Pregnancy Month by Month

Your baby

• Features were determined from the moment your egg and the sperm of the baby's father met.
• Gender has already been determined by father's sperm.
• Tiny limb buds appear, which grow into baby's arms and legs.
• Heart and lungs begin to form; by the 22nd day the heart starts to beat.
• Neural tube begins to form, which becomes the brain and spinal cord.
• By month's end, baby is about ¼ inch long.

Your body

• Hormones increase to help your baby grow.
• Increased hormones may make you feel moody or cranky.
• Breasts may increase in size and may hurt and tingle.
• May feel nauseous – this is called morning sickness, but can occur any time of day.
• Have not gained much weight.
• May crave certain foods or hate foods you usually like.
• May begin to feel fatigued.
• May feel ambivalence about pregnancy – this is normal.
• Uterus grows larger, softer and rounder.

Your baby

• Major body organs, like the brain, the heart and lungs, are forming.
• Head is large because baby’s brain is growing faster than other organs.
• Heart begins to beat.
• Ears, ankles, wrists, fingers and toes form.
• Eyelids form but are sealed shut.
• Stomach, liver, and kidneys are forming – kidneys can produce urine.
• By month’s end, baby is about 2 ½ inches long and weighs ½ to 1 ounce.

Your body

• Breasts continue to be sore and have grown larger, nipples and the area around them begin to darken.
• Uterus has grown and begins pressing on bladder, making frequent trips to the bathroom necessary.
• Vaginal secretions are becoming thicker, whiter and stickier.
• Nausea may still be present.
• May feel tired and need to rest more often.
• Uterus may feel like a small bump above your pubic bone.
• May feel a wide range of different emotions; you may be happy and sad without any obvious reasons.

Your baby

• Umbilical cord is well-formed and blood is circulating between baby and the placenta.
• Major body organs, like the brain, the heart and lungs, are forming.
• Head is large because baby’s brain is growing faster than other organs.
• Neck is well-defined and the head (still the largest part) can be held erect.
• Heartbeat can be heard with the use of a Doppler. Heart beats 120-160 beats per minute.
• Mouth has 20 buds that become baby teeth.
• Ears, ankles, wrists, fingers and toes form.
• Fingernails and toenails are formed.
• Eyelids form but are sealed shut.
• Stomach, liver, and kidneys are forming – kidneys can produce urine.
• Baby can move but is still too tiny to be felt.
• By month’s end, baby is about 2 ½ inches long and weighs ½ to 1 ounce.

Your body

• Breasts continue to be sore and have grown larger, nipples and the area around them begin to darken.
• Uterus has grown and begins pressing on bladder, making frequent trips to the bathroom necessary.
• Vaginal secretions are becoming thicker, whiter and stickier.
• Nausea may still be present.
• May sweat more easily.
• May feel tired and need to rest more often.
• Uterus may feel like a small bump above your pubic bone.
• Placenta is now completely formed and hormones are produced in amounts needed to keep your pregnancy healthy.
• May feel a wide range of different emotions; you may be happy and sad without any obvious reasons.
• May have gained 2 to 4 pounds; clothes may begin to feel snug.

Your baby

• The amniotic fluid increases and baby enjoys moving about freely inside the amniotic fluid.
• Moves, kicks and swallows.
• By month’s end, movements may become strong enough for some to be felt.
• Skin is pink and see-through and hair begins to appear on the head.
• Kidneys now make urine.
• Eyebrows and eyelashes begin to grow.
• By the end of the month, baby is about 10 inches long and weighs about ¾ of a pound.

Your body

• Uterus grows to your belly button.
• Weight starts to increase by about ¾ to 1 pound a week now. Belly begins to show and may need to wear maternity clothes.
• Placenta secretes hormones into body that helps to soften some joints and muscles, helping to make labor and birth easier.
• May be hungrier more often. Cravings may start for certain foods and continue throughout pregnancy.
• A line down the middle of abdomen may darken (linea nigra).
• May be less tired and may begin to find pregnancy enjoyable.
• Skin may be very dry, hair fuller, and nails grow rapidly.

Your baby

• More active and can turn from side to side and sometimes head over heels.
• Movement of the arms and legs are easier to feel now.
• Goes to sleep and wakes up.
• A white secretion (vernix caseosa) covers the skin to protect it as the baby moves in the amniotic fluid.
• Some hair may be present on the head.
• Eyelids are still closed.
• Skin is wrinkled and red but slowly being filled out with fat.
• By the end of this month, baby is about 12 inches long and weighs 1.5 pounds.

