Although there are many stages of pregnancy, the journey begins on the first day of the last menstruation. Most women do not realize the changes in their bodies until they miss their period or perform a home pregnancy test in the second month. Pregnancy is a beautiful time accompanied by various physical, hormonal, and emotional changes. Every woman should know about how pregnancy begins, progresses, and ends to stay healthy and happy. In this post, we explain the various stages of pregnancy in detail. We also tell you about the changes you may undergo and how the fetus grows.
Stages Of Pregnancy
1. Conception:
You take the first step towards pregnancy when an egg in your body is fertilized by sperm, this is the moment of conception. Let’s see the developments at this stage (1). We have broken them into steps for easy-understanding. Step 1: The process of conception starts with the release of a group of eggs from the ovary every month. These eggs develop into a fluid-filled cyst called follicles, among which only one follicle goes for maturation. Other follicles get degenerated. Step 2: At the time of ovulation, the follicle breaks open to release the egg. The ruptured follicle turns into corpus luteum, which starts producing progesterone and estrogen hormone. Progesterone begins preparing the endometrium lining for a possible pregnancy. Step 3: If the egg meets the sperm, then fertilization happens and a zygote forms. It slowly moves into the fallopian tube over a few days and gets continuously divided into multiple cells. Step 5: If the zygote does not implant on the uterine wall, it naturally passes out of the body, and is expelled by having a period. But if it implants on the uterine wall, then it marks the beginning of your pregnancy. Step 6: You can know about your pregnancy when you miss your next period and take a test. The urine test detects the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). The hCG levels are non-detectable initially but they keep growing from the time of your conception. The hCG hormone will be present in the blood at a detectable level by around ten days after conception. However, to confirm pregnancy through a urine test, it will take two more weeks to get a detectable amount of hormone in the urine (2). The pregnancy period is divided into three trimesters with each trimester having 12-13 weeks in it.
First Trimester (Week 1 to 12)
Conception is a part of the first trimester. Week one of the first month is generally the period of the menstrual cycle. Ovulation is likely to happen on the 14th day or by the end of the second week (in a 28-day cycle).
Changes in the mother:
Below are the early pregnancy symptoms you might experience:
Fatigue Nausea
Vomiting Swollen breasts Mood swings Frequent urination A headache Food and smell aversion Constipation Weight gain or loss
Some of these symptoms will continue until the third trimester. But it is common to feel more tired during the first trimester as the body is working overtime to support the fetus.
Changes in the embryo:
The first month marks the conception with the implantation of the zygote on the uterine wall
Some of the multiplying cells develop into a baby while the rest form the placenta that nourishes the baby
The heartbeat begins by the 21st day and the spinal cord, nerves, and muscles start developing by the fourth week (3)
As you enter the second month, the tiny life is no more called a zygote but an embryo, which is just a fraction of an inch long
The heart and a basic blood circulatory system are in place
Pancreas, liver, and stomach are formed
The limb buds are distinct now
By the end of this month, all the facial features start developing (4)
Starts developing muscles and bones, tooth buds, and fingers and toes. After ten weeks, the baby is called a fetus
By week 12, the fetus will measure around 3in and weigh an ounce
The skin is transparent
Eyelids are closed
Muscles and nerves are developing
Second Trimester (weeks 13-27)
This trimester marks the crucial development of the fetus during the fourth, fifth, and sixth months.
Changes in the mother:
By this trimester, you might feel a difference in the level of your pregnancy symptoms. There will be more energy and the body gets adjusted to the changing hormonal levels. Some symptoms include:
The bump begins to show
Pregnancy glow
You might have pelvic pressure and back pain
Stretch marks
Darkening of areola
Linea nigra
Swelling of ankle, feet, and face
The baby’s initial movements, called the quickening, be can usually experienced between the 16th and 20th weeks (5). Later, the frequency of movements increases and you can feel the baby kicking, squirming, and turning in the womb
Changes in the fetus:
During this trimester, the fetus will measure 3 to 5in and weighs around 3oz.
Begins to suck with the mouth
The eyebrows, eyelashes, and fingernails have grown
Fingerprints are evident
The skin has a wrinkled appearance
The kidneys start functioning by producing urine
Sex determination is possible by this month through an ultrasound scan
Bowel movements start and meconium is produced in the intestinal tract
Measures 6in and 9oz
The movements become more distinct and frequent
The skin develops fine hair called lanugo and a waxy coating called vernix for protecting and covering the thin skin
Can start hearing and swallowing
Measures around 12in and weighs about 2lb
The bone marrow begins formation of red blood cells
Taste buds are formed
Lungs develop but not completely
The eyes begin to open and the hair starts growing
Develops reflexes
Genitals are developing faster with boys having testicles descending into scrotum and girls having ovaries with eggs for the lifetime
Third trimester (week 28-40)
By the third trimester, the changes in your body are more visible and the baby is attaining the full growth.
Changes in the mother:
The uterus outgrows the pelvis and puts pressure on your diaphragm causing difficulty in breathing.
Water retention in the body causes swelling of ankles, feet, and face
The frequency of urination increases as the growing uterus puts pressure on the bladder
Pelvic, hip, and backache increase by this trimester because the joints start relaxing as a part of the preparation for delivery
Some women may experience leakage of fluid, called colostrum, from the breasts
Shortness of breath
Difficulty sleeping
Heartburn
Braxton Hicks contraction as the due date approaches
With the approaching due date, the baby moves down into the pelvis and the cervix starts thinning (cervix effacement).
Changes in the fetus:
Measures around 15 to 17in and weighs 4 to 4 ½ lb
The eyes start to open and close; can respond to the light from outside and hear and recognize voices
Breathing motions start although the lung is not fully developed
Skeleton is fully formed
Starts stretching the limbs
Fats start depositing under the skin
The kicks are more forceful
Lanugo starts to fall
Starts gaining weight quickly
The bones become harder but the skull remains soft to help the baby pass through the birthing canal
The fetus measures 16 to 18in and weighs around 6lb
More fat is deposited beneath the skin
Measures around 19-21in and weighs around 9lb
All the organs are completely developed
Will start moving to the optimal position and settle down there until the labor starts
The delivery can be expected anywhere between the 37 and 42 week
Labor
The last stage of pregnancy is labor when you are anticipating the arrival of your little one in this world. There are three stages of labor (6): Stage 1: It starts with prelabor, which can feel like period pain and cramping and builds up to strong regular contractions, and gets closer and longer gradually. The contractions will be felt for 60-90 seconds, every two to three minutes. The amniotic sac will rupture, and the cervix will dilate to make way for the baby. Stage 2: The cervix dilates to 10cm and the contractions become stronger. As the uterus contracts, you will push down the baby into the birthing canal. During this process, the baby’s head will come out first through the vaginal opening and is called ‘crowning’. Stage 3: The baby is born but the contractions are not yet over. In a few more pushes, the placenta will come out after getting detached from the uterine wall. It can take up to an hour for the placenta to be born. After the baby is born it will be put on your chest and can have its first breastfeed. This helps with the delivery of the placenta and also helps in contracting the uterus and slowing down the blood flow.
References:
The fertilization leads to the formation of zygote The zygote changes into a 16-celled ball called the morula The morula transforms into a blastocyst or blastula The blastula undergoes gastrulation to form a gastrula Gastrulation leads to neurulation for the development of the nervous system Finally, organogenesis occurs, leading to the development of organs
Apposition: Blastocyst contacts the site of implantation on the endometrium Adhesion: Blastocyst attaches to the endometrial epithelium Invasion: Trophoblast cells of blastocyst invade the endometrial stroma
