The length of a typical pregnancy is 40 to 42 weeks. It is very important for you and your doctor to have an accurate determination of your baby’s gestational age.
The “starting date” of your pregnancy is the first day of your last period. Using this date, you can determine your due date. Once you know your due date you can track your pregnancy through the trimesters.
The beginning stages of your pregnancy - the 1st trimester - is an exciting time, but it does come with challenges for some women. Your body will be experiencing many physical and hormonal changes and accompanying symptoms.
Often the very first symptom noticed by women is a missed period - which most often leads to the use of an at-home pregnancy test to verify the pregnancy. In the weeks following, women may begin to experience other symptoms such as:
It is important to remember that every woman’s experience of pregnancy is unique. Even if you have been pregnant before you may notice new or different symptoms.
For many women this part of pregnancy is the most enjoyable. You will begin to have a visible baby bump and may have the “baby glow” that so many people talk about. It also brings a sense of relief as the risk of miscarriage decrease as the weeks go on.
Your baby is growing rapidly at this stage weight up to 2 pounds at the end the second trimester. This rapid growth can cause new pregnancy symptoms to appear such as:
During these weeks you will be preparing for your child’s birth and your entrance into motherhood. It is normal to experience to strong emotions, including sadness. With changing hormones and a rapidly growing baby, the third trimester is often a challenging time with an increase in symptoms. These symptoms include: