Baby Week by Week

Your Pregnancy - Week by Week

Prepare to go through the most amazing changes over the next nine months as a tiny cluster of cells inside you slowly grows into a fully formed baby.

Here is your 4little1s.com guide as to what is happening to you and to baby over the next few weeks and months. Please do note however, that some baby's grow at different rates so this guide is only to give you a very rough idea of the development times of your baby.

The 1st 4 weeks:

As odd as it might be, you are technically not pregnant at this point. This is due to the fact that medical profession date pregnancy not from the conception date but from the first day of your last period. So therefore when your baby is conceived, you are actually 2 weeks pregnant. You probably will not get a positive result (but you might!) from a pregnancy test until week 4 when your period would normally be due, although some tests may give you a result earlier.

Your baby isn't officially called a baby (or foetus) until around week 8 after conception. For now your baby is an embryo starting as a single fertilised egg, growing and dividing into a cluster of little cells as she journeys along your Fallopian tube towards your womb (Uterus). By the end of week 4 (roughly a couple of weeks after conception), your baby is developing the layers that will start to become the various parts of the body.

The First Trimester

Experts tend to divide pregnancy into three trimesters for three months each. In this first trimester your baby will change from an Embryo to Foetus and take on a human look.

The next 5 - 6 weeks:

You don't look like you are pregnant at this stage but probably feeling tired and have tender breasts, needing to wee a little more often than before. There also maybe a funny metallic taste in your mouth and also your sense of smell is heightened. Baby is the size of an orange pip, and looks like a small tadpole at this stage, baby's heart is pumping and brain, spine and central nervous system (CNS) are all starting to form. The head starts to have markings for where the eyes, nose and ears are to be. She is also starting to develop something called limb buds (where the legs and arms will grow from)

The next 7 - 8 weeks:

Your breasts maybe bigger at this stage and with darker looking nipples, waist line maybe even slightly thicker. You might be feeling more sick and tired - this is thanks to the pregnancy hormones starting the circulate around your body. Your emotions are very likely to be all over the place. Heart rate increased and you will be making more blood. Your baby's major internal organs are now developing and she has grown to the size a small bean ! The fingers and toes start to grow, with the face starting to form - even with eyelids and tongue starting to take shape. By the 8th week the tadpole shape has gone away, this marks the move away from Embryo to Foetus.

Weeks 9 - 10:

Your complexion may start to change as the higher concentration of hormones in your body can even make your skin clearer, or the opposite if you are unlucky ! Still tired as ever and emotional with some dizziness or light-headed feelings. Go easy on yourself and don't push it too much. It is possible your gums may become sensitive so take it lightly when you brush your teeth. Have a check up at the dentist. All of baby's parts are there now but not totally formed yet at this stage. Baby can swallow and kick (you probably won't feel the kicks……… yet!) As every day passes now, more and more detail is forming from tooth buds to hair. The brain grows at a rapid pace making in the region of 250,000 cells in an amazing 60 seconds.

Week 11 - 12

Your metabolism has now changed gear ……upwards, you will probably feel a little warmer than usual and possibly drink more. Some women start to notice a Linea Nigra along their belly. This is a line that seems to snake up you belly and then disappears after the big day. You will need to have your first appointment around this time and the first scan to see baby who will be about the size of your thumb. Fingers and toes formed now and start to separate from each other. Internal organs start to form, develop and work. Baby is able to move around a little, maybe even a little yawn and a stretch occasionally. Immune system developed well and becoming more immune to infection.

The Second trimester

These phase is often referred to as the most enjoyable as you begin to feel like yourself again and you feel baby moving and kicking saying hello.

******It worth thinking about buying baby bedding and Nursery Furniture at this stage as not long from now you will become really tired again, get bigger and not have the energy to go shopping.

Week 13 - 14

You will start to feel a little brighter and have more energy at this stage , the risk of miscarriage has dropped significantly and the nausea / tiredness has gone away. If this isn't the case its worth letting your doctor / midwife know. Bump is starting to be more visible and your breasts become a little more swelled. Baby is growing faster now and roughly the size and the weight of a very small banana. Skin, eyelashes and eyebrows become more defined with lanugo (fine hair). Baby also now even has a set of unique fingerprints.

Week 15 - 16

The bump in front of you is now becoming very apparent and you will notice some of your favourite clothes just don't quite fit anymore ! You may notice your skin becomes clearer, your hair becoming a little thicker and your finger nails / toenails much stronger than before. Baby's heart is beating strongly now and moves arms and legs around. Baby may experience hiccups as the windpipe becomes filled with amniotic fluid. Baby is now around the size of an Avocado

Week 17 - 18

You may experience some stretch marks over your hips, breasts or belly. Some time between now and 22 weeks, you will feel the first flutters sensations of baby saying hello and moving around. This is a real moment you will remember for years to come. Baby's eyes are now developed to the extent that they are sensitive to light. A protective sheath surrounds the spine . Baby is now very active, kicking and rolling, turning and all sorts in you womb. In some cases tugging on the umbilical cord.

Week 19 - 20

Ok so your half way through now and probably be offered another scan to see your little one much more clearly and even find out if it's a boy or a girl if you would like to know. You may sweat a little more than usual. Baby is now around 15cm long and growing at a really fast pace now, laying down stores of fat for warmth and of course for energy. Baby's brain, nerve cells, taste, sight, smell, touch and hearing are all developing at a quicker pace. Baby is covered in a creamy substance called Vernix that protects.

