"What To Expect"
By Erika Robinson and Aaliyah Hamilton - hour 6
First Trimester
This trimester's major developments are the nose, mouth and ears. Blood is beginning to course throughout the baby's body. The brain, muscles and bones are starting to form also. The baby is a quarter of an inch. You can find an oversized head and dark spots where your baby's eyes and nostrils are starting to form.
You may find youself moody and joyful. To cope with your emotions, take good care of yourself and remind yourself that what you're feeling is normal. Spotting and bleeding are common in early pregnancy. If you have any bleeding or spotting, call your provider because this could be a sign of a miscarriage or an eptopic pregnancy. You may also be experiencing morning sickness and frequent urinating, dizziness, heartburn, fatigue, constipation and tender or swollen breasts.
Second Trimester
The baby is getting bigger and cuter each day. The face is starting to look more human like. Organs and systems have also formed. The arms and legs will get longer. The ears are now into place. Your baby's eyes are starting to form color. You also get to find out if it's a boy or a girl!
For mom, the miscarriage rate drops by 75%. You get an energy boost and an increased appetite. Some women continue to experience queasiness, morning sickness is letting up. You begin to develop stretch marks. You may also experience darkening around the nose, eyes and cheeks. During the second trimester, you'll begin to notice a lot of physical changes. These include larger breasts, contractions, skin changes, nasal and gum problems, dizziness, leg cramps, vaginal discharge and bladder/kidney infections.
Third Trimester
In the beginning of the third trimester, the baby weighs 2 1/4 pounds and measures 14.8 inches from the head to the heels. The baby also can blink and now has eyelashes. It might be able to see light that filters through the womb. Your baby is moving a lot and now has toenails, hair and fingernails. The Nervous System is maturing along with the lungs. The Kidney is fully developed and the physical developments are completed.
The mother has increased in discomfort with continued breast growth, weight gain, contractions, backaches, shortness of breath, heartburn, swelling and frequent urination. Vaginal discharge is still present. You'll also be asked by your provider to go in for more frequent check-ups.
Advice for Dad
First time fathers may be in for a shock. A lot of guys have trouble talking or coping with issues or feelings. These include feeling left out, staying connected, worrying about finances, challenging conventions, dealing with his boss when asking for time off, and changing priorities. To deal with these issues, fathers should remain supportive. Also, there's fathering classes and organizations for new fathers.