pregnancy weeks pictures

Super 14 Weeks Pregnant Woman

9 weeks pregnan belly

Good nutrition is important during pregnancy. You should plan on increasing your calorie intake between 300-95% calories daily. These extra calories provide the extra energy needed for growth in both you and baby.
PROBLEMS THAT MAY ARISE
Everyone hopes for a smooth pregnancy, but sometimes problems can and do develop. Here are some of the possible complications that can arise. If you have any questions about any of these, be sure to ask your health care provider.
Preeclampsia is a high blood pressure condition that can develop in pregnancy. If left untreated it can reduce the oxygen flow to your baby. Symptoms include: elevated blood pressure, protein in the urine and headaches. Your Health Care Provider (HCP) will monitor you at each visit for any signs of preeclampsia.

Spotting during early pregnancy is something every pregnant woman fears. It is possible to bleed heavily and not miscarry or harm baby, but you should make your HCP aware of any spotting you have. Sometimes spotting may be due to an impending miscarriage, you HCP may be able to do an ultrasound scan to see if baby is developing normally.

Ectopic or tubal pregnancies are when the fertilized egg implants in the fallopian tubes. If it’s not detected early enough the tube will eventually rupture, which causes severe pain. Surgery is required to terminate the pregnancy, and sometimes, you may also lose the fallopian tube. If it’s detected early enough, rupture can often be prevented by medication that causes the embryo to be reabsorbed. Symptoms include: pain in the side of the abdomen, and vaginal bleeding.
SYMPTOMS YOU MAY EXPERIENCE

Breast Changes, tenderness, fullness, darkening of the areola
Frequent Urination
Morning Sickness
Fatigue
Constipation
Indigestion or heartburn
Occasional headaches
The Baby:
Can you believe that your baby is now an inch long? That’s right, the average embryo is .9 - 1.2 inches long at this point. This week, you could now see your baby’s external ears. Feet and hands are continuing to form and the fingers and toes are starting to be visible. Baby is now moving about, although you probably won’t feel this movement until about your 16th week

In the next few weeks, you will have your first visit with your health care provider. You can expect it to be very thorough. Be prepared to give a full medical history, not just for yourself, but for your family. They will probably do several routine tests. Some of these will be repeated at every visit, while others will not.
 
 
Test usually performed at each visit include:

Blood pressure checks look for increased blood pressure which can be a sign of preeclampsia.

You can expect to be weighed at each visit. The average pregnancy weight gain is between 20 to 30 pounds. Most of this weight gain comes after the 20th week.

You can expect a urine test at each appointment to check for sugar, protein or ketones in your urine. Each of these can indicate that you are developing possible complications in your pregnancy.

You will also be examined to see if you have any swelling in your feet, ankles or wrists. These can also be indicators of preeclampsia.

Usually, during that first visit, you will be asked to have a blood test. This checks your blood type and RH factor, whether you are immune to Rubella, if you are anemic and many other serious health conditions.

You may also have an internal exam during this visit. If it’s time for your yearly PAP smear, you may have that as well.

SYMPTOMS YOU MAY EXPERIENCE

Breast Changes, tenderness, fullness, darkening of the areola
Frequent Urination
Morning Sickness
Fatigue
Constipation
Indigestion or heartburn
Occasional headaches
The Baby:
The crown to rump length of your baby is .56 - .8 inch now. So many things are changing in your baby every day now. If you could look at your baby closely, you’d see the tip of his nose and the eyelids developing, ears are forming as well. The heart and lungs are continuing to develop and now the bronchi (the tubes that lead to the the lungs from the trachea) are starting to branch out. Arms are growing longer and baby now has elbows!!! All this just 6 weeks after conception!

Are you having problems with morning sickness? Fortunately, it usually only lasts the first three months of pregnancy. If you find that it’s causing you a lot of discomfort, here are some tips that may help you treat it:
 
Avoid fried, fatty or greasy foods. Also, highly seasoned foods such as Mexican, Italian dishes, barbeque, sausages etc. Rich foods, such as pies, cakes, and pastries, can also cause problems.

Cook your meats by roasting, baking or grilling.

Eat 6 small meals a day, instead of 3 large ones.

Keep crackers and weak herbal tea by your bedside. Try to have a nibble before getting out of bed.

SYMPTOMS YOU MAY EXPERIENCE

CRAMPS: You may experience slight menstrual type cramps around the time you would normally be expecting your period. They should only last a day or so, and are usually moderate in nature. If the cramping should become severe, or if you have spotting, be sure to call your doctor and let them know.

BREASTS: You may have tender breasts. Your nipples may appear darker, and more prominent. Be sure to wear a good support bra. You may require a larger cup size as your pregnancy advances.

FREQUENT URINATION: You may find that you are making very frequent trips to the bathroom. This will continue throughout your pregnancy, but is usually not as bad during the 2nd trimester.

The Baby:
By the end of this week, baby will be between .44 and .52 inch long!! This is about the size of a kernel of corn or a green pea. You can now see where the arm buds are separating into hands as well. The heart has divided into right and left chambers and the primary airways have developed in the lungs.

The Mom:
If you haven’t selected a health care provider for your pregnancy, there are several different options available to you. You also need to think about whether you would like a hospital, birthing center or home birth. These choices will play a big factor in which type of health care provider you will choose.
 
 
Below is a description of all the different providers you can choose between. It’s wise to talk to several before making your final decision. Many providers will offer you a free consultation appointment to meet them.
THE BIRTH BOOK
by William Sears, M.D. & Martha Sears, R.N.
Little, Brown and Company. 1994.
An obstetrician is a physician who has gone through both premed and medical school (a total of 8 years usually). After medical school, he/she will spend at least an additional four years training in obstectric and gynocology. Some practice alone, or with a partner, others in group practices. Group practices usually have 3 or more doctors that rotate seeing patients and being on call. Some OB/GYNs also have Certified Nurse Midwives on staff.
Midwives are trained to assist mothers with normal, uncomplicated pregnancies and labors, but she also knows how to recognize a potential problem that needs obstetrical consultation. To her, birth is a natural process. The midwife is a catalyst for the mother’s body chemistry, helping the laboring woman use her energy wisely.

