Are you planning your first baby soon? Here are the phases of pregnancy by month that will help you be prepared for what’s coming!
Pregnancy is one of the most beautiful phases of a woman’s life. Every woman waits for her life to experience the beauty of being pregnant and the happiness of being a mother. Carrying a baby into her womb is not an easy task for a woman to do, but they have been doing it gracefully for ages now. A woman undergoes many changes in her life physically as well as emotionally. During her pregnancy, she needs to take care of a myriad of things that can be as basic as eating habits. In this article, you will read about the different phases of pregnancy by month, and by the end of this article, you will be aware of almost everything you should know if you are planning your pregnancy soon.
Phases of Pregnancy by Month
At first, when you realize that you are pregnant, happiness seems no bounds. We get excited and start planning out all that we can do to make the pregnancy period more beautiful and memorable. More than just excitement, pregnancy is the most delicate phase in a girl’s life. She must know everything that concerns her health and has a connection with her baby. If we classify on a broad basis, pregnancy can be divided into three phases: first trimester, second trimester, and third trimester. Out of all the three faces, the most dangerous one is the first trimester because it has the maximum chance of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy. Let’s look into the details of each phase one by one.
First Trimester
The first trimester comprises the first three months of pregnancy. It is when the period of pregnancy begins and is generally indicated when your menstrual cycle stops. By the time you know that you are pregnant, you already cover 6 to 8 weeks of the first trimester. But, you still need to keep some things in mind that are required to keep yourself safe and sound throughout.
Development of Baby During the First Trimester
During 13 weeks of the first phase, the baby develops and changes from a fertilized egg to a fully formed fetus. The baby starts developing the nervous system. The heart of the baby begins to take shape, and the red blood cells also start creating. At this phase, the baby has lungs and other organs as well, however, they remain underdeveloped.
Things to Watch Out for During the First Trimester
- Make sure that you consult a doctor and find out the things that your health insurance covers.
- Planning a prenatal visit should be the first thing you do when you know that you are pregnant to come across many specialties. Your midwife/doctor needs to know about your health habits and lifestyle so that she can figure out your due date.
- You will have to get your blood and urine tests done in time.
- Keep a track record of your increase in weight. You need to add 400 micrograms of Folic acid to your diet so that your baby’s brain and spinal cord grow properly.
- Plan for all the screening to be done so that you can keep a check on the genetic problems that your baby may inherit.
Troublesome Symptoms during the First Trimester
See your doctor right away when you feel:
- Abdominal pain
- Heavy bleeding
- Dizziness
- Excessive weight gain or loss
Food Items to Take During First Trimester
Here is a list of all the things that you need to add to your diet when you know that you are pregnant. keep special track of your eating habits in the first trimester as your baby is in the most initial stages of development.
1. Folic acid
It is essential to add Folic acid to the diet as it helps develop the brain and spinal cord of the baby. It is generally found in food items like oranges, strawberries, green vegetables, kidney beans, nuts, and cauliflower.
2. Protein
The intake of protein helps you to support your uterine tissue growth. It is generally found in food items like eggs, chicken, and Greek yogurt.
3. Calcium
It helps in the development of a baby’s teeth and bones. Doctors recommend taking 1000 milligrams of food items like milk, cheese, yogurt, and dark leafy green vegetables in one day.
4. Iron
Iron helps in the efficient blood supply from the mother’s body to the baby. It is generally found in food items like spinach, tofu, beef, chicken, and eggs.
5. Vitamin C
To make all the other nutrients easily absorbed, intake of vitamin C is essential. Some C-rich food items are orange, broccoli, and strawberries.
6. Potassium
Potassium performs well when it is paired with sodium. The combination helps to maintain proper fluid balance and keep the body’s blood pressure intact. You can generally extract it through food items like bananas, apricot, and avocados.
These are all the healthy food items you should take in the very initial stages of your pregnancy. You should not worry about the amount of food you are taking on your plate but you must get all that your body and baby require.
Second Trimester
The second trimester marks its beginning in the fourth month, the end of the 13th week of pregnancy. It lasts up to the end of six months that is the 28th week of pregnancy. By this time, half of the baby’s development is done, and the bulging is quite visible now. In this phase, you get the ultrasounds to see the progress of your baby. You still need to keep some things in mind required to keep yourself safe and sound throughout.
Development of Baby During the Second Trimester
The baby’s weight grows up to three pounds, and s/he develops the other organs of the body as well. They can make movements like kicking and turning. The eyes and ears are placed in the appropriate places, and the baby begins to sleep and wake up in a regular cycle. Nails also grow during the second trimester.
Things to Watch Out for During the Second Trimester
- Your body will have minor achiness in the lower abdomen, where the baby starts moving in your body.
