what to expect
the three trimesters of pregnancy
first trimester
expect to be extremely tired and have tender and/or swollen breasts. the nipples may stick out and morning sickness may occur during this first trimester. food craving and mood swings are common, also along with constipation and the urge to pee frequently. headaches, heartburn and weigh gain/loss may be some of the changes happening to the woman's body.
for the baby:
the baby's brain and spine begin to form, also along with the heart. the arms and legs begin to bud and the embryo is one-twentyfifth inches long. also, all of the other major organs begin to form and the heart beats at a regular rhythm. the arms and legs grow longer and little toes and fingers begin to sprout. sex organs form along with eyelids. in this trimester, the umbilical cord becomes visible and the baby begins to look more human-like. nerve and muscle tissue develops and at this time, the doctor can determine the sex of the baby. finally, the eyelids close and the baby is about three inches long and weighs one ounce.
second trimester
at this period of time, body aches such as back, groin and thigh are common. stretch marks begin to form on the abs, boobs, thighs and even butt. the nipples will become darker and a line from the belly button to the pubic hairline becomes visible. patches of dark skin can form on the face and numbness and/or tingling can be felt in the hands. itching and swelling of the face, fingers, and ankles are possible side effects of pregnancy.
for the baby:
the muscle tissue and bone form a complete skeleton. meconium (bowel) forms inside the baby's body. he/she learn the sucking motion and is about four to five inches and weighs about three ounces. the baby becomes more active and lanugo (fine hair) coats the skin. eyebrows, eyelashes and nails begin to form at the same time that the baby learns to hear and swallow. now six inches and nine ounces, the body is producing blood cells and taste buds. footprints and fingerprint form along with real hair. the little lungs and reflexes fully develop. the baby sleeps and wakes regularly. for the boys, the testes move down to the scrotum, and for the gals, the uterus and ovaries are in place and the girl has all of the eggs she will have for her entire life. the baby is about twelve inches and one-and-a-half pounds.
third trimester
the woman will experience shortness of breath and heartburn, still accompanying swelling and tender breasts. hemorrhoids can form and the belly button begins to stick out. one may experience trouble sleeping and feel the baby moving into the lower abdomen. contractions can be felt.
for the baby:
the bones are formed but are still soft. the baby begins to kick and jab at the mothers uterus and the eyes open and close at the amount of light. he/she practices breathing and for iron and calcium. the lanugo falls off and the baby is now about fifteen to seventeen inches and weighs about four-and-a-half pounds. the vernix thickens and grows a little more, now sixteen to nineteen inches and six-and-a-half pounds. now considered full term, the organs are ready to function and the heads transitions into the down position. the baby can weigh between six and nine ounces and about nineteen to twenty-one inches long, all varying in size.