Week 21 - 22

You may notice that you centre of balance is shifting and you become a little clumsy. Try not to wear high heels and opt for flatter shoes to help stability and take the strain off your lower back area. The eyes are formed now except for the pigment in the iris. Your body protects baby by providing antibodies to see off any infection during the first few days of birth. It may feel now that baby is doing somersaults and double back flips inside you.

Week 23 - 24

This stage is where the weight starts piling on. You can put on almost half your total pregnancy weight during this time. You may also notice eyes feel dryer than usual and trying to get sleep becoming harder and harder. A pillow supporting your bump at night will work wonders. Baby is now 29cm and coming in at around 500g, she is pretty much a mini version of she will look at birth.

Week 25 - 26

Believe it or not your uterus is roughly the size of a football ! Not only that, it will grow on average 1cm per week. This may be noticeable by the more frequent visits to the loo. The energy you had earlier may now start to dip and you may feel more tired now. Baby's ears have developed to such an extend now that they can pick up music and the sound of a voice. Eyes may start to open and regular patterns of sleep will start. Unfortunately the sleep patterns of baby will not necessarily match yours. You will feel a definite push when baby moves her hands and feet against your tummy.

The third trimester

Ok not long now, you reach the stage where you think can this bump get any larger ? Moving around gets a little more interesting now…..

Weeks 27 - 28

Your uterus is almost reaching your ribcage now and you may start to feel pretty breathless. With so much going on generally about babies and the future, you might become a little forgetful. Sometimes your breasts may leek with colostrum which is the milk baby will drink for the first few days. Baby may start to move her head and respond to bright lights. Baby's heart will beat pretty fast roughly double the rate of yours.

Weeks 29 - 30

Around this time you will have put on a whopping one and half stone and your belly button may have even popped out. Try to avoid constipation caused by all the hormones swirling around your body by eating fibre rich meals and drink lots and lots of water. Baby is approaching birth length but still growing and putting the weight on. Bones are becoming harder, lungs, head and brain growing. Eyes have colour most likely blue and the final colour will be set six to none months after birth.

Weeks 31 - 32

Occasionally your uterus tightens and hardens for a few seconds followed by it relaxing, these are nothing to worry about and are sometimes called Braxton Hicks. They are not real contractions, they are just warm up ones for the real thing later…….don't worry, these will come later ! You may find sleeping a little more difficult than before and dream more vividly. Baby will put on half her body weight over the next few weeks which means baby will have less space to move around and doing gymnastics and double back flips inside you. Baby will be head down, getting ready for birth. You will feel baby moving around inside you.

Week 33 - 34

You may notice your feet and ankles as well as your hands a little more puffy than before, especially in the evenings. Drink plenty of water and make sure you put your feet up (literally). If the swelling is severe or comes with a headache, call your midwife. The shield covering baby begins to be lost and baby is getting ready for life outside mummy. Baby experiences rapid eye movement (REM) when asleep and experiences deep sleep. Baby may have engaged at this stage particularly if this is your first baby.

Week 35 - 36

Believe it or not your uterus is around 1000 times larger in capacity than it was. You may feel breathless and there will be extra visits to the loo as it presses on your bladder more. You will probably start to 'waddle' rather than walk and getting from A to B generally will be a lot harder. Baby will be around 2.5kg and the big spurt on growth is over. Baby will still put on weight but a slower and steady rate. Hearing will improve and baby will be able to know if its light outside or dark.

Week 37 - 38

You are now approaching full term and will have a due date at this stage. More Braxton Hicks contractions will come. Baby may have a full head of hair but it will not be the final colour. Movements now may be sharp and sudden….giving you a little jolt.

Week 39 - 40

You feel pretty big and large at this point in time. Wanting baby to come now….Many people feel they need to 'prepare the nest' so to speak and a spring clean or a tidy up occurs. Baby's head is now in your pelvic cavity and protected. Baby will be in the region of 51cm long and coming in at around 2.5 - 3.8kg. Not long to go now.......



Did you know:

Folic Acid helps your baby's nervous system develop; helping to reduce the risk of conditions suck as Spina Bifida. Speak to your doctor first though.

Smoking and drinking alcohol during your pregnancy is a bad idea as it could lead to complications later.

NHS dental car is free when you are pregnant (UK residents)

You should consult with your doctor over any existing medication you may be already taking

You should check out any maternity benefits and inform your employer by week 25

You should do pelvic floor exercises

Packing a hospital bag is a good idea

You should treat yourself in the 3rd trimester with a hair appointment as it may be sometime until you get this chance again

It's a good idea to add the hospital and a local taxi company phone numbers onto your mobile. Speed dial is good !

On average being pregnant makes you put on ten to twelve and a half kilograms . Placenta 700g, Bigger breasts 1kg, Increased uterus size 1kg, Amniotic fluid 1kg, Extra blood and other fluid 2kg, Increased fat levels 3kg, baby 3.4kg.





4little1s.com is the online nursery retailer located at www.4little1s.com who sell baby bedding from Bedebyes, Lollipop Lane and Izziwotnot. Also see our extensive range of fun and traditional wooden toys from Orange tree and a great range of baby toys and hampers for your little ones. Don't forget the Nursery Furniture