The Course of Pregnancy

How does pregnancy begin?

Fertilization, the union of an egg and a sperm, is the first step in a complex series of events that leads to pregnancy. Fertilization takes place in the fallopian tube. Over the following days the fertilized egg moves along the tube towards the uterus. There it implants and begins to grow. The cluster of cells that reaches the uterus will become the baby and the placenta. The placenta acts as a life-support system during pregnancy, providing oxygen, nutrients and hormones from the mother to the baby.

How long does a normal pregnancy last?

A normal pregnancy lasts about 280 days (about 40 weeks), counting from the first day of your last menstrual period. The normal range, however, is 259 to 294 days (37–42 weeks). The 40 weeks of pregnancy are divided into three trimesters, each lasting about 12–13 weeks (or about 3 months).

How does the uterus change during pregnancy?

During pregnancy the lining of a woman's uterus thickens and its blood vessels enlarge to nourish the baby. As the pregnancy progresses, the uterus expands to make room for the growing baby. By the time your baby is born, your uterus will be many times its normal size.

What happens in the first month of pregnancy?

In the first month of pregnancy the following happens:

The fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus. Some of these cells will form the baby, while others will form the placenta.
The baby's arms and legs begin to form.
The brain and spinal cord begin to form.
The heart and lungs begin to develop. The heart starts to beat towards the end of this month.

What happens in the second month of pregnancy?

In the second month of pregnancy the following happens:

The eyelids form, but stay closed.
The inner ear begins to develop.
Bones appear.
The ankles, wrists, fingers and toes form.
The genitals begin to develop.
By the end of the month all the major organs and body systems have begun to develop.

What happens in the third month of pregnancy?

In the third month of pregnancy the following happens:

Twenty buds for future teeth appear.
All the internal parts of the body are formed, but are not fully developed.
The fingers and toes continue to grow. Soft nails begin to form.
The bones and muscles begin to develop.
The intestines begin to form.
The backbone is soft and can flex.
The skin is almost transparent.
The arms are more developed than the legs.
The arms are longer than the legs.

What happens in the fourth month of pregnancy?

In the fourth month of pregnancy the following happens:

The eyebrows, eyelashes and nails form.
The arms and legs can bend.
The external genitals form.
The skin is wrinkled and the body is covered with a waxy coating (vernix) and fine hair (lanugo).
The placenta is fully formed.
The outer ear begins to develop.
The baby can swallow and hear.
The neck forms.
The kidneys are working and begin to produce urine.

What happens in the fifth month of pregnancy?

In the fifth month of pregnancy the following happens:

The sucking reflex develops. If the hand floats to the mouth, the baby may suck its thumb.
The baby is more active. You may be able to feel movement.
The baby sleeps and wakes regularly.
The nails grow to the tips of the fingers.
The gallbladder begins to produce bile, which is needed to digest nutrients.
In girls, the eggs have formed in the ovaries.
In boys, the testicles begin to descend from the abdomen into the scrotum.

What happens in the sixth month of pregnancy?

In the sixth month of pregnancy the following happens:

Real hair begins to grow.
The brain develops rapidly.
The eyes begin to open.
Fingerprints and footprints can be seen.
The lungs are fully formed, but do not yet work.

What happens in the seventh month of pregnancy?

In the seventh month of pregnancy the following happens:

The eyes can open and close and can sense changes in light.
The fine hair begins to disappear.
The baby kicks and stretches.
The baby can make strong movements and responds to sound.

What happens in the eighth month of pregnancy?

In the eighth month of pregnancy the following happens:

With its main development complete, the baby puts on weight very quickly.
The bones harden, but the skull stays soft and flexible for birth.
The different areas of the brain are forming.
Taste buds develop and the baby can taste sweet and sour.
The baby may now get hiccups.

What happens in the ninth month of pregnancy?

In the ninth month of pregnancy the following happens:

The baby usually settles into a head-down position ready for birth.
The skin is less wrinkled.
The lungs mature and are ready to work on their own.
Sleep patterns develop.
The baby will gain about half a kilo a week this month.