Your body

• Continue to gain about ¾ pounds a week or about 2-4 pounds a month.
• Baby’s patterns of stillness and moments of activity will be more noticeable.
• Uterus can be felt at or above the belly button.
• Breasts continue to grow larger and may get softer. Veins in breasts will begin to show and colostrum (clear fluid) may leak.
• Heart beats faster and you may feel faint or dizzy, especially with sudden changes in position – this is normal.
• Constipation may be more troublesome.
• Hair may begin to feel thicker and oilier.
• Feeling good; people may be complimentary.
• Varicose veins may appear.
• May need eight or more hours of sleep each night.
• May have feelings of not being able to cope. These feelings can occur anytime during pregnancy.

Your baby

• Skin is still red and wrinkled and is covered with fine, soft hair.
• Can kick strongly now and can cry and hiccup.
• Can respond to noises from the outside; may move or become quiet.
• Parts of baby will be big enough to be felt by the doctor when abdomen is examined.
• Eyes are almost completely formed; soon they will start to open and close.
• Ridges for fingerprints are forming.
• By the end of the month, baby is about 14-15 inches long and weighs 2 to 2.5 pounds.

Your body

• Skin on belly may itch and stretch marks may appear on abdomen, hips and breast.
• May have occasional heartburn, especially after eating heavy, greasy or spicy foods.
• Back may hurt.
• As uterus grows, may feel pain down the sides of your belly.
• May notice tightening and relaxing of uterus (Braxton-Hicks contractions).
• You have special glow to your skin and a sparkle in your eyes; you look healthy.
• Sex drive may increase or decrease; may change week to week.
• May find lying on side with many pillows is more comfortable for sleeping.

Your baby

• Can open and close eyes and suck his/her thumb.
• Covered with fine, soft hair called “lanugo.”
• Fingerprints are set.
• Has definite periods of sleeping and waking.
• Kicks and stretches.
• Responds to light and sound.
• Brain and nervous system are rapidly maturing.
• If a boy, testicles will start to descend into the scrotum.
• By the end of the month, baby is about 15 to 16 inches long and weighs about 2.5 to 3 pounds.

Your body

• Uterus is now moving up closer to ribcage; may feel kicking against your ribs.
• Can watch abdomen move as baby moves about.
• Breasts may leak enough that wearing a padded bra is necessary. If breasts are not leaking, there will be plenty of milk for baby.
• Weight may increase faster than expected; this begins the period of greatest growth for baby.
• Begin to tire more easily.
• Ankles and feet may swell.
• May be aware of a loosening in the pelvic bones while walking.
• May have contractions; this is okay. Call healthcare provider if more than four to six contractions occur in one hour.
• As belly grows, it is harder to keep balance and movements may feel a bit awkward. May also notice lightheadedness when arising from a lying position. Careful – this makes it easier to fall.
• May have trouble sleeping.

Your baby

• Can kick strongly and roll around.
• Skin is smooth as fat begins to fill out the wrinkles.
• The soft downy hair begins to disappear.
• Eyes are open.
• Fingernails have grown to the tips of fingers.
• Brain and lungs are still growing.
• May settle down into the position for birth.
• By the end of the month, baby is about 18 to 19 inches long and weighs about 4.5 to 5 pounds. Baby gains about 2 pounds this month.

Your body

• May feel stronger contractions this month.
• May have trouble breathing as the baby pushes on lungs.
• May crowd stomach.
• Heartburn may increase.
• May have trouble with hemorrhoids and constipation.
• Can feel the parts of baby through abdominal wall.
• May see the shape of his elbow or heel against belly.
• Begin to tire easily.
• Vaginal secretions increase more and breasts may leak.
• May easily perspire.
• Should gain about one pound a week this month.

Your baby

• Lungs are ready to work on their own.
• Fingernails become complete and may grow long.
• Moves to a head-down position and rests lower in your belly.
• Amniotic fluid equals about 1 quart.
• By the end of this month, baby grows 2.5 inches and gains 2 pounds (½ a pound a week).
• Is 19 to 21 inches long and weighs 6 to 9 pounds.

Your body

• Belly button may stick out.
• Abdomen may appear lopsided as baby moves arms and legs or shifts positions.
• Abdomen is increasing in size; begin to wonder how much longer before baby arrives.
• Tire easily and often feel drowsy.
• Breathing should be easier once the baby moves to a head-down position.
• Baby is pressing on bladder; may need to urinate more often.
• Sleep may be interrupted by the need to urinate and change position.
• May be uncomfortable because of the pressure and weight of baby.
• Feet and ankles may swell.
• Cervix opens up (dilates) and thins out (effaces) as it prepares for birth.
• Tired of being pregnant and are ready for birth.
• May not gain any weight this month; may even lose 1 or 2 pounds.