A monthly diary of your
baby's development
(MONTH ONE)
Your Baby
For the first 8 weeks, your developing
baby is called an "embryo." Tiny limb buds, which will grow into
arms and legs, appear. Embryo looks like a tadpole. Heart and
lungs beginning to form. By the 25th day, heart starts to beat.
Neural tube, which becomes the brain and spinal cord, begins to
form. At end of first month, embryo is about 1/2 inch long and
weighs less than 1 ounce.
Your Body
You become pregnant and miss your
period. Your body is making hormones needed to "grow" a baby. Your
breasts are slightly bigger and sore. If you have morning
sickness, try eating crackers. You may have cravings, or hate
foods you usually like. You will urinate more often because your
growing uterus is pressing on your bladder.
Prenatal
Care Guide
Before you get pregnant, supplement your
diet with B vitamin folic acid (found in most multivitamins) to
reduce the risk of birth defects of the brain and spine. Visit
your health care provider for your first prenatal care checkup as
soon as you think you are pregnant. During the first 8 weeks of
pregnancy, all of your baby's organs are forming and can be
damaged if you smoke, drink alcohol or take drugs. Ask your health
care provider before taking any prescription drugs or
over-the-counter products. Stop smoking and drinking alcohol.
(MONTH TWO)
Your
Baby
All major body organs and systems are
formed but not completely developed. Early stages of placenta,
which exchanges nutrients from your body for waste products
produced by the baby, are visible and working. Ears, ankles and
wrists are formed. Eyelids form and grow but are sealed shut.
Fingers and toes are developed. By end of second month, fetus
looks more like a person than a tadpole, is about 1 inch long and
still weighs less than 1 ounce.
Your Body
Your breasts are still sore; your
nipples and the area around them begin to darken. Morning sickness
may continue. You may feel tired and need to rest more as your
body adjusts to being pregnant. The total amount of blood in your
body increases.
Prenatal
Care Guide
Visit your health care provider for one
prenatal care checkup. Eat a variety of healthy foods from the
five major food groups: cereals and grains; fruits; vegetables;
dairy products; and meats and beans. Continue to supplement your
diet with folic acid during your second and third months of
pregnancy to reduce the risk of certain birth defects. Drink at
least 6 to 8 glasses of water, juice and/or milk every day. Don't
cut down on salt unless your doctor says so.
(MONTH THREE)
Your
Baby
After 8 weeks as embryo, baby now is
called a "fetus." Fingers and toes have soft nails. Mouth has 20
buds that will become "baby teeth." You can hear your baby's
heartbeat for the first time (10 to 12 weeks) using a special
instrument called a "doptone." For the rest of pregnancy, all body
organs will mature and fetus will gain weight. By the end of this
month, the fetus is 4 inches long and weighs a little over 1
ounce.
Your Body
You may still feel tired and have
morning sickness. You may have headaches. You may get lightheaded
or dizzy. Your clothes may begin to feel tight around your waist
and breasts. Try pullover tops and skirts/pants with elastic
waists.
Prenatal
Care Guide
Visit your doctor or health care
provider for one prenatal care checkup. You have a slightly
increased need for almost all vitamins and minerals to nourish
Your Baby. A healthy diet meets most of these needs. You may have
gained 3 or 4 pounds by now. A woman who starts pregnancy at a
normal weight should gain 25 to 35 pounds. Ask your health care
provider how much weight you should gain. Exercise can be fun and
good for both of you. Walking is a good choice. If your health
care provider recommends prenatal testing using chorionic villus
sampling (CVS), it will be done now. By the end of the 3rd month,
the fetus is 4 inches long and weighs a little over 1 ounce.
(MONTH FOUR)
Your
Baby
The fetus moves, kicks, swallows, and
can hear your voice. The skin is pink and transparent. Umbilical
cord continues to grow and thicken to carry enough nourishment
from mother to fetus -- but it also can pass along hazards like
tobacco, alcohol and other drugs. Placenta is fully formed. By end
of 4th month, fetus is 6 to 7 inches long and weighs about 5
ounces.
Your Body
Appetite increases as morning sickness
goes away and you should begin to feel more energetic. Toward the
end of the 4th month (16-20 weeks), you might feel the faint
movement of Your Baby for the first time; tell your doctor. Your
belly begins to show -- you probably will need maternity clothes
and bigger bras this month.
Prenatal
Care Guide
Visit your health care provider for one
prenatal care checkup. Pregnant women need extra iron -- more than
even a good diet can supply. Your doctor may recommend iron
supplements. You'll probably gain about 1 pound a week, or 12 to
14 pounds, during the second trimester (months 4-6). If your
health care provider recommends prenatal testing using
amniocentesis, or alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) testing for neural tube
defects, they will be done at 16 to 18 weeks. By the end of the
4th month, the fetus is 6 to 7 inches long and weighs about 5
ounces.
(MONTH FIVE)
Your
Baby
Fetus becomes more active, turning from
side to side and sometimes head over heels. Fingernails have grown
to tips of fingers. Fetus sleeps and wakes at regular intervals.
Fetus has a month of rapid growth. At the end of the 5th month,
fetus is 8-12 inches long and weighs 1/2 to 1 pound.
Your Body
If you haven't already, you will begin
to feel Your Baby moving inside you. Be sure to tell your doctor.
Your uterus has grown to the height of your belly button. Your
heart beats faster. You may need 8 hours of sleep each night.
During the day, take rest breaks if tired. Don't push yourself.
You may get leg cramps, especially at night, if you're not getting
enough calcium.
