Pregnancy weeks

Knowing what happens to you and your growing baby during the weeks of pregnancy will help you enjoy this exciting period  to the fullest.

4 weeks pregnant

Once your baby is conceived, he or she gets to work right away. Secondary smoke may harm a non-smoking woman and her developing baby. Learn everything you need to know about 4 weeks pregnant

5 weeks pregnant

Your baby’s first heartbeats occur at 21 to 22 days after conception. You and your care provider can't hear them yet, but it may be possible to see the beating motion on an ultrasound. When 5 weeks pregnant the embryo is around 0.25 inch (4 mm) long. Read more about 5 weeks pregnant and meet others

6 weeks pregnant

By the sixth week of your pregnancy the neural tube along your baby’s back has closed over. The brain is growing rapidly to fill the now-formed, enlarging head.  Read more about week 6 of pregnancy and meet others in the same situation

7 weeks pregnant

The unborn baby is now known as a fetus and is about 0.5 inch (1,3 cm)  long. The nostrils, lips, tongue, and teeth are beginning to form and the arms and legs are growing. Meet others, 7 weeks pregnant, at yourpregnancyforum

8 weeks pregnant

Although they’re still webbed, your baby’s fingers and toes begin to form this week. The fetus is now about 0.7 inch (1,8 cm) long, which is 10.000 times bigger than at conception. Learn everything about being 8 weeks pregnant and meet others

9 weeks pregnant

Compared with the rest of the body your baby’s head is quite large and is tucked down onto the chest. The hands and feet are continuing to form fingers and toes, and elbows are more pronounced. Read the full information about 9 weeks pregnant

10 weeks pregnant

At the end of this week, your baby will no longer be considered an embryo. He or she is now a fetus.  The yolk sac is shrinking away. It is no longer needed to provide your baby's nutrition, since the placenta is now mature and fully functioning. More about 10 weeks pregnant

11 weeks pregnant

You should start to think seriously about ante-natal classes because private ones can get booked up quickly. Find out about your body an your baby when 11 weeks pregnant. Talk to others and ask your questions.

12 weeks pregnant

When 12 weeks pregnant, the baby's heart is beating at between 110 and 160 times a minute and its chest is beginning to rise and fall as it practises future breathing movements.

13 weeks pregnant

The unborn baby is now 2.9 inches (7,4 cm) long and weighs 0.8 ounce (23 grams). The bone marrow, liver, and spleen have now taken over production of blood cells. More about 13 weeks pregnant

14 weeks pregnant

The baby is beginning to look human as the chin, forehead, and nose become more clearly defined. It can now turn its head and even wrinkle it's brow.  Read more about 14 weeks pregnant and meet other mums to be

15 weeks pregnant

When 15 weeks pregnant, the fetal skeleton of the baby is developing and its legs are now longer than its arms. The hair on its head is becoming thicker and it has eyelashes as well as eyebrows. 

16 weeks pregnant

You may feel your baby’s first movements around this time. These early movements are like a fluttering, bubbling sensation. Find out how your baby is developing in week 16 of pregnancy as well as how to deal with pregnancy symptoms

17 weeks pregnant

In week 17 of your pregnancy the eyebrows and the hair on your baby’s scalp continue to appear. The baby also continues to experience bouts of the hiccups. Get tips on making daycare decisions, dealing with dizziness, and more when 17 weeks pregnant.

18 weeks pregnant

Your little one can also now swallow. Inside your uterus, your baby may be swallowing a good dose of amniotic fluid every day. Learn what is going on with baby as well as how to boost your own energy and travel safely while 18 weeks pregnant.

19 weeks pregnant

During week 19 your baby’s skin becomes covered with a slippery white, fatty coating called vernix caseosa, or vernix for short. Vernix helps protect the baby's delicate skin, keeping it from becoming chapped or scratched. Learn what is happening with your baby's development in week 19 and what signs of trouble to watch for.

20 weeks pregnant

Your uterus is enlarging quite rapidly now so that you look pregnant. Your navel may be flattened or pushed out and it will stay this way until after the birth. Discover how your baby is developing when you are 20 weeks pregnant. Plus, get tips on dealing with everything from stress to nosy relatives.

21 weeks pregnant

You should be able to see your abdomen ripple as the baby moves. You may be feeling slightly breathless as your expanding ribcage pushes upwards, giving your lungs less room. Read more about your body and your baby when 21 weeks pregnant.

22 weeks pregnant

Your baby’s reproductive system is continuing to develop. If you're having a boy this week his testes begin to descend from the abdomen down to the scrotum. If you’re having a girl, her uterus and ovaries are now in place, and her vagina is developed.  Find out about your body an your baby when 22 weeks pregnant, plus, get tips on dealing with everything from stress to nosy relatives.

