Boston: Pregnancy Week by Week: The First 12 Weeks

Boston,

Weeks one to twelve of pregnancy are referred to as the first trimester. The commencement of pregnancy is calculated from the first day of the last menstrual period and will normally last for forty weeks.

Right from the start of the pregnancy a woman’s body is working hard to make the changes needed to support the growing embryo and placenta. There is an immediate and sustained increase in heart-rate, breathing rate and metabolic rate. These increased demands on the body often lead to extreme tiredness in the early stages of pregnancy.

Other physical symptoms of pregnancy can include nausea and sickness (often referred to as ‘morning sickness’), breast tenderness and a need to urinate more frequently. Usually the most immediate sigh that a woman has of possible pregnancy is the absence of her period. At this stage a hoe-test can be performed to confirm the pregnancy. The test works by detecting the presence of Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG) in the urine and are sufficiently accurate nowadays to be used, in some cases, only one or two days after the missed period was due.

Once the pregnancy has been confirmed the mother-to-be can often experience a roller-coaster of mixed emotions; excitement, anxiety, elation (or possibly uncertainty if the pregnancy was not planned). It is advisable for the pregnant woman to eat a healthy diet rich in iron, vitamin C and zinc, to avoid cigarettes and alcohol and to take a regular folic acid supplement. The baby can seem a long way off at this early stage but the embryo is rapidly developing and forming in the uterus and it needs as much assistance as the mother can provide.

The care of the developing baby and expectant mother is known as ante-natal care (‘before birth’, as opposed to post-natal, ‘after birth’). Ante-natal care usually starts officially between weeks 8-10 of the pregnancy and consists initially of a ‘booking session’ with a community midwife.

At 12 weeks the first ultrasound scan is performed to check that the embryo is developing normally and also to confirm the baby’s due date. This is an important and exciting milestone for the expectant mother and her partner. Most hospitals and clinics are able to provide precious scan photos and even video footage which can be shared with eagerly awaiting family and friends.

By the end of the first trimester the baby will be approximately 9cm long (from crown to rump) and weigh about 45g. All limbs and organs are virtually fully formed and the baby is about the size of a pear.

Following your pregnancy week by week by use of a book or online sites is a great way to become aware of what’s going to happen and what to expect in a normal pregnancy. However, it’s wise to check-out any online sites, as unfortunately there are some which can do more harm than good, particularly those which have a tendency to focus on poor hospital practices and traumatic pregnancies.

You should use your common sense when following your pregnancy week by week and if you’re at all worried ask your midwife to clarify and dispel any myths you may hear or read about.

Source by Charlotte J Wilson

Pregnancy Week by Week: The First 12 Weeks