Knowledge on pregnancy stages can help the eager mother get an insight about the growth of unborn baby inside her womb. Alongside, she would get to know the milestones that she has achieved and those yet to be achieved. The complete cycle of nine months is divided into three trimesters. And, each trimester represents different phases of fetal development.

Sign Of Pregnancy; Congratulations! The Stork Is On The Way

The confirmation of pregnancy may bring immense joy to the parents. Especially, for the first timer mothers the joy gets doubled every time she thinks about holding her tiny bunch of joy in her arms. But at the same time, there arise some topics of concern that may be quite bothersome particularly for the expectant mother. The first trimester that starts from the time of conception till the 12th week is the most important pregnancy stage. This phase could turn out troublesome for some woman as they suffer morning sickness, which is considered to be the most common sign of pregnancy. This happens due to certain hormonal changes in their body which may lead to nausea, vomiting, mood swings and tiredness. Food cravings and sensitivity towards some food or smell may make the situation even more difficult to bear. This phase is very crucial for both the fetus and the mother, thus nutrition becomes an issue of concern. To cope with such a situation, the expectant mother should take small and frequent meals and relax as much as possible.

Baby Movements; The Most Enjoyable Part Of Pregnancy

Second trimester starts from the 13th week and extend till the 28th week. At this stage the mother feels better as early pregnancy symptoms and food cravings passes away. Now the mother can enjoy all kinds of foods that are nutritious. This is the time when the baby starts growing rapidly and starts to move around in the womb. Of all the three pregnancy stages, the most memorable stage for a mother is when she experiences the “first kick”, that happens during the second trimester. The lifelong bonding between the mother and the baby starts here.

Third Trimester; Heading Towards Holding The Baby

By the end of the second trimester, all the baby’s internal and external organs are developed. And as the pregnancy steps into the third trimester, the baby starts growing in size. And, the baby would require more oxygen now. When the baby starts to grow in size, the space in the womb gets short, and the mother may feel discomfort at times. The risk of getting toppled over always bothers the mother. She needs to take extra care while walking and avoid indulging in any sort of activity that could bring her stress, because this is another very crucial phase for both for the mother and the baby. All she needs to do is take ample rest, take nutritious diet, keep a track of her baby’s movements and count the movements until she gets into labor.

She should stay informed and alert about symptoms of labor and delivery. Including all the pregnancy stages and eventually undergo journey towards motherhood.

Being pregnant is a special time in your life. To know the progress of your pregnancy and what you will feel in the coming months makes it more interesting. So, here we bring you your personal guidebook to know your pregnancy stages.

Signs Of Pregnancy

If you are unsure, yet curious about your pregnancy, then here are some signs to help you out. The first and the most reliable sign of pregnancy is a missed period followed by nausea and vomiting, also called morning sickness. But, it is not necessary that every woman experiences morning sickness. Breast enlargement is also one of the common signs of pregnancy and a large number of women experience it.

If you have these symptoms, then you are pregnant. A full term pregnancy takes about 40 weeks. These weeks are divided into three trimesters.

Pregnancy Trimesters

• First Trimester (Week1-week12): In this trimester, your body undergoes a lot of hormonal changes. You may feel tired and nauseous. You may also experience food cravings, headaches, swollen breasts, and constipation. Maintaining a balanced and nutritive diet will help you overcome these initial pregnancy hiccups. At this time the baby’s brain, heart, and spinal cord are developing. Arm and legs also appear. All the major organs of your baby develop by the end of this trimester. Baby’s heart beats in a rhythm now and arms and legs continue to grow.

• Second Trimester (Week13-week28): As your baby grows, your abdomen expands. Baby starts making movements and you may now feel your baby move in the womb. At this stage you may have body ache, especially in your back and thighs. Stretch marks may also appear around your abdomen, thighs, and hips. Baby’s muscle tissue and bones continue to develop in this trimester too. Now your baby can hear you. Skin, eyelashes, fingernails, toenails, and hair develop on your baby’s body. Vital organs are now fully developed.

• Third Trimester (Week29-till the birth): In this trimester, the baby grows fast and moves a lot. This may put pressure on your organs, but you need not worry. You may feel a little breathless. Heartburn, swollen ankles, tender breasts, and contractions are some signs you will notice in this trimester. Your baby kicks forcefully and gains weight. Your baby has fully-functional organs and less space to move.

The pregnancy cycle is full of developments which make your baby grow. Now that you know your pregnancy stages, you can prepare yourself for what you may experience and how you may feel.