PRECIOUS
NINE MONTHS OF PREGNANCY
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.
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