·  For the first 8 weeks, your developing baby is called an embryo.

·  Tiny limb buds, which Hill grow into arms and legs, appear.

·  The embryo looks like a tadpole.

·  Heart and lungs are beginning to form. By the 25th day, the heart starts to beat.

·  The neural tube, which becomes the brain and spinal cord, begins to form.

·  At the end of the 1st month, your baby is about ½ inch long and weighs less than 1 ounce.

·  You become pregnant and miss your period.

· Your body is making lots of hormones needed to grow a baby.

· Your breasts are slightly bigger and sore.

· You may have morning sickness. Try eating dry crackers.

· You may crave some foods, or hate foods you usually like.

· You will urinate more often because your growing uterus is pressing on your bladder.

· Visit your health care provider for your first prenatal care checkup as soon as you think you are pregnant.

· Pregnancy usually lasts about 280 days (40 weeks) from the first day of your last menstrual period.

· Be sure you get at least 400 micrograms of the B vitamin folic acid every day, by taking a multivitamin and easting a healthy diet, to help reduce the risk of birth defects of the brain and spinal cord.

· Ask your health care provider before taking any prescription drugs, over-the-counter, or herbal products.

· Stop smoking and drinking alcohol. Stop doing street drugs.

· All major body organs and systems are formed but not completely developed.

· Early stages of placenta, which exchanges nutrients from your body for waste products produced by the baby, are visible and working.

· Ears, ankles and wrists are formed. Eyelids form and grow but are sealed shut.

· Fingers and toes are developed.

· By the end of the 2nd month, your baby looks more like a person than a tadpole, is about 1 inch long and still weighs less than 1 ounce.

· Your breasts are still sore, your nipples and the area around them begin to darken.

· Morning sickness may continue.

· You may feel tired and need to rest more as your body adjusts to being pregnant.

· The total amount of blood in your body increases.

· Visit your health care provider for one prenatal care checkup.

· Eat a variety of healthy foods from the five major food groups: cereals and grains; fruit and fruit juices; vegetables; daily products; and meats and beans.

· Your health care provider probably will prescribe prenatal vitamins. Your prenatal vitamin should contain the recommended amount of folic acid for pregnant women.

· Drink at least six to eight glasses of water, juice and/or milk every day.

· Don’t cut down on salt unless your doctor says so.

· After 8 weeks as an embryo, the baby now is called a fetus.

· Fingers and toes have soft nails.

· The mouth has 20 buds that will become baby teeth.

· You can hear you baby’s heartbeat for the first time (10 to 12 weeks) using a special instrument called a doptone.

· For the rest of your pregnancy, all body organs will mature and the baby will gain weight.

· By the end of this month, your baby is 2 ½ inches long and weight a little over 1 ounce.

· You may still feel tired and have morning sickness.

· You may have headaches and get lightheaded or dizzy. If these symptoms persist or are severe, discuss them with your health care provider.

· Your clothes may begin to feel tight around your waist and breasts. Try pullover tops and skirts or pants with elastic waists.

· Visit your health care provider for one checkup.

· You have a slightly increased need for almost all vitamins and minerals to nourish your baby. A healthy diet meets most of these needs.

· You may have gained 3 or 4 pounds by now. A woman who starts pregnancy at a normal weight should gain 25 to 35 pounds. Ask your health care provider how much weight you should gain.

· Exercise can be beneficial. Walking is a good choice. Check with your health care provider before starting an exercise program.

· If your health care provider recommends prenatal testing using chorionic villus sampling (CVS), it can be done now.

· The baby moves, kicks and swallows.

· The skin is pink and transparent.

· The umbilical cord continues to grow and thicken to carry enough nourishment from mother to baby-but is also can pass along hazards like nicotine, alcohol and other drugs.

· The placenta is fully formed.

· By the end of the 4th month, the baby is 6 to 7 inches long and weighs about 5 ounces.

· Appetite increases as morning sickness goes away. You should begin to feel more energetic.

· Toward the end of the 4th month (16 to 20 weeks), you might feel the faint movement of your baby for the first time; tell your health care provider.

· Your belly begins to show-you probably will need maternity clothes and bigger bras this month.

· Visit your health care provider for one prenatal care checkup.

· Pregnant women need extra iron-more than even a good diet can supply. Your doctor may recommend iron supplements.

· You’ll probably gain about a pound a week or 12 to 14 pounds, during the 2nd trimester (months 4 to 6).

· If your health care provider recommends prenatal testing using amniocentesis, or a blood test called a triple screen for Down syndrome and neural tube defects, they can be done at 15 to 18 weeks.

The baby becomes more active, turning from side to side and sometimes head over heels.

· Fingernails have grown to tips of fingers.

· The baby sleeps and wakes at regular intervals.

· This is a month of rapid growth. At the end of the 5th month, your baby is 8 to 12 inches long and weighs ½ to 1 pound.

