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| Stages of Pregnancy |
| Written by Barbara Lurie | |
The First TrimesterYour pregnancy is divided into thirteen week intervals called trimesters. The first trimester is the most important and calls for the greatest changes for you and the developing baby. You probably don’t realize you’re pregnant yet but soon feelings of nausea, usually referred to as morning sickness and tiredness will set in. Many will experience various food cravings while others will loathe the aromas of food. During the first eight weeks of pregnancy, your baby is referred to as an embryo. Your baby will grow from a collection of cells about the size of a pin head. It looks nothing like a baby at this point but organs will begin to develop and the embryo will grow into a fetus.While the baby is growing and developing inside of your body it will depend upon nourishment from the placenta and umbilical cord. Together with the amniotic sac, all three provide a safe warm environment. The placenta is implanted into your uterine wall and will continue to grow with your baby. The blood vessels carry oxygen and all nourishment from your blood to the baby’s. The placenta cannot keep your baby from being exposed to substances you use or ingest and this is one reason you must be careful of what you’re exposed to. The umbilical cord is the connection between your baby and the placenta. It contains arteries that carry the baby’s blood to the placenta and absorbs oxygen and nutrients. A vein in the umbilical cord will carry blood and nutrients back to the baby. The Amniotic Sac carries amniotic fluid that surrounds your baby. The fluid is mainly composed of fetal urine and other fluids excreted by your baby’s lungs. The amniotic fluid enables the baby to move around and help to develop its muscles and cushions the baby from any injury. The doctor can also use this fluid to determine the well-being of your baby. If needed, amniotic fluid can be removed with a needle to evaluate for any malformations or signs of other problems. By the end of the first trimester all of the embryo’s structures for organs and limbs will be formed and from here on out they will continue to grow until the baby is born. The Second TrimesterThe second semester will bring weight gain to both you and your fetus. The morning sickness and fatigue should subside and food cravings will probably become more immense. Your skin will start to glow showing proof of the good news. According to the Mayo Clinic smart food choices can be the “cornerstone of your pregnancy.” A nutritious diet combined with prenatal vitamins and lots of water and milk is particularly vital for your baby’s development.Your baby’s organs continue to develop and the heart is pumping strongly now. Your doctor will be able to hear the heartbeat with a stethoscope. Hair will begin to grow over the baby’s body and a thick white waxy coating called vernix. Vernix protects the baby’s skin while immersed in the amniotic fluid during those long nine months. The Third TrimesterBy your third trimester you should feel strong kicks signaling your baby’s rapid growth. He or she is sleeping and waking; opening and closing its eyes and can hear and identify with your voice. The weight gain for both you and your baby may have significant strains on your back and most women complain of back pain at this stage. Your body changes will also include an increase in your breast size which is full of milk with antioxidants and nutrients just for your baby’s health.The fatigue has probably returned and you may feel a bit more emotional as hormones increase, preparing for the arrival of your baby. By week thirty-three your baby should start to change positions in preparation for its journey through the birth canal. Your baby will be ready for birth between the thirty-eighth and forty-second week of pregnancy. An infant born during this time is called a full-term birth. Weight varies for every baby, although the average birth weight is around eight pounds. All of these three trimesters have led up to the welcoming stage for your baby to appear. Congratulations New Mommy! |
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