Motherhood is the desire of most women. This is one of the most wonderful journeys that any woman goes through in her lifecycle, irrespective of the pain that she suffers. To make this journey more wonderful and enthralling and to feel every moment of this phase, you should make a pregnancy calendar that has a week by week reports of your cycle. Mentioned below are the developments you should expect. The below development calendar includes everything right from the day of conception till birth.
Week 1
During the first week, the egg fertilizes with the sperm when we can call the commencement of pregnancy. After that, there is the thickening of the uterine lining and the preparation of new tissue to hold the embryo. But detection of pregnancy is not possible until this stage.
Week 2
This is the period of implantation. If the fertilization is successful, then the embryo attaches itself to the wall of the uterus. During this week, you may experience some implantation bleeding, which usually occurs 6-12 days after conception. This is a bright red spotting, which is lesser than the period, indicating that you are pregnant. Don’t mistake it for a light period.
Week 3
Pregnancies are generally detected during the fourth week. It is in this week that the HCG levels in our body increase. The rise in HCG levels and changes in other hormone levels can generally be detected in the lab or home-based urine tests. Frequent urination, constipation, or fatigue might be experienced as well. It is normal and maybe the result of the changes taking place in the body after conception.
Week 4
This is the week when the embryo starts developing into a baby. But until now, you will not be able to see much in USG reports. The umbilical cord, amniotic sac, placenta, and cavity begin to develop during the fourth week of pregnancy. This week is generally accompanied by morning sickness due to the secretion of the HCG.
Week 5
By this week, the embryo has grown approximately 0.05 inches, about less than 1/10 of an inch. The head also starts developing around this time of the week. There will be an enormous change in the body as compared to the first few days. By this week, a woman starts feeling that a new life has started growing inside her. Fatigue and morning sickness continues along with dizziness and weakness into this week.
Week 6
There is an increase in the embryo’s size to 0.10 inch which is about 1/8 of an inch. By this week, the heart starts to beat though you can only feel this through the ultrasound waves. The heartbeat pulse around this week is about 150 per minute, which is twice that of the adult. Dark spots appear on the places of future eyes and noses. The embryo takes up the shape of C inside the uterus. Tightening of trousers, weight gain up to 5 pounds is pretty normal for expecting mothers. However, even everyday clothes may start to feel uncomfortable. The uterus grows in size to accommodate the growing embryo within it.
Week 7
There is a drastic increase in the size of the baby from the last week. It has now grown approximately 1/4 of an inch. Along with the size, there is much internal development taking place as well. The eyes, the nose is more distinct from before. The brain divides itself into two hemispheres during this week. The blood starts to pump in the heart. This week is characterized more by the internal changes faced by the baby rather than any external ones faced by the mother.
Week 8
With this week, we have come to the end of the 2nd month of the pregnancy. By now, the uterus has increased a bit more in size. The baby inside the womb is developing at a fast pace by this month. The heart is divided into four chambers. The fingers in the tiny hands and legs are starting to develop. Now the features on the face are beginning to form. Also, a slight movement of the baby has started inside the womb, but this can’t be felt in the exterior by the mother.
As for the mother, the breasts have enlarged, and the area around the nipples has started to darken; this process takes place to prepare nutrition for the baby at the time of lactation.
Week 9
With this week of pregnancy, you have entered the last month of your 1st trimester. The embryo has grown approximately 1 ounce in weight and 1 inch in length. The valves in the heart will develop this week. Bones and cartilage formation will begin this week onwards. By this week, all the major organs in your baby’s body will start to work. Now, it is possible to determine the sex of the child inside your tummy though this can be more accurate after the 18th week of pregnancy.
Week 10
As the baby is now called, the fetus has grown about 1½ inches and weighs approximately 4 grams. By now in pregnancy, all the major organs have started functioning. In addition, all the joints are formed. As the week increases, the morning sickness will start diminishing gradually. In addition, the waistline will start disappearing though it is still too early to feel your tummy increase in size.
Week 11
The fetus now weighs about 0.25 ounces and is approximately 2 inches long, twice the size of the 9th week. The baby now develops taste buds as well. This week is accompanied by unusual cravings of the mother like chalk, ice, or perhaps starch. The expecting mother has a chance of craving food items that she used to despise in the past. All this is normal. During this week of pregnancy, the skin of the baby also starts forming. Another important change in this week is that the private organ of the baby is distinguished, i.e., penis in males and vagina in females. The sex of the baby is distinguished before this month.
Week 12
This week draws the end of the third month as well as the 1st trimester of pregnancy. For the first time, you will feel the movement of the fetus. The baby is growing rapidly by now. The fingernails and toenails have also started growing. The head has finally attained its final size. By now, the baby has grown about 2.5 inches long and weighs approximately 0.5 ounces. The mother is also likely to gain weight by this week. By the end of this week, there is movement in the baby’s mouth as well.
