Your Pregnancy
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Your baby already has a head and a trunk. Your baby's brain, heart, eyes, mouth, inner ears, digestive system, arms and legs develop. Its precious heart begins beating on the 25th day.

Now that you are expecting, your body is going through many changes. You will have missed a menstrual period or maybe you have noticed scantly bleeding or spotting instead of your normal period. You may feel nauseated or vomit because your body is producing more hormones. These symptoms are known as morning sickness, which can actually occur any time of the day or night.

Your breasts are now slightly enlarged and tender, and your nipples have become more prominent. How exciting to have a new life growing inside you!

BABY NOW: Weight: less than 1 oz./Length: approx. 1/2 in.

TIP: Not all women have morning sickness. But if you do, try eating five or six small meals a day and snacking on crackers, dry toast ora peeled apple.

Your baby's facial features, elbows, knees, fingers and toes develop, and the first bone cells have appeared. The baby has all major body organs and systems, though they are not completely developed. The tissue that connects the fetus to you, called the placenta, provides nourishment and oxygen for your baby and is now developed.

Your breasts may still be tender or feel lumpy. A feeling of fullness accompanied by a tingling or throbbing in the breasts often occurs. Your uterus is now soft and about the size of a tennis ball. A mucus plug forms at the mouth of your cervix to protect your baby. Since you may feel tired and need extra sleep, this is a good time for you and the dad to be to talk about how he can pitch in a little more so you can rest and relax more.

BABY NOW: Weight: less than 1 oz./Length: approx. 1 1/8 in.

TIP: Proper nutrition and weight gain help reduce the possibility of having an underweight baby, who may have more difficulty adjusting after birth. Follow a balanced diet to help ensure proper nutrition for yourself and growth for your baby. Talk to your doctor about how much weight gain is right for you.

By three months, the baby is called a fetus. The fetus begins to kick, can make a fist, can turn its head, squint and frown. Teeth, lips, fingernails, toenails and genitals begin to develop. There are 20 buds for future teeth. Kidneys develop and begin to produce urine.

Morning sickness usually disappears at the end of this month. Your uterus is now the size of an orange, and your waistline is disappearing as your baby grows. This is a good time to start shopping for maternity clothes for extra comfort.

BABY NOW: Weight: approx. 1 oz./Length: approx. 4 in.

TIP: Even if your budget is tight, your clothes don't have to be. But or borrow maternity clothes as you grow avoid stocking up right away. Non-maternity clothes that are roomy can be an economical way to supplement your maternity wardrobe. (consider shopping in dad to be's closet). It's a good idea to invest in a well fitting maternity bra.

Your baby now has a strong heartbeat; it moves, kicks, sleeps and wakes, swallows and can pass urine. The fetus inside you has eyebrows and a small amount of hair on its head. Its skin is pink and transparent. Your baby has vocal cords and taste buds.

Now, you may be starting to look pregnant. Your abdomen will begin to swell, and your uterus is now the size of a grapefruit. A yellowish or whitish fluid, called colostrum, may leak from your nipples. The area around your nipples, the areola, becomes larger and darker and small bumps appear. These bumps are normal skin glands, so don't worry.

You may now begin to feel your baby move. This movement, known as quickening, may feel like a fluttering of wings or small bubbles. Since the movement can be experienced by you only, dad to be may feel left out when you describe this special sensation to him. Help him share this experience by telling him the fetal movement is a part of him and that he'll be able to feel the baby a little later.

BABY NOW: Weight: approx. 5 oz./Length: approx. 7 in.

TIP: A slender woman may notice "quickening" earlier than a larger woman, who may not feel her baby moving until movements become more vigorous. Tell your doctor when you first feel fetal movement because it helps confirm your due date.

Your baby is now doing lots of kicking, is turning from side to side and may move head over heels. Its fingernails have grown to the tips of its fingers. Your baby sleeps and wakes at regular intervals, has hair and can suck on a thumb. The baby's organs are rapidly growing and developing.

Your uterus has expanded to reach the height of your navel, and the skin of the abdomen stretches. Your bowel movements may be somewhat irregular because of pressure on the lower bowel from the enlarging uterus.

Somewhere between your 18th and 20th week, your doctor will be the first to hear your baby's heartbeat, and may then let you hear this miraculous sound through a stethoscope. Here's the perfect time to bring dad to be closer to baby. Ask doctor to let him listen to the little heart he helped create.

