Over the course of the nine months of pregnancy, your baby will grow and develop very rapidly. Each month brings about a new milestone that serves as one step closer to meeting your little one. Your obstetrician monitors your baby's growth, heart rate and development until she's born to ensure a healthy delivery.
History
Your doctor determines an approximate estimated due date, or EDD, based upon ultrasound pictures, human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG, levels present in your blood serum or by your last menstrual period, or LMP. He may also use a combination of these methods if you're not sure when your last menstrual period was, or if the baby is too large or too small for her particular gestational age. You may hear your midwife or obstetrician refer to trimesters because that's how pregnancies are divided--into three months of three. Each trimester marks a new beginning for your baby.
Size
Your baby grows each week during your pregnancy. In the beginning of your pregnancy, the baby floats around in your uterus, but as time passes and he grows larger, the space in your uterus becomes almost non-existent and he doesn't have much room to float around in. By the end of the first trimester, your baby is still very small, weighing about 1 oz., and is approximately 3 1/2 inches in length. Near the end of the second trimester, your baby will have grown significantly and will weigh about 1 1/2 lbs. and be approximately the length of a ruler, or 12 inches. The last trimester is when your baby morphs in size; he picks up weight rapidly and grows in terms of length. By the time he's born, his weight can vary between 6 lbs. to 9 lbs. and he's approximately 20 inches long.
Function
During your pregnancy, your baby accomplishes certain skills such as grasping, sucking and kicking as well as other characteristics. During the first trimester of pregnancy, your baby begins to develop a heartbeat, develop internal sex organs and all major organs begin to take form. In the second trimester of your pregnancy, your baby grows hair on her head; eyebrows and eyelashes form; she sucks her thumb, hears and swallows; and she becomes more active in your womb--so you may feel her kicking, stretching and bouncing around. During the last trimester of pregnancy, she's able to open and close her eyes as well as sense changes to light. She may begin to hiccup, and all of her internal organs begin to mature to prepare her for her birth.
Effects
As your baby continues to grow and gain weight, your abdomen becomes larger--which may make mundane tasks such as tying your shoes seem challenging. You'll also notice that you urinate more frequently as your baby grows larger because this pushes and applies pressure to your bladder. Due to the increased amniotic fluid--or the water the baby is in--you may experience increased water retention and swelling, especially around your ankles, legs and hands. Your feet may also swell, which make wearing certain shoes more uncomfortable, and you may need to increase your shoe size to accommodate the swelling.
Considerations
Keep all prenatal visits to ensure your baby is developing properly, and ask your physician questions. Choose maternity clothing that will provide comfort and allow plenty of room for your baby. You may gain as much as 30 lbs. or more during pregnancy.
