Pregnancy and Prenatal Development

Pregnancy is a life-changing journey filled with physical, emotional, and lifestyle changes. Here are some basics to help you start strong:

Prenatal Care: Schedule early visits with a trusted doctor or midwife. Take prenatal vitamins with folic acid (400–600 mcg).

Nutrition: Eat a balanced diet rich in whole foods. Avoid raw/undercooked meat, unpasteurized dairy, and high-mercury fish. Stay hydrated and limit caffeine (under 200 mg/day).

Exercise & Rest: Light to moderate exercise like walking or prenatal yoga is great. Prioritize rest and manage stress.

Avoid: Smoking, alcohol, recreational drugs, and unnecessary medications.

Trimester-by-Trimester Overview

First Trimester (Weeks 1–12)
Your baby’s major organs begin forming. You may feel nausea, fatigue, breast tenderness, and mood swings.

• At the moment of conception DNA for all of baby’s development is created: eye and hair color, male or female, and personality are all determined at that moment

• Baby develops from an embryo meaning “growing within” to a fetus meaning “unborn offspring” during the first trimester

• Baby grows from the diameter of a strand of hair to about 2.5 inches long from head to bum in the 1st trimester

• Day 21: baby’s heart starts to beat

• Weeks 7-8: eyes, ears, and nose develop, and baby starts to move and react to touch

• Week 9: fingers and toes, elbows, and eyelids form

• Week 10: elbows bend, all major organs and systems have been formed and are functioning

• Week 11: genitals develop

• Week 12: intestines are in the abdomen

Second Trimester (Weeks 13–26)
You may feel more energy, start to show, and feel baby’s movements . Consider childbirth and parenting classes. Begin planning maternity leave. Continue healthy habits.

• Baby is practicing breathing and begins to suck thumb, swallow, stretch, and yawn

• Fingerprints, mouth and lips are fully formed, and baby can smile and frown

• Legs move freely, mom starts to feel kicks between 16-21 weeks

• Week 22: baby can taste, smell, and eyelids open

• Week 23: baby can hear sounds from outside the womb

This 6-minute video features rare footage of the living human embryo and early fetus captured inside the womb. It is medically accurate and appropriate for all ages. Thanks to The Endowment for Human Development.

Third Trimester (Weeks 27–40)
Baby gains weight and prepares for birth. You might feel back pain, swelling, or sleep difficulties. Finalize your birth plan, and be sure you have an infant car seat. 

• Baby begins to have REM sleep (babies dream in the womb!)

• Baby will stick out his or her tongue and taste amniotic fluid, they are sucking and hiccupping

• Fat deposits and bones harden

• Baby gains one ounce per day in the last month

As you grow your baby and prepare to parent, it’s important to have a solid support network– your partner, family, or close friends, for physical and emotional support.  

Find trusted resources for information on labor, newborn care, and postpartum recovery. Contact your healthcare provider if something doesn’t seem right. Trust your instincts, ask questions, and take it one week at a time. You've got this.

Need someone to talk to? AWPC is here for you. We assist women with the support they deserve when pregnant, concerned, and searching for available options. All of our services are confidential and free of charge. Make an appointment: call or text (248) 471-5858 today.