In the later stages of your pregnancy, you will probably be instructed by your obstetrician to go for weekly pregnancy development checks, monitor the baby’s movement every hour or every few hours, and look out for certain signs such as shooting pains along your back or thighs and contractions or bleeding.

As you probably know by this time, the EDD (expected date of delivery) is the 40th week after the mother’s last LMP (last menstrual period). However, very few babies are actually born on the due date.

It will be more correct to say that according to pregnancy calendars, most babies are delivered between 38th and 42nd weeks of their mother’s LMP. If you study pictures of the development of a pregnancy week by week, you will find that the human embryo mimics the entire process of its evolution in the brief period in the mother’s womb.

If this is your first baby, look out for signals of beginning of labor. Inform your physician or the hospital, your partner or whoever is supposed to drive you over to the hospital when your contractions get more frequent.

If you have kept yourself thoroughly informed, you will know when it is time to rush to the hospital. Some physicians insist on a specific interval between contractions to avoid false alarms. If this is so - ask and settle the matter with your physician beforehand. Expect and insist on a birth plan so that you and your family are aware of exactly what will happen after the onset of labor.

The birth plan should include what will be done if water has/has not broken, monitoring to be done after admission, whether enema will be required etc.
Many experts insist on women walking around or at least staying upright during labor so that gravity helps in the descent of the baby. In the transition phase, expect the contractions to come very fast, cervix is dilated 8-10 cm, and shakiness, feeling cold or hot, irritability and nausea are common complaints.

In stage two, the cervix is dilated at 10 cm, and the mother is gradually encouraged to push harder, each push lasting 5-8 seconds. This stage may last between a few minutes to several hours. When the baby’s head and shoulders come out, the rest of it will slide free. After this, the umbilical cord is cut and the child is assisted to breathe, if it has not already done so.

The uterus continues to contract after this to expel the placenta and after this is completed, the doctor may suture if required.

A pregnancy culminates in the birth of the baby. If you have followed the development of the baby and maintained a week by week pregnancy calendar, now it is time to replace those abstract pictures with real life - your own miracle in your arms.

First month- The first step in pregnancy is fertilization of the egg by the sperm. The gender  of the fetus is finalized at this stage. The fertilized egg then gets implanted on the wall of the uterus, which is called the endometrium and which provides nourishment to the embryo. The embryo develops the yolk sac and the amnion. The former provides nutrition to the embryo and the latter, which is a fluid –filled sac protects the embryo from mechanical shocks.

Second month-This stage is characterized by the formation of the brain and the spinal cord respectively. The placenta also develops and it is through this maternal tissue that nutrients and oxygen are passed on to the embryo from the mother. At this stage, the embryo measures about 0.08 inches to 0.2 inches. The brain and nervous system begin to develop as also the respiratory and the digestive system and the heart beat can be detected by an ultrasound scan. The umbilical cord which forms a bridge between the mother and the baby develops at this stage and the growth of digestive organs and lungs continue. Facial features slowly become distinct and growth of arms, fingers, toes, eyes and the genitals  begins.

Third Month-By this time, most of the vital organs have been formed, and the tooth buds appear. From the 11th week to the 20th week, rapid growth occurs. Gender  differentiation becomes possible around the 14th week. Blood circulation between the uterus and the fetus begins and placenta becomes fully functional.
Fourth Month-The baby’s kidneys begin to function and muscular movements of the digestive system begins to appear. Hand starts functioning and the face takes on a more human appearance.

Fifth Month-Growth of various organs continues. Eyebrows and hair appear. Muscular movements are quite pronounced and the baby may even start sucking its thumb.
Sixth Month- Bones become heavier and the baby may now weigh approximately 3.9 ounces. The ear bones and nerves of the brain have developed at this stage and the baby can hear the mother’s heart beat. The fetus grows and occupies a large part of the uterus.

Seventh Month-The baby weighs at least two pounds and measures around nine inches.  Lungs develop air sacs and start expanding with the breathing. The auditory and visual systems begin to develop in the brain.

Eighth Month- At this stage,  the baby looks a lot like what it would look at the time of its birth, except smaller and thinner. The immune system develops and if the baby has a premature birth now, there is a good chance of its survival.

Ninth Month- The baby weighs about 6 pounds and continues to grow, reaching about 7 pounds at the time of delivery. Its length measures about 21 inches long, and the baby attains maximum brain growth at this stage. The skin color changes from red to pink. The baby is ready for delivery any time now and the doctor can predict if it is going to be a normal or breech presentation.

