At the exact point in time, you discover that you’re pregnant, you’ll probably have so many questions & be eager to know the right things to put in place. The first pregnancy trimester (Week 1 to 12) is mostly unbearable. Just as this period is full of many transformations on the baby & the mother, most of the changes might not be that obvious outwardly, but lots go inside.
Each pregnancy phase sprang up different predicaments; in this article, you’ll discover the baby’s growth each week. Also, it narrates the transformations that occur in the woman’s body & details the essential medical report to keep the baby & the mother-to-be in perfect condition.
In this comprehensive pregnancy guide, you’ll have an idea of the changes you’d likely to encounter, what’s going on in your body, the baby’s gradual growth, steps to take, approach to look after yourself during this period, & guides to have a pregnancy in good health.
What is the First Pregnancy trimester?
A fully developed pregnancy spans through nine months (i.e., 40 weeks); within this period, it sorts into 3 ‘trimesters.’ An impregnated woman can deliver a full-term baby so early as 37 weeks & late up to 42 weeks.
The first trimester starts from the ovum’s Fertilization through the male semen, spans about 12 weeks. The mum-to-be starts experiencing changes at this period & begins to lay aside something like food, weight, antenatal, etc.
However, a woman becomes pregnant as soon as male semen fertilizes her egg cell. Once you observed your previous menstrual period, then you can calculate the Pregnancy’s first trimester starting from this date to the twelfth week. Many women that become pregnant by nature don’t know their conception date.
Trimesters are a great avenue to spend time thinking about Pregnancy as any development that takes effect on you & your baby splits into three groups of early, mid and late Pregnancy, commonly referred to as 1st, 2nd & 3rd trimesters.
First Week
The Baby’s Growth
Even though you’re yet to become pregnant the first week, it still adds to the 40-week pregnancy period. This first week is also your menstrual period. You can’t accurately get the precise date when the impregnation happens; hence medical practitioners compute the delivery date from the start of when you have your previous menses/menstrual flow.
Suggestion for the mother-to-be: Try as possible to carry out a pre-pregnancy examination with your obstetrics/gynecologist to discover the danger of hereditary diseases and a toxic habitat. Be aware of needful changes to mode of living towards making safe of a sound conception & baby. Keep to a meal with a sufficient vitamin, particularly folic acid. (400 micrograms daily).
Right through pregnancy, the baby’s well-being to that of its carrier’s state of health corresponds. Before you conceive, desist from alcohol intake, tobacco-made substances, & narcotics. They can lead to congenital anomalies, breathing difficulties, low birth weight, brain damage, & other predicaments.
Never cease to take a prescription without seeking the consent of a clinical psychologist.
Second Week
The Baby’s Growth | Fertilization occur
It can seem unusual; the fact is you are yet to conceive. Towards the end of this second week, the sperm is likely to fertilize your egg.
The sex of your baby is affected during Fertilization. The 46 DNA that accounts for the baby’s chromosome, just one from the egg, the other from sperm — is responsible for the baby’s gender. It is known as sex chromosomes. Sperm do hold any of X or Y chromatins; each egg bears an X heterochromosome. Assuming the sperm that makes pregnant, the egg contains an X chromosome, the baby’s sex is a female. Else, assuming its Y, the baby’s sex is a male.
Pregnancy carrier’s experience
Your endometrium, responsible for giving food to the baby, begins to build up. Likewise, the discharged follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) that causes the egg to develop its full-size also follows suits. By the close of the second week, it marks the halfway of your menses, provided that your 28-day menstrual cycle is steady. Then, the release of ovum from the ovary takes place, i.e., the ovary drops an egg right in the oviduct. At this spot, it’s your best chance to become impregnated.
Let’s say you have intercourse with no condom; when you produce eggs, expect a pregnancy. Immediately a man releases sperm, so many sperm proceed along through the vagina, & just a little of it find their way to the fallopian tube, which the egg awaits it. If a drop of sperm manages to penetrate the egg & impregnation occur, your chance of becoming pregnant is high, though you might not notice any changes within the body.
Third Week
The Baby’s Growth | Formation of Placenta
You might not notice you are pregnant till this week; a baby is forming in your body. Now, you have your baby staying up. Cell division takes place with the embryo—approximately 30 hrs. After impregnation, the egg splits into two cells, later to 4, after that 8. It keeps on like that while it drops out of the fallopian tube right inside the uterus. Immediately it drops into the womb; the group of cells appears as a little ball, referred to as “Morula.”
This morula comprises a cup-shaped to contain fluid, now called “blastocyst.” Towards the close of this third week, blastocyst links itself to the uterine lining. It’s known as “implantation.” This implantation establishes a vital link — the endometrium supplies adequate food essentials to the embryo undergrowth & clear off wastages. As time pass by, the implantation area becomes the placenta.
Pregnancy carrier’s experience
You need sufficient minerals like calcium, folic acid, protein, & iron to form the baby this time. Keep to food items like milk extracts, herbaceous plants, and veggies.
Fourth Week
The Baby’s Growth | Formation of Body parts & Cease of Menstrual period
The embryo, your baby, is made up of 2 cell layers (hypoblast & epiblast) & later turns into the baby’s organs & bones.
