The development of the first, second, and third trimester of pregnancy

Have you been declared pregnant by a doctor? Pregnancy has various phases that are divided each trimester based on the age of the fetus in the uterus. The following is a complete explanation of the trimester of pregnancy, fetal development and changes in the body of pregnant women.

The division of the pregnancy trimester

When you are declared pregnant, the fetus in the uterus will develop for about 40 weeks and is divided into three trimesters according to gestational age, namely:

The first trimester of pregnancy is 1-14 weeks
The second trimester is 14-27 weeks of gestation
The third trimester, 27-40 weeks of pregnancy

In general, each trimester of pregnancy lasts between 12-14 weeks, or quarterly.

Meanwhile, based on guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), there are several stages of baby birth according to the age of the womb, namely:

Premature: babies born at 20-37 weeks of gestation.
Born early: 37 weeks 0 days - 38 weeks 6 days.
Born on time: 39 weeks 0 days - 40 weeks 6 days.
Late birth: 41 weeks 0 days - 41 weeks 6 days.
Late birth: 42 weeks 0 days.

You can consult a doctor to find out when your little one is born.

The development of the first trