Your pregnancy week by week

[FourAngelKisses]

I'm getting this out of a pregnancy book I have, thought it would make for a good read. I'll try and have all of it done by the end of the week.

5wks

YOUR GROWING BABY

Althought the embryo is only just visible to the naked eye, the spinal column and brain have already begun to grow and a blood vessel has developed which will become the heart. The embryo is 4mm long.

YOU AND YOUR BODY

This is the first week that you will be able to confirm that you are pregnant.


6wks

YOUR GROWING BABY

The heart has now formed in the chest cavity and is beginning to beat. By the end of this week, the stalk connecting the embryo to the placenta will have begun to grow into the umbilical cord and blood vessels will have started to form. The embryo is now about the size of your little fingernail and its movements can be picked up by ultrasound scan. The head has the beginning of the eyes, ears and mouth and there are tiny buds which will become arms and legs.

YOU AND YOUR BODY

If you are sufferring from morning sickness, you may find that the smell of certain things, such as tobacco smoke or frying food, brings on the sickness. The texture of your skin may be dry and flaky, or you may get spots. Now is the time to start thinking about your antenatal care, and the type of birth you want.


7wks

YOUR GROWING BABY

The unborn baby is now known as a fetus and is about 1.3cm long. The nostrils, lips, tongue and teeth are beginning to form and the arms and legs are growing. Lungs are beginning to develop and the intestines, spine and brain are almost fully developed.

YOU AND YOUR BODY

You may feel dizzy or even faint if you stand for too long or you are in a crowd. Overwhelming tiredness can also be a problem now, so make sure you get plenty of rest. If you don't feel like making love at the moment don't worry; this is quite normal and you may find that your sex life is better than ever in the second trimester.

8wks

YOUR GROWING BABY

The fetus is now2.5cm long, which is 10000 times bigger than at conception. All the major organs are present, although still developing. The ears and eyes hav formed and the skin covering the eyes will eventually split to form the eyelids. The middle ear, which controls balance as well as hearing, is also developing. The heart is now pumping with a regular beat, and blood vessels can be seen. As the arms and legs grow longer, the fetus begins to move around and starts to kick, although it is still too small at this stage for you to be able to feel it.

YOU AND YOUR BODY

The changes in your body are becomming more noticeable as your breasts and nipples enlarge and become sensitive. Your vagina changes from light to dark pink (can't say I'm going to be checking that change out, lol), and you may notice an increased vaginal discharge.
It is time for regular monitoring of your pregnancy.

9wks

YOUR GROWING BABY

The face is now developing and the mouth and nose are clearly visible. The limbs continue to grow rapidly and the fetus now measures about 3cm.

YOU AND YOUR BODY

You will start putting on weight now so it is a good idea to keep a record of any weight gain yourself if your antenatal care doesn't include regular weight checks. Your gums are becoming softer and thicker because of hormone changes so you will need to pay special attention to oral hygiene.
You should now familiarize yourself with some of the other ante-natal procedures and tests.