Great Expectations: Pregnancy & Childbirth

By: Justine Kueffner

First TrimesterWeeks 1-3

Size: zygote barely fits on the head of a pin

3 to 5 days after conception will burrow into wall of uterus

12 to 15 days after implantation hCG will be able to be detected on pregnancy test

Week 4

Symptoms are not really noticeable at this point

May experience some spotting Pregnancy loses usually occur during

the time of implantation

Weeks 5 & 6

Size: Embryo is about 2 millimeters long (grain of sand)

Pregnancy symptoms begin: nausea, fatigue, etc.

No gender characteristics yet: only nipples

Small mouth, lips and fingernails are forming

Weeks 7 & 8 & 9

Digestive tract, lungs, nostrils forming Mucous is thickening on cervix

› Keeps uterus sealed until birth Kegal Exercises important! Week 9: Embryo become a fetus Uterus is now the size of a tennis ball Sharp pains are normal at this time

Weeks 10 & 11

Genitals are now present Baby is 1 ¾ to 2 ½ in. long Important things to remember:

› Nap, eat, & relax› Brush & Floss› Wear your seat belt› Be active

Weeks 12 & 13

Sex drive may be returning around this time

Ears are now developed and they can hear you talk & sing

Feelings of nausea decrease Feet are swollen

Second TrimesterWeeks 14 & 15

Baby is about the size of your fist Hair begins to grow on head and

eyebrows Important to have enough iron Milk glands may start producing You may feel Braxton Hicks

contractions› “Practice” contractions that prepare uterus

for birth

Weeks 16 & 17 & 18

Baby able to grasp things with fist Movements become more pronounced Women report sex during second

trimester is the best in their lives Brown fat on baby begins to be

deposited Retinas of baby become more sensitive

to light

Weeks 19 & 20 & 21

Baby about the size of a mango Areas of the baby’s brain becoming

more specialized Make sure you are getting your

Omega-3 fatty acids and B vitamins Baby begins to swallow and drink

amniotic fluid 300 extra calories a day are needed

Weeks 22 & 23 & 24

The baby has become more proportional at this point (looks like a baby)

Blood travels through umbilical cord at 4 miles an hour

Baby begins to have REM associated with dreaming

Mother may be feeling muscle aches, fatigue, heart burn, sore feet & dizziness

Weeks 25 & 26 & 27

Baby is 1 ¼ pounds & about 11 in. long Nostrils open up at this time Uterus is the size of a soccer ball Week 26: baby’s hearing system

completely formed This is the time where mother usually

gets tested for Gestational Diabetes Walking, bending over, and lifting are

becoming painful

Third TrimesterWeeks 28 & 29 & 30

Baby is now up to 2 ¼ pounds and about 15 in.

Baby is working on gaining layers of fat Stretch marks have probably already

appeared by now Baby is producing estriol that stimulate

prolactin to make mother produces milk

Ureters, bladder, & urethra compressed (can’t empty bladder efficiently)

Weeks 31 & 32 & 33

Baby is gaining weight at a fast pace (about ½ pound a week)

Lanugo, the fine hairs on body, are beginning to shed

Toenails are present Baby has probably moved into head-

down position Baby is receiving mother’s antibodies

Weeks 34 & 35 & 36

Week 34: baby is about 5 pounds Baby dreams a lot at this stage: brain is

making connections between neurons & synapses

If baby born in week 35, 99% chance of surviving

Baby’s movement begins to slow down as they grow larger

Week 36: could go into labor anytime between now and six weeks from now!

Weeks 37 & 38

Week 37: Baby is about 7 pounds and about 19 in.

Baby is practicing breathing with amniotic fluid

Baby’s intestines building up meconium which will be first bowel movement

Uncertainty for mother at this point as to when delivery will be. Doctors recommend 2 weeks after due date before induction

Weeks 39 & 40

Baby’s are fully formed at this point Staying pregnant past 40 weeks is

normal for first time mothers Health care providers will be checking

dilation & effacement Mother’s are bigger and more

uncomfortable than ever

Stages of BirthStage 1

Stage 1 has 3 phases: latent phase (notice contractions), active phase (hard work) & transition phase (cervix is thin and wide)

Labor contractions begin but have a pattern of tightening, resting, releasing

Labor pains begin in back & move to the front

Important things to do: Relax, breathe, move around, sit on toilet to help open up pelvis, try birthing ball, & urinate frequently

Stage 2

This is the pushing stage Uterus and pelvic muscles push baby

through birth canal Phases of stage 2 are passive stage (15

to 20 min. long) where contractions slow down and expulsive stage (20 to 30 min. long) where contractions are accompanied by urge to push

Stage 3

This stage begins right after the baby is born

Ends with the delivery of the placenta Usually takes less than 15 min. Placenta is examined after delivery to

make sure nothing is still in the uterus that could cause infection

Stage 4

Uterus is starting to firm up and shrink Milk-making glands are activated This stage lasts 24 to 36 hours Perineum will be swollen and sore Breasts may be swollen and hard Belly will probably be mushy for a

couple months Baby blues are normal

5 Postpartum Don’ts

1. No driving is under painkillers or if stiches are still painful

2. Don’t lift anything heavier than your baby

3. No intercourse until you are healed 4. Don’t use tampons or douches 5. No strenuous household chores

The End