5 Stages Of Pregnancy: Month-By-Month Development & Changes

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Although there are many stages of pregnancy, the journey begins on the first day of the last menstruation. Most women do not realize the changes in their bodies until they miss their period or perform a home pregnancy test in the second month. Pregnancy is a beautiful time accompanied by various physical, hormonal, and emotional changes. Every woman should know about how pregnancy begins, progresses, and ends to stay healthy and happy. In this post, we explain the various stages of pregnancy in detail. We also tell you about the changes you may undergo and how the fetus grows.

Stages Of Pregnancy

1. Conception:

You take the first step towards gestation when an egg in your body is fertilized by sperm, this is the moment of conception. Let’s see the developments at this stage (1). We have broken them into steps for easy-understanding.

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Step 1: The process of conception starts with the release of a group of eggs from the ovary every month. These eggs develop into a fluid-filled cyst called follicles, among which only one follicle goes for maturation. Other follicles get degenerated.

Step 2: At the time of ovulation, the follicle breaks open to release the egg. The ruptured follicle turns into corpus luteumⁱA temporary structure crucial for fertility and release of progesterone hormone that prepares the uterus for pregnancy , which starts producing progesterone and estrogen hormone. Progesterone begins preparing the endometrium liningⁱA lining of the uterus where the embryo implants after the fertilization process for a possible pregnancy.

Step 3: If the egg meets the sperm, then fertilization happens, and a zygoteⁱA cell formed after the union of an egg and a sperm during fertilization forms. It slowly moves into the fallopian tube over a few days and gets continuously divided into multiple cells.

Step 5: If the zygote does not implant on the uterine wall, it naturally passes out of the body, and is expelled by having a period. But if it implants on the uterine wall, then it marks the beginning of your pregnancy.

Step 6: You can know about your pregnancy when you miss your next period and take a test. The urine test detects the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). The hCG levels are undetectable initially but they keep growing from the time of your conception.

The hCG hormone will be present in the blood at a detectable level by around ten days after conception. However, to confirm pregnancy through a urine test, it will take two more weeks to get a detectable amount of hormone in the urine (2).

The pregnancy period is divided into three trimesters with each trimester having 12-13 weeks in it.

First Trimester (Week 1 to 12)

Conception is a part of the first trimester. Week one of the first month is generally the period of the menstrual cycle. Ovulation is likely to happen on the 14th day or by the end of the second week (in a 28-day cycle).

Changes in the mother:

Below are the early pregnancy symptoms you might experience:

• Fatigue
• Nausea

• Vomiting
• Swollen breasts
• Mood swings
• Frequent urination
• A headache
• Food and smell aversion
• Constipation
• Weight gain or loss

Some of these symptoms will continue until the third trimester. But it is common to feel more tired during the first trimester as the body is working overtime to support the fetus.

Changes in the embryo:

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Month 1

• The first month marks the conception with the implantation of the zygote on the uterine wall

• Some of the multiplying cells develop into a baby while the rest form the placenta that nourishes the baby

• The heartbeat begins by the 21st day and the spinal cord, nerves, and muscles start developing by the fourth week (3)

Month 2

• As you enter the second month, the tiny life is no more called a zygote but an embryo, which is just a fraction of an inch long

• The heart and a basic blood circulatory system are in place

• Pancreas, liver, and stomach are formed

• The limb buds are distinct now

• By the end of this month, all the facial features start developing (4)

Month 3

• Starts developing muscles and bones, tooth buds, and fingers and toes. After ten weeks, the baby is called a fetus

• By week 12, the fetus will measure around 3in and weigh an ounce

• The skin is transparent

• Eyelids are closed

• Muscles and nerves are developing

Second Trimester (weeks 13-27)

The second trimester marks the crucial development of the fetus during the fourth, fifth, and sixth months.

Changes in the mother:

By this trimester, you might feel a difference in the level of your pregnancy symptoms. There will be more energy and the body gets adjusted to the changing hormonal levels. Some symptoms include:

• The bump begins to show

• Pregnancy glow

• You might have pelvic pressure and back pain

• Stretch marks

• Darkening of areola

• Linea nigra

• Swelling of ankle, feet, and face

• The initial fetal movements, called the quickening, can usually be experienced between the 16th and 20th weeks (5). Later, the frequency of movements increases and you can feel the baby kicking, squirming, and turning in the womb

Changes in the fetus:

During this trimester, the fetus will measure 3 to 5in and weigh around 3oz.

