What Are Pregnancy Trimesters?
Pregnancy, from conception to delivery, takes approximately nine months or 40 weeks. There may be slight variations in this time frame and so a woman can go into labor from about week 36 to week 42 of pregnancy. The period of pregnancy has been divided into pregnancy trimesters because there are three distinct phases of pregnancy with characteristics that are unique to them. A Pregnancy Trimesters Breakdown chart would show that the entire period is divided into the first twelve, the next sixteen and the remaining fourteen weeks. Pregnancy trimesters signify the stage of pregnancy which the woman is in. Each pregnancy trimester has its own unique risks and effects on the woman.
The first pregnancy trimester begins when the woman has sexual intercourse with a male which leads to the fertilization and implantation of an egg in her uterus. Initially, the woman will not experience any noticeable changes. This may continue for a couple of weeks. Pregnancy usually occurs in the middle (fertile) portion of the menstrual cycle. If the woman is pregnant, she will notice a missed period only two weeks after this. Once pregnancy is confirmed, the woman will begin to experience some of the symptoms associated with pregnancy. Morning sickness is a common symptom of the first trimester. During this period, the cocktail of hormones in the body will cause nausea. The breasts may also darken because of some hormonal changes taking place. Miscarriages mostly occur in the first trimester either because of some abnormality detected in the fetus or because of some problem with the process of implantation or fertilization.
The second pregnancy trimester is the one where the pregnant woman has plenty of energy. Morning sickness tends to pass by this time, so the woman is likely to be energetic because she is able to eat food easily. The baby bump develops noticeably during this period. During this period, the baby will start moving in a manner that becomes apparent. Parents often find this period to be extremely exciting because they can feel the movements of the baby. A large percentage of pregnancy weight gain occurs at this stage.
The third trimester is characterized by an oversized stomach as the uterus grows up to the time of delivery. Women will have pain in their backs because of the excess weight of the uterus. Towards the end of the third pregnancy trimester, the baby will begin to turn downwards so that delivery can take place head first. You can keep a track of your pregnancy trimesters and baby development so that you know what to expect in terms of symptoms and possible health problems.
Submitted by J on December 3, 2010 at 01:24
