You will now enter another stage of your life. Seeing your body change as your baby grows, to feeling every movement your baby makes inside to your tummy.

First Trimester

On the first 3 months of your pregnancy, your body will undergo some changes to pave way for the growing fetus. At first glance, the people around you may not be able to notice these changes but you definitely will.

In this stage we need to help prevent Neural Tube Defects. You will need Folic Acid to help protect your unborn child from developing Neural Tube defects like spina bifida. Folate deficiency is known to cause miscarriages, preterm births, growth retardation and anemia. So you need to take vitamin supplements with Folic Acid as soon as possible (with your doctor's advice of course). And include legumes (beans, sunflower seeds, peanuts) that are rich in folate in your diet.

Week 1

In the first week of your pregnancy, there's no baby--yet! But a growing fetus will be there very soon

Week 2

Six days after the egg was fertilized, it becomes a ball of cells that attaches to uterine lining. You may experience slight changes in your sense of taste and smell. You may also fell breast tenderness and nausea.

According to BabyCenter, "by this time your developing baby is just a little ball of cells that's officially referred to by scientists as a blastocyst. It has an inner cell mass that will become the embryo itself, a fluid-filled cavity that will become the amniotic sac, and an outer cell mass that will become the placenta.

Week 3

The first month of pregnancy starts with conception, fertilization and implantation. After ovulation, the single fertilized egg, called zygote, has 46 chromosomes (23 from you and 23 from your partner) will rapidly divide. During the process of fertilization, your baby's entire physical attributes are determined, this includes gender, hair color and eye color.

According to Baby Center, "your baby is receiving oxygen and nutrients (and discarding waste products) through a primitive circulation system made up of microscopic tunnels that connect your developing baby to the blood vessels in your uterine wall. The placenta won't be developed enough to take over this task until end of next week.

Week 4

This week the embryo splits into two parts. One half will become the placenta, a special tissue that deliver must-have nutrients and oxygen to your baby throughout your entire pregnancy. The other half, the embryo itself continues to grow, and a sheet of cells has just begun to create the neural tube, where your baby's brain, spinal cord and backbone will ultimately form. Being the first organ to develop, the brain will continue to develop 25-27 days after fertilization. Your baby is about 2 inches long and weights about third of an ounce.

While your little one is in the womb, his brain is continually producing active cells. That's why brain stimulation is just as important as providing your baby with the proper nutrients for his brain development. This process helps set your baby's intellectual potential once he's born.

Week 5

In this week, the umbilical cord develops. This is your baby's lifeline in utero-pumping in oxygen, removing waste and supplying the necessary nutrients all throughout your pregnancy.

The embryo is shaped like a disk and now has three distinct layers, it has an inner layer or endoderm of cells that will go on to become most of the internal organs like the lungs, intestines and bladder, a middle layer or mesoderm of cells that will form muscles and bones and make way for the heart and circulatory system, and an outer layer that will form the nervous system such as ears, eyes, become the skin and the neurons of the brain and spinal cord. In the weeks to come, the mesoderm will also evolve into bones, muscles, kidneys and reproductive organs.

According to Baby Center, "your embryo is about the size of a sesame seed and looks more like a tiny tadpole that a human".

Week 6

Your baby's heart will be beating and visible via ultrasound. Your child's heart will beat about 150 times a minute -- twice the average of the adult rate. Also this week, your baby's brain hemispheres are forming -- and brain waves can now be recorded.

Week 7

Your baby is already developing amazingly distinct facial features. Dark spots mark the areas where her eyes and nostrils will be, and a little mouth and ears are starting to form too. Your baby's brain is also growing more complex; if you could take a peek, it would be clearly visible inside the transparent skull. In fact, nerve cells in your baby's brain are growing at an amazing rate -- 100,000 cells per minute! And his started to move in small, jerky motions, although you won't feel these movements until about your fourth month of pregnancy.

Week 8

Your baby grows about 2 1/4 inches long and weighs 1/2 to 1 ounce by the end of the 2nd month. This is a critical period for the development of structures for seeing and hearing. As he gets bigger, his delicate facial features are becoming more refined, with his ears, upper lip, and the teeny tip of his nose all clearly visible. His eyelids will also take shape for the first time this week and his heart is growing stronger by the day.

Week 9

Technically, your baby is not an embryo anymore but a fetus. All the major organs are formed with more recognizable facial features. Your baby's heartbeat can be detected by a doppler at the beginning of your third month. Reproductive organs are beginning to form now, along with some other key organs, like the pancreas and gallbladder. At this point your baby has doubled in size and her head, which is about half length of her entire body, is tucked down toward her chest. His tiny fingers are growing longer, and the ends are slightly enlarged right now -- this is where those unique fingerprints will ultimately form.

