You will probably have heard the obstetrician refer to the term 'trimester'. The nine months of pregnancy are divided into three trimesters. These mark important stages in the development of the fetus. Knowing about the trimesters will help you to understand your baby's development better and also serve to demystify pregnancy for you.
First Trimester
The baby: This stage of pregnancy is marked by the speedy development of your baby. The first twelve weeks will see your baby grow to about three inches and have many of its organs already functioning - a lot when you consider that it all began with the fusion of two cells at the time of conception.
The mom: The frenzied discharge of hormones during the early months of pregnancy may be difficult for your spouse to handle. Nausea and an aversion to food items may be present. She will also complain of fatigue during this stage of pregnancy, as the growing baby makes its demands felt on her body. A healthy diet and a multivitamin prescribed by her obstetrician may help her cope with this.
Second Trimester
The baby: Your baby will continue to grow and develop normal functions. In fact, through these three months, your baby will grow to weigh two and a half to three pounds and measure fourteen inches. By the end of this trimester your baby, if it is born prematurely, will have matured enough to stand a good chance of surviving with appropriate medical care.
The mom: Your spouse's belly will expand to accommodate the baby's rapid growth. Thankfully, the distress caused by hormonal changes, such as nausea, will now start subsiding and allow her to enjoy the .
Third Trimester
The baby: During this last stage of pregnancy, the baby's organs will become ready to support the baby once it is out of the womb. The baby will grow to weigh around seven pounds and measure twenty inches by the time it is born.
The mom: Carrying the extra weight will be uncomfortable as your spouse may find it difficult to move around. Swelling on the hands and feet are common symptoms during the third pregnancy trimester.
The third trimester of pregnancy culminates in labor, which marks the beginning of the process of childbirth. Here are some commonly accepted .
Pregnancy is one of the most wonderful experiences that women can go through in their life. However, most women who are pregnant for the first time are unaware of the many different stages of pregnancy and they have to go through. Some women will categorized their pregnancy based on morning sickness and other problems that they experience and they refer to this as phases of the pregnancy. In actuality there are three stages to a pregnancy.
The first stage of pregnancy is referred to as the first trimester. This first stage of a pregnancy extends to about fourteen weeks. Some doctors will argue that it is the first thirteen but most will agree that fourteen weeks is the beginning of the next stage. It is during the first trimester that women begin to notice differences in their body. Some women will experience morning sickness during this stage, some more than others. It is the common misconception that morning sickness only happens in the morning but if you were to ask women who has experienced morning sickness, they will tell you that it can happen at any time. During this stage that you will also begin to notice that your breasts becoming more tender and sore and some women report that they noticed an increase in the size of their breasts at this time. At the end of the first trimester, your baby will be about two inches in length.
The second stage of pregnancy, the second trimester, begins after the first three and half months of pregnancy. This stage of the pregnancy will last about another three months. It is during this phase that there is an extensive amount of growth in the fetus or baby. Many people will say that the first stage of pregnancy is the most important but the second stage is just as important because this is when your baby grows and develops the most. It is during this stage that you will begin to show. You will find that none of your clothes fit anymore and you now have to turn to those dreaded maternity clothes. At the end of this stage the baby will be almost fourteen inches in length.
The third and final trimester begins around month six of the pregnancy and continues until the baby is born. The belly continues to grow and get bigger and bigger. During this stage women begin to complain of increased back pain and the general feeling of being uncomfortable. Women in this stage of the pregnancy tend to be more emotional about the arrival of the baby and sometimes about things in general. Women have reported that they were tense and testy during this stage, while others reported they cried a lot during this time. This does not happen to all women at this stage. For most women there is an increase the amount of worrying that occurs. At the end of this stage, the baby should be between eighteen and twenty-two inches in length and should weigh close to eight pounds, which is the size of the average baby.
Both Paulb & Warren Wong are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Paulb has sinced written about articles on various topics from Shopping, Pregnancy Problems and Breastfeeding. Paul Banas was looking for a business idea that would allow him the flexibility to spend time with his family. Paul Banas is a founder of http://www.greatdad.com - a leading source of experience, recommendations, inspiration and advice for dads - delivere. Paulb's top article generates over 5400 views. to your Favourites.