What to Expect During the First 33 Weeks of Pregnancy
Most of your baby's development occurs during the first 33 weeks. Pregnancy lasts between 37 and 42 weeks. Eat healthy, stop any harmful habits like smoking and take vitamins with lots of folic acid. Talk to your doctor about what physical activity you can do. Each pregnancy is different; this is the average for development of the baby and the effect on the mother.
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Weeks 1 to 6
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You may not feel anything during weeks one, two and three. You may have mild cramping, vaginal discharge, exhaustion, nausea, frequent urination, tender breasts and a missed period. The fertilized egg divides into multiple cells that attach to the uterine lining. Week four and five are usually when the period is either missed or supposed to arrive. By week six, you are ready for the doctor. Your baby may be examined with an ultrasound. There will be a heartbeat.
Weeks 7 to 12
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During week seven the baby's eyes and facial features become more defined. Teeth and organs will be forming. Webbing is between the fingers and toes. The baby will have eyelids, elbows and longer limbs through week eight. Nausea will still be present. Watch for bleeding. During week nine the sex organs start to develop. Around this time you may start to have mood swings. Your belly will be rounder. At week 10, your baby is in the fetus stage. At week 11, your baby can open and close his hand. The webbing between fingers and toes is gone. At the end of the12th week, the uterus will come out of the pelvis. Heartburn is common at this time.
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Weeks 13-17
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During week 13, abdominal pain is common. Call your doctor if you have cramping, bleeding or vomiting. By week 14, the baby is getting its nutrients from the placenta. Whatever you eat, drink, inhale or put on your skin will come in contact with your baby. Bones begin to form around week 15. During week 16 hair starts to grow. The umbilical cord is developed. At week 17 the baby can hear. You should be gaining weight at a steady pace. You may start to have vaginal discharge.
Weeks 18-23
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Detection of some heart defects is possible by week 18. Your uterus should be right below the belly button. It may be possible to tell the sex of your baby. By week 19, a girl will have produced a million eggs. By the end of week 20, your baby has started breathing and swallowing. At week 21, your baby may hiccup. Leg pain may start. Fingernails and eyebrows have developed at week 22. Stretch marks may start to appear. By week 23, the baby can hear loud noises clearly. Movements are frequent.
Weeks 24-29
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Amniotic fluid increases during week 24. During weeks 25 and 26, the organs continue to mature. During weeks 27 and 28, the eyelids open. At week 29, brain development increases. You may get hemorrhoids.
Weeks 30-33
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Movement increases during week 30. You may be more tired and have trouble sleeping. Movement is less sporadic starting in week 31. During weeks 32 and 33, the fetus gains weight.
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