Carrying of a growing embryo or fetus in the uterus by a female is called pregnancy. The period of gestation in mammals is approximately 38 to 40 weeks after conception, which is calculated from the last menstrual cycle. For convenience, pregnancy is divided into three periods called trimesters. Each trimester lasts for 3 months. Although pregnancy symptoms vary greatly depending on the individual, some conditions like morning sickness and food cravings are commonly experienced by most women.

Pregnancy Calendar

On-line pregnancy calendars are very useful for expecting mothers as they help them to track the changes in the growing embryo and also the changes occurring in their own body. With the click of a mouse, one can calculate the expected date of delivery, follow their baby’s development from conception to birth, receive tips on having a healthy pregnancy, find out how to cope with the changes brought about by pregnancy and lastly, also plan one’s life after the arrival of the newborn. The internet is full of resources that provide information as well as 3-dimensional illustrations of pregnancy stages on a daily or weekly basis. So, concepts that were hitherto known only to professionals are today easily accessible to all and sundry and the element of mystery in pregnancy has become a thing of the past.

Pregnancy Diary

Every woman who gets pregnant would like to compare her pregnancy to that of others, although every pregnancy may be unique in its own way. In traditional societies, mothers or elderly women in the family shared their knowledge and experiences with the mother-to-be and this gave her enough reassurance to last through the nine-month period without dwelling too much on what could possibly go wrong. Nuclear families and women’s participation in work outside home has taken away the family support system that existed in the pre-industrialized era. The on-line pregnancy diary is a nice way to compare notes with other expecting mothers and also give others the benefit of your experiences.

Planning Your Pregnancy

For a majority of women, conception happens fairly easily, but it doesn’t always happen when you actually want it or as quickly as you might think. The fact remains that despite perfect planning, there’s only one in five chances of getting pregnant each month. This makes it all the more important for you to increase your odds by discovering your ovulation cycle. Knowledge of one’s fertility cycle is extremely important in planning pregnancy. This could also help you if you are trying to avoid getting pregnant. The three basic fertility parameters are: BBT or basal body temperature; changes in cervical secretions; and cervical position. These fertility parameters change continuously during a woman’s cycle. Close observation and recording of these factors will help you find your fertility rhythm.

Menstrual Cycle And Pregnancy

Menstruation is a periodic change in which the egg and the inner lining of the uterus (called endometrium) are shed in case pregnancy does not occur. At the onset of menstruation, the levels of the reproductive hormones, estrogen and progesterone are low. Gradually their levels increase in preparation for a pregnancy. The uterine lining is reformed and around the 14th day of the menstrual cycle, estrogen level is at its highest. This in turn stimulates the release of egg from the ovary. Simultaneously progesterone levels also peak, resulting in the maturation of the uterine lining so that it can withstand and nourish the fertilized egg. If the fertilized egg fails to get implanted, progesterone levels drop and around 28 days, the onset of menstruation begins.

Eight Tips

• Have a hearty breakfast. After a long night’s sleep, your body needs fuel to kickstart the day. Eat healthy foods such as fresh fruit salad, carrot sticks and whole grain items.

• Don’t skip meals because it makes you overeat at the next meal.
• Avoid deep-fried foods. Instead, steam, broil, or bake your foods. When eating out, ask for such foods. Good restaurants adjust to the dietary needs of their customers.
• Before a shopping spree, make sure you have a full stomach so that you do not gorge on that yummy cheese pizza or hamburger that’s teeming with calories. Also, shop for groceries on a full stomach so that you’re not tempted to buy packets of junk food.
• When invited for a dinner party, eat some food and then go. This will keep you from stuffing your plate with spicy and rich foods available there.
• Gulp down about eight glasses of water daily. Sometimes, you might mistake your hunger pang to be that of food, when it is really thirst. If you’re eating right and still feel hungry, it means you’re dehydrated and it’s water your body needs, not food.
• Avoid people who say you need to eat for two. Remember, you need just 300 extra calories daily to nurture your baby. You don’t want to jot down in your pregnancy diary that you’ve become obese. It just ruins the joy of pregnancy, doesn’t it?
• Eat s-l-o-w-l-y. Chew each bite about 50 times before swallowing. When you eat with a relaxed mind and savor every bite, you tend to eat only the amount you actually need. Gobbling food is a strict no, as it makes you stuff unnecessary food in your stomach.

What’s The Right Weight?
The amount of pounds that are ok to be gained during pregnancy depend on the amount of pounds you already had before getting pregnant. This means that weight gain is different for each woman.

For underweight ladies, it’s fine to gain 28-40 pounds. If you’re at a normal weight, you must stop after gaining up to 35 pounds. For overweight ladies, you must gain only 15-25 pounds. This is enough for you. In case of multiple pregnancies, you’ll gain more weight. You must talk to your doctor about weekly pregnancy development as well as weight gain.

