Are you expecting a baby? Congratulations!
Being a mother is one of the most special feelings in this world. Right from conception to delivery, you are supposed to take care of various aspects when you wish to ensure the best for your child.
As the baby in your womb grows & develops through different stages, it is of utmost importance to be extra cautious when you are carrying your child.
The first 3rd stage of the pregnancy is referred to as the “first trimester (1).” There are several theories of taking special care of your health and your baby’s as well during the first trimester period.
The third trimester is made up of pregnancy is composed of the first week through 12 or 13 weeks of pregnancy.
While it is important to take the utmost care during this period, it is equally interesting to know how your baby develops & grows through the first three months of your pregnancy (2).
Stages of Baby Development in the Mother’s Womb
In this post, we will help you know about the different stages of a baby’s development & growth in the mother’s womb.
Starting from the first month to the third month of the first trimester, know all about how your baby grows inside your body.
First Month of Pregnancy
Pregnancy happens when the sperm from a man fertilizes the egg of a woman.
As you might not always be aware of the exact moment of fertilization, the doctors tend to calculate the pregnancy period on the basis of the first day of your LMP (Last Menstrual Period).
The doctor would count 40 weeks from the Last Menstrual Period for estimating the due date your baby will arrive in this world. In typical cases, most births tend to happen between 38 & 42 weeks.
Once conception (3) occurs, the baby starts over with a period of significant changes referred to as the embryonic stage.
This marks the beginning of the first month of your pregnancy. The amniotic sac in the body is a tight water sac that gets formed around the fertilized egg.
The amniotic sac is responsible for providing protection to the fertilized egg as it grows into the embryo during your pregnancy.
At this point, the placenta (4) also develops during the first trimester. A primitive form of the face takes into shape with the presence of massive dark circles in the place of eyes.
The other parts of the face including the throat, lower jaw, and mouth continue developing. The blood cells commence taking shape as blood circulation in the baby’s body begins.
During the end of the first month of pregnancy, the baby is sized around 6-7mm –around the size of a single grain of rice.
Second Month of Pregnancy
Right from the first month of pregnancy, the facial features of your baby continue developing during the second month as well. The ears of the baby start as minute folds of skin located on the sides of the head.
The little buds start growing into legs and arms. Eyes, toes, and fingers also continue developing during the 2nd month of your pregnancy.
The baby’s neural tube –consisting of the spinal cord, brain, and other vital nervous tissues of the CNS (central nervous system), gets well-formed during this stage.
The other sensory organs along with the digestive tract of the body start developing. During the 2nd month of your first trimester, the bones start replacing the delicate cartilage.
The embryo also starts moving. Though, as a mother, you cannot still feel the movement of the baby inside.
As the end of the 2nd month of your pregnancy approaches, the baby is now referred to as the “fetus.”
The fetus is around the size of 2.54 cm and weighs around 9.45 grams. A third portion of the fetus is now consumed by the head area.
Third Month of Pregnancy
The third month of the first trimester is considered the most crucial for all mothers out there.
This is because as the third trimester ends, the baby inside your body is fully developed. By the end of the third month, the baby now has fully-grown hands, legs, fingers, toes, and feet.
The baby is now even capable of opening & closing the fists as well as its mouth. Toenails and fingernails now start developing, and the external ears of the baby are also formed during this stage.
Teeth also start developing in the baby’s small body. The reproductive organs of the baby also get formed during the third month of the pregnancy.
However, it is still difficult to determine the gender of your baby with ultrasound during the given stage. The urinary and circulatory systems of the baby’s body start working properly as the liver continues producing bile from the given stage.
By the end of the 3rd month of your pregnancy, the baby is sized around 7-10cm in length and weighs around 28 grams.
Important Things to Consider During the First Trimester of Your Pregnancy
We might always hear out elders offering advice on remaining cautious during the first trimester of the pregnancy.
They have a reason to say so. As some of the most critical development of your baby occurs during the first trimester of pregnancy, the risk of miscarriage is also quite high.
Once the first trimester has been covered properly with full care, the overall chances of miscarriage reduce significantly.
In addition to this, as the baby grows to its maximum extent during the first three months of pregnancy in a mother’s womb, it is also recommended for the mother to take proper care of her health.
Your body is also undergoing a series of major changes during the given period. It is advised that you should remain under direct consultation with some experienced doctor to ensure the best care at all times.
Under supervision from some professional doctor during pregnancy, you can also be assured of the perfect growth & development of your baby.
All the best!
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