The stages of pregnancy
or 40 weeks, and is divided into trimesters.
1 First
trimester:
weeks one to 12
When you
become pregnant,
1 your periods stop. Fallopian
tube
This is because the egg,
Ovary
which has been released
Womb
from one of your ovaries,
has been fertilised by a
sperm, and you’re in the
early weeks of pregnancy.
Vagina
The fertilised egg has
already started to divide
in your fallopian tube.
It will continue to develop Embryo
and grow in your womb Lining of
and is called an embryo. the womb
From about eight weeks the
embryo has developed and is
8 now called a fetus. Your baby is
around an inch long. Most of the
organs including the
nervous system and
heart are forming.
Heart
1 inch
1
Pregnancy usually lasts about nine months
2 Second
trimester:
weeks 13 to 27
3 Third
trimester:
week 28 until birth
Fertilised egg Your baby’s sex organs develop and Your baby practises
other organs mature. Your baby also breathing, even though
develops footprints and fingerprints.
Your baby swallows amniotic fluid
the lungs don’t work
properly until birth.
and passes it out through its The eyes open and close.
digestive system.The kidneys
At around 33 weeks,
start to work and pass your baby weighs almost
33
small amounts of urine. the same as a pineapple.
Your baby can now
hear, and is covered Your baby’s fat stores
in fine hair increase in preparation for birth.
called lanugo. Braxton Hicks contractions become
stronger in the third trimester.
If you have a scan
at around 20 weeks
Placenta At 12 weeks, your
baby is about three
20 you may be able to
find out if your baby
12 inches long and
about the size of a
is a boy or a girl.
lime. At this stage, You may first start to feel
Umbilical your baby’s neck is your baby move in the
cord uncurling and the second trimester. Your baby
limbs are complete. may even get the hiccoughs.
The eyelids are still
fused and the ears Movements become more
are forming. obvious as your baby gets
bigger and stronger.
The umbilical cord Braxton Hicks
connects your baby contractions (practice
to the placenta. contractions) are At the end of your pregnancy,
This is how your painless tightenings your baby changes position so it’s
3 inches baby gets nutrients of the womb that ready for birth.
and how waste is may start towards
removed. Your baby’s head may not engage
the end of the
(move into position in your pelvis
second trimester.
for birth) until labour.