· If you haven’t already, you will begin to feel your baby moving inside you. Be sure to tell your doctor.

· Your uterus has grown to the height of your belly button.

· Your heart beasts faster.

· You may need 8 hours of sleep each night. During the day, take rest breaks if you’re tired. Don’t push yourself.

· Visit your health care provider for one prenatal care checkup.

· Your baby’s growth and weight gain can be affected if you’re still smoking, drinking or taking drugs. It’s never too late to quit.

· Continue eating a healthy, nutritious diet and drink lots of juice, water and milk every day.

· Skin is red and wrinkled and covered with fine, soft hair.

· Eyelids begin to part and the eyes open.

· Finger and toe prints can be seen.

· The baby continues to grow rapidly. At the end of the 6th month, your baby is 11 to 14 inches long and weight 1 to 1 ½

pounds.

· If born now, the baby might survive with intensive care.

· You may feed the baby kicking strongly now.

· The skin on your growing belly may start to itch.

· Your back may hurt. Wear low-heeled shoes or flats. Don’t stand for long periods of time. Exercise can help.

· You may feel pain down the sides of your belly as your uterus stretches the ligaments that support it.

· Visit your health care provider for one prenatal care checkup.

· You may be constipated. Drink more water or fruit juice, eat more foods with fiber (like fruit and vegetables) and get some exercise (with your health care provider’s approval).

· To help with heartburn, try eating four or five smaller meals during the day.

· Do not take laxatives or antacids without asking your health care provider.

· The baby can open and close its eyes and suck its thumb.

· The baby exercises by kicking and stretching.

· The baby responds to light and sound.

· If born now, the baby has a good chance for survival.

· Your baby is now about 15 inches long and weight about 3 pounds.

· If your ankles and feet swell from standing, lie down with your feet raised. If swelling lasts longer than 24 hours, or if your hands and face swell suddenly, call your health care provider.

· Stretch marks may appear on the abdomen and breasts as they get bigger.

· You may feel false labor contractions, called Braxton Hicks contractions. This is normal, but call health care provider if you have more than five contractions in 1 hour.

· As your belly gets bigger, you may lose your sense of balace. This makes it easier to fall. Be careful !

· After the 28th week, visit your health care provider every 2 weeks for prenatal care.

· Continue to eat a variety of foods that are good for you. You should gain 1 pound a week this month.

· Get plenty of rest-you body is working hard.

· Start childbirth education classes soon.

· Most health care providers do a blood test for gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) at 24 to 28 weeks.

· Rapid brain growth continues.

· The baby is too big to move around much but can kick strongly and roll around.

· You may notice the shape of an elbow or heel against you abdomen.

· Bones of the head are soft and flexible to make it easier for the baby to fit through the birth canal.

· Lungs may still be immature. If born before 37 weeks, the baby is premature but has an excellent change for survival.

· Your baby is now about 18 inches long and weighs about 5 pounds.

· You may feel stronger contractions this month.

· You may have some leakage of colostrums (the fluid that will feed your baby until your milk comes in) from your breasts.

· You may have trouble sleeping because it is hard to get comfortable. Try putting several pillows under your head.

· You may develop shortness of breath as the baby crowds your lungs.

· The baby may crowd your stomach. Try eating five or six smaller meals during the day.

· The top of your uterus lies just under your rib cage.

· Visit your health care provider every 2 weeks for prenatal care checkups.

· You should gain 1 pound a week this month.

· Call your health care provider right away if you have:

1. Bleeding or a gush of fluid from your vagina.

2. Cramps, stomach pains or a dull backache

3. Blurry vision, or spots before your eyes.

4. A feeling that the baby is pushing down.

5. A noticeable decrease in the baby’s movements.

6. More than five contractions in 1 hour.

· At 38 to 40 weeks, your baby is full term.

· The baby’s lungs are mature and ready to function on their own.

· During this month, the baby gains about ½ pound a week.

· The baby usually drops into a head-down position and rest lower in your abdomen.

· By the end of the 9th month, your baby is 19 to 21 inches long and weighs 6 to 9 pounds.

· Your belly button may stick out.

· Your breathing should be easier once the baby drops, but you’ll have to urinate more often because the baby is pressing on your bladder.

· Swelling of ankles and feet may increase.

· You cervix will open to (dilate) and thin out (efface) as it prepares for birth.

· You may be very uncomfortable because of the pressure and weight of the baby. Be sure to rest often.

· After the 36th week, visit your health care provider once a week for prenatal care checkups.

· You may not gain any weight at all this month, or even lose 1 or 2 pounds. You may have gained 8 to 10 pounds during the last 3 months.

· Decide, if you haven’t already done so, whether you are going to breastfeed or formula feed your baby.

· Time your contractions. You are in labor if your contractions are regular or evenly space apart (every 7 minutes, for example); they happen more than five times an hour, they last for 30 to 70 seconds; they get worse as you move around.

· Call your health care provider if you think you are in labor.