Stages of Pregnancy - Carone Learning

Lesson

Stages of Pregnancy

By Carone Fitness

Stages of Pregnancy

Introduction

Pregnancy begins at conception, which is when the male sperm enters the female egg. This is also known as fertilization.

Pregnancy lasts for about 40 weeks, or just over nine months, and is divided into three trimesters. Trimesters are the three sections of pregnancy that last approximately 13 weeks each. Important changes occur during each trimester for the baby.

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Stages of Pregnancy

First Trimester

First Trimester

? Conception happens as the sperm enters the egg. This newly fertilized egg is called a zygote.

? The zygote begins as two cells and quickly starts forming more and more cells. At the same time, the zygote travels from the female's fallopian tubes down to her uterus where it will become implanted into her uterine wall.

? The cells divide and begin to form the layers of cells that will eventually become the systems within the human body. The cells at this stage are called an embryo.

Stages of Pregnancy

First Trimester

(First trimester continued)

? After 8 weeks of development, the unborn baby has developed into a fetus, and the placenta, which transfers oxygen and nutrients from the mother to her unborn child.

? The fetus grows limbs and begins developing organs and the various parts of his or her body systems.

? The fetus grows to just 3 inches long!

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Stages of Pregnancy

Second Trimester

Second Trimester

? The second trimester begins at week 14.

? The fetus comes to look more and more like an infant. Muscles, bones, and skin have formed on the baby as well as hair and fingerprints. The fetus's genitals form so that parents can usually find out the sex of their baby around 18 weeks.

? Mothers will begin to feel their baby move around. The fetus's movements become more coordinated and purposeful as his or her brain develops.

Stages of Pregnancy

Second Trimester

(Second trimester continued)

? The fetus will develop a regular schedule for sleeping and waking up. Usually the fetus will sleep more during the day and be awake more during the night. This is because the baby is rocked to sleep as the mother walks and moves around during the day.

? The fetus has grown to an amazing 15 inches long and weighs about 2 pounds!

? The second trimester ends at week 28. Babies who are born at 28 weeks have a survival rate of over 90%, but will still have serious complications, or problems, since they still have a lot of development to complete.

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Stages of Pregnancy

Third Trimester

Third Trimester

? The third trimester begins at 29 weeks. ? At this point the fetus has learned to

blink, cough, suck, hiccup, and make breathing movements. The baby practices skills such as these more and more during the last trimester to prepare for survival after birth. ? The baby's brain makes incredible progress and allows the fetus to use each of his or her senses. ? The finishing touches on each body system are put into place at this time. Additionally, the baby continues to grow and gain baby fat.

Stages of Pregnancy

Third Trimester

(Third trimester continued)

? The average full-term baby weighs between 6 and 9 pounds and measures between 19 and 22 inches long.

? The baby will turn so that his or her head is pointing down to prepare for birth, which typically occurs between 38 and 42 weeks.

? Babies born before 38 weeks are considered pre-term, or early, and may need some extra care as they finish developing so they can function on their own.

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Stages of Pregnancy

Health Care

Health Care When a woman is pregnant, it is important for her to take care of her health both for her and her baby. As she takes steps to stay healthy, her pregnancy is more likely to have few or no complications.

There are three main things a pregnant woman can do to stay healthy:

? See a doctor ? Good nutrition ? Exercise

Stages of Pregnancy

See a Doctor

See a Doctor As soon as a women finds out she is pregnant, she should schedule an appointment with her doctor to receive prenatal care. Prenatal care is medical care during pregnancy.

The doctor will check several things including your weight, blood pressure, urine, and abdomen at each appointment. He or she might also order blood tests and tests for sexually transmitted diseases. The doctor will ask lots of questions including the start date of the expectant mother's last menstrual period, which is used to determine the baby's due date.

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Stages of Pregnancy

See a Doctor

There are many changes that happen to a pregnant woman's body such as enlarged breasts, skin changes, mood swings, leg swelling, nausea, heartburn, and fatigue. A doctor can help you know what changes are normal and what to expect throughout your pregnancy.

Pregnant women will see their doctor once a month during the first two trimesters, then every two weeks until the last month of pregnancy where they will visit the doctor weekly.

Stages of Pregnancy

Good Nutrition

Good Nutrition It is especially important to eat a variety of healthy foods during pregnancy to make sure the growing baby gets all the nutrients he or she needs.

Doctors encourage taking a daily prenatal vitamin with iron, calcium, and folic acid to make sure the fetus is getting enough of these essential nutrients.

It is also important to drink plenty of water. It is not a good idea to drink less water in an attempt to go to the bathroom less.

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Stages of Pregnancy

Good Nutrition

It is a common saying that a pregnant woman is "eating for two". However, she really only needs about 300 extra calories a day to cover the baby's needs.

Some things should be avoided during pregnancy such as alcohol, smoking, some types of fish, soft cheeses, raw eggs, and processed meats.

Stages of Pregnancy

Exercise Exercising while pregnant is still healthy but should be done with more caution. Pregnant women should avoid activities with a high risk of injury or that require heavy lifting.

Exercise

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Stages of Pregnancy

Exercise

There are many exercise classes and DVDs designed especially for pregnant women that provide safe workouts. Walking, swimming, and yoga are also safe and healthy options for pregnant women.

Whatever the activity, it is important for expectant mothers to listen to their bodies and not push themselves too hard. If you ever question whether a workout is safe during pregnancy, your doctor can help.

Presented By Carone

Fitness

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