Charting your Pregnancy Week by Week

Pregnancy is a difficult phase but it is the most beautiful too. Women pregnant for the first time claim that the pregnancy period makes them experience the essence of womanhood. It is important for every woman to understand what her body is going through while she is pregnant. She must be aware of what is normal and what is not. Given below is a pregnancy calendar i.e. a chart of what a pregnant woman can expect during her pregnancy.

This calendar can help you be mentally prepared to face whatever happens to your body during pregnancy week by week and not rush to the pregnancy doctor whenever something new is experienced. However, please make sure to consult your doctor regarding any unusual symptoms that you witness because some unusual symptoms could signal severe pregnancy complications.

Weeks 1 to 4

You are still not pregnant in Week 1. Pregnancy is calculated from the first day of your period. Your fertile period will start towards the end of the second week when you will ovulate. You should be pregnant by the middle of the third week. You however, will not feel anything until you miss your period. Some women have implantation bleeding during this time.

Weeks 5 to 8

You have missed your period. You really start to feel pregnant. A urine test will confirm your pregnancy. You are experiencing pregnancy symptoms like mood swings, nausea, tender breasts, and lower abdomen cramps etc. Your bundle of joy is right now actually just a few tiny cells. In your 7th week, your pregnancy is confirmed beyond doubt. Start looking for the various medical tests you might need after consultation with the doctor. You baby is growing very fast now! Your uterus is expanding- you may feel the stretch.

Weeks 9 to 14

You should start gaining weight by now. You will notice that you are visiting the toilet too often! The fetus has started developing most of its organs, especially noticeable at the limbs that look like buds! Many side effects of early pregnancy, like morning sickness, will have disappeared. Your baby is growing rather than developing new parts. All the main organs of your baby have been formed. You can hear the heart beat around this time.

Weeks 15 to 23

This the best part of your pregnancy period. You are in the second trimester. Life will be a lot simpler and all pregnancy symptoms have disappeared... You can feel your baby moving – more like a tickle! You are getting heavy now. Be careful about your sleeping posture and shoes. Your baby probably has hair, teeth, all its organs have formed... it will start growing with every passing day.

Weeks 24 to 33

What was that? Yes, you may get a few contractions during this time. Nothing to worry about- it’s your body preparing for a normal delivery. Start planning your maternity application. You will have to wind up your work quite soon. Take special care of your back and your knees. You will tend to lose balance easily. You have entered the pregnancy third trimester. Your baby has perfectly formed fingernails. It can react to sounds and touch too! Your baby is too big to move around freely now. Movements will be restricted other than a few pokes!

Weeks 34 to 39

You are almost there. Life seems slow and cumbersome now and you cannot wait to see your baby... hold on for a few more days! Your baby is fully developed and will have very high chances of survival even if it decides to enter the world earlier than planned! The time has come; it can happen any day now. Take rest. You will need the energy after your little darling is born! Your baby is ready, you need to be ready too, and you never know when it decides to give the push! Arrange necessary items like nursing gowns, breastfeeding bras, baby cloths etc. for the coming future requirements.

An educated and healthy mother means a healthy baby. Do a lot of research on the Internet and ask friends who have passed this stage to clear your doubts. We wish you a wonderful pregnancy and a happy motherhood!