23 weeks pregnant

The baby can be felt through your abdominal wall and the midwife or doctor will palpate your abdomen to see how the baby is lying. You may occasionally feel a pain rather like a stitch down the side of your stomach. Learn everything about being 23 weeks pregnant and meet others.

24 weeks pregnant

24th week of your pregnancy your baby is about 8 inches long and weighs about 1 pound. Babies born at 24 weeks have a greater than 50-50 chance of survival, and the odds get better with every passing week, still, complications are frequent and serious. Read more about you and your body in week 24 of pregnancy.

25 weeks pregnant

This week, he or she is probably using these hands to discover different body parts. Your little one is exploring the environment and structures inside your uterus, including the umbilical cord. Discover what else your baby is developing in week 25 of pregnancy.

26 weeks pregnant

Your baby's face is getting rounder and fatter, as your baby’s fat reserves are giving his or her face a more rounded appearance.Find all the information about 26 weeks pregnant and meet others in the same week.

27 weeks pregnant

The baby's eyes are open and it will be able to see light through the skin of your abdomen. It will have started to practise sucking and may even be able to suck its thumb or fist. Discover how your body is developing when you are 27 weeks pregnant.

28 weeks pregnant

When you are 28 weeks pregnant, you’re most likely to notice baby's movements when you’re sitting or lying down. During these last couple of months, your baby is working on the finishing touches of the remaining steps that need to occur before he or she is fully developed.

29 weeks pregnant

You will probably be able to feel the baby's bottom and feet as it moves around. The baby will be putting pressure on your stomach and diaphragm now and you will need to sit down and rest more often. Discover also how your baby is developing in week 29 of pregnancy and get tips on dealing with your pregnancy.

30 weeks pregnant

At 30 weeks pregnant, your baby weighs almost 3 pounds and he or she is 15.7 inches long. He or she has a 96 percent chance of survival. The baby is beginning to move about less vigorously now because it has less space to move around in the uterus.

31 weeks pregnant

At 31 weeks pregnant, your baby is almost fully formed. Your baby's lungs are now more developed, but they're not yet fully mature. If your baby is born this week, he or she will probably need to stay six weeks or more in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and will need the help of a ventilator to breathe. 

32 weeks pregnant

If you work, you may have left by now or will have a date when you are going to leave. Enjoy the last weeks of your pregnancy and spend time singing and talking to your baby. At 32 weeks pregnant, your uterus typically measures about five inches above your belly button.

33 weeks pregnant

The fingernails are fully formed although the toenails are not quite so advanced. The vernix covering the skin has become thicker.By 33 weeks pregnant, your baby is often making faces in the womb. He or she may be smiling, sticking out his or her tongue, and making the goofiest expressions.

34 weeks pregnant

Your baby's hair continues to get longer and thicker. Your baby's hair color probably is not going to be the same color from birth onwards, so you should expect it to change in color. During the last trimester of your pregnancy, you may discover you leak a little urine when you cough, sneeze, exercise or lift something. Read more about 34 weeks pregnant.

35 weeks pregnant

By week 35 you'll probably be beginning to tire of pregnancy (if you haven't done so earlier!) and will need to rest as much and as often as possible. Discuss any worries you may have about labour and birth with your doctor or midwife.

36 weeks pregnant

Week 36, and this is finally the week from which you might expect your baby's head to 'engage' (drop into your pelvis in readiness for labour).You will be able to feel the top of your uterus just below your breastbone. This can make breathing uncomfortable and you may suffer from pain in your ribcage. 

37 weeks pregnant

At 37 weeks, your baby has reached full term. That means he’s developed his most crucial functions. As fat is being laid down, your baby’s body is slowly becoming rounder.

38 weeks pregnant

By 38 weeks pregnant, you are probably feeling exhausted, heavy, and bloated. You will notice that the baby is moving about less now that it is head down in the uterus. Discover how your baby is developing when you are 38 weeks pregnant. Plus, get tips on dealing with everything from stress to nosy relatives.

39 weeks pregnant

Since you are now 39 weeks pregnant, you will want to try to learn everything you can about what happens during labor and delivery and what occurs afterwards. By the 39th week of pregnancy the average baby weighs about 7 to 8 pounds. By now individual differences in babies become noticeable. 

40 weeks pregnant

After pregnancy week 40, you may be advised to undergo a labor induction. As labor approaches, your baby will experience many changes in order to prepare for birth, including a surge in hormones. This may help maintain blood pressure and