Prenatal
Care Guide
Visit your doctor or health care
provider for one prenatal care checkup. Your Baby's growth and
weight gain are most likely to be affected if you're still
smoking, drinking or taking drugs. It's never too late to quit or
cut down as much as you can. Continue eating a healthy, nutritious
diet and drink lots of juice, water and milk every day. By the end
of the 5th month, the fetus is 8 to 12 inches long and weighs 1/2
to 1 pound.
(MONTH SIX)
Your
Baby
Skin is red and wrinkled and covered
with fine, soft hair. Fetus at this stage usually is too small and
its lungs not ready for life outside its mother. If born now,
fetus might survive with intensive care. Eyelids begin to part and
the eyes open. Finger and toe prints can be seen. Fetus continues
its rapid growth. At the end of the 6th month, the fetus is 11 to
14 inches long and weighs 1 to 1-1/2 pounds.
Your Body
You may feel the fetus kicking strongly
now. The skin on your growing belly may start to itch. Your back
may hurt. Wear low-heel shoes or flats. Exercise can help prevent
backaches. Don't stand for long periods of time. You may feel pain
down the side of your belly as your uterus stretches.
Prenatal
Care Guide
Visit your health care provider for one
prenatal care checkup. You may be constipated. Drink more water or
fruit juice, eat more foods with fiber (like fruits and
vegetables) and get some exercise. To help with heartburn, try
eating 4 or 5 smaller meals during the day. Do not take laxatives
or antacids without asking your health care provider. By the end
of the 6th month, the fetus is 11 to 14 inches long and weighs 1
to 1 1/2 pounds.
(MONTH
SEVEN)
Your
Baby
Fetus can open and close its eyes, suck
its thumb and cry. Exercises by kicking and stretching. Fetus
responds to light and sound. If born now, fetus has a good chance
for survival. Fetus is now about 15 inches long and weighs about 3
pounds.
Your Body
If your ankles and feet swell from
standing, lie down with your feet raised. If swelling lasts longer
than 24 hours, or if hands and face swell suddenly, call your
health care provider. Stretch marks may appear on the abdomen and
breasts as they get bigger. You may feel false labor contractions,
also called Braxton Hicks. This is normal but call your health
care provider if you have more than 5 contractions in one hour. As
your belly gets bigger, you may lose your sense of balance. This
makes it easier to fall. Be careful!
Prenatal
Care Guide
Visit your doctor or health care
provider for one prenatal care checkup. Continue to eat a variety
of foods that are good for you. You should gain 1 pound a week
this month. Get plenty of rest -- your body is working hard. Start
childbirth education classes soon. Most health care providers do a
blood test for maternal diabetes at 28 to 30 weeks. By the end of
the 7th month, the fetus is about 15 inches long and weighs about
3 pounds.
(MONTH
EIGHT)
Your
Baby
Rapid brain growth continues. Fetus is
too big to move around much but can kick strongly and roll around.
You may notice the shape of an elbow or heel through your abdomen.
Bones of the head are soft and flexible to make it easier for baby
to fit through the birth canal. Lungs may still be immature. If
born around 37 weeks, fetus is premature but has an excellent
chance for survival. Fetus is now about 18 inches long and weighs
about 5 pounds.
Your Body
Stronger contractions may be felt this
month. You may have some leakage of colostrum (the fluid that will
feed Your Baby until your milk comes in) from your breasts as they
begin to produce milk. May have trouble sleeping because it is
hard to get comfortable. Try putting several pillows under your
head. May develop shortness of breath as baby crowds your lungs.
Baby may crowd your stomach. Try eating 5 or 6 smaller meals
during the day. Top of your uterus lies just under your rib cage.
Prenatal
Care Guide
After the 32nd week, visit your health
care provider every 2 weeks for prenatal care checkups. You should
gain 1 pound a week this month. Call your health care provider
right away if you have:
Bleeding or a gush of fluid from your
vagina. Cramps, stomach pains or a dull backache. Blurry vision,
or spots before your eyes. A feeling that the baby is pushing
down. A noticeable decrease in the baby's movements. More than 5
contractions in one hour.
By the end of the 8th month, the
fetus is about 18 inches long and weighs about 5 pounds.
(MONTH NINE)
Your
Baby
At 38-40 weeks, Your Baby is "full
term." Baby's lungs are mature and ready to function on their own.
During this month, baby gains about 1/2 pound a week. Baby usually
"drops" into a head-down position and rests lower in the mother's
abdomen. By end of 9th month, baby weighs 6-9 pounds and is 19-21
inches long.
Your Body
Your bellybutton may stick out. Your
breathing should be easier once the baby "drops" but you'll have
to urinate more often because baby is pressing on your bladder
Swelling of ankles and feet may increase. Your cervix will open up
(dilate) and thin out (efface) as it prepares for birth. You may
be very uncomfortable because of the pressure and weight of the
fetus. Be sure to rest often.
Prenatal
Care Guide
After the 36th week, visit your health
care provider once a week for prenatal care checkups. You may not
gain any weight at all this month, or even lose 1 or 2 pounds. You
may have gained 8-10 pounds during the last three months. Decide
whether you are going to breastfeed or bottle feed your baby. Time
your contractions. You are in labor if your contractions:
Are regular or evenly spaced apart
(every 10 minutes, for example). Happen more than 5 times an hour.
Last for 30 to 70 seconds. Get worse as you move around.
Call your health care provider if you
think you are in labor. By the end of the 9th month, the baby
weighs 6 to 9 pounds and is 19 to 21 inches long. |