What Happens When You Gain Too Much Weight?
You experience several side effects. One of them is fatigue and discomfort. You’re already carrying the weight of your baby. On top of it, the excess body weight can wreak havoc with your back muscles and overall body. You can clearly see in your pregnancy pictures week by week the extra flab hanging from your body.

So, have mercy on your body and don’t overburden it with unnecessary weight. Besides, a normal pregnancy weight gain will keep you fit in pregnancy week by week and help you revert to your original figure easily after delivery.

But, it’s interesting to note that a large number of cases are not that of infertility, but of “stressed-out sex life.” And most of the people diagnosed with infertility are only suffering the consequences of their unhealthy lifestyle. When trying to conceive, the first thing that a couple should do is chill out. Then, they should take a look at their bodies. Are they fit? Do they follow a healthy diet? Even small things like wearing tight jeans or keeping a laptop on the lap for a long time can induce infertility in men!

Now, there are many women who have no idea of pregnancy week by week. Well, if you’re not informed right now as a mom-to-be, how can you be a smart, well-informed mom later? Remember, you can hardly know how your first week of pregnancy passes (this is calculated from the first day of your last period). In fact, in the first week, you’re hardly pregnant. You ovulate (according to a 28-day menstrual cycle) in the second week and it is then that you get fertilized. And by the third week, your fertilized egg is implanted in the uterus. When this happens, there starts a series of pregnancy symptoms that makes you think about taking a pregnancy test and referring to a weekly pregnancy guide.

Most of the time, it’s only when women miss their period that they go for tests. By that time, you’ve already passed one month of pregnancy! The smart thing to do when getting your pregnancy confirmed is to get a week by week pregnancy calendar. It gives you an idea of what happens in pregnancy every week. It includes pregnancy symptoms as well as fetus development.

As soon as the first week of pregnancy passes by, many women begin to get a feeling that they are pregnant. And by the beginning of the third week, you are going to be engulfed with full-fledged symptoms like morning sickness, tender breasts and more. It’s good to jot down each moment in a pregnancy diary. You should always cherish your pregnancy days and not let them pass by in oblivion.

Miscarriages

Around 20 percent of pregnancies terminate with miscarriages. Usually, it happens in the first trimester. They are believed to be due to abnormalities in the chromosomes of the fertilized egg that hinder the development of the embryo. Although spotting or bleeding in the first trimester is one of the pregnancy symptoms, it’s also the first sign of miscarriage. So, you must consult your doctor to rule out its possibility. Usually, ultrasound is done to know the condition of the womb, followed by a blood test. This explains the importance of weekly pregnancy guide to catch any complications early.

Premature Birth

Dilation of cervix before the 37th week of pregnancy may lead to premature birth of the baby. Around 12 percent of births in America are premature. Such a birth can pose health problems to the baby and also lead to death. The survival chances of a baby are higher when she is mature.

Ectopic Pregnancy

When the implantation of fertilized egg takes place outside the uterus, either in fallopian tube, cervix, ovary, c-section scar, or abdomen, it is called ectopic pregnancy. The only option is to terminate the pregnancy because it’s impossible to transfer the egg into the uterus. It’s important to identify this complication in the earliest stage of weekly pregnancy development because the growing embryo can rupture the organ where it’s implanted.

Too Little Amniotic Fluid

Amniotic fluid is present in the amniotic sac. It supports as well as safeguards the baby inside the womb. But sometimes, this fluid can be quite low. The condition is known as oligohydramnios. When this happens, you need to be under constant medical supervision to ensure your baby is safe inside until delivery.

Gestational Diabetes

This is a common condition among pregnant women in the US. AND it’s serious. Therefore, doctors recommend glucose screening when you reach 24-28 weeks of pregnancy. If you develop this pregnancy complication, you need to be under close supervision of your doctor. An uncontrolled sugar level can prove to be disastrous to your baby. Besides, you have 20-25 percent chances of having type 2 diabetes after giving birth. So, you need to be very particular about your diet, weight, and overall lifestyle during pregnancy. You don’t want your pregnancy diary to be filled with memories of how you were struggling with blood sugar when you should have been enjoying the moments.

Placenta Previa

This is a condition when your placenta lies too low in the uterus, covering the cervix or being too close to it.  This happens in the later stages of pregnancy. It can lead to bleeding. You may have to deliver early through c-section to avoid other complications. This condition can be detected during an ultrasound in the mid phase of your pregnancy.

