| WEEKLY DEVELOPMENT |
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| MONTH 1 |
CONGRATULATIONS !!! YOU ARE WELL ON YOUR WAY TO BECOMING A MOTHER AND EXPERIENCING THE MOST FULFILLING JOURNEY OF YOUR LIFETIME. |
| week 1 |
Do you know that by the first week you are actually not yet pregnant as it takes two weeks for the eggs to be fertilised |
| week 2 |
You are still not pregnant because fertilization of the eggs will only take place by the end of this week |
| week 3 |
you may not feel it yet but your egg has been fertilized and is now safely tucked in the linning of your uterus . This process is called ‘Implantation ‘ |
| week 4 |
You are expecting your period this week and it doesn’t show , which means that you are Pregnant .Congratulations!!! The placenta and amniotic cavity are beginning to form |
| BY THE END OF THE 4TH WEEK , YOUR BABY IS NOW ABOUT 1/4INCH LONG AND SMALLER THAN A GRAIN OF RICE .DARK CIRCLES FOR EYES , THE MOUTH , LOWER JAW AND THROAT ARE FORMING . |
| MONTH 2 |
COMMON PREGNANCY SYMPTOMS BEGIN TO SHOW UP LIKE , NAUSEA , EXHAUSTION, FOOD CRAVINGS AND THE CONSTANT NEED TO URINATE |
| week 5 |
The baby’s nervous system is developing and the vital organs are beginning to form , even though you may not notice anything,blood vessels have been formed and blood begins to circulate . |
| week 6 |
Your baby looks a bit like a tadpole with a tail , small swellings will become developing arms and legs , while the embryo is covered with a thin layer of transparent skin . |
| week 7 |
Congrats, your baby is about 10mm long from head to bottom , the brain is rapidy growing , making the head grow faster than the rest of the body. The umbilical chord has formed ,your baby’s connection to you for nourishment and expelling waste . |
| week 8 |
By the 8th week , your baby is medically referred to as a foetus, tiny fingers and toes are forming and the eyes have become obvious.the genitals are beginning to form but you can’t determine the sex just yet . |
| 2.5CM IS THE LENGTH OF YOUR BABY BY THE 2ND MONTH , THE MAJOR ORGANS ARE BEGINNING TO DEVELOP BUT NOT FULLY FORMED |
| MONTH 3 |
YOU CAN NOW PUT A FACE TO YOUR FOETUS |
| week 9 |
By this week your baby measures about 16-18MM,the tip of the nose is developed and eyelids are beginning to form ,the reproductive organs like ovaries and testes start to form , while your baby begins to make some movements which you may not notice for weeks. |
| week 10 |
Congrats , your baby now has distinctly human features,all the vital organs have been formed and are starting to work , if its a boy , his testes will start to produce Testosterone ,a male hormone. |
| week 11 |
Blood vessels in the placenta are increasing to accommodate your rapidly growing baby with nutrients, by the end of this week the genitals of both boys and girls will look the same until the 14th week |
| week 12 |
This is the last week of the 1st trimester ,your baby’s kidneys are functional and wil be able to pass waste ,while the vocal chords will be take shape , finger and toenails start to form and the brain is developing. |
| week 13 |
Your baby is starting to look like a newborn ,the placenta is developed and is providing your baby with oxygen and nutrients . The eyelids have fused together to protect the eyes and your baby might begin to put a thumb in the mouth to suck. |
| BY THE END OF THE 1ST TRIMESTER , YOU CAN ACTUALLY HEAR YOUR BABY’S HEART BEAT ,WHILE FOR SOME WOMEN , SOME OF THE SIGNS OF EARLY MORNING SICKNESS WILL REDUCE |
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| SECOND TRIMESTER BEGINS |
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| MONTH 4 |
CONGRATULATIONS YOUR 2ND TRIMESTER BEGINS AND YOU ARE WELL ON YOUR WAY TO REACHING THE HALF WAY MARK |
| week 14 |
Soft fine hairs called ‘Lanugo’ begin to form on your baby’s face ,this will eventually cover most of the body and will fall off just before delivery , they thyroid hormones begin to produce . |
| week 15 |
The skin on the baby is thin and translucent that you can see theblood vessels, the skeletal system continues to develop , and movements from the baby are becoming more common |
| week 16 |
Facial muscles have been formed, your baby can now frown or squint. The baby can hold his or her head erect and now measures about 12cm in length from crown to rump |
| WEEK 17 |
As your baby grows so does your bump , you will begin to notice considerable weight gain with stretch marks on your stomach, at the same time your stomach and breasts will begin to itch as a result of your stretching skin |
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YOUR BABY CAN NOW FIT IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND |
| MONTH 5 |
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| week 18 |
do you know that your baby can pick up on sounds and may even react to loud noises ?your baby can react to light pointed to your stomch . The movements and kicks have become strong .This is called ‘Quickening’ |
| week 19 |
Your doctor can now schedule your first ultrasound scan , isnt it exciting as you get to finally see your growing baby after all these months of waiting. You can finally know the sex of your baby |
| week 20 |
Your baby is now as big as a banana ,you will begin to experience leg cramps , heart burns , indigestion and back pains . Immunities are also being transferred from mother to baby . |
| week 21 |
If you haven’t been active now is a goodtime to do so , as you will begin to enjoy bursts of energy ,your baby is rapidly growing and there is eye movement but the eyelids are still shut |
