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Pregnancy Timeline - First Trimester Weeks 1 - 12

Updated: Dec 17, 2021

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What a bliss! You are pregnant. You become a mom the instance you find out you are pregnant!


Pregnancy is a time of mixed emotions. You are excited about your new arrival and anxious about everything parenthood entails. We know you want to soak up every second of this significant season in your life. As you prepare for your new chapter, we have broken down the important mile markers between finding out you are pregnant and holding your little one for the very first time "baby's "baby's "Let's start with the basics. Women often hear of the perils of nine long months of pregnancy, but did you know that doctors calculate pregnancy as ten months? When measuring pregnancy, it starts on the first day of your last menstrual period, even if it is a few weeks before conception. From that start date, most women usually carry full-term to 40 weeks. Those 40 weeks are divided into three trimesters of just over 13 weeks each. Each trimester is full of its special moments, markers, and milestones.

'Did you know that doctors calculate pregnancy as ten months? When measuring pregnancy, it starts on the first day of your last menstrual period, even if it is a few weeks before conception. Total 40 weeks!


First Trimester: Weeks 1 - 12


FIRST MONTH:


Weeks 1-2: You get pregnant in your first few weeks of pregnancy! Two weeks after your menstrual cycle, your body will ovulate. Your egg will travel down your fallopian tube and encounter sperm cells fertilizing it. The true mark of pregnancy is when this fertilized egg is attached to your uterine lining in a process called implantation.


Weeks 3-4: Every pregnancy is unique, but women can start seeing and sensing early signs of pregnancy between three and four weeks. While some women will not experience symptoms until later, you may notice fatigue, mood swings, bloating, nausea, tender or swollen breasts, frequent urination, and the most obvious sign – a missed period.


Your Next Steps: When you experience any of these symptoms, take a home pregnancy test. If the test is positive, then call your OBGyn. You can make an appointment to take another pregnancy test in their office for confirmation, or they may schedule you out for your first appointment around the eight-week mark. Either way, they can provide valuable insight on the following changes you need to make:


· Cut out ALL alcohol, smoking, and other similar substances!

· Start taking a prenatal vitamin with folic acid

· Check if your medications are safe to take while pregnant

· Avoid high-mercury foods such as tuna

· Limit your caffeine intake to 200 mg per day

· Avoid raw or unpasteurized foods