Pregnancy is segmented into three stages known as trimesters. Each trimester lasts between 12 and 14 weeks or about 3 months. Full-term pregnancy lasts approximately 40 weeks from the first day of your last period. During each trimester, your baby will achieve certain developmental milestones. As you travel through the next nine months, let’s learn more about prenatal care: what to expect during each trimester.
What Is the Importance of Prenatal Care?
As soon as you know you are pregnant, make an appointment with one of our experienced OBGYNS. At each visit, your physician will check on the health of your growing baby and you. It is important to go to all your visits, even if you are feeling fine.
Getting early and regular check ups will help you have a healthy pregnancy and a full-term baby. This means your baby will be born between 39 and 40 weeks. Being born full-term gives your little one the right amount of time needed in the womb to grow and develop properly.
What to Expect During the First Trimester
The first trimester is from week 0 -13. Your baby’s bodily structure and organs are forming. These first three months are extremely important for your baby’s development. All of the baby’s organs will be developed by the end of the first three months.
Expect that your body will undergo many changes. Expect to:
- Be nauseous
- Feel tired or fatigued
- Have some breast soreness
- Experience frequent urination
You can also expect headaches and constipation as your hormone levels are changing rapidly.
First Trimester Care Tips
- You should be eating a healthy diet, and refrain from alcohol and smoking. Even some prescription drugs may be off the table. Discuss this with one of our OBGYNs.
- Avoid deli meats and shellfish to reduce the risk of miscarriage.
- Take an adequate amount of folic acid.
What to Expect During the Second Trimester
The second trimester is from 14-26 weeks. During this period, you begin to feel better, sleep better, and have more energy. On the negative side you may have:
- Leg cramps
- Back pain
- Constipation
- Heartburn
An anatomy ultrasound is usually taken during this time with measurements of your baby recorded, and you can learn the sex of your baby if desired. Technicians check the heart, lungs, brain, and kidneys to be sure they are functioning properly.
Some happy milestones include: you will begin to feel your baby move, and your baby begins to hear and recognize your voice.
Care Tips for the Second Trimester
- Work on gaining the appropriate amount of weight as per your OB.
- Walk regularly.
- Let your OB know if you have any family history of diabetes.
- Eat nutritious foods each day.
What to Expect During the Third Trimester
The third trimester is from 27-40 weeks. Baby’s bones are fully formed and organs are able to function on their own.
During this time, expect to have:
- Some shortness of breath
- Incontinence
- Varicose veins
- Hemorrhoids
- Sleeping issues
Many of these problems are from your uterus growing in size. Also expect travel restrictions until after giving birth.
You will be seen by our OBGYN more frequently during this time. You will be checked for protein in your urine, blood pressure, fetal heart rate, length of uterus, any swelling of hands or feet. There will also be a check of your baby’s position as well as a screening for bacteria group B streptococcus which can be a threat to your newborn.
Now it’s time to relax and await the arrival of your precious baby. Relax in knowing you have done everything to give your little one a healthy start to their life.
Contact Capital Women’s Care in Silver Spring, MD
Contact Capital Women’s Care in Silver Spring and Germantown, MD with any questions or concerns through each trimester.
Sources:
Schedule_of_Prenatal_Care.pdf (ucla health.org)
Prenatal care checkups | March of Dimes
Schedule of Prenatal Care – Labor & Delivery | UCLA Health
First, Second & Third Trimester | Pregnancy Milestones and Stages (jacksonhealth.org)