The midwife’s philosophy is different from the obstetrician’s. The obstetrician makes things happen; the midwife lets things happen. The doctor trusts technology and is wary of nature. The midwife trusts nature and is cautious about technology. The obstetrician fears a birth may go wrong. The midwife expects the birth will go right.

One option is to be under the care of a certified midwife and an obstetrician throughout pregnancy, labor and delivery, with the midwife as the primary birth attendant and the physician as backup to be called upon only in the event of complications. If you have any current or anticipated complications, consider using your physician as your primary caregiver, but also employ your midwife to co-manage your labor. A third alternative would be to have a physician as your primary birth attendant and hire a professional labor assistant to support you during labor.

The Baby:
Baby has grown a quite a bit this past week. The average embryo is about .16 inch at this stage. This measurement is taken from crown to rump. This is the beginning of the embryonic period. It lasts until your 10th week. Lots of important growth takes place during this time. There are three germ layers - the ectodermal, which becomes the central and peripheral nervous systems, skin, hair, nails, sweat glands and more. The mesodermal layer, which becomes muscle, cartilage, blood vessels, kidneys and spleen, and lastly, the endodermal, which forms the liver, pancreas, bladder, tonsils, thryroids gastrointestinal tract and respiratory system. The limb buds can be seen, eyes are forming and the heart begins to beat.

The Mom:
By this week you have probably begun to suspect you may be pregnant. There is a simple test you can take at home that measures the level of HCG (human chorionic gonadtrophin) present in your urine. They are usually accurate as early as the day your missed period is due.
 
Once you have a positive result, you should make arrangements to see your doctor to begin prenatal care.
SYMPTOMS YOU MAY EXPERIENCE
You may be unusally tired, due to your body adapting to the demands of pregnancy. Be sure to get plenty of rest.

You may have tender breasts. Your nipples may appear darker, and more prominent. Be sure to wear a good support bra.

You may experience a metallic taste in your mouth.

You may experience morning sickness. If you find that queasiness is a problem, try keeping crackers by your bed in the morning. Some women find that eating 6 small high-carbohydrate meals instead of 3 large meals helps as well. Try to avoid fatty foods.
Tip:
Preggie Pops and Sea Bands can help relieve the pregnancy related nausea.
You may need to urinate more frequently.
The Baby:
This week, your baby is about 0.05 inch long. The central nervous system, muscles and bone are in the early stages of developing. Baby is also developing a skeleton.

The Mom:
By this week you have probably begun to suspect you may be pregnant. There is a simple test you can take at home that measures the level of HCG (human chorionic gonadtrophin) present in your urine. They are usually accurate as early as the day your missed period is due.
 
Once you have a positive result, you should make arrangements to see your doctor to begin prenatal care.
SYMPTOMS YOU MAY EXPERIENCE
You may be unusally tired, due to your body adapting to the demands of pregnancy. Be sure to get plenty of rest.

You may have tender breasts. Your nipples may appear darker, and more prominent. Be sure to wear a good support bra.

You may experience a metallic taste in your mouth.

You may experience morning sickness. If you find that queasiness is a problem, try keeping crackers by your bed in the morning. Some women find that eating 6 small high-carbohydrate meals instead of 3 large meals helps as well. Try to avoid fatty foods.
Tip:
Preggie Pops and Sea Bands can help relieve the pregnancy related nausea.
You may need to urinate more frequently.
The Baby:
This week, your baby is about 0.05 inch long. The central nervous system, muscles and bone are in the early stages of developing. Baby is also developing a skeleton.

The Mom:
During the first two weeks of your cycle, your body is preparing to ovulate. Hormones are stimulating your ovaries to produce and release an ovum. They are also signaling the endometrium to thicken, readying it to receive a fertilized egg!
 
Ovulation usually occurs about 2 weeks after your last period. Once it occurs, the egg begins traveling down your fallopian tube. This is usually where the fertilzation takes place as well.
If you have a normal 28 day cycle, you are probably looking for your period this week. Your body is making HCG or Human Chorionic Gonadotropin. Home pregnancy kits measure the amounts of HCG present in your urine. You could probably get a postive result on a home pregnancy kit. Keep in mind that tests vary widely in the amount of HCG needed in order to register postive.

Once fertilization takes place, the ovum continues on its way to the uterus, where it will implant in the uterine lining. During that trip thru the tube, the fertilized single cell egg, had begun dividing. By the time, it implants in the uterus, it has grown into over 100 cells, with a fluid filled cavity. This is called the blastocyst. It has 2 layers, the outer one will form the placenta, the inner one will become your baby!

Once implantation occurs, your cervix gets slightly wider and softer, and a thick mucous plug seals off the uterus to protect it from infection. Some women experience cramping and spotting on implantation.

You probably aren’t even aware that you are pregnant yet, but your unborn baby is already developing and sex has been determined.

The Baby:
The fertilized egg is undergoing rapid cell division. It will implant in your uterine lining this week. Once implantation occurs, it’s called a blastocyst and is very tiny. It only measures 0.1-0.2 mm in diameter.

A yolk sak has developed and will be the nourishment for baby until the placenta is formed and takes over. Did you know that the sex and other characteristics of your baby have already been decided? It’s all in the DNA code that was formed when the sperm and egg first met.

20 Weeks Pregnant

26 weeks pregnant pictures