First trimester (WEEK 0-13)

The first of the pregnancy stages, or the first trimester is very important to both you and the baby which is growing and developing inside you, and will require many adjustments to your life style.

This is the phase your body is preparing itself for next nine months. Lots of hormonal changes are taking place inside you.You may feel extremely tired the first 2 months of pregnancy. Don't be shy about it and take every opportunity to rest.

Your baby will develop from just a few cells, the size of a pin head to about 7cm in this trimester. Most of the baby's organs are well developed by the end of this trimester. It can move arms and legs independently and also its head from side to side.

Second trimester(14-26)

By this time, most women are no longer suffering from sickness and overwhelming fatigue brought on by the hormonal changes. This is the best stage at which you feel overall healthier and look good with definite change in body shape.

The major milestones in your baby's development will be development of downy hair, called lanugo, during 14-15 to protect the skin, but will dissappear few weeks before birth. From 16-18 weeks you will the feel first fluttery movements of your baby. Around 19 week, a greasy white substance called vernix caseoa is produced. It is a covering that protects the delicate fetal skin from the the amniotic fluid.

By the end of this trimester, baby weighs approx. 25 percent of its birth weight.

Third trimester (27-40)

During this time you will continue to put on weight and will continue to do so until about your 36th or 37th week. The reason is that baby will also put on three quarters of its weight during this period.


Your belly may effect your balance, and lead you to have back aches. Swelling and shortness of breath are be the common complaints as the pregnancy progresses full term. Adequate rest and easy exercises should be the important part of your pregnancy.

Your baby's movements will be assuring factor of its well being. Each baby has different movement patterns, if you feel any change in frequency or intensity must bring it to the notice of your doctor. During 37-39 weeks, your baby's nervous system is maturing, ready for birth. His lungs secrete a soapy fluid, which keeps them open, ready for breathing. The layer of fat under the skin is developing to maintain body temprature outside womb. By week 36 start getting organized and prepared for labor.