Week 10

Paddle-like, or webbed, hands and feet will now separate into fingers and toes, bones will begin to harden and his kidneys are now producing urine. Most impressive? At this point your baby's brain is developing at astounding rates -- nearly 250,000 neurons are forming every minute! The end of the embryonic stage also marks a turning point for development dangers -- your baby is much less susceptible to them now.

Week 11

Your baby will start to inhale and exhale small amounts of amniotic fluid, which helps your baby's lungs to grow and develop. Also this week, your baby's ears are scooting up to the sides of his head. Sure, your baby's head is still disproportionally large compared to the rest of his body, but this will even out as he continues to grow and develop in the womb.

Week 12

Your baby is now about 6 inches long and weighs 1/4 of a pound by the end of the 3rd month. If you get an ultrasound during this stage, you would be able to see your baby's arm and legs moving. By the end of this month the development of the heart and all major organs will be completed.

You may want to read What does pregnancy do to you in this stage?

Second Trimester

During the second 3 months of your pregnancy you will gain more weight rapidly and your baby will be more active and grow in a more rapid pace as well. However, it is important to make sure that you fill yourself with food that has greater nutrient density as opposed to empty calories.

Overall, you start feeling like a real mom!

Week 13

Your baby is constantly getting bigger and cuter, and his face is looking more human-like every day. His ears have moved up from his neck into place and his eyes -- which are looking more and more like your baby blues (or browns, or greens) -- have moved from the sides of the head to the front of the face. Up until now, his head has been outpacing his body, but now his body is growing faster. His legs still need to grow longer, but this week his arms will lengthen to be proportionate with his body, and he'll be able to stick his thumb in his mouth. Also by now, all of your baby's essential organs and systems have formed.

Week 14

The roof of your baby's tiny mouth is fully formed now, and her constant sucking reflexes are helping to create full, cherubic cheeks. If you're having a boy, the prostate is forming, and if you're having a girl, her ovaries are moving down into her pelvis.

Week 15

Lanugo, your baby's first ultrafine, downy hair, now covers his back, shoulders, ears, and forehead. It helps him retain body heat, but once he gains enough fat to do the job, this hair will fall off -- probably before birth. Facial expressions are your baby's newest trick -- he can frown, squint, grimace and wince. Don't worry -- he's just flexing his facial muscles, not indicating his mood.

Week 16

Your baby's delicate skeleton continues to harden from rubbery cartilage to bone. Even so, his bones will remain somewhat flexible for an easier trip through the birth canal. The umbilical cord has fully matured with one vein and two arteries that are protected by Wharton's jelly (a thick substance that makes the cord slippery so it can move freely around your baby). By the way, if you're having a girl, hundreds of thousands of eggs are forming in her ovaries this week -- your future grandchildren!

Week 17

Finally, your baby's arms, legs, and trunk have caught up to the size of his head. Baby starts plumping up this week, as body fat is deposited under his skin and sweat glands develop. Also worth noting: The placenta is almost as big as your baby. It provides vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, and oxygen, along with removing waste and filtering carbon dioxide.

Week 18

Your baby can hear all sorts of sounds -- including blood coursing through the umbilical cord, your growling tummy, and your heartbeat. In fact, sudden or loud noises may startle her. Go ahead and sing, tell stories or play music for your baby now. Even though your baby doesn't understand what these sounds are now, eventually she'll recognize your voice better than any other.

Week 19

Vernix caseosa begins to coat the skin. Vernix caseosa is the waxy or cheese-like white substance found coating the skin of newborn human babies. The greasy, cheese-like white coating helps regulate body temperature and protects your baby's skin while it's submerged in amniotic fluid. By the time your baby is born, most of the vernix will be gone. Your baby's heartbeat is growing stronger now and it's about twice as fast as yours.

Week 20

Your baby is as happy as a clam in your womb, as his well-developed limbs continue to explore by curling, flexing, and kicking. And as his hair, nails and eyebrows continue to sprout, your fetus is looking remarkably more and more like Mom and Dad every day.

Week 21

Part of your baby's growth spurt at this point is likely because his stomach is now equipped to start absorbing energy-boosting nutrients from the amniotic fluid he's swallowing in there. Most of your baby's nourishment is still coming directly from the placenta, though.

Week 22

Your baby's previously see-through skin will now become opaque. However, it will remain wrinkly, red, and covered in vernix until more fat helps to fill it out. Also this week, he's fine-tuning his sense of touch (thanks to maturing brain cells and nerve endings). Your baby may experiment with these newfound skills by feeling his face or anything else he can get his hands on. This week, your baby's eyebrows start growing and hair will start sprouting on the scalp, but this varies -- your baby may grow a thick head of dark hair or he may enter the world bald.

