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A normal pregnancy lasts for nine months, or about forty weeks. This forty-week period is divided into separate and distinct stages of development for both the mother-to-be and the unborn baby. Although the phases of development for mother and baby occur concurrently, this article presents a review of the three stages of pregnancy as they affect the pregnant mother’s body first, followed by a brief outline of the principal phases of growth of the baby in the womb.

The First Trimester of Pregnancy

The first trimester of pregnancy begins with conception (the moment when the sperm and egg cell unite in one of the two fallopian tubes) and ends after the twelfth week of pregnancy. During this phase of pregnancy, alterations in hormonal levels bring about many changes in the mother’s body. As a mother’s body grows and changes to accommodate the growing fetus, first trimester pregnancy symptoms develop. This is a period of discomfort for many pregnant women. Some of the more common symptoms caused by hormonal changes during the early weeks of pregnancy are nausea (although it is known as ‘morning’ sickness, this can occur anytime of the day), vomiting, increased fatigue, dizziness, indigestion, swollen and tender breasts, a frequent urge to urinate and emotional mood swings. Some women also develop varicose veins, excessive weight gain, or leg cramps (due to low calcium levels). Food cravings may also be experienced at this stage of pregnancy. If you are a woman, you will have instantly recognized the fact that many of these symptoms are the same as you would experience during and before your period. Just like PMS, first trimester pregnancy symptoms, and their intensity, vary greatly from one mother to another.

It is important for expectant mothers to be aware that the first 12 weeks of pregnancy present the greatest threat of miscarriage. Symptoms such as spotting, bleeding or stomach cramps should send you straight to your doctor’s office. There are many reasons for miscarriage during the first trimester. The most common cause is an abnormality of the baby’s chromosomes. Some other causes can be hormonal problems, infections, lifestyle (smoking, drug use, malnutrition …), maternal age, and trauma.

The Second Trimester of Pregnancy

This three-month period, starting from the 13^th week of pregnancy to the 26^th week, is the easiest and most comfortable stage of pregnancy. If there is a time when a pregnant mother “glows”, this is it! You have avoided the danger of miscarriage, and now is the time to seize the opportunity to enjoy being pregnant! Initial nausea and fatigue usually disappear; energy levels rise and most women regain their normal sex drive too. Your breasts will continue to grow larger and will start secreting colostrum (milk). Your heart too increases in size since it must now pump more blood. Some women will have problems with constipation, gas, or bleeding gums. All women at this stage will no longer be able to sleep on their bellies, and sleeping on their backs may be uncomfortable because of fetus pressure. For most mothers-to-be, the best open to sleep on their sides, with pillows behind their backs. Since the fetus is pressing on your back ligaments, backaches are common at this stage of pregnancy. Another common problem during the second stage of pregnancy is gestational diabetes, and it’s important to undergo regular urine testing to check this.

Keep in mind that after the 20^th week of pregnancy your baby will have a good chance of survival (with intensive medical care) should it be born prematurely. Watch out for premature labor signs like spotting, bleeding or contractions.

The Third, and Final, Trimester of Pregnancy

Since the baby grows a lot during these last weeks of pregnancy, the mother also experiences many bodily changes. These include swelling of the hands and feet (especially during the seventh month), shortness of breath, increased indigestion and heartburn, trouble falling asleep (particularly in the eighth month), leg cramps resulting from the baby’s growing demand for calcium, minerals and vitamins and exhaustion. Your baby now weighs about four pounds. Take deep breaths to increase his / her oxygen supply, rest as much as you can and avoid carrying heavy objects. In the final month of pregnancy, the baby’s head will drop in the pelvic area, to get ready for delivery. You may experience contractions, but don’t worry. These are “practice contractions”, also known by the name of the British physician who first described them - “Braxton Hicks contractions”. They are not real labor contractions. Don’t forget to attend your childbirth classes!

The Baby in All This?

• The Germinal Stage: begins with conception, when the sperm fertilizes the egg cell in one of the mother’s two fallopian tubes. The fertilized egg then travels toward the uterus, and this can take up to a week. About 24 to 36 hours after conception, cell division begins, creating a mass of cells. Once these arrive at the uterus, they attach themselves to the uterine wall (implantation).

• The Embryonic Stage: Following implantation, the mass of cells is known as an ‘embryo’. During the embryonic stage, the umbilical cord and the placenta begin to develop, and the basic outlines of the baby’s organs, body parts and nervous system are established. By the end of this stage (about the sixth week of pregnancy), the beginnings of features (fingers, eyes, mouth, and ears) become visible. The embryo is about one inch long at this stage, and has a heartbeat.

• The Fetal Stage: The embryonic stage ends when most of the ‘cell differentiation’ has occurred, and the embryo becomes a fetus. The features and organs established continue to grow, the baby’s brain, nervous system and spinal cord develop, and by the third month of pregnancy, the baby’s sex organs begin to form. In the course of the first stage of pregnancy, the baby develops from two tiny, separate cells into a three-inch long fetus with most of its organs and features established and functioning.

• Fetus Growth in the Second Trimester of Pregnancy: The baby continues to grow, its heartbeat is stronger, it has developed scalp and fine body hair, its facial features are more defined and, since its facial muscles are formed, it can smile – or frown. About halfway through the second trimester of pregnancy, it is usually possible to determine the sex of the baby through ultrasound. The baby is more active, and you can feel it play and kick.

• Fetus Growth in the Third Trimester of Pregnancy: By the thirtieth week of pregnancy, the fetus weighs about three pounds. In the thirty-second week, its movement diminishes due to its growing size and the cramped space in the womb. All the five senses develop at this stage of growth, and by the thirty-fifth week, a fetus can hear high-pitched voices and sounds. In the thirty-sixth week of pregnancy, the baby weighs about six pounds and is 18 inches long. It may drop down into the birth canal. The baby’s lungs are fully developed by the 39^th week of pregnancy, and it reaches its full weight and length as it enters into the fortieth and final week of pregnancy.

Labor and Delivery

• Labor: The first stage of labor occurs when the cervix dilates, allowing the baby to move into the birth canal. This is the longest stage of labor. Contractions are mild during early labor as your cervix dilates to about 3 cm. As your cervix continues to dilate to nearly 7 cm, your contractions will become stronger and last longer. The shortest and most difficult phase of labor is the last phase, when your cervix dilates from 7 centimeters to 10 centimeters and your contractions become stronger and more frequent. Contractions help to push the baby down the birth canal.

• Delivery of the Baby: Once the baby’s head is delivered, his or her airway will be cleared and the midwife or doctor will ensure that the umbilical cord is free. The rest of the baby’s body will follow shortly.

• Delivery of the Placenta: This is the final phase of labor and delivery. The doctor / midwife must deliver the placenta and make sure the mother’s bleeding is under control. The placenta is examined to make sure it is intact. Any remaining fragments must be removed from the uterus to prevent bleeding and infection.

Each of the stages of pregnancy brings changes to your body and to the developing baby you carry in your womb. Understanding these changes and knowing what to expect in the course of your pregnancy can make the forty weeks you will be living as an expectant mother much more enjoyable.