A Guide to Following Your Pregnancy Week by Week

Pregnancy can seem like a mysterious thing. Ever wonder how that tiny little cell developed into a beautiful, happy, loving, intelligent being? This guide will tell you everything you need to know to follow your pregnancy week by week and explain how the fetus grows and develops throughout your pregnancy.

During the first trimester the mother's body undergoes some drastic physical changes. The menstruation cycle stops. Breasts may become larger and tender. The need to urinate may increase and sleep patterns may be interrupted. Pregnant women may feel overly tired, have nausea or vomiting, and have a craving for certain foods and aversions to others. Pregnant women may experience heartburn or indigestion, become constipated or gain or loose a few pounds. These are all perfectly normal symptoms.

Sometime during the first trimester the prenatal care give will perform tests and screening for birth defects. The tests consist of an ultrasound and two blood serum tests which will test the amount of protein and hormone levels that are produced by the placenta. A pelvic exam is routine during the first trimester and is usually done on the first or second prenatal visit. Most health care professionals will also test for any Sexually Transmitted Diseases during the first few visits, even if the woman does not think she is at risk for these. Health care providers will test blood samples to make sure the mother is not experiencing anemia. Urine tests are given at each visit to determine levels of protein or sugar in the urine and the mother's weight gain is recorded. The blood is also tested for antibodies or Rh factor to check for incompatibility in blood type between the mother and the fetus.