First
Trimester:
Mom:
You will more than likely feel more tired. You may have some
cramping
or PMS symptoms around the time of your expected period. You
may have problems with nausea, otherwise known as morning
sickness. One of your first symptoms might be frequent urination.
This is a common problem for many women during early pregnancy.
Some women do not gain weight during the first trimester but
most women gain about a pound a month during the first trimester.
Baby: By the end of your first trimester
your baby will weigh about 1/2 ounce and measure about 3 inches
long. You will be able to see your baby’s heartbeat
via ultrasound by around your sixth week of pregnancy and
you might hear your babies heartbeat with a doppler by the
time you are nine to ten weeks along.
Doctor’s Visits: During your
first visit you can expect to answer a lot of questions about
your medical history. Your doctor will usually do a pap smear
and may do other lab tests. If you know when your last menstrual
period was, your doctor will give you an estimated
due date. You will most likely go for appointments
once a month through your first trimester.
Second
Trimester:
Mom:
A lot of moms feel better during the second trimester. Morning
sickness may be subsiding. You may have a little more energy
than you did during your first trimester. You can expect to
gain about a pound a week during your second trimester. You
will most likely start showing in your second trimester, if
you haven’t already. Sometime during the second trimester,
you may start to feel
your baby move. Don’t worry if you don’t
feel your baby right away. Many first time moms don’t
feel their babies move until they are about 20 weeks pregnant.
Baby: By the end of your second
trimester your baby will weigh about 1 ½ to 2 lbs and
be around 13 inches long. Your baby is beginning to look more
like the person she will be when she is born. By the end of
the second trimester all of your baby’s major organs
are formed.
Doctor’s Visits: When you
are around 15 weeks pregnant you will probably be asked if
you would like to have a blood test (AFP screening) done to
screen for neural tube defects or down syndrome. You may be
given an ultrasound when you are around 18-24 weeks to check
for any anatomic abnormalities. Your doctor may be able to
determine your baby’s gender during this ultrasound.
You will most likely continue to have appointments scheduled
for once a month during your second trimester.
Third
Trimester:
Mom:
You may start feeling more uncomfortable during your third
trimester. It may be difficult to get a good night’s
sleep. It is harder to find a comfortable sleep position and
you may be waking frequently to use the bathroom. You will
gain weight at a faster pace during your last trimester. Expect
to gain around a pound a week during the last part of your
pregnancy. Towards the end of your pregnancy, as your cervix
opens and your baby starts to descend, you may have more pelvic
pressure and vaginal discharge. You might also have Braxton
Hicks contractions. If you are in real
labor your contractions will become regular and
get closer together.
Baby: Your baby may seem to move
around less during the third trimester as she runs out of
room. At birth your baby weighs may weigh around 7 ½
lbs and about 20-22 inches long.
Doctor’s Visits: Your doctor
will probably start seeing you every two weeks once you are
30 weeks pregnant. Then around 37 or 38 weeks he will start
seeing you once a week. When you are around 37 or 38 weeks,
your doctor may start to check your cervix to see if you are
dilating or if your cervix is thinning out. Follow your doctor’s
protocol on when to proceed to the hospital if you think you
are in labor.