Week 13
This week draws the beginning of the 4th month and the second trimester. There will be an increase in appetite now. By now, your stomach has started to show that you are pregnant. Hair known as lanugo starts appearing on the body of the child. You can feel the movement of the baby more clearly now. By now, the mother should have increased her diet to an extra 300 calories to provide essential nutrients to the baby. The basic features on the baby’s face started getting more prominent.
Week 14
The fetus grows up to 3.5 inches by this week and weighs approximately 1.5 ounces. Interestingly, the baby can now urinate, and it empties its bladder every 30 minutes. This is the time when usually expecting mothers spend their time planning and decorating the nursery or shopping the maternal clothes since now they are relieved of the morning sickness and have free time.
Week 15
With the onset of this week, there will be a tremendous change in the baby. It can start moving its lips, folding its palms, kicking, opening its mouth, and turning its head. Now the baby will also be able to form a fist. The growth is now about 4 inches long, and the weight is 2.5 ounces approximately. The spinal cord is now fully formed, and the bone starts hardening. The baby can also feel light now and reacts to it. The mother continues to grow larger.
Week 16
This week, the baby starts straightening inside the mother’s womb; therefore, the pressure on the bladder will decrease. In addition, the mother gains about 12-15 pounds, whereas the baby weighs 3.5 ounces. Therefore, it is very important that the mother takes proper food and nutrition and especially calcium. Towards the end of the 16th week, the baby has grown its legs, the head is proportionate to the body, and the fingers are clear.
Week 17
This calls for the 5th month of your pregnancy. By now, you are halfway through the cycle of 9 months. Now is the time you need to start buying maternity clothes since you are growing even faster. Unbelievably, the child now grows faster than before. Its weight shows a drastic increase of 6 times more than the last week. During this phase, an expecting mother starts talking to the baby since the ears stand out.
Week 18
With the onset of this week, imbalance may be quite common. You might lose balance and may require using support while walking. At this stage, the sex of the baby can also be clearly determined. By now, the baby is approximately 5½ inches long and weighs about 7 ounces. The immune system of the baby starts to develop during this week. By now, the baby is conversant with many expressions like frowning, smiling, etc.; dizziness is common, along with the increase in blood flow.
Week 19
This week is accompanied by loads of swellings for the mother. Therefore proper rest and care are to be taken to protect the young life that is dwelling inside the womb. By now, the baby has grown around half a foot and weighs approximately 8.5 ounces. During this period, the baby produces a sticky liquid known as the “vernix,” which prevents the child from soaking in the amniotic fluid. Surprisingly, now the baby can hiccup, which can be experienced as the movement of your bloated stomach.
Week 20
Now there are exactly 20 more weeks to go before the little one enters this world. The baby is pretty active by now, moving, kicking, somersaulting, etc. The tooth buds begin their formation this week. The baby has now reached the size of 6.5 inches and weighing around 11 ounces. The mother has to be extra careful now since she might experience severe difficulty in walking or balancing as the center of gravity shifts.
Week 21
Extra tiredness and sluggishness are carried on to this week for the expecting mother. The baby is at a rapid development stage. The digestive system is also in the process of development. During this week, the baby’s nails start to grow, but they are very soft and won’t have the strength to scratch anything. This phase is commonly regarded as the decision-making time when the parents of the to-be child start planning the name, delivery process, etc.
Week 22
The baby, as well as the mother, has grown in size. By now, it has reached the length of 11 inches and weighs about a pound. The special change in the baby this week is the formation of fingerprints. The body also starts making antibodies that help fight germs and infections. Stretch marks and acne is a common thing during this phase for the mother.
Week 23
As the week advances, the size of the mother as well as the baby goes on increasing. The baby is now 1.1 pounds and about a foot long. It can now respond to external voices and recognize them as well. The blood vessel now starts its process of development. The lung is one of the last organs to develop and mature in the baby.
Week 24
Around this week, the heartbeat of the child is more clear and prominent. You can even hear the beating of the heart if you put your ears near the mother’s stomach. The mother must make sure that she sleeps on her side and not on the back since it cuts the flow of blood. The baby has now increased up to 12 inches and weighs 1.5 pounds. The process of ossification starts this week which is the conversion from cartilage to bone. The baby’s soft skin is wrinkled at the moment, which will smoothen out soon.
Week 25
This stage or week of pregnancy is accompanied by tremendous backaches and pain for the mother. Now, the uterus has expanded and resembles a soccer ball in size. The baby, on the other hand, has grown approximately 14 inches long and weighs 1.5 pounds. The bodily development is in the process. The spine of the baby is about to develop from this week. Formation of hair on the head also starts from this week onwards.
Week 26
The baby goes on extending up to 14.5 inches. Now it weighs around 2 pounds. The baby starts to resemble what he/she might look at birth. This is the period when the fetus starts converting into a baby. Hand and feet movement of the baby is more or less coordinated by now. Almost all the organs are working properly. Within few more days, the baby will start blinking its beautiful blue eyes. All babies have blue eyes until birth.