- Since you gain extra weight during the first trimester, you will experience back pain.
- Gum bleeding is also another sign of indication that you have entered the second trimester of pregnancy.
- Breast enlargement is yet another factor that many women face during the second trimester of pregnancy.
- Congestion and nose bleeding is another symptom that shows the positive growth of a baby inside your body during the fifth and sixth months. To ease bleeding nose, you can use a humidifier.
- A white milky substance may come out of the vagina during the second trimester. The amount of discharge varies from woman to woman.
- Blood sugar level also goes down during the second trimester of pregnancy, leading to extensive dizziness. The only way out of this is to stay hydrated and keep regularity in meals and snacks.
- Frequent urination is also common in the second trimester, and it goes until the end of the third trimester of pregnancy.
- Hair growth is a common sign of pregnancy. Hair may appear on unusual body parts, and you need to make sure that having this hair is the best bet because there is no evidence that waxing or laser treatment or even electrolysis is a good practice for the baby.
- Headache and heartburn are yet other signs of the beginning of the second trimester of your pregnancy. One primary reason for the same is the increased levels of Progesterone.
- The most beautiful and fantastic thing that you experience in your second trimester is the quickening part. You can experience the movements made by your baby in your stomach.
- Leg cramps and skin changes are also common when it comes to the second trimester of pregnancy.
Troublesome Symptoms During the Second Trimester
See your doctor right away when you feel:
- Severe abdominal pain and muscular cramps.
- Bleeding
- Weight gain
- Vomiting
- Excessive sweating
- Constipation
Food Items to Take During their Second Trimester
It is crucial to add certain things to your diet to provide healthy growth to your baby during the second trimester:
1. Iron
You can easily find iron in various food items like meat, poultry, seafood, beans, and dark leafy green vegetables.
2. Calcium
Milk helps to provide all the nutrients required by the baby, which is why it is taken as a complete food for the baby. It is also a rich source of calcium which is very important for the growth of the baby.
3. Omega 3 Fatty Acid
Consumption of fatty fish, Chia seeds, flax seeds, and fortified foods are a healthy decision for the baby’s growth.
4. Folic Acid
You can find Folic acid in beans, fruits, green leafy vegetables, and your prenatal vitamin. Folic acid is one of the most essential ingredients that add up to your baby’s growth.
This is everything you need to know about the second trimester. Once you cover these weeks with grace, you will be promoted to the third trimester, which is the last one and also the most challenging phase.
Third Trimester
This is the last trimester of pregnancy which begins from 28 weeks and lasts up to 40 weeks. During this trimester, you can experience the most challenging things, and you need to take extra care of yourself.
Development of Baby During the Third Trimester
The baby begins to turn its head downwards so that it’s easy during the delivery. The baby starts to do many things like opening eyes, hearing, sucking on the thumb, crying, and smiling. The brain, lungs, and Kidneys of the baby are also developed by this time. The skull bones soften so that the baby is easily delivered out of the mother’s body.
Things to Watch Out for During the Third Trimester
- All the second-trimester symptoms are carried forward in the third trimester, too, and at a higher level this time.
- Abdominal achiness and discomfort are some of the most common symptoms at the beginning of the third trimester of pregnancy.
- Putting on extra weight each month makes your back hurt extensively by the end of the pregnancy.
- When you are close to your due date, a yellow-colored substance called colostrum starts forming and making a house in your breasts. This liquid-like substance will nourish your baby in the most initial days after the birth.
- You may have vivid dreams or clumsiness because your body is taking a lot of weight and pressure on the belly region. This impacts you mentally as well as physically.
- You might also face a breathe shortage as your uterus expands and does not let your lungs expand ultimately.
Troublesome Symptoms During Third Trimester
See your doctor right away when you feel:
- Burning during urination
- Abdominal pain and cramps
- Bleeding
- Rapid weight gain
Food Items to Take During Third Trimester
- Fruits, vegetables, protein, whole grain, fat and healthy oils.
- Vitamin A also helps your baby to grow faster and supports their skin. You can find Vitamin A in fish, carrots, cantaloupe, spinach, and sweet potato.
- Vitamin C helps your baby’s teeth and immune system to grow. You can find Vitamin C in citrus fruits, red and green peppers, and broccoli.
- Vitamin B6 is also an essential nutrient for your baby as it helps in the red blood cells and the baby’s brain. You can find the same in bananas, poultry, beef, fish, and organ meat.
The Final Lines
It is the most beautiful experience to be pregnant in a woman’s life. We hope the above-written article explains each and everything in a comprehensive manner to you. You get a clear image of what the body is going to undergo during pregnancy. All the positive thoughts will contribute to your healthy period of pregnancy. We will keep bringing you such unique articles so that you can get through all the critical yet happy phases of your pregnancy.
