The early signs of pregnancy differ greatly from one woman to another woman.
While one woman may be laid low by extreme nausea and long durations of morning sickness; other woman sail through pregnancy with barely any discomfort; however there can be said to be some predictable early signs of pregnancy and fetal development week by week is usually as follows:
- The first week of pregnancy is calculated from the first day of the last period. This is known as the LMP (Last Monthly Period).
- Week 2 is when your uterine lining thickens in preparation to receive a fertilized egg.
- Week 3 is after the conception has occurred and the when the fertilized egg implants itself into the lining of the uterus. Implantation bleeding could happen during this time.
- Week 4 is the first time you would get an accurate result of a positive pregnancy test. The gestational sac has formed, as has the yolk sac to nourish the tiny baby until formation of the placenta.
- Feeling tired, breast soreness, frequent urination, and all early signs of pregnancy may be felt now.
- Nausea is getting worse now; nipples darken. Baby is about 4 to 6 mm.
- Acne could be another early signs of pregnancy.
- Baby is about 8 to 11 mm and the gonads will develop into testes or ovaries at this stage.
- Stuffy nose and cold symptoms are common problems you face when you are 9 weeks pregnant.
- At about 10 weeks you could start to experience the first visible pregnancy tummy.
- At 11 weeks, pay special attention to weight gain. Eat healthy. You need a few extra calories but you are not eating for two, whatever the old wives tales say.
- The placenta is fully functional now.
- You can now hear the baby’s heartbeat through the Doppler.
- When you are 14 weeks pregnant, you will enter into second trimester; many of the early signs of pregnancy will ease by now.
- Your heart pumps 20% more blood and the baby is about 70 grams.
- Some women can feel the baby move as early as 16 weeks; some not till much later.
- Vaginal discharge may have increased at this stage.
- Your belly is now starting to get in the way; sleeping may become a little difficult.
- The baby now weighs about 8 ounces.
- The halfway mark and your belly button have probably flattened by now.
- Think about baby names; birthing classes etc.
- You may be having the best sex of your life right now. On the other hand you may be completely averse to it!
- The baby is now about half a kilo.
- You can probably tell when your baby is sleeping and when awake.
- Plan the nursery, do some baby shopping about now.
- When you are 26 weeks pregnant, dad-to-be can probably even feel baby move by now!
- Baby weighs a couple of pounds now and you are considerably bigger!
- The third trimester begins now.
- You are starting to feel the discomforts which are the later signs of pregnancy.
- You may be feeling Braxton Hicks (practice) contractions by now.
- Leg cramps and heartburn are de rigueur about now.
- The baby is at its most active state now.
- The baby may startle at a sudden loud noise.
- The baby is 2 kg now and is about 17 inches in length.
- The discomforts are many now and you are waiting for baby to make an appearance.
- Most babies have settled into the head down position now.
- Baby is practicing breathing now.
- The baby is settling into the pelvis in readiness for birth now.
- Practice changing diapers now!
- Baby not there yet? Only 4% women deliver on their actual due date, so not to worry! Just make sure your due date was not miscalculated and remain prepared!