Follow the miraculous journey of your pregnancy in our comprehensive week-by-week guide.
YOU The first official week of pregnancy actually starts on the day of your period. The Estimated Delivery Date (EDD) of your baby is calculated from the first day of your last period. This first week counts as week one of your 40 week (or 280 …
YOU Ovulation Around the end of week two, or 14 days before the anticipated start of your next period, one of your ovaries will release an egg (ovum) which begins to travel down your fallopian tubes. Your egg will live for about 24-48 hours after …
YOU Between four and seven days after fertilization has occurred, your fertilized egg will have reached the uterus and will now have divided into hundreds of tiny cells. YOUR BABY Soon after fertilisation, the zygote (the one-celled entity formed …
YOU You may be beginning to suspect you are pregnant. This is the week when you may miss your first period. Your embryo secretes hormones that trigger a number of changes in your body: your ovulation cycle stops, so therefore does your period, your …
YOU The early symptoms of pregnancy may continue this week, and may become more noticeable. A pregnancy test will probably show positive, but if your period is late and a pregnancy test is negative, wait a few days and then take another test. Once …
YOU One of the early signs of pregnancy which you may be experiencing this week is extreme tiredness. You may find that by the end of the day you are absolutely exhausted and sometimes just getting through the day can be difficult. Try to rest as …
YOU Most of the changes taking place in your body won't be obviously noticeable: your body will now be producing more blood as the placenta uses aroud 25% of the blood in your body, your cervical mucous will form a plug at the opening of your cervix …
YOUPregnancy hormones, including progesterone, relaxin and hCG are working to relax your internal body parts to enable them to make room for your growing baby later on. These hormones may also relax bodily functions: constipation is a common …
YOUYour breasts are now growing and the areola (nipple area) may darken in colour. Your bra size may increase by up to 2 sizes during pregnancy. A supportive bra will help to reduce discomfort and will also help protect your breast tissue. You may …
YOUYou're probably still feeling tired and on a bit of an emotional roller coaster, which is understandable given the changes taking place. Do continue to rest and take time out for yourself. You may find your morning sickness starting to improve …
YOU You may have noticed that you have gained weight, this is a result of a number of things.: you baby's support system (placenta, amniotic fluid etc) are rapidly developing; your uterus and breasts are enlarging and your total blood volume is …
YOUIt may not be noticeable from the outside yet, but your womb is starting to rise up out of the pelvis and you may be able to feel the top of your uterus just above your pubic bone. You might want to think about maternity clothing as you may be …
YOUOne thing that can really help you through pregnancy is maintaining a good fitness level. During the second trimester, which begins this week, you may find that you have more energy and feel better than you did early in your pregnancy, so make …
YOUYour uterus is about about the size of a fist and you should be able to feel the top of it an inch or so above your pubic bone. Now is a good time to start thinking about what you need to get ready for your baby's arrival. It helps to get …
YOUYou'll be noticing a significant tightening of clothes and will need to invest in looser garments. Some people begin to show at this stage, especially if it is not your first baby. Your heart is having to circulate a lot more blood and will have …
YOUOver the next few weeks, you will begin to feel your baby's movements. This is called "quickening" and will begin as a light fluttering in your stomach, similar to gas bubbles, but will soon become definite pokes and prods. If this is not your …
YOUYou may notice that your breasts have changed considerably since your pregnancy began. More blood is flowing to the breasts, which increases their size (many women increase one to two cup sizes) and causes veins to become visible. They may still …
YOUYou're approaching the half way mark, and you've probably begun preparing for your life with your baby. Things to consider include whether you are going to have baby sleep in your room for the first few months, or whether he or she will go …
YOUMost couples choose to have an ultrasound scan between 18-20 weeks to check on their baby's growth and development. This ultrasound will include detailed examinations of your baby's internal organs to ensure they are all functioning properly, …
YOUYou're half way there now. Your bump will be super cute and you're now probably in full swing planning baby names, nursery ideas, layette lists and thinking about labour and birth. This is also a good time to talk to your partner about life as …
YOU By now you will probably be able to feel the top of your womb, it will be almost level with your navel. Over the next ten or so weeks you will continue putting on weight, only now at a faster rate. Sometimes this weight gain can seem …
