Pregnancy Week by Week

Published on January 4th, 2018 and Updated on February 16th, 2024

It takes just 40 weeks to grow a brand-new human, isn’t that amazing? There are so many changes taking place in your body—and your baby’s body—that it can feel overwhelming. But we’re here to help with this handy guide to your first, second and third trimesters. Know what to expect during pregnancy week by week and track your memorable journey into motherhood.

The First Trimester

Your body: During the first trimester, which encompasses weeks one to 13, your body will experience rapid changes, including breast tenderness, morning sickness and fatigue. You may experience some or all of these symptoms. You might also feel like you’re on an emotional roller coaster! Your mood swings may be partially hormonal, but who doesn’t experience a wide range of feelings when they are about to become a parent? This is also the time to schedule your first pre-natal appointment with your health-care provider.

Your baby: During the first trimester, your baby is developing in amazing ways. The spinal cord, brain and other internal organs are taking form, and you can hear your baby’s heart beating, always such a thrilling moment. With Sneakpeek’s baby heart monitor, you can connect with your baby at any moment. By the end of this trimester, your baby will have fingerprints, be about three inches long and will weigh nearly an ounce!

The Second Trimester

Your baby: The second trimester, weeks 14 to 26, is Mother Nature’s gift to pregnant mums. This is when you’ll experience the fabled “pregnancy glow!”.

Your energy will return, your nausea will dissipate and you’ll start to show that adorable baby bump. This trimester also marks the halfway point, when you hit 20 weeks. Make sure you have regularly scheduled appointments with your doctor.

Your baby: It’s time to start talking, because your baby can hear you now! This is the time when you will also start to feel your baby moving, kicking and swimming. Your baby’s skeleton is hardening, changing from soft cartilage to strong bones and the baby’s eyelids and even eyebrows are now fully formed.

The Third Trimester

Your Body: The third trimester, weeks 27 to birth, can be challenging at times. Fatigue will return and it may be harder to sleep at night. You may also experience swelling in your ankles and backaches, and you might even begin to have pre-labor contractions, also known as Braxton-Hicks contractions. You’ll ramp up visits to your physician, with weekly appointments as you close in on your due date. But hang in there, it’s almost time to meet your little one.

Your Baby: Your baby is gaining weight like a champ, and the lungs are in the final phase of development. Your baby’s eyes can open and close and even follow a light! Those adorable layers of baby fat are in their final weeks of development, too. Don’t worry if you give birth a little bit early—baby is considered to be full-term by week 37.

You and your baby have been through 40 weeks of incredible change, but the wait is almost over. Soon, you’ll be holding your newborn in your arms!

 

This post has been reviewed for accuracy by the following medical professional:

Katie Smith, MSN, APRN, CNM

Katie Smith is a seasoned Certified Nurse Midwife and a nurturing mother to six children, offering a unique blend of professional expertise and personal experience. She is the founder of Birth Your Way Midwifery and Women’s Wellness Center in Bay County, Florida. Katie's comprehensive approach to care is informed by her hands-on experience in motherhood and her passion for empowering women through their birthing journey. Her dedication extends beyond her center as she actively engages in community wellness and family health education.

Related Posts

January 20, 2024
Depending on who you ask, you might hear that being pregnant with twins is a unique experience. But the truth is that every...
January 15, 2024
Genetic testing has become an accessible healthcare option anyone can use to better understand both individual and family needs. But...
December 28, 2023
For as long as humans have been procreating, cultures around the world have developed imaginative rituals for predicting gender to...

Follow Us

InstagramPinterestYouTube

When can I use a Fetal Doppler?
What are other ways doctors can determine my due date?
How is the due date calculated if I conceived through IVF or fertility treatments?
Can I use a pregnancy calculator if I have irregular periods?
I Used the Pregnancy Calculator… Now What?
Can the baby hear the Fetal Doppler?
Can I use the Fetal Doppler if I have twins or multiples?
Are there any risks of using the Fetal Doppler frequently?
Is gel necessary for using the Fetal Doppler?
Are any specific preparations needed before visiting the clinic for a gender blood test?
Is there a difference in accuracy between home kits and clinical tests?
Why are blood tests used for early gender determination?
Why choose a clinical setting for an early gender test?
What should I do if my blood test result differs from my ultrasound?
Does a previous miscarriage affect my pregnancy test results?
How early can the gender prediction blood test be taken?
Is the gender prediction blood test safe?
How reliable is the gender prediction blood test?
My blood sample was taken at a participating location. What is the status of my results?
What is the difference between SneakPeek At-Home and SneakPeek Clinical?
What if I can’t hear my baby’s heartbeat?
Is it safe to use a Fetal Doppler?
How does a Fetal Doppler work?
I used last menstrual period (LMP) to calculate 6 weeks into pregnancy. Are my test results reliable?
Can I purchase SneakPeek early and take it when I’m at 6 weeks?
Is COVID-19 impacting SneakPeek shipping or results timelines?
In light of COVID-19, is SneakPeek Labs still accepting return samples?
Are SneakPeek products safe from COVID-19?
Why has the results email changed to show a check mark instead of a percentage?
How do I activate my SneakPeek At-Home test kit?
Can I buy the SneakPeek test kit now and use it later?
Influencer Collaboration
Is SneakPeek a pregnancy test?
Does taking progesterone or other hormones affect my results?
Do blood thinners affect my results?
Is shipping free?
Do you ship to APO/FPO/DPO addresses?
I’ve seen gender predictor tests that use urine samples. How is SneakPeek different?
Can I take the SneakPeek Test if I’m breastfeeding?
Do hormone disorders such as PCOS affect my results?
How is my privacy protected?
Is the test safe?
How quickly will I receive my refund?
When is SneakPeek Customer Care available?
What do I do if I have a question about my order?
I’m having twins. Can SneakPeek determine the gender of each one?
What is SneakPeek’s guarantee?
I’ve previously had a boy. Will that affect my test result?
Does a previous miscarriage affect my test results?
How do I ensure an accurate test result?
I can’t find my results email, what do I do?
When will I receive my results?
How are my results given to me?
How will I know you received my sample?
I don’t want my gender results to be sent to my email address. Can I have them sent to someone else?
What email address should I provide during checkout?
Can I track my sample?
What is the shipping timeline?
How long does my sample stay stable after collection? How long can it stay stable during shipping?
Can I use SneakPeek if I am having a multiple-birth pregnancy?
How is the DNA blood sample taken?
How accurate is the SneakPeek Early Gender DNA Test?
When can I use the SneakPeek test?
When in my pregnancy can I take the SneakPeek Test?
Do you have a pregnancy calculator that tells me when I can take the test?
How does the SneakPeek Test work?