Week 27
This week begins the journey to the 3rd and final trimester of your pregnancy. Though the retina is not fully matured by now, the baby finally opens her eyes which have been shut since week 9. Also, the lungs are not fully developed by now. The kicking and punching may be harder and stronger now since there is less space for the baby to move inside the mother’s womb.
Week 28
Around this time of pregnancy, the baby and the mother have started coordinating well. The mother has started to understand the sleeping timings as well as the response of the baby. The baby now reacts according to the mother’s mood temperaments. The baby now onwards moves to take its final delivery position, which is head down. It has increased tremendously in size and weight, which being 15 inches and 2.5 pounds respectively.
Week 29
With this week, we draw closer to the delivery date. The mother is growing larger by the day. The baby is also in the growth phase and is going through rapid development. The brain is increasing in size, but it remains soft and flexible to make the delivery more comfortable. Rest has become a must for the mother-to-be since improper care can risk both the mother and the child.
Week 30
The baby has grown about 15.7 inches and weighs 3 pounds now. By this week, the brain starts to look like an adult brain, and the eyesight also starts to improve. A good fact about this week is that even if the baby is born premature, there is a 96% chance of survival. Kicking and bodily movements are more prominent by the 30th week of pregnancy. Exhaustion, fatigue, tiredness, difficulty sleeping is all common problems faced during this week.
Week 31
The baby’s weight goes up to 3.3 pounds, and its height increases to 16 inches by this week. The space in the womb is reduced by now, and the baby has very little space to move about. The baby finally acquires the head-down position for the normal delivery. The labor pain also starts due to the tightening in the muscles of the uterus. As the delivery date starts nearing, the breasts get heavier, and the mother may start having pre-milk too.
Week 32
It is during the 32nd week that the baby is usually born prematurely. The baby is generally considered full-term this week even though it can still stay in the mother’s womb for another 8 weeks. The baby weighs 3.7 pounds and is 16.7 inches long by now. There might be shortness of breath experienced by the mother as the uterus is getting larger. Towards the end of this week, the baby’s nails are fully grown, and they reach the fingertips.
Week 33
The growth pace of the baby increases by now, and it weighs around 4.2 pounds, and its height extends up to 17.2 inches. Calcium in the diet of the mother helps in hardening the skeleton of the child. Hence would-be mothers are suggested to increase intake of calcium in sufficient quantity. Now a mother should be prepared to expect the labor pain at any time. There might be difficulty in even sitting down since the size of the uterus is way too large. Also, as the swelling continues, good consumption of water is the best solution.
Week 34
As the birth time of the baby is approaching, it is attaining its birth height and weight. By this week, an average baby will weigh around 4.7 pounds, and the height will be a little less than 18 inches. The lungs also start getting stronger by this week. The immune system starts to develop as well. The digestive system is fully functional by now.
Week 35
Around this week, the baby weighs 5.3 pounds, and the height is 18.2 inches approximately. The baby’s movement becomes difficult inside the uterus since now the baby is fully grown, and there is hardly any moveable space inside. Moreover, as the baby reaches the 35th week, the kidney and the liver are grown and carry out their respective functions. Therefore, a light body massage for the mother is advisable as it helps in relaxing and calming down.
Week 36
The size of the baby goes on to increase up to 18.6 inches and 5.9 pounds. During this week, the lanugo starts disappearing from the baby’s skin. The baby adopts a cuddled position in the womb as there is less space for any movement inside. During this week, the mother may start getting labor pains more often. The pressure starts increasing in the lower abdomen since the baby drops into the pelvis; this causes a very uncomfortable feeling.
Week 37
By now, the baby is fully developed and ready for birth. The longer the baby stays in the mother’s womb, the better it helps it put on more weight. By now, the baby weighs 6.3 pounds, and its height is about 19 inches.
Week 38
As we come closer to the delivery date, the baby has gone through a dramatic increase in size and weight. It now weighs approximately 7 pounds, and the height goes up to 19.5 inches. The development of all the organs is complete by now, so the baby is ready for arrival and will survive easily in this world. The grasp of the baby also gets much better by week 38. This now becomes a waiting game for the mother, and she feels great discomfort, and proper rest is essential.
Week 39
By now, the baby may weigh more than 7 pounds, and height can extend about 20 inches. During this time, the fat regulates the baby, which helps maintain its body temperature. Although the baby’s eyes are fully developed by now, due to the strengthening of the muscle, the vision might not be clear as the baby is born, but this will improve with time.
Week 40
This week draws you to the final week of your pregnancy. Another 7 days before you have your baby in your arms. By now, all the baby’s organs are grown and properly functioning and do not need any medical intervention. However, since this is the last week of pregnancy, a mother should take extra care and avoid things that might prove fatal for her or her baby.
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