Pregnancy week by week

In the first month of pregnancy, the expectant mother doesn't even know she's expecting a child, but huge changes are already taking place in her body, and of course in the baby's.

Pregnancy is divided into three trimesters to make it easier to separate the individual stages of development. It's exciting to know what's happening in the mother's and baby's bodies at what time. So let's take a week -by-week look at how the baby develops during each period, and what the main events are.

Keep in mind, however, that no two pregnancies are the same , so there may be times when you may not fully recognize yourself. We have tried to summarize the main and most common characteristics.

First trimester

The period that includes the first three months lasts until the 13th week of pregnancy.

The first 4 weeks are still “invisible”, but all the more decisive

The mature egg is released from the ovary into the fallopian tube on day 14 of the cycle to be fertilized. However, the gestational age is calculated from the first day of the last menstrual period, so we need to add 2 weeks to the date of ovulation.

During fertilization, a single-cell zygote is formed. It begins to divide rapidly and reaches the 16-cell zygote stage, then on days 4-6, it divides further to form the bladder zygote. Although ultrasound cannot yet show it, its cells are now differentiating for different tasks.

On the 7th day, it begins to implant itself into the uterine lining, which is ready to receive it. Here, the embryo shield is formed by further division, and a cavity called the amniotic cavity is also formed. This stage is very important because this is when the baby's organs develop.

The expectant mother does not always perceive the new hormonal functions: the changing progesterone production, the changes in the structure of the uterine lining. But it also happens that there are symptoms of implantation, the beginnings. You can learn more about these in our summary of the signs of pregnancy .

The 2nd month leads from the discovery of the egg sac to the movement of the fingers

Week 5 is a memorable time for many mothers, as it is often the time when a medical examination confirms pregnancy. Only the egg sac is visible on an ultrasound, but the examination also plays an important role in determining the success of implantation. Therefore, it is not worth postponing your appointment. If you are more prone to ectopic pregnancy, a medical consultation may be warranted even earlier.

During this period, the nervous system begins to develop, the heart tube and the blood vessel system that ensures circulation appear. The heart beats for the first time, and this can be seen and heard in the 6th week . The main organs have formed, but they still have a lot of development to do. The limb buds also appear.

The amount of blood circulating in the mother's body and her heart rate begin to increase.

Pregnancy symptoms often first appear at this time: nausea, headache, abdominal pain, spotting, altered sense of smell and taste, irritability, breast tenderness, swelling, frequent urination, and constipation. You may also experience bad dreams and extreme fatigue.

In the 7th week, the eyes, ears, and nostrils of the 7 mm long embryo are visible on the monitor. It already has a right and left heart ventricle, and its kidneys are forming.

In the 8th week, the tiny limbs and kidneys begin to develop. The little face is taking shape nicely. The limbs and features that shape the human figure begin to become more and more recognizable. The urinary bladder and spinal column are visible. The two lateral ventricles of the brain are also formed.

The expectant mother may notice for the first time the increase in breast and waist size. Pregnancy becomes more and more conscious on a spiritual level.

In the 9th week, the face continues to form. The fingers of the limbs separate and we can see the spontaneous movements of the hands and feet. Even though it is so tiny, it can clench its fingers into a fist and suck them. The external genitalia appear, but the baby's gender still remains a mystery to us.

In the 3rd month, the embryo develops rapidly

We are at the 10th week , when the little one is already between 27-35 mm in size and weighs about 4 grams. Its eyelids grow together during this period and remain so until the 25th-27th week. The most noticeable thing this week is the disappearance of the tail. The free fingers and toes are formed, and all 20 milk teeth become recognizable.

The first esophageal and bowel movements can be observed at week 11. Fingernails , the iris in the eye, and fingerprints on the fingertips appear.

Week 12 can also be considered a milestone. The little one is now called a fetus and we can observe some truly adorable behaviors from him: he grimaces, grimaces, pouts, sucks his thumb, sips from the amniotic fluid. He already has reflexes.

Important tests will be performed this week: ultrasound, nuchal fold screening, examination for the presence of the nasal bone, blood test and combined test, screening for certain chromosomal abnormalities (Down's disease, Patau's disease, Edwards' disease).

The mother's weight gain usually starts around week 12. She often experiences an increased appetite, but instead of the mistaken "eating for two" principle, conscious nutrition is recommended: limit the consumption of refined carbohydrates (white flour, sugars) if possible, and choose fruits, vegetables, seeds, and healthier grains as carbohydrate sources.

A mother's skin often becomes more beautiful during this period, and the belly is already visible. In order to prevent stretch marks, it may be worth starting to care for the skin with natural oils.

Second trimester

In many cases, the most pleasant phase follows, in which the expectant mother is filled with energy and shares her joy with others. Of course, there are times when you experience unpleasant symptoms during this period. Report these to your doctor, although in many cases there is no need to panic, because as we have already indicated above: no two pregnancies are the same.

Most expectant mothers begin to feel their baby move in the second trimester.

The undisturbed days of pregnancy begin from the 4th month.

For many, the nausea stops at the beginning of the second trimester, but it can also persist until 20 weeks or longer.