The other pregnancy complications include preeclampsia, bacterial and viral infections, round ligament pain, hypo and hyper tension, and others. Keep a tab on pregnancy week by week and catch the complications early on to have a smooth delivery.

Although difficult at this stage, the one thing that you need to do right now is RELAX! Of course, you’ve your weekly pregnancy tips by your side, but here are some more tips to help you through the final week.

Tips

• Keep in touch with your doctor. You might want to skip an appointment due to sheer fatigue, but visiting your doctor will ensure there are no complications. Besides, you need to keep a check on your blood pressure and other concerns.

• Be frank with your doctor. If you’re hell scared of labor, just you’re your doctor know.  You’ll feel light at heart talking about all your anxiety and concerns. If you’ve any questions regarding the weekly pregnancy development and delivery process, ask, no matter how silly they might seem to be. Moreover, if you notice something wrong, even slightly, consult your doctor. Remember, this is the most delicate stage.
• Plan your delivery. Make a list of things that you want by your side during delivery. Also, write the names of people whom you want to be present at that time. You can even choose the birthing center. You must plan this well in advance because labor pains can start anytime. Once this happens, you won’t get time to say or write anything.
• Take care of important meetings and deadlines. Inform your boss and other concerned people that you won’t be available for this week and another.
• Pamper yourself. You’ll feel great! Get a pregnancy massage or a trip to the spa. Plan a date with your hubby before the baby arrives. Do something special to be written in your pregnancy dairy and that leaves fond memories when you read the diary 10 years later.

Call your friends over for the night and have a blast. This is a must-do because after giving birth, you won’t have the time to go on a girls’ night out. Call long-distant friends, email your colleagues, and catch up with those whom you were thinking to connect but didn’t till now. Show them your pregnancy pictures week by week. This is not to scare you, but let’s face it, ladies: you don’t know what does gonna happen next, right? So, the final week of pregnancy is the right time to bond with your loved ones before you go into labor.

Lastly, know every detail about labor and delivery so that you’re not left surprised by that bloody show just before labor, or the term “water bag” doesn’t leave you baffled. Call your mom and ask her how it was to give birth to you. Who knows, you might get some unique tips from her to cope with labor. Most important of all, you’d feel a sense of comfort knowing that there is someone experienced to support you in this most crucial time of your life.

Best wishes!

Tips

• Eat healthy – there’s still time to correct your unhealthy lifestyle. Forget McDonald’s and take a look at all the wonderful food that nature has provided us. Include greens, pulses, whole grains, and fresh fruits in your diet. You need to make sure that your body has adequate proteins, carbs, vitamins, minerals, and iron to make a healthy baby. Oh yes! A pizza or a large sundae once a while wouldn’t kill you!
• Stop smoking – tobacco thickens the mucus in your cervix, making it hard for sperms to enter inside you. We know it’s tough to stop abruptly. But, you can start cutting down on the number of cigarettes per day so that by the time you’re pregnant, you can easily kick the habit. Besides, smoking during pregnancy can affect the weekly pregnancy development.
• Check your medicine cabinet – are certain medicines hindering your ability to conceive? Check with your doctor regarding the medication that you might be taking.
• Consult your doctor to make sure there’s nothing wrong with you and your partner.

Have sex often. Need we tell you this? But, you must do it at least twice or thrice a week regularly. This increases your chances to hit the fertile period of your cycle. Remember, you’re at your fertile peak for about 6 days, beginning from the day of ovulation (when the egg is released) during your entire menstrual cycle. You must also know that sperms survive for only 3 days after they are released from your partner’s body. Consult your doctor for a weekly pregnancy guide. .

And please do not rush to the bathroom to clean yourself up after sex. You might wash away the sperms trying to enter your body. Douching is a no-no too. It disturbs the pH level of your system, creating unfavorable conditions for the sperm to survive.

For Men…

Guys, you need to take care of your health too. Take a healthy diet and exercise regularly to have a good sperm count. Relieve yourself of all stress. A tensed man can hardly produce babies. Wear loose clothing and remain in cooler temperatures to encourage production of sperms. Avoid placing laptop on your lap. Continuous heat around that area may affect your fertility.

Ladies, wanna get pregnant fast? Then, stop thinking about pregnancy! Relax and enjoy your romantic getaways. Plan them according to your ovulation time. And let things happen. Your pregnancy diary will soon be filled with memorable events and you can also see pregnancy pictures week by week once you conceive!