Week 23

Billions of brain cells will develop in your baby's brain over the next couple of weeks. These will control all of your baby's movements and sensory, and basic life functions like breathing. Also around this time, some major changes are happening with your baby's lungs. Surfactant is being produced, a substance that enables the air sacs to inflate and the lungs to fully expand. Right now he's still breathing amniotic fluid, but when he's born he'll be ready for air.

Week 24

You might notice that your baby is very busy during the next few weeks. Right now she's small enough to have plenty of room to move and groove in your belly. She may even respond to your soothing voice or the rubbing of your belly by calming down, while loud sounds or a tap on your belly could cause her to become alert. Also, because the balance-controlling inner ear has developed, your baby can finally tell if she's upside down or right side up, so moving around takes on new meaning.

You may want to read What does pregnancy do to you in this stage?

Third Trimester

During these last 3 months your body is preparing for birth and this may cause more discomfort. Back pains, frequent urination and occasional contractions are the most common. Expect also that in these last three months of your journey, your baby will grow from around three pounds to his birth weight at the full-term of 38 weeks. So keep your exercise routine and maintain a proper nutritional plan. Baby will thank you for it.

This stage you need to prevent Pre-Eclampsia. It has been reported that there is a positive association between good levels of Folate during pregnancy and a reduced risk of pre-eclampsia.

Week 25

Your baby's first bowel movement has been forming in the large intestine. The thick, dark poop is called meconium and it's typically excreted shortly after he's born. Occasionally babies pass this stool before they're born, which means it must be suctioned after birth to clear it from the lungs.

Week 26

Your baby has settled into a distinct sleep-wake pattern. You may notice that sometimes he's very active and kicking or punching, and other times he sleeps. If you're lucky, these patterns will mimic yours.

Week 27

Your baby has been hiccuping every once in a while for several weeks, and now you might actually feel these baby hiccups, which are triggered by the involuntary movements of his diaphragm. (In adults, this is followed by the quick closure of our vocal cords, which is what makes that familiar "hic" sound.) But because your baby's trachea is filled with fluid instead of air, his fetal hiccups don't make a sound. They will make your belly jump though, which is fun to see and feel!

Week 28

Until now, your baby's eyelids have been fused shut, but this week he'll begin to open and close his eyes. What's more, his irises are now filled with pigment. Even if you could peek at the color of his peepers now, though, they might not stay that color, as a baby's eyes can change up until he's 6 months to 1 year old (especially if your little guy is born with baby blues). Your baby's brain has developed more tissue and has formed grooves on the surface. It's likely your baby has developed a more regular sleep schedule in 20 to 30 minute intervals. Your baby's size is 14.8 in or the size of a chinese cabbage and weighs 2.25 lb

Week 29

Your baby is getting stronger by the minute. This week, her pushes, kicks, and rolls will likely occur more frequently -- and forcefully. So don't be surprised if you feel an extra-strong karate chop or two! Around this time, the part of your baby's brain associated with intelligence and personality becomes far more complex. You can get to know your baby by paying attention to how she reacts to different foods, sounds, and lights.

Week 30

From this point on your baby will gain about a half pound each week. All that baby weight is for more than filling out his chubby cheeks. Now that all of his major body systems are in place and functioning, he needs padding to protect and insulate his organs. His built-up fat tissue will also help him regulate his body temperature after birth and provide the energy he needs. Because your baby is adding fat and growing bigger, you might find his movements become less frequent -- it's getting harder for him to maneuver. But if you're not feeling any jabs or the occasional kick, tell your health care provider. Your baby's size is 15.7 in or size as cabbage and weighs 2.75 lb.

For many women, as your due date approaches, it's a common and very normal time to feel more emotional than usual. You'll experience more frequent mood swings, and very likely some anxiety over the coming baby and the new responsibilities that lie ahead.

Week 31

Your baby is gaining more weight than height at this point. Because he's too big to stretch out, he's now forced into the fetal position, which he'll stay in until birth. This this week also boasts some exciting reproductive developments. Having a boy? His testicles are moving through the groin on their way into the scrotum. And if you've got a girl in there, her clitoris is already relatively formed. Your baby's color is also becoming less red and more pink in color. Your baby's size is 16.25 lb or four navel oranges and weighs 3.3 lb.

Week 32

While a teeny part of you might be thinking "Get this kid outta here ASAP!" we bet the rest is sincerely hoping he'll stay in there a while longer. That said, you can breathe a sigh of relief for this week's important milestone. Almost all babies born at this stage or later survive and go on to have very healthy, normal lives. By this time all of his major organs are fully functioning except the lungs, which need just a bit more time to mature completely.

