Due date & Stages of pregnancy

Due date

Pregnancy is based on a 40-week (280-day) calendar. To calculate your estimated date of delivery, add seven days to the first day of your last normal period, and then add nine months. Your baby is considered full term if they arrive anywhere from three weeks before to two weeks after this date (more than 90 percent of babies do). The most accurate way to date a pregnancy is via ultrasound measurement of the foetus’s crown to bottom length this is usually carried out between eight and twelve weeks.

Sex of your baby

Forget all that you have heard about eating certain foods, tight boxer shorts etc. the truth is that the sex of your baby is determined by your partner’s sperm. The egg and sperm each contribute one chromosome, the egg always carries an X; the sperm, either an X or a Y. If the fertilizing sperm contains an X chromosome, you will have a girl. If it contains a Y, you’re having a boy. If you choose to know the sex of the baby the ultrasound can often reveal this, however it is more accurate later in your pregnancy.

Stages of pregnancy

First Trimester 1-12 wks

During the first trimester of pregnancy, you are just learning you are pregnant and coming to terms both with your fears and with your hopes for the future. This may have been a surprise and you or your partner may have some ambivalent feelings about the pregnancy. You may also begin to have fantasies and dreams about your child. You may feel increasingly focused on yourself and on the changes that are happening in your body. For many couples, sexual activity is reduced.

Most women will experience some of these physical changes during the first trimester:

breast changes, breasts may be swollen and tender
nausea and vomiting,
urinary frequency, it is likely that you will start to visit the toilet more often but it is important not to reduce your fluid intake
fatigue, you may experience extreme fatigue as it is very common in the first trimester of pregnancy. The emotional ups and downs of finding out that you are pregnant can also take their toll on you, this should let up in your second trimester. But if it doesn’t, you should be checked out by a G.P. as you may be anaemic.
small weight gain or weight loss due to morning sickness may occur
Cravings and aversions, during pregnancy it is very common to be repelled by certain tastes. Ignoring an aversion to something may only make you feel more sick, so don’t feel you have to eat something just because you think it’s good for you, or that you have been told to eat it, listen to your body. On the flip side you may also start to crave food that once repelled you, unless they could be harmful, go ahead and indulge in them in moderation. In most cases these cravings and aversions subside after the baby is born.

Second Trimester 13-25 wks

During the second trimester, your pregnancy becomes more obvious to others. You will become more aware of the changes happening to your body, particularly when these changes make you feel more dependent on others. During these months you will feel the first movements of the foetus and you will become more focused on its development. You may begin to have vivid dreams about your child. Women generally start taking antenatal courses, during the second trimester do some research to see the options in your area (your doctor or midwife and local hospitals probably have lists). You may decide that now is a good time to tell people your good news. Deciding when and with whom to share your news is a very personal decision, but there are a few things to consider. Keeping your pregnancy a secret for a while will give you and your partner some time to absorb the idea privately. While some women wait until the risk of miscarriage drops markedly (at 14 weeks), others spill the beans right away because they’d tell their friends anyway if they miscarried.

Physically, you can expect the following changes during the second trimester:

you will have colostrum (pre-milk) in your breasts
your nipples may begin to get darker and the areolas will get larger
you may experience changes in the foods your body can digest
pressure on the blood vessels in the lower part of your body increases and may result in haemorrhoids or varicose veins
skin changes may occur particularly on the face,

Warning : Call your doctor if you experience vaginal bleeding; severe headaches; a marked increase in swelling; decreased foetal movement; leakage of watery fluid from the vagina; constant, severe abdominal pain.

Third Trimester 26 to 40 wks

By the third trimester both you and your partner are anticipating the birth of your child. You may be becoming impatient with your body and feeling vulnerable and dependent on others. During the last part of the third trimester, many women experience a burst of energy and become engaged in setting up and preparing their home for a child, often called the nesting instinct. Both you and your partner may be feeling some anxiety about the coming birth and feel pressured that the time is getting short before the arrival of the baby. You may continue to have vivid dreams about your child especially during your first pregnancy.

Physically, the third trimester is more uncomfortable. You may experience some of the following:

backache
leg cramps
heartburn
a dark line called a nigra may appear running down from the navel
shortness of breath
the need to urinate frequently
the loss of bladder control when you sneeze or cough
Braxton-Hicks contractions (painless contractions of the uterus)

Warning - Call your doctor if you experience vaginal bleeding; severe headaches; a marked increase in swelling; decreased foetal movement; leakage of watery fluid from the vagina; constant, severe abdominal pain

As you head into the final stretch, remember to keep eating right and exercising as much as is safe (always check with your doctor or midwife about the level of exercise that is right for you ) so that your baby gains the proper amount of weight and you’re in the best possible shape for labour and delivery. At this stage your doctor or midwife will want to see you every two to three weeks starting at around week 28, then every two weeks at weeks 36 and 37, and weekly at 38 weeks. At around 35 weeks it’s now a good idea to go shopping and get the things you will need for the birth and pack them in a case, it is best to be prepared, Good Luck.

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