The Stages of Pregnancy

There are three distinct stages of pregnancy, called trimesters, every 13 weeks. Pregnancy, or trimester, is important for your baby's growth and may be uncomfortable for you. Just as your body adapts to the hormones that regulate new pregnancies, you may experience morning sickness and pain. Your breasts will swell and you will lose your time. Your baby will grow from a small group of cells to the embryo with the beginning of the eyes, ears, fingers and toes. The baby will be able to move his hands and feet. At the end of the first trimester, you may find that you "show up" and your doctor may be able to tell you what sex the baby is.

During the second trimester, your stomach will grow like a baby, and you'll start to feel baby steps. You may experience headaches, dizziness and back pain due to changes in your body. Fortunately, morning sickness is gone, but you may start saving water. Your baby's bones are growing and they are covered with a thin layer of hair called lanugo. As your stomach grows, you continue to gain weight. Nevertheless, the second trimester is the time most pregnant women enjoy the most.

Baby growth slows by the end of the third trimester. The vital organs develop and the fat begins to grow under the baby's skin. During the last weeks of the third trimester, infants begin to descend into the birth canal. You will gain 25-35 pounds (ideally) and you may experience fatigue and numbness in the pelvic area. Urination is more frequent and your breasts may start to feel heavy and leaking. Of course, the third trimester ends with the birth of your baby!

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