Calendar of pregnancy
- The first month (weeks 0- 4)
- The second month (weeks 5-8)
- The third month (weeks 9-12)
- The fourth month (weeks 13-16)
- The fifth month (weeks 17- 20)
- The sixth month (weeks 21-24)
- The seventh month (weeks 25-28)
- The eighth month (weeks 29-32)
- The ninth month (weeks 33-36)
- The tenth month (weeks 37-40)
The first month (weeks 0- 4)
-begins on the day you started your last period and lasts 4 weeks.
- Conception takes place about two weeks from the start of your period - the baby's life begins.
- At the end of the month there are still 36 weeks until the birth (8 months, 12 days).
- At the end of the month the fetus is 2 weeks old.
- The fetus is now the size of a pinhead.
REMEMBER: While you are pregnant, do not take any
medicines without first checking that they are safe for you and your baby.
Consult your doctor or the health nurse first.
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The second month (weeks 5-8)
-begins 4 weeks after the start of your last period.
- Lasts 4 weeks.
- At the end of the month there are still 32 weeks until the birth (7 months, 14 days)
- At the beginning of the month the fetus is 2 weeks old and at the end of the month 6 weeks old.
- The fetus is about 1,5 cm long at the end of the month.
- The fetus has got the beginnings of arms and legs.
- The heart, nose, ears and eyelids, the nervous system, spine and umbilical cord are beginning to develop.
REMEMBER: Heavy smoking and drinking during pregnancy
can harm your baby!
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The third month (weeks 9-12)
-begins 8 weeks after the start of your last period.
- At the end of the month there are still 28 weeks until the birth (6 months, 16 days)
- At the beginning of the month the fetus is 6 weeks old and at the end of the month 10 weeks old.
- The fetus is about 9 cm long at the end of the month and weights about 20 grams.
- The baby's heart beats for the first time.
- The fetus floats in a sack of amniotic fluid and gets its food via the umbilical chord.
REMEMBER: The mother's welfare is important to the
child: healthy food and plenty of exercise are good for both.
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The fourth month (weeks 13-16)
-begins 12 weeks after the start of your last period.
- At the end of the month there are still 24 weeks until the birth (5 months, 18 days).
- At the beginning of the month the fetus is 10 weeks old and at the end of the month 14 weeks old.
- The fetus is about 16 cm long at the end of the month and weights about 100 grams.
- The uterus is about the size of a fist.
- The head is big, about half the total length, and the face is beginning to acquire its own features. The ears and genitals are developing.
- The fetus practises breathing and swallowing movements. It kicks, moves its toes and thumbs and turns its head. The mother does not yet feel these tiny movements, however.
REMEMBER: In order to qualify for maternity benefit you
must visit the clinic or a doctor before the end of the 16th week.
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The fifth month(weeks 17- 20)
-begins 16 weeks after the start of your last period.
- At the end of the month there are still 20 weeks until the birth (4 months, 20 days)
- At the beginning of the month the fetus is 14 weeks old and at the end of the month 18 weeks old.
- The fetus is 25-27 cm long at the end of the month and weighs 250-300 grams.
- The fetus has its own circulatory system and its heart beats twice as fast as an adults.
- The foetus’s skin is covered in fine, downy hair (lanugo), which vanishes by the time the baby is born. It now has eyebrows.
- At this stage the placenta is almost as big as the fetus. It protects the fetus from some but not all harmful substances.
- The mother can now feel the baby's movements if she has had a baby before.
REMEMBER: Now's the time to talk to the health nurse
about antenatal classes.
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The sixth month (weeks 21-24)
-begins 20 weeks after the start of your last period.
- At the end of the month there are still 16 weeks until the birth (3 months, 2 days).
- At the beginning of the month the fetus is 18 weeks old and at the end of the month, 22 weeks old.
- The fetus is about 30cm long at the end of the month and weighs 400-600 grams. Even a primapara (a women expecting her first baby) can feel its movements. Its heartbeats can be heard.
- By the end of the month the top of the uterus (the fundus) is up to the navel. Faster growth is a sign of twins.
- The fetus practises sucking and its thumb often find its way into its mouth. Its hair and nails grow. The protective film begins to develop into skin.
- The fetus sleeps most of the time but may be woken by external noises or vibration.
REMEMBER: In week 22 you can apply for your maternity,
paternity or parents' pay (and leave of absence) as well as for maternity
benefit.
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The seventh month (weeks 25-28)
-begins 24 weeks after the start of your last period.
- At the end of the month there are still 12 weeks until the birth (2 months, 24 days).
- At the beginning of the month the fetus is 22 weeks old and at the end of the month 26 weeks old.
- The fetus is about 35 cm long and weighs about a kilo.
- The fetus moves a lot, turns and visibly kicks. It opens and closes its eyes, and it has a strong grip with its hands.
- The uterus is up to the navel. You may feel the first contractions, during which your tummy goes hard for a few seconds.
The eighth month (weeks 29-32)
-begins 28 weeks after the start of your last period.
- At the end of the month there are still 8 weeks until the birth (1 month, 26 days).
- At the beginning of the month the fetus is 26 weeks old and at the end of the month 30 weeks old.
- The fetus is about 40cm long and weighs about 1,5 kilos
- The fetus is really beginning to look like a baby, though a very frail one. If it were born now it would have chances of surviving.
- The foetus’s lungs and other organs are not yet fully developed, however, and it does not yet have all the antibodies of a full-term baby.
REMEMBER: Avoid standing, lifting heavy objects and
other strenuous jobs.
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The ninth month (weeks 33-36)
-begins 32 weeks after the start of your last period
- At the end of the month there are still 28 days until the birth, i.e. 4 weeks.
- At the beginning of the month the baby is 30 weeks old and at the end of the month 34 weeks old.
- The baby is about 47 cm long and weighs about 2, 700 grams. It quickly gains weight.
- The baby moves less than before, because it has not much room left to move in. At this stage most babies get into position for birth, head down.
- The baby's skin is covered with a creamy film called vernix.
REMEMBER: It's a good idea to get everything ready for
the baby at this stage.
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The tenth month (weeks 37-40)
-begins 36 weeks after the start of your last period or 34 weeks after conception.
- At the beginning of the month the baby is 34 weeks old; most babies are born when they are 38 weeks old.
- The uterus drops and the baby's head engages ready for birth. The contractions increase, considerably.
- The baby kicks so hard in the uterus that it can push away a book placed on the mother's tummy.
- At birth most babies are 49-52 cm long and weigh 3,000-4, 000 grams
- Your baby is born at the end of the tenth month, give or take a week.
REMEMBER: Set off for the hospital immediately the
waters break, if you have pain or bleeding, or when the contractions are
coming regularly (see the chapter on the birth).
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