Another element, yolk bag & amnion, the latter recreates blood that helps nourish the baby, while the former keeps a shield to the developing embryo.
Pregnancy carrier’s experience
A few women can experience a little restraint this week that the implantation takes place. Most women do misinterpret this for their period, mainly because they expect their menstrual period.
Right after its implanted, the baby begins to form a hormone referred to as human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). This hormone assists in keeping the endometrium. Besides, it transmits a gesture to the ovary to not let out eggs monthly anymore; then, you say you no longer have your regular menstrual periods. You can now detect your pregnancy status.
Fifth Week
The Baby’s Growth
The baby takes a noticeable shape. The neural tube transforms into the cerebrum & spinal cord, spans through the upmost to the lowest part. There’s a swelling in the baby’s mid-part that turns to its heart.
During this period, the placenta forms up. The baby gets its food via the placenta & the surrounding bulges resembling a finger, known as “Chorionic villi.”
Pregnancy carrier’s experience
Although you might not start vomiting, you must do away with some foods, as diseases transmitted through food might lead to miscarriage or congenital anomalies. Prevent food like light, uncooked fats, raw milk, sauce, hot dogs, swordfish, unprocessed meats & eggs, etc.
Sixth Week
The Baby’s Growth
The brain of the embryo, including the nerves, grows very fast. The eyes also form, and the internal parts of the ear. This week, the heart starts to pulse. Also, marks the early formation of the internal and lung organ. Little eggs develop to the embryo’s legs & hand.
This sixth week, the embryo measures 2 to 5 mm from head to buttocks.
Pregnancy carrier’s experience
You start noticing the usual pregnancy disorder vigorously. It’s possible you feel drained. Any symptoms like sapped, painful breasts & throwing up disappear gradually.
Seventh Week
The Baby’s Growth
The embryo already develops the umbilical cord that links the baby to the mother at the conception period, supplying all forms of nutrients, oxygen & channel off unwanted substances. The intestine & respiratory organ keeps on forming. This seventh week, the baby’s nose, eyes, mouth, & eyes seems so apparent.
Pregnancy carrier’s experience
Pregnancy leads to many adjustments in your cervix & starts to build a mucus plug against infectious disease. Still, you will eventually burn it up as soon as the cervix expands before labor.
Eight Week
The Baby’s Growth
The toes & phalanges start forming, while the hands can bend by the limbs & joints. Now, the eyes are easily noticeable.
The intestines increase in length & bugles to the placenta till the twelfth week.
As of now, the buds that later turn to the baby’s reproductive organ show up, but it’s yet to become noticeable if it is a male or female.
Pregnancy carrier’s experience
You’ll start noticing clear signs that you’re pregnant, like your dresses tightly drawn, no longer seeing your menses and the frequent tiredness. You can confirm your pregnancy status through a test & enroll for an antenatal check-up.
The antenatal check-up is crucial for the well-being and safe delivery of your unborn child, making it paramount. Get in touch with medical personnel.
Ninth Week
The Baby’s Growth
The tailpiece right beneath the embryo’s spinal cord shrinks till it vanishes. The embryo’s head forms up, though it’s the biggest of the body parts, it then bends around the chest.
The baby’s measurement increases to about 16 to 18 mm from top to bottom, with an approximate weight of 3 grams. The sharp nose end starts pulling out.
The digestive organ keeps on forming, likewise anus & intestines. Internal reproductive features, such as testes and ovaries, start to form this week.
The baby can jack your stomach at this period since it has grown muscles.
Pregnancy carrier’s experience
Spend time to get accustomed to your lineage’s health background & look back to your medical histories to avoid hiccups during delivery.
Tenth & Eleventh Week
The Baby’s Growth
Now, you have every of the baby’s essential body systems intact & getting set to function.
Tooth outgrowths in the mouth start to pull out, & you can carry out tests to detect whether the baby is male or female.
A congenital disability can transpire following week 10. Now, you have a noticeable human shape, which by week 11, will become a fetus. From the eleventh week to the twentieth week, the baby develops faster, adding to its size, weight, etc. Likewise, the sexual organs.
Pregnancy carrier’s experience
Now, the doctor examines your body with all manner of tests, like blood pressure, weight.
Also, he/she would ask about your health past performances, lineage health challenges to know whether the baby is at a detriment for such hereditary disease transmissions.
The mother’s weight matters a lot for baby nutrition. Generally, the suggested weight gain should be 11.33 to 15.87 kg during Pregnancy. You can carry out a scan to confirm all this.
Twelfth Week
The Baby’s Growth
Other development continues, including the brain, finger, thumbnails, Vocal cords. Here the kidney starts to work appropriately.
The intestines get through to the abdomen as it has enough space for that.
Pregnancy carrier’s experience
You’ll notice glowing skin on your body due to pregnancy endorphin & an increase in blood volume.
All in all, …
It’s vital to be well-informed; when you have access to the appropriate guide that covers first pregnancy trimester (Week 1 to 12), you don’t have a course to panic. This one-stop guide is enough to keep you familiar with basics to be exposed to during your first pregnancy trimester. Remember, a healthy pregnancy is paramount for safe delivery.