Pregnancy Stages

Normally, pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks, counting from the first day of last menstruation with regular cycle. Well, 40 weeks is divided into 3 stages of pregnancy that we often refer to as trimester. You want to know what happened to you and your fetus at every stage of these?



The first trimester (weeks 1-12)

At this first stage, your body will undergo many changes, especially hormonal changes. These changes affect almost every organ system in your body. The main reference is that you have stopped menstruating, and this ensures that you are actually pregnant. What further changes?

• Quick tired


• Enlarged breasts and nipples protruding and sometimes painful


• Cravings or even hate a certain food


• Morning sickness (nausea and vomiting in the morning)


• Headache


• Constipation


• Toothache


• More frequent urination


• Stomach feels hot (heartburn)


• Often lose mood

Every pregnant women experience different changes. There are undergoing first trimester with fine or with no significant change, but some are passed with great difficulty even have to bed rest during the day. And not every pregnancy is the same.



Most important in this first stage, you should still consider the intake of nutrients that enter into your body. If you can not swallow bread or rice or other staple foods, look for meal replacement you want. What is clear, you and your fetus need to keep eating. Great if you are diligent in taking honey and the juice of dates.



Second trimester (13-28 weeks)

Mostly, the women admit that they undergo trimester both more easily than their first trimester. That exhausting morning sickness has passed, they began the mood to eat, and can move back. Do you also experience it?



Although you no longer lose the mood, no more fatigue because of nausea and vomiting all morning (even throughout the day), you still have to know that other changes will happen to you at this point. Your stomach will get bigger because your fetus begins to grow, and before the second stage is over, you will feel your baby moving!



* Body aches and fatigue

* The stretch marks on abdomen, thighs, buttocks, or chest

* The area around the nipple (aerola) become darker color

* Appears faint line from the navel to the pubic

* Frequent tingling

* Facial skin is darker, often called the mask of pregnancy

* Itching on the abdomen, palms and soles of the feet

* Swelling in the ankles, fingers, and face



Third trimester (weeks 29-40)

This last stage may be the most decisive stage for your delivery. As much as possible, at this stage you are at home. Why? Due to changes in you getting big!



* Shortness of breath

* More often go to the bathroom

* Heartburn

* Swelling of ankles, fingers, and face

* Hemorrhoids

* Tender breasts, often resulting in leakage of colostrum (pre-milk liquid)

* Difficulty sleeping problems

* The movement is more often than your fetus

* Contraction



When you go through this stage, you should not be afraid if you frequently go back and forth to the bathroom. It is unusual, because the larger your fetus, the pressure on your organs getting bigger. After birth, it will return to normal. So also with shortness of breath.



Well, when your body is getting bigger and swelling, try this in the normal range. If you feel the swelling is not normal, or too extreme, consult a physician. This could be a sign of preeclampsia.



When it came his time in recent weeks, the cervix usually becomes thinner and softer. This is a natural process that normally help the birth canal (vagina) to open during the birthing process.



How? Are you getting ready?