During the next 12 weeks your baby will grow from small enough to fit on the head of a pin, until about the height of your thumbprint! In just 12 weeks she will grown from two cells to a fetus with a face, arms, legs, and the beginning of every major organ system, and you will have grown an entirely new organs: the placenta, amniotic sac and umbilical cord.
For most moms-to-be, the first trimester can be a real roller coaster ride. Even if you were trying to conceive, finding out that you’re really pregnant is a shock. Symptoms like nausea, concerns about miscarriage, shifting hormones and concerns about when, how and who to share your news with can make it stressful. But on the bright side, once the heartbeat is detected (usually around 9 weeks), the chances of carrying a healthy baby to term jump to about 90 percent.
Month | You | Baby |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Are you really pregnant? Here is a list of common symptoms, but it’s also not unusual to have no symptoms at all! The first month of pregnancy you won’t know you’re pregnant! This is because most pregnancy tests aren’t effective until you miss a period, and pregnancy calendars start the clock on the first day of your missed period. During the first month it’s pretty common to get a false negative on a pregnancy test. Even if you’re not sure if you’re pregnant but are trying to conceive, it’s a good idea to take a prenatal vitamin. | After conception the little zygote could fit on the head of a pin! Within the first 10 days it will make its way down the fallopian tubes and implant itself in the wall of your uterus. By the end of the first month of its existence the embryo will be the size of a soybean. |
| 2 | Most women get confirmation of pregnancy between weeks 6-8. Around the time of a positive test you may also start experiencing common pregnancy symptoms: sensitivity to smells, nausea, sore breasts, darkened nipples and fatigue, to name a few. If you can’t remember the exact date of your last period, an ultrasound can help calculate your due date. You’ll want to find a good OB/Gyn or midwife you can trust. | Your baby-to-be will grow to the size of a peanut and her heart will begin to beat about 21 days after conception. |
| 3 | Pregnancy-related nausea hits its peak this month, but then will start to improve for most women. It’s okay to keep exercising during your pregnancy. If you haven’t been exercising at all, start with easy walks around the block for 20-30 minutes a day. | This month your baby will grow into the size of a thumbprint and will develop fingernails, toenails and hair follicles, and her fingers and toes will grow from being little paddles into well-defined digits. |
