From the outside, the only visible pregnancy change for all to see is how much your belly grows during those nine months. But on the inside, a lot more is happening that you or no one else can see. And it’s all happening fast! Every week of pregnancy brings something new. A new change in fetal development that only begins to capture the miracle that it is to carry and give life. Here’s our brief guide to week-by-week changes you can expect to take place in your body when you are pregnant.

First Trimester

Conception starts in the first month but the first trimester itself covers a lot more. Let’s explore:

Weeks 1 to 4

This stage is marked by you getting pregnant. Congratulations! Your baby is officially a zygote. This tiny zygote will find its way to your uterus, implanting itself firmly in your uterine lining and contributing to the development of your placenta and your embryo. Even though your baby is really tiny right now, its basic nervous system, heart and digestive tract will begin to develop.

Weeks 5 to 8

The second month of this journey is all about organ development! This is a major time for your baby! Its neural tube will start transforming into a brain and spinal cord. Your baby’s heart will start pumping blood too and tiny little buds will begin to take shape, which will eventually become their arms and legs. In fact, by the end of the month, your baby will have tiny webbed hands and feet! They will also develop distinct facial features, thus officially becoming a foetus!

Weeks 9 to 12

Growth is the hallmark of this stage as your baby’s newly formed organs begin to mature! The webbing from all the digits will disappear and each of their limbs will become more pronounced. Their facial features will also become more refined, and their sex organs will start forming, even though they won’t show up on an ultrasound just yet! But their heartbeat will be detectable and they will start moving!

Second Trimester

Pregnancy milestones and major foetal developments you can expect in the second trimester include:

Weeks 13 to 16

The biggest change here is that your baby will have a skeleton now which will show up on an x-ray! In fact, their kidneys will start producing urine too, which is released into the amniotic sac. As for their face, their eyes will still be tightly shut. They will have very thin, nearly transparent skin, which will be covered in several tiny protective hairs. They’ll learn to suck instinctively at this stage, sucking in amniotic fluid.

Weeks 17 to 20

Brace yourself, ladies as the kicking is about to begin! Your baby’s movements will grow stronger and become more coordinated. They will also develop their vernix, which is a thick, waxy coating that protects them against fluid exposure. As for other significant changes, they will be able to hear sounds and will develop their own sleep patterns. They’ll start getting sweat glands and scalp hair too.

Weeks 21 to 24

This is officially the sixth month of your pregnancy and this is when your baby’s lungs get their air sacs. But that’s not all. Their brain is developing rapidly too, improving their sensory responses. They will also have fully formed fingernails and they will have red and wrinkled skin. Pre-term babies born at 6 months are capable of surviving in the NICU.

Weeks 25 to 28

Your baby’s brain will continue growing as their central nervous system starts controlling their breathing and body temperature. They will open their eyes in-vitro and will be able to understand when it’s light or dark out. Their skin will also be less wrinkly and they will be more responsive to external stimuli, moving around in your belly.

Third Trimester

Here are the major pregnancy milestones you can expect in the third trimester:

Weeks 29 t0 32

Congratulations! Most of your baby’s systems are nearly fully formed at this stage! Except for their lungs, which are still maturing. They will also gain baby weight as subcutaneous fat continues to accumulate. Their skeletons will be fully developed too, although their bones will be soft and flexible, allowing them to pass through the birth canal during delivery. They won’t have much space to move anymore so they might not kick as hard.

Weeks 33 to 40

This is the final month and you’ve made it this far! Now it’s time to go have your baby who will have fully formed internal systems at this age, including their lungs and brain. They will get their first dose of antibodies from your bloodstream to protect them against infection. Plus, they will get into a head-down position ready for birth.

Conclusion

It’s clear to see that pregnancy truly is a magical time and each week brings a new milestone that is truly worth celebrating. It’s amazing how much the foetus grows in-vitro to transform from a tiny-bean shaped creature to a fully developed baby with arms, legs, and everything! Enjoy this wonderful journey. But don’t forget to take critical decisions at every stage, including following a good diet, developing a birth plan with your medical team, enrolling for cord blood banking, and preparing for your little one’s arrival with the most baby-safe products. We wish you a joyful time!