Week 33

Your baby doesn't have much elbow room these days -- and, happily, that's probably going to mean fewer elbow jabs to the ribs for you. Because space in your uterus is running out, your baby becomes less active at this point in the pregnancy. You may also notice that her movements are affected by your daily routine -- how much and when you eat, what position you are in and sounds from the world outside can all affect your baby's activity level. The skeleton is also hardening although the bones in his skull will not fuse together completely, but will overlap allowing for continued growth all the way up until early adulthood. Your baby's size is 17 in or size of a pineapple and weighs 4.25 lb.

Week 34

Your baby's preparing for his arrival in just a few short weeks! This week, the protective vernix caseosa (that cheese-like, white, waxy coating that's keeping his skin safe) begins to thicken, ensuring that his birthday suit stays smooth and well-moisturized during D-day. Your baby will likely arrive covered in the stuff, especially in the folds under his arms, behind his ears, and in the groin area. But it'll all be washed off very shortly after birth -- during his first-ever bath. Inside your baby, the lungs are continuing to mature in preparation for breathing in the outside world. Your baby's size is 17.75 in or an average cantaloupe and weighs 4.75 lb.

You might be feeling tired and exhausted like you were in your first trimester. Your body is going through significant physical strain, not to mention the overall discomfort of all that extra weight and difficulty sleeping are playing their toll. As your baby moves lower in the birth canal and exerts more pressure, some women have an uncomfortable sensation that the baby is about to fall out. Other women feel a pricking or tingling sensation in the pelvic area, also common and not something to worry about. These feelings may not go away until after you deliver. If you have concerns, talk to your doctor.

Week 35

At this point, your unborn baby should be positioned with her head facing down toward the cervix and vagina. About 97 percent of babies have adopted this position by this point; the rest remain in what's known as breech position -- when the butt or feet are in place to come out first. You Baby's major organs should be nearly complete. Your baby's kidneys are completely developed and his liver is functional and capable of processing waste products. You Baby's size is 18in or honeydew melon and weighs 5.25 lb.

Week 36

Your baby is working hard to accumulate all the fat he can at this point, and that layer of fat has now rounded out his face. This build-up of fat -- about 15 percent of his total weight--will help him maintain his body temperature and give him a store of energy. His sucking muscles, which are quite powerful, have also finished developing now, and are ready for their first real feeding -- your baby's going to be hungry soon after he arrives.

Week 37

The umbilical cord begins passing antibodies to your baby in preparation for delivery. By stockpiling antibodies, your baby will be better prepared for the disease and germs he'll encounter outside the womb. Your baby's senses are also getting more time to hone their burgeoning skills. He can hear and recognize your voice. Once he's born you'll be able to see him turn his head in your direction when he hears you speak. He knows his mom! Along with his hearing, his eyesight is improving each day. His fingers are also becoming more coordinated. He can grasp his face or toes. And after birth he'll be able to grab onto your finger.

Week 38

Your baby's hanging out, enjoying her last few weeks of snuggly comfort in your womb. However, if she were born today, she would still be considered a full-term infant. Her brain -- in charge of complicated jobs like regulating breathing, digestion, and circulation -- is functioning better every day. Babies come to term anywhere between 38 and 42 weeks; your 40-week due date simply marks the midpoint of this period.

Week 39

By now your baby has likely reached his birth weight (typically between 6 and 9 pounds) and length (18 to 22 inches from head to toe). He's accumulated enough body fat to stay cozy after he's born, and your placenta continues to supply him with nutrients and antibodies that will help fend off illnesses. If you could sneak a peek at your baby's final moments before birth, you'd see that his head is down toward your pelvis (if he's not in the bottom-down or breech presentation, in which case your healthcare provider might suggest a cesarean section). Your baby's body will either be straight up and down, called longitudinal, or positioned at an angle, called oblique. Along with spying your baby's body position, if you could see his head, you'd notice that he's head-down and facing your spine, which is the most common position (called anterior presentation). But sometimes, babies present head-down but facing toward your abdomen. This is called occiput or cephalic posterior. Your baby might lean slightly to one side or the other, meaning that he is either "right" or "left" anterior, or "right" or "left" posterior.

Week 40

When your baby arrives, he will be evaluated and graded (zero to two points each) on the following factors: activity and muscle tone, pulse (heart rate), grimace response (medically known as "reflex irritability"), appearance (skin coloration) and respiration (breathing rate and effort). This sum will determine the baby's Apgar score -- an initial measure of his health. Most healthy babies have an Apgar between seven and nine (few babies get a 10).
You may want to read What does pregnancy do to you in this stage?

Source:

Anmum Materna, Guide for Mom
Anmum Materna, The 9-month Date Book
Similac Mom, Mommy Record Book

"Your Developing Baby, Week by Week." Parents.com
BabyBump App, Daily Info

Pregnancy Stages