YOU By now you will definitely be needing to make some adjustments to your wardrobe, you will probably find you can manage with a combination of maternity clothes and loose fitting clothing such as tracksuit pants and yoga pants. You may find that …
YOU You may start to feel the odd pain in your tummy from this point on. These pains, known as Braxton Hicks contractions, actually started very early in your pregnancy, but it is only as your uterus gets bigger that you will begin to notice them. …
YOUTry to keep up the exercise. You are now large enough that low-impact exercises such as walking and swimming are best. As your bump gets bigger, it can also affect your sex life. You may need to try new positions, such as being on top, or lying …
YOUPregnancy can cause some unpleasant side effects when it comes to digestion. Not only does the hormone progesterone slow the emptying of the stomach (to allow for increased absorption of nutrients for your baby), but your expanding uterus is …
YOUYour uterus provides a safe haven for your baby before birth. But what about after your baby is born? He or she will be moving about your home in what seems like no time at all. Take the time now to safeguard your home by baby proofing. Covering …
YOUYour body instinctively nourishes and protects your baby during pregnancy, but caring for a newborn is a learned skill. If you haven't already, be sure to book your antenatal classes as you will be needing to start them in a few weeks if you want …
YOU Get ready to be seeing a lot of your LMC's clinic. Starting this week, you'll probably be visiting your doctor or midwife every other week instead of every month. Now that you are into the third trimester, you may be starting to feel bigger, …
YOUDuring pregnancy, iron is important for replenishing the red blood cell supply, accommodating the demand created by increased blood volume, and providing the baby with adequate iron stores for the months after birth. You should be eating at least …
YOUConstipation is a common complaint of pregnancy. The pregnancy hormones that allow you to maintain your pregnancy slow the digestive process considerably, and if you are taking an iron supplement this can exacerbate constipation. Exercising …
YOUHave you decided whether to breast-feed or bottle-feed your baby? The World Health Organisation recommends exclusive breastfeeding from birth, but ultimately the decision about how to feed your child is a personal one. If you have concerns about …
YOUAre you experiencing symptoms such as sudden weight gain, headaches, or changes in vision? These symptoms might mean you have preeclampsia, a dangerous condition that causes high blood pressure and may affect both the mother and fetus during the …
YOUYou are now gaining 450 grams per week. With labor and delivery only 2 months away, you may be considering how you'll cope with pain during childbirth. Perhaps you'd like to use only breathing techniques, such as those you learnt at antenatal …
YOU Fatigue is a common complaint of late pregnancy. Difficulty sleeping, aches and pains, weight gain, and anxiety about labor, delivery, and taking care of a newborn may contribute to your exhaustion. Rest as much as you can and take naps if …
YOUIf your baby is born now there is a 99% chance that he / she will survive, so if you have had anxiety related to premature delivery you can now relax. In a way, you may feel as if you have already bonded with the baby growing inside of you, but …
YOUIt is hard to imagine but your uterus has expanded to 1000 times its original size. You have a lot more baby and a lot less amniotic fluid inside your uterus. All this weight, coupled with the fact that your pelvic floor has been weakened due to …
YOUYour baby could arrive at any time! Start preparing yourself by finalizing things like babysitters for your children, keeping the car filled with petrol, and keeping emergency phone numbers (and taxi company number) handy. You should have your …
YOUYou may notice the odd pain in your lower groin and down your legs. This is perfectly okay as it's probably just baby's head becoming engaged against your pelvic floor muscles and aggravating nerves. By now you might be a bit sick of the …
YOUBy this time you may feel really tired. Don't drive yourself too hard. You probably wont want to be out and about too much so relax at home with your feet up. Try not to strain your body. You will probably want to get as many sleep-ins as you can …
YOUOnly 5 percent of babies arrive on their due date so don't be worried if yours doesn't. Most mums worry that they wont recognise the signs that their labour has begun, but you will know. Just remember your breathing and make an effort to relax …
The countdown is now officially on! Your body is ready for labour, you're packed and ready to go ... but baby hasn't made an appearance yet. Rest assured, only 5% of babies arrive on their due date. Use these 'extra' days pre-baby to slow down, and …
Hey mama - it's time. Neither you nor baby can wait any longer - and we know that you at least, are more than ready for baby's arrival! What was once a tiny poppyseed is now fully developed, and the placenta, which provides nutrients to baby, is …
Baby is here! Congratulations to you on the birth of your new baby! love from the OHbaby! team x The first few days of your baby's life are an exciting time - and sometimes a little frightening too! To help in the early days at home, you are …