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Month 4

• Begins to suck with the mouth

• The eyebrows, eyelashes, and fingernails have grown

• Fingerprints are evident

• The skin has a wrinkled appearance

• The kidneys start functioning by producing urine

• Sex determination is possible by this month through an ultrasound scan

• Bowel movements start and meconium is produced in the intestinal tract

Month 5

• Measures 6in and 9oz

• The movements become more distinct and frequent

• The skin develops fine hair called lanugo and a waxy coating called vernix for protecting and covering the thin skin

• Can start hearing and swallowing

Month 6

• Measures around 12in and weighs about 2lb

• The bone marrow begins formation of red blood cells

• Taste buds are formed

• Lungs develop but not completely

• The eyes begin to open and the hair starts growing

• Develops reflexes

• Genitals are developing faster with boys having testicles descending into scrotum and girls having ovaries with eggs for a lifetime

Point to consider

Do not skip prenatal appointments in the second half of pregnancy, especially from the 20th week, since it is the time to assess blood pressure and related issues such as preeclampsiaⁱA pregnancy disorder characterized by high blood pressure, water retention, and protein content in urine in pregnancy (13).

Third trimester (week 28-40)

By the third trimester, the changes in your body are more visible and the baby is attaining full growth.

Changes in the mother:

The uterus outgrows the pelvis and puts pressure on your diaphragm causing difficulty in breathing.

• Water retention in the body causes swelling of ankles, feet, and face

• The frequency of urination increases as the growing uterus puts pressure on the bladder

• Pelvic, hip, and backache increase by this trimester because the joints start relaxing as a part of the preparation for delivery

• Some women may experience leakage of fluid, called colostrum, from the breasts

• Shortness of breath

• Difficulty sleeping

• Heartburn

• Braxton Hicks contractionⁱTemporary and false uterine contractions that may during pregnancy as the due date approaches

With the approaching due date, the baby moves down into the pelvis and the cervix starts thinning (cervix effacement).

Quick fact

Uterine size increases from 2oz to 2.5lb at the time of birth, and the increase in size may cause pregnancy symptoms, such as varicose veins and sleeping problems (14).

Changes in the fetus:

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Month 7

• Measures around 15 to 17in and weighs 4 to 4 ½ lb

• The eyes start to open and close; can respond to the light from outside and hear and recognize voices

• Breathing motions start although the lung is not fully developed

• Skeleton is fully formed

• Starts stretching the limbs

• Fats start depositing under the skin

• The kicks are more forceful

• Lanugo starts to fall

Month 8

• Starts gaining weight quickly

• The bones become harder but the skull remains soft to help the baby pass through the birthing canal

• The fetus measures 16 to 18in and weighs around 6lb

• More fat is deposited beneath the skin

Month 9

• Measures around 19-21in and weighs around 9lb

• All the organs are completely developed

• Will start moving to the optimal position and settle down there until the labor starts

• The delivery can be expected anywhere between the 37 and 42 week

Labor

The last stage of pregnancy is labor when you are anticipating the arrival of your little one in this world. There are three stages of labor (6):

Stage 1: It starts with prelabor, which can feel like period pain and cramping and builds up to strong regular contractions, and gets closer and longer gradually. The contractions will be felt for 60-90 seconds, every two to three minutes. The amniotic sac will rupture, followed by the release of the amniotic fluid, and the cervix will dilate to make way for the baby.

Stage 2: The cervix dilates to 10cm and the contractions become stronger. As the uterus contracts, you will push down the baby into the birthing canal. During this process, the baby’s head will come out first through the vaginal opening and is called ‘crowning’.

Stage 3: The baby is born but the contractions are not yet over. In a few more pushes, the placenta will come out after getting detached from the uterine wall. It can take up to an hour for the placenta to be born.

After the baby is born it will be put on your chest, the umbilical cord will be clamped, and the mother can start breastfeeding. This helps with the delivery of the placenta and also helps in contracting the uterus and slowing down the blood flow.

Infographic: What Are The Stages Of Conception In Pregnancy

Conception, also known as fertilization, is the process by which a woman becomes pregnant. The stages of conception and early pregnancy involve a complex series of events. Learning about these stages in the infographic below to better understand how pregnancy occurs.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Illustration: Stages Of Pregnancy: Month-By-Month Development & Changes

Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team

Exciting and overwhelming, having a baby is a journey of nine months. Learn about the stages of pregnancy and what to expect with this beautiful and informative video.

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Jules BrooksDoula

Jules Brooks is a childbirth educator and a doula with 20 years of experience. She is a Calmbirth practitioner and believes that a woman’s body has the ability to give birth naturally. A mother of three teenagers, she herself had a cesarean section, followed by two natural births.

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shreeja pillaiMSc

Shreeja holds a postgraduate degree in Chemistry and diploma in Drug Regulatory Affairs from the University of Mumbai. Before joining MomJunction, she worked as a research analyst with a leading multinational pharmaceutical company.

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Rebecca MalachiBSc

Rebecca is a pregnancy writer and editor with a passion for delivering research-based and engaging content in areas of fertility, pregnancy, birth, and post-pregnancy. She did her graduation in Biotechnology and Genetics from Loyola Academy, Osmania University and obtained a certification in ‘Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy’ from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU).

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Dr. Joyani DasM.Pharm, PhD

Dr. Joyani Das did her post-graduation from Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra and PhD in Pharmacology. Previously, she worked as an associate professor, faculty of Pharmacology, for two years. With her research background in preclinical studies and a zeal for scientific writing, she joined MomJunction as a health writer.

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