Pregnancy

Even if you've never been pregnant before, you may know how scary pregnancy can be. Here is a week by week breakdown of the entire pregnancy from start to finish to help ease your mind.

Week 1:

You are not actually pregnant yet. This is the first day of your last period. Pregnancy is said to be 40 weeks long, but you are actually only pregnant for 38 weeks (if you deliver on time).

Week 2:

This is the week of ovulation. Most women have no clue of the exact moment they conceive. Radical hormone changes won't happen until after implantation.

Week 3:

Yay, you're pregnant! No symptoms yet though. At this point (if you haven't already), you should:

• Quit smoking
• Avoid alcohol and drugs
• Notify your doctor of any/all prescription and over-the-counter medications you were taking at the time of conception
• Avoid taking too many vitamins. An over-the-counter prenatal vitamin will do just fine.
• Let your doctor and/or dentist know you may be/are pregnant when scheduling any appointments
• Eat 4-6 servings of different fruits and vegetables every day
• Drink PLENTY of water

Week 4:

At this point, you may notice that you are feeling bloated, cranky, tired, and even crampy. Sore/tender breasts, nausea/vomiting, and the frequent urge to pee are all normal as well. If you aren't experiencing these things, don't worry. That is normal too.

Week 5:

Even though the embryo is only the size of a grain of salt, the heart is pumping blood as most of the organs develop. Little arm and leg buds are starting to appear. With the increased hormones, you may also start to experience "pregnancy brain."

Week 6:

The baby is beginning to form ears, a nose, and a mouth. Spotting is normal, but you should still consult with your OB or Midwife. Miscarriage may be a concern.

Week 7:

While the baby is still an embryo with a tail, they are forming hands and feet. The embryo has now doubled in size, but is still less than a half an inch long. As the hormones continue to increase, your morning sickness may get worse.

Week 8:

Using an ultrasound, your doctor will look/listen for a heartbeat. Once the heartbeat is seen/heard, the risk of miscarriage drops to about 2 percent, which may be a huge relief. They will also give you an estimated due date, but there is only a 3-5 percent chance you will actually deliver on that exact date.

Week 9:

You may begin to leak a little bit of pee every once in a while. I know, yuck! This is due to the added pressure of your growing uterus.

Week 10:

As you get further along, your anxiety may increase, but try to stay calm and think of your baby already being 1 inch long.

Week 11:

CRAVINGS! You may be craving all kinds of things. Some women even experience pica, which is craving non-food items like chalk. This is typically due to a deficiency in their diet.

Week 12:

Now that your uterus has expanded past the pelvic bone, you may begin to show, especially if this is not your first pregnancy.

Week 13:

You've finished your first trimester! You should expect to gain around 12 lbs over the next 14 weeks.

Week 14:

You may be experiencing a bit of extra energy, but don't go crazy and run a marathon. Work out only so hard that you are still able to talk and carry on a conversation without losing your breath.

Week 15:

This is where you can make the decision on whether or not you'd like to get certain screenings and diagnostic tests done.

Week 16:

It may be hard to tell the difference between gas and the baby's movements. Don't worry if you can't feel them yet. Some women don't feel the first movements until closer to 22 weeks.

Week 17:

All of your hormones are making weird things happen. You may be experiencing vivid and bizarre dreams at night.

Week 18:

Your bladder will feel smaller and smaller as your baby continues to get bigger.

Week 19:

Start spending some quality time with your partner. Have sex! Sex is still safe during pregnancy, unless you are having complications.

Week 20:

Halfway there! Nesting may be an urge of yours, but don't go overboard. You still have plenty of time and don't want to exhaust yourself.

Week 21:

Your growing baby is now about 3/4 of a pound and 10-1/2-inches long!

Week 22:

Hemorrhoids and constipation. Yuck.

Week 23:

At the point, your doctor may recommend that you put any long distance traveling plans on hold. They will want you to be close by in case you go into labor.

Week 24:

Be cautious. Gestational diabetes can be an issue for any woman, especially if you are in your 30s.

Week 25:

Try putting an extra pillow under your head at night so you are not laying flat. It will help the heartburn. Also, drink plenty of water throughout the day, but especially at night to avoid leg cramps.

Week 26:

As you get more and more tired, you may notice your to-do list gets longer and longer.

Week 27:

Expect to gain about a pound a week from here on out. I know it sounds like a lot, but it's really only 300 extra calories a day.

Week 28:

Welcome to your third trimester! You may start experience Braxton Hicks (practice) contractions. Your stomach will begin to tighten for a few moments and then release. Braxton Hicks do not cause labor, so you shouldn't worry. They will happen at random times and will be very inconsistent. If at any point contractions are happening frequently and consistently, call your OB or Midwife.

Week 29:

This is where shoe tying and leg shaving become difficult. Ask your partner for help if you need it.

Week 30:

Breathlessness is very common at this point. As the baby gets bigger, they tend to push on your diaphragm and lungs. This should ease up later on when the baby drops lower getting ready for birth.

Week 31:

You may notice a gradual decrease in the strength of you baby's kicks and punches, but this is normal since the space in utero is becoming tighter. You should only start to worry if you notice a decrease in movement altogether.

Week 32:

Losing your glow? A baby shower right about now may give you that boost you need.

Week 33:

Birth plan. It's just that. A plan. Plans can change at any moment. Don't get married to your birth plan in case anything changes. If you plan to deliver naturally, there is a 1 in 3 chance you may end up needing a C-section.

Week 34:

Perfection? Compulsive behavior? Relax. As long as you have a car seat, a place for your baby to sleep, diapers, and some basic clothes you will be okay.

Week 35:

Sitting upright and leaning forward will reduce pressure, but also allows the baby's head to bear down on your cervix causing dilation to happen quicker. Be cautious of habits that may cause preterm labor.

Week 36:

The baby typically drops lower around this time preparing for birth. This should help your breathing.

Week 37:

Your breasts may start to leak colostrum. Colostrum is your baby's first food. You don't actually start producing breast milk until the baby is about 3-days-old.

Week 38:

You are officially full term and will deliver any day now!

Week 39:

Still working? Don't beat yourself up if you decide to go on leave a little sooner than planned.

Week 40:

If you've yet to deliver, no worries! Your OB will be monitoring you very closely and will likely induce you within the next two weeks if you don't go into labor on your own.