First Trimesters 0 - 12 Weeks

Baby

3 Months old fetus

• Face, arms, legs, tooth buds form

• Brain, digestive and nervous'systems develop

• Amniotic'sac with fluid develop

• Using a doppler machine, heart beat can be heard from 8-12 weeks

• Arm and leg movements possible, as well as frowns and'smiles


Mom

• Periods'stop

• Nausea, faintness, fatigue may become commonplace

• Vaginal'secretions increase

• Urge to pee rises

• Fuller and more tender breasts. Nipple'size grows and becomes darker in hue.



Second Trimesters 13 - 24 Weeks

Baby


5 Months old fetus

• At this'stage growth is rapid

• sex organs form

• skin is transparent and wrinkled

• Body is covered with downy hair (lanugo) and coated with cheesy material (vernix) to protect'skin during its long'stay in the amniotic'sac

• Eye lashes, head hair, fingernails form

• Baby sucks swallows and hiccups and even cries

• Heart beat is strong and can be detected with fetoscope


Mom

• May experience food cravings

• Constipation becomes an issue

• some may have leg cramps and bleeding gums

• Movement of baby can be felt

• 'skin changes'such as'stretch marks become visible on breasts and abdomen; line running down from navel to middle of abdomen occurs and brown'spots on face appears



Third Trimesters 25 - 40 Weeks


Baby

9 Months old fetus

• Between 25-28 weeks baby is about 14-17 inches long; body'starts to fill up

• Becomes more active in movement and develops breathing techniques

• Between 29-32 weeks baby grows to about 16.5-18 inches; alternates between rest and active phases

• Responds to'sounds; liver begins functioning

• Between 33-36 weeks baby is about 19 inches and weighs 6 lbs;'skin is less wrinkled and baby is less active

• In the final weeks baby gains another inch and pound, puts on more fat, lungs mature

• Firstborn'settle into pelvis during this'stage;'subsequent babies drop into pelvis when labor begins



Mom

• A host of discomforts may'set in during this trimester viz. insomnia, anemia, heartburn, backaches, varicose veins contributing to energy depletion

• Other problems may include'shortness of breath, hemorrhoids, edema

• Urination and perspiration increases

• Braxton Hicks becomes more frequent. This is also called false labor whereby uterus may harden and tighten at times'similar to labor contractions but it is not actual labor

•'some may have a bloody'show, an indication that real labor is just around the corner

•'shortness of breath continues until baby drops into pelvis. The urge to urinate rises due to the pressure on pelvic muscles

• Cervix may efface (thin out) or dilate (open up) during this final stage.