BABY NOW: Weight: 1/2 to 1 lb./Length: approx. 8 to 12 in.

TIP: You may see varicose veins, which are swollen blood vessels in your legs, now or during later stages of your pregnancy. These veins are common, so don't be alarmed. To minimize any discomfort, be good to yourself: Avoid standing or sitting for long periods, elevate your legs, move around frequently and wear the support stockings your doctor recommend.

Although the fetus is growing very rapidly, your baby's systems are still developing. Your baby's skin is covered with fine soft hair, called lanugo, and with a substance composed of oil and cells, known as vernix,. Now, your baby can open and close its eyes and hear sounds inside you. Also, your baby's unique fingerprints and footprints have formed.

You may feel your baby kicking high in your abdomen or low near your bladder, and may also experience a stitch like pain at times down the side of your abdomen as the uterine muscle stretches. You may get some relief from the frequent urge to urinate as your uterus rises and the pressure on your bladder decreases.

Don't be surprised if you see stretch marks on your abdomen, breasts or thighs. After delivery, these marks will slowly fade.

BABY NOW: Weight: 1 to 1 1/2 lb./Length: approx. 11 to 14 in.

TIP: If you plan to breast-feed, now is a good time to start preparing your nipples: You can expose them to air regularly and wear a nursing bra with the flaps down so your blouse gently rubs against them. Avoid using soaps and creams on your nipples.

Your baby exercises by kicking and stretching, and now sucks its thumb, opens and closes its eyes. The centers of the baby's bones are hardening. The skin covering your baby is naturally red and wrinkled.

You may experience discomfort during bowel movements since the growing fetus adds stress to your system. Hemorrhoids, swollen blood vessels in the rectum, may develop during pregnancy, or become more of a concern if they were already present. False labor pains, known as Braxton-Hicks contractions, may be felt occasionally, and usually feel like menstrual cramping.

BABY NOW: Weight: 2 1/2 to 3 lbs./Length: approx. 15 in.

TIP: You may be experiencing a range of new emotions. Feelings of apprehension about labor, delivery and motherhood are common, and it's normal for you to want your pregnancy to be over. Mood swings, feelings of elation and doubt, are not unusual. The dad to be can be supportive by talking with you about your dreams, worries and special needs.

Your baby is too big to move around much, but its kicks are felt much mor strongly, and you may see the impression of a small heel or elbow. Although your baby's bones continue to harden, the bones of the head are soft and flexible. T he baby can now hear sounds outside your body.

You may find yourself short of breath because your uterus exerts pressure on the muscles in your lower chest that you use to breathe. You may feel aches and pains in your back and stomach areas because of the larger size of your baby.

Your contractions may be stronger, and you may have colostrum leaking from your breasts. You may also have trouble finding a comfortable sleeping position. When the discomfort gets you down, just remember that soon you'll be holding the little life now inside you.

BABY NOW: Weight: 4 1/2 to 6 lbs./Length: 16 1/2 to 18 in.

TIP: Lying on your left side with one leg crossed over should help you sleep better. Try placing a pillow between your legs in this position for extra comfort. Sleeping this way improves circulation and reduces swelling (edema) of your ankles, feet and hands.

By the end of this month, your baby will be fully developed. He or she will have smooth skin. The bones of the head are soft and flexible for delivery. Your baby is now curled up with its knees against its nose, thighs tight against its torso. When ready to be born, your baby will move downward with its head usually low against the birth canal.

Because your baby has dropped and is now pressind against your bladder, you may once again have the urge to urinate frequently. However, you will find breathing easier again. Your cervix will soften, and contractions will increase. The colostrum leaking from your nipples may be increasing. You may feel stronger contractions and feel tired, anxious, tense and elated. You'll be visiting your doctor at least once every week now as your due date approaches. The contined support and love from your husband and other family members will help you through the final days of your pregnancy, childbirth and nature's gift of motherhood.

BABY NOW: Weight: 6 to 8 lbs./Length: 20 to 22 in.

TIP: A full term pregnancy is 37 to 40 weeks. Preparing for your trip to the hospital-getting your home in order for while you're away-will help you relax as your due date approaches. But being emotionally prepared for an earlier or later birth, which is common, is just as important. Review all you've learned in your childbirth or prenatal classes.

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