Healthy Lifestyle + Healthy Mother = Healthy Baby

The first step is to shift to a healthy lifestyle. So, if you smoke ten cigarettes a day, bring down to one. If you drink endless cups of coffee or indulge in binge drinking, it’s time to stop. Remember, women who take more than 500 mg of caffeine daily are likely to face difficulty in conceiving. Talking of alcohol, even 5 drinks or less per week can affect fertility. And this is for both sexes.

If you eat a purely veg. diet, you should make sure you’re getting all the essential nutrients. Zinc and Vitamin C are vital for fertility. Include lots of fresh fruit and veggies in your diet, along with whole grains and high protein food like pulses. If you’re an athlete or involved in active sports, you need to keep a tab on your body fat and weight. Also, don’t be in “extreme action” when trying to conceive. Bring down your exercise to moderate. And most importantly - avoid stress!

Consult your doctor and discuss with him/her about your plan to conceive. They can provide you a weekly pregnancy guide and also tell you about supplements like folic acid to be taken before you conceive. You can also learn about pregnancy calendars.

It’s Not Size But Time That Matters!

The perfect time for making a baby is ovulation. This is the time when you’re at the peak of your fertility. Say, if you have a regular menstrual cycle of 28 days, you are likely to ovulate around the 14th or the 15th day, that is, at mid-cycle. Having sex at this time can fertilize your eggs and make you pregnant.

However, if your menstrual cycle is irregular, it’s hard to know the time of ovulation. Don’t lose heart though. There are other changes in your body that can help you know your “baby-making” days.

One of them is the cervical mucus. In the early stage of your cycle, the mucus is sticky and thick. It blocks the cervix and hardly lets the sperm enter. However, when it’s time for ovulation, the mucus thins out to let sperm get through. After ovulation, it thickens again. So, you can watch your mucus behavior and plan your intercourse accordingly.

Next comes the basal temperature, which is the temperature of your body during rest. It rises by 0.2 degrees Celsius after ovulation and remains elevated until you get your period. Keep a check on your temperature and have sex on the day before it rises. Remember, record the temperature right when you open your eyes and are still in bed. Just stepping out of the bed can raise the temperature.

You can also measure the hormonal changes in your body through an ovulation predictor kit. It can tell you the best time to conceive. And once you’re done, it’s time to start writing a pregnancy diary and get ready for pregnancy week by week.

It helps to know about your pregnancy week by week. You can sail through the stages smoothly without worrying unnecessarily about the bodily changes occurring every week. So, let’s start with the first week. Well, you actually are not pregnant in the first week! Then why are we talking about it? This is because period of pregnancy is calculated right from the first day of your menstrual cycle. You reach the peak of fertility during ovulation in the second week. And if you have sexual intercourse at this time, you get pregnant in the third week. All this happens, but you feel not a thing. Only when you miss your period, it rings a bell that you have conceived!

5-8 Weeks

In the fifth week, you begin to get the symptoms of pregnancy. You can confirm your conception now through a test. Be ready for tender breasts, nausea, cramps, headaches, and mood swings. At this time, your baby is just a cluster of tiny cells. But, she will grow rapidly and you’ll sooner or later get an inflated belly. Keep a tab on weekly pregnancy development.

9-14 Weeks

You begin to gain pounds. Your fetus is growing organs. It has limbs in the form of buds. By the end of these weeks, your baby will have all the organs. You can even hear her heartbeats. During these weeks, you may get a frequent urge to urinate. This is due to the pressure exerted on the bladder by the expanding uterus. Refer weekly pregnancy guide for handy information.

15-23 Weeks

During these weeks, those nasty pregnancy symptoms, including morning sickness, subside. This is a rather pleasant phase of pregnancy. As the weeks go by, you will have to be particular about your sleeping posture. It’s better to sleep on your sides and use pillows for body support. The wonderful part of this phase is that you can feel your baby moving inside! She has already developed hair, and vital organs.

24-33 Weeks

A few contractions may surprise you at this time. But, hey, don’t worry! It’s just your body getting ready for the D-day! It’s time to start planning for your motherhood. You’re in the third trimester and your baby is fully formed. Her senses have started functioning. She can hear your voice and feel your touch! The movements of your baby decrease in this phase because it’s too large to move in your uterus. You need to take care of your back, as it might ache due to the intense pressure of the enlarged uterus. Also, you tend to get off-balance due to the sheer weight. So, take care of yourself. And don’t forget to consult your doctor regularly for weekly pregnancy tips.

34-39 Weeks

The time has come! Your baby is eager to come out in the world! You must learn breathing techniques or join birthing class to cope with labor. Take more rest so that your body saves energy for the big deed. You can get contractions anytime. Also, know how to differentiate between false labor and true labor. And do not forget to write everything about your experience in your pregnancy diary. Best wishes!