A Week by Week Pregnancy Guide for Parents-to-Be -

There is not a week that goes by in pregnancy in which your baby is not growing, changing and developing. For expectant parents, the 40 weeks of pregnancy can seem like a mystery. This week by week guide to pregnancy from HARTMANN Direct lays out the basic information throughout the entire span of a pregnancy.

The First Trimester

Weeks 1 to 3

These very early days of pregnancy is the time when the egg is fertilised, it embeds in the womb lining and the fertilised egg begins to separate and multiply a number of times. For most women, they experience few, if any symptoms.

Week 4

By now, the pregnancy hormones are beginning to surge and how they affect you is a very individual thing. Some women start to feel nauseous, bloated, grumpy, upset, tearful or need to urinate more. Other women have very few symptoms!

Week 5

It may only be the size of a grain of sand, but that tiny little embryo already has a beating your heart – and is your son or daughter!

Week 6

You may notice spotting, a light pink discharge. This is something that scientist thinks happen as a result of the placenta forming. If you are concerned, talk to your doctor.

Week 7

The embryo has now doubled in size and measures half an inch long. You may find morning sickness becomes worse as pregnancy hormones are really pumping.

Week 8

If you have your pregnancy confirmed by this time, you may be able to work out your due date. But this is just a guide because unless you have been keeping accurate dates of your last period, this date is not necessarily accurate.

Week 9

The growing weight of the embryo may lead to occasional leaks of urine. Use incontinence pads to help you manage this.

Week 10

At an inch long, the foetus is really beginning to take shape and you may find that your morning sickness begins to pass.

Week 11

You may start to experience food cravings or be put off eating some foods because they have an unpleasant or different taste. This is down to pregnancy hormones.

Week 12

You may start to show a little bump and for many expectant parents, this is the time that they feel most comfortable telling people their happy news.

The Second Trimester

For many expectant mums, the following trimester is the best one as it is the one that they enjoy their pregnancy and their growing bump.

Weeks 13 to 27

During these weeks, there will be a lot of changes. You may find your energy levels are renewed as morning sickness passes. From week 16 onwards, you will also start to feel your baby move, something that most expectant parents love.

Many women, around the week 12 mark, will also opt to have a scan. This gives you peace of mind that all is well but is too early to reveal the gender of your baby.

By week 17, however, you may also be experiencing vivid dreams, something that can be attributed to hormones. Likewise, you may also find that urinary incontinence is an issue that you are continuing to deal with.

Halve way through your pregnancy at week 20, you may find the nesting instinct kicks in. This is when you may clean your home, start to gather things for the baby and so on.

You may feel great but make sure you don’t overdo it. Get plenty of rest.

The Third Trimester

The final trimester means that your baby grows really fast, putting on weight ready for being born. For expectant parents, this can be a tense time as they are unsure when labour will start, what it will be like and how the birth will progress.

Week 28

You may start to experience ‘Braxton Hicks’. There are muscle spasms and are your body’s way of practising and strengthening the abdominal muscles ready for birth.

Week 29

By now, you may find tying your shoelaces difficult with a bump in the way! The foetus is now sensitive to light and sound, to talk to your bump.

Week 30

Filling the space in your abdomen, you may find you become more uncomfortable and slower in your movements.

Week 31

Your baby is now readying itself for birth and the nature of kicks etc. may begin to feel different.

Week 32

You may start to feel very uncomfortable, struggling to sleep at night and so on. Use plenty of pillows to support your growing bump in bed and sleep on your side.

Week 33

Make sure you have everything that you need and enjoy the final few weeks of pregnancy. Why not enjoy a date night?

Week 34 to 36

Your baby will start to move lower down into your pelvis. It may also grind its head in your pelvis, readying itself for birth.

Week 37

Your breasts may start to leak a thick substance called colostrum, the food that your baby needs when it is first born. By now, you may be feeling very uncomfortable and huge. Get plenty of rest but keep moving.

Week 38

Although we say pregnancy is 40 weeks, by week 38 you are considered full term.

Week 39 to 42…

… any time now!