At week 13, the fetus is already 10 cm long and weighs 30 grams. Its eyebrows and tiny hairs grow. The lines of the ribs are becoming visible. It continues to develop throughout the body, the 3rd and 4th ventricles are forming, the liver begins to produce bile acids, and the fetus's energy store, glycogen, begins to be produced.

Several measurements are now monitored during prenatal care: BPD (head diameter), HC (head circumference), AC (abdominal circumference), FC (femur length).

At week 14 , the ear continues to develop, and after a week the baby can hear its mother's bowel movements and heartbeat. It can also taste the food its mother eats. Its eye movements begin, although its eyes are still closed.

The AFP blood test is done at week 16-17 . It can alert you to certain abnormalities, such as neural tube defects or abdominal wall defects.

From the 18th week, you can already feel clear movements from inside. It is 20 cm long and weighs almost 200 grams. The amniotic sac appears in its intestines. The alveoli begin to form in its lungs. Its skin is covered with small down (hair called Lanugo).

At week 19, the amniotic fluid begins to form, which protects the skin. The egg cells in the ovaries of girls mature, and their uterus develops. The permanent tooth germs also form behind the baby tooth germs.

Then it's time for the 2nd genetic ultrasound.

In the 5th month we reach the middle of pregnancy.

In the middle term, at week 20, the lungs and immune system continue to mature and insulin and white blood cell production begins.

During the 21st week, your baby will gain the most weight and their organs will continue to develop.

At week 22, the uterus, ovaries, and vagina of girls develop, and the testicles of boys descend from the abdominal cavity into the scrotum. The expectant mother can observe a well-established sleep-wake cycle in her little one's days, who most often settles head down by the end of the second trimester.

Continuous fetal movements allow the expectant mother to directly sense and observe the baby. This also brings great joy.

The first hardenings appear in the 6th month

At week 23, the baby weighs about 500 g and is 29 cm long. He moves a lot and reacts sensitively to touch. He hiccups from time to time, and then the expectant mother feels small rhythmic jumps.

Painless hardening of the abdomen can sometimes be felt, which are harmless and help the uterus grow and circulate blood.

By the 24th week, the baby is so developed that if born, its chances of survival would be good.

The expectant mother undergoes a glucose tolerance test to screen for gestational diabetes.

From the 25th week, the fetus grows 1 cm per week, moves briskly, and the inside of its bones hardens.

At week 26, the fetal position can already be observed.

The expectant mother may complain of leg cramps and difficulty sleeping. Supplementing the necessary amount of magnesium helps the uterus relax and can also prevent cramps. However, it is not important what source the magnesium is supplemented from, because not all forms are absorbed equally. Ask your doctor about this!

The fetus in its 27th week already weighs 1 kg and its liver, lungs, and immune system are functional. This week its eyes will open and it will be able to blink. It can already feel pain.

Third trimester

The final stage of pregnancy begins at the 28th week , and it holds many challenges for the expectant mother. It is physically difficult, but emotionally it becomes increasingly exciting.

From the 7th month onwards, the fetus is still viable even after birth.

The little one's lungs and brain are so mature that, in the event of a premature birth, with medical help, they have a very good chance of continuing to develop in life outside. They open and close their eyes according to their sleep and wakefulness, and turn towards the light. They are often positioned head down. Due to the decreasing space, they find it increasingly difficult to move, but they kick more and more strongly. A layer of fat is constantly being deposited under the skin to prepare them for life after birth.

The fetus, which has completed the 31st week , already weighs 1.5 kg. It sleeps a lot, so it is difficult to track its movements, but it is worth paying attention.

By the 8th month, his lungs are fully developed.

At week 32, the little one has mature lungs and one important task remains: gaining weight.

By week 34, your baby will likely be in a head-down position.

At 35 weeks, her weight continues to increase rapidly, now around 2.4 kg.

The 9th month: from week 36 to birth

The baby is now starting to settle into the pelvis. His body is already covered in fat, and his skin is smooth and soft.

At week 37, he already weighs around 3 kg. He is trying to breathe, which is why he swallows a lot of amniotic fluid and hiccups frequently.

At week 39, all of its organs have developed. It is around 49 cm long and weighs around 3.2 kg.

At week 40, you are completely ready for birth.

In the third trimester, movement becomes increasingly difficult, new symptoms may appear: digestive problems, spine and joint pain, shortness of breath, cramps. The increasing weight puts a strain on the spine and breathing. At this time, it feels especially good to rest. In the soul, the future mother and father are already thinking about childbirth and usually have everything prepared to welcome the new little family member.

If you're still missing a few clothes, don't despair: that's why we've prepared ready-made packages so you don't have to buy the pieces one by one while frantically searching for soft materials with natural compositions.

Conscious preparation for pregnancy and prioritizing a healthy lifestyle help to bear the changes more easily and are invaluable in supporting the baby's health. Vitamin and nutrient supplementation is necessary from the moment of pregnancy planning. Today, we can choose very high-quality products. Knowledge gained about pregnancy and childbirth, educational books, videos, and prenatal exercises help to dispel fears.

But there are those who find it useful not to be constantly on the internet, but rather to relax, read a good novel, or simply have a good time to gather strength.

Wherever you are in your pregnancy, we welcome you to share your experiences and feelings with us!