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A woman's pregnancy gestation can last anywhere from 38 to 40 weeks. During each week of a mother's pregnancy, there are various stages of gestation that the mother and fetus will go through. In this timeline, we will go through each stage of pregnancy and what can be expected.

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Conception happens when the egg is fertilized by the sperm.

Fertilization takes place in the fallopian tubes and will be divided from a single cell to multiple cells. For 8 weeks after fertilization, the egg is called an embryo.

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After Conception, you can expect your hormone levels to change which will cause a woman's menstrual cycle to stop, and your pregnancy hormone (chorionic gonadotrophin) will increase. This increase is what is detected when you take a pregnancy test.

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The first week of conception is counted as the last day of a woman's menstrual period. This will start the first week of the 40 weeks of pregnancy.

During this time the embryo will have multiplied and will travel from the fallopian tubes to the uterine wall.

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Women:

You will have had a missed period and have taken a positive pregnancy test.

You will feel changes in your body like breast tenderness, being tired, and you may need to urinate more often.

Embryo:

The embryo will have changed into a fetus that is 3 mm in length. The brain and spine are being formed, eyes nose, and mouth are formed, webbed fingers and toes pop out, and lungs and inner ear start to form.

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The mother will have ended their first trimester of pregnancy at 12 weeks. They should have seen a doctor for screen testing and ultrasound. Testing for trisomy 18 (Edward Syndrome) and trisomy 18 (Down Syndrome) will have been done.

The fetus will have grown from 22 mm the size of a strawberry to 5.4 the size of a plum.

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Women:

Morning sickness, mood swings, and less pressure on the bladder.

Fetus:

Brain activity, teeth will form, heart development, eyelids, genitals, liver, kidney, bones harden, toenails and fingernails form, and the fetus can start hearing.

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Mothers will have entered their second trimester of pregnancy. They will have started seeing their doctor every four weeks to be monitored. The doctor will keep track of weight gain, check blood pressure, and monitor the baby's heartbeat.

The baby will have grown from 7.4 cm the size of a peach to 11.6 cm the size of an avocado.

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Women:

Mothers will start seeing a small bump, there will be less nausea, an increased sex drive, more energy, and some ligament pain from the growing belly.

Fetus:

The fetus will be able to suck its thumb, the neck will be defined, it will move more vigorously, and the lung will start developing the ability to breathe oxygen after birth.

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The mother will receive an ultrasound to check the position of the placenta and uterus, for multiple babies, the growth and development of the baby, and they may request the sex of the baby.

The baby will start to gain more weight and a protective layer of skin called the Vernix. The baby will grow from 13 cm the size of a pomegranate to 25.6 the size of a banana.

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Women:

Leg cramping, tiredness, trouble sleeping, stretch marks, feeling the baby move (bubble or fluttering in the stomach), and an increase in belly growth.

Fetus:

The brain will have developed the ability to motor movement, hair growth, and the digestive system. The doctor will be able to see if the baby is a boy or a girl.

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Mothers will get their abdomen measured by the doctor to ensure the baby is growing and to check the amniotic fluid. You will start talking about additional tests that need to be run. The baby's heartbeat will continue to be monitored.

The baby will have grown from 26.7 cm the size of a carrot to 1 pound the size of an ear of corn.

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Women:

The uterus will reach your belly button, your hair will start growing, and your skin will start glowing.

Fetus:

Fat will form under the baby's skin, ridges will form that will be fingerprinted, and skin is wrinkled and reddish from visible blood vessels.

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The mother will have finished the second trimester, belly will continue to be measured. The baby's heartbeat will be monitored. Blood tests for anemia, diabetes, and Rh factor antibodies will be run.

The baby will grow from 1.75 pounds the size of a cauliflower to 2 1/2 pounds the size of an eggplant.

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Women:

Bleeding gums, trouble sleeping, and indigestion.

Fetus:

The lungs are fully formed, loud noises make the baby move, eyelids can open and close, the nervous system is developed, the skin looks smoother, and the lungs make breathing movements.

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The mother will have entered the third trimester. The belly will continue to be measured as well as the monitoring of the heartbeat. Urine will be tested for protein, sugars, or infections.

The fetus's head will have caught up with its body, it will move to a head-down position to prepare for birth, and it will spend most of the time sleeping. The baby will have grown from 3 pounds the size of a butternut squash to 4 pounds the size of a bunch of celery.

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Women:

Headaches, and sticky discharge.

Fetus:

Can stretch and kick, eyes can sense light changes, the bone marrow is formed, testicles will descend, and the head may have hair.

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The mother will start to see their doctor every two weeks. The mother's belly will continue to be measured. The baby's heartbeat will continue to be monitored. The baby will lower in the pelvis. The mother can go into labor.

The baby will grow from 4.25 the size of a pineapple to 5.8 the size of a papaya.

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Women:

There may be pressure in the pelvic area due to the baby dropping for birth.

Fetus:

Bones harden, the skull remains soft for delivery, and limbs begin to look chubby

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The mother will see their doctor every week until labor. The belly will continue to be measured and the baby's heartbeat will be monitored.

The fetus will start preparing for labor. The average size of a baby at 40 weeks can be anywhere from 6-9 pounds the size of a small pumpkin.

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Women:

The mother can experience Braxton Hicks (false labor) or contractions.

Fetus:

The circulatory system is developed, the lungs, brain, and nervous system are developed, and the baby continues to gain weight.

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The mother will experience contractions that will get stronger and closer together as the cervix continues to dilate from 0- to 10 cm. The water will break at some point during labor which increases the labor pains and moves the dilation along. During labor, you can feel nauseated and experience low blood pressure.

Labor varies for every mother but on average can last from 12-24 hours.

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New Mexico Medicare:

Can help with medical costs.

New Mexico Wic:

Can help with health food, nutrition education, nursing support, and community.

New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department

Books:

Pregnancy Childbirth and The Newborn

What to Expect When Expecting

Expecting Better