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CONGRATULATIONS , YOU ARE AT THE HALF WAY MARK |
| MONTH 6 |
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| week 22 |
Your baby now looks more like a new born and is sleeping between 12-14 hours per day ,there might be minor swelling in your hands and feet . Your hair growth is rapid |
| week 23 |
Your baby is now as big as a grapefruit ,your baby will able to recognise your voice .Braxton hicks contractions which are false labour pains begin to occur from now .Backaches will increase |
| week 24 |
The skin on your baby is becoming pink due to the formed capillaries, your baby is now the size of a cantaloupe. Drink lots of water to avoid dehydration. Put up your feet while you sit |
| week 25 |
Your baby can touch and hold the feet ,eye lashes have begun to form and the eyes will soon open ,the baby can now breathe through its open nostrils . Your partner can hear the heartbeat of the baby by pressing his ears to your belly . |
| week 26 |
You may begin to experience some sleep discomfort due to your growing bump , you might begin to have stress headaches , try and get as much rest as possible |
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BY THE END OF THIS MONTH YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY SOME OF YOUR BABY’S PROTRUDING BODY PARTS LIKE THE HANDS , FEET OR ELBOW |
| MONTH 7 |
YOUR BABY IS RAPIDLY GAINING WEIGHT AS THE FAT RESERVES INCREASE IN THE BODY |
| week 27 |
There is brain activity and it will keep increasing , your baby is practising to inhale and exhale with the developing lungs .your baby is putting a lot of pressure on your bladder, hence the frequency in urinating . |
| week 28 |
Your baby is as big as an eggplant .The wrinkly skin will begin to smoothen out and you will notice the shape of your bump begins to change shape . If your baby was born now he or she will be just fine. |
| week 29 |
You wil be experiencing punches and jabs from your baby, your baby is expected to move at least 10 times in 2hours ,if you notice a drop in movement speak to your doctor |
| week 30 |
As your baby prepares for breathing after birth and will mimic breathing resulting in hiccups which you may notice as twitches .Your baby has doubled in height and will only gain a few inches before birth .The brain is developing at an alarming rate |
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| MONTH 8 |
YOU ARE ON THE HOME STRETCH JUST TWO MONTHS TO GO! |
| week 31 |
movements are so regular because , the baby is running out of space . Your baby is urinating several cups of urine a day into the amniotic fluid ,which is replaced several times during the day |
| week 32 |
The glands in your breast begin to form ‘colostrum’ a premilk before milk comes to breastfeed, it is believed that your baby dreams while sleeping .Lanugo(HAIR) is falling off the skin .eye lashes , eyebrows and head hair are visible |
| week 33 |
Your baby can listen, feel and even see . fat continues to deposit in your baby’s body .During the last few weeks, babys add a lot of weight before birth .Blood Is flowing to the brain because of the downward position. |
| week 34 |
Your baby’s lungs are fairly well developed. You may experience increased pain in the lower back and pelvis .The coating on the baby’s skin is getting thicker . |
| week 35 |
The fat deposits on your baby’s body increases especially around the shoulders, because of restricted space to move around the baby’s movements will decrease. If your baby were born now , theres a 99% chance of survival. |
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YOU ARE LIKELY TO WADDLE AS A RESULT OF THE BABY’S HEAD DROPPING INTO A HEAD DOWN POSITION PREPARING FOR DELIVERY |
| MONTH 9 |
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| week36 |
Starting this week , you may begin to see your doctor weekly to check if your cervix has started thinning in preparation for your delivery , due to your baby’s descent , the pressure on your stomach is reduced and heartburns may even stop |
| week 37 |
The mucuous plug which seals off your uterus from infection may be lost weeks before labour in the form of a thick yellowish substance, sometimes accompanied with a bit of blood |
| week 38 |
You will notice you are no longer adding weight, your movement is slower and growth is slower in the baby .if it’s a boy his testicles would have descended into the scrotum , while for the girl ,her labia is fully developed |
| week39 |
The womb has become overcrowded for your baby to move ,you will begin to feel off balance .because your uterus is pushng on your blader , you will be making frequent bathroom runs |
| week 40 |
braxton hicks contractions may become more frequent , get ready for the rupture of your amniotic sac which means the breaking of water and the baby is ready to come |
| 2 WEEKS OVER DUE |
if your baby hasn’t arrived no need to worry , many first time mums do not deliver on their due dates till about 2 weeks later ,just keep a positive mind |
| week 41 |
Congratulations!the months of waiting are over and you get to meet your precious bundle of joy,as your body prepares for labour ,stay hydrated . |
| week 42 |
It’s labour day and your baby has arrived ,do not worry if your baby’s head is misshapen , it is due to the birth canal Iimmediately after birth ,the umbilical chord is cut and mucuous is suctioned from your baby’s mouth and nose and you hear the much awaited cry.Your baby is cleaned and weighed , while the vital signs are checked ,if everything is okay you get to hold your baby for the first time . |
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