Pregnancy Stages

The pregnancy stages are defined as the set of stages a pregnant mother goes through in her 9 months of preganncy. A normal pregnancy lasts around 40 weeks from the last normal period. In these 40 weeks, the expecting mother will go through 3 trimesters. Each trimester has its own specific symptoms and changes that the body experiences. In the following, we will examine each trimester and the most common things a mother should expect to experience:

First trimester

The first trimester starts with the first week of pregnancy and lasts until the 12th week. During this time, the mother’s body will undergo a lot of changes as it adapts to carrying and nurturing a baby. The most common symptoms and changes a pregnant mother could experience are:

  • Morning sickness
  • Mood swings
  • Tiredness
  • Swollen, tender breasts
  • Intense food cravings
  • Constipation
  • Weight fluctuation
  • Heartburn
  • Headaches

    All of these symptoms occur mostly because of the hormonal changes in your body. The hormones will affect most of your organs, triggering changes and symptoms.







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    Second trimester

    The second of the pregnancy stages starts with week 13 and lasts up to week 28. This second trimester is commonly easier to handle and go through for most women. The most noticeable change that will occur during this trimester is the expanding abdomen. Other symptoms and changes are:

  • Stretch marks that usually show on your abdomen and buttocks
  • Body aches, especially thigh, abdomen, back and groin pain
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Swollen ankles
  • Darker skin around the nipples and patches of darker skin
  • Itching

    By the end of the second trimester, the pregnant woman should be able to feel the baby moving and kicking. If you experience itching along with vomiting, jaundice and loss of appetite, contact your doctor immediately – this could be a sign of serious liver problems.

    Third trimester

    It starts up with the 29th week and lasts until the end of the pregnancy at week 40. In this trimester, the baby will fully form and get ready to come out into the world. Most of the symptoms experienced in the last trimester will be the same as those in the second trimester. But there are some which are specific due to the size of the baby and the body’s preparation for birth:

  • Heartburn
  • Shortness of breath
  • Hemorrhoids
  • Breasts leaking colostrum
  • Sleeping problems
  • Contractions

    Effacing is will begin toward the end of the pregnancy. This process will thin and soften your cervix in order to prepare the birth canal for birth. Mothers will also sense that the baby is slowly moving lower in their abdomen.

    Through all of the pregnancy stages, both the mother and the baby will undergo a series of changes. Concerning the mother, these symptoms may vary. Some of them might not even make themselves noticeable at all. This is because every body is different and reacts differently. If there are some symptoms which produce serious discomfort, the best and safest thing to do is go visit the doctor.

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