bone to the top of the fundus.

    Your breasts are already beginning to form colostrum in preparation for your baby’s birth. Colostrum is the thin yellowish fluid that usually feeds your baby the first few days after birth- before your milk comes in, although some pregnant women may notice a little leaking out throughout their pregnancy, especially towards their due date.

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  • Pregnancy Week 8

    Pregnancy Week 8

    pregnancy week 8
    At week 8 of your pregnancy your baby is a little more than 1/2 of an inch in length (crown-to-rump) and changing shape, becoming more and more recognizable as a human. Your baby’s head is quite big and still way out of proportion to his or her body, due to the rapid growth of the brain.

    Your baby’s facial features are becoming more defined and the external ears are now present. Teeth are forming under the gums and your baby’s cartilage and bones are developing and hardening. Major joints are forming, allowing your baby’s arms to bend at the elbow.

    Your baby’s fingers are discernible and toe rays appear on the foot plates. The cells that will become either testes or ovaries arrive, but you can’t tell by looking whether your baby is a girl or a boy, yet.

    Your uterus is getting larger and you may begin to notice your clothes becoming slightly more snug, although these changes are very gradual. You have probably noticed that you need to urinate more frequently now as the growing uterus puts pressure on your bladder. This is quite common, since your baby is growing and also hopefully you are increasing your fluid intake.

    Start your pregnancy right by seeing a doctor or midwife. Your first prenatal appointment may occur about now. Your doctor or midwife will likely go over your medical history and ask you some questions about your health. You will have your blood pressure taken, your weight documented and you’ll have a urine test done. You may also have some blood tests done this time and possibly a pelvic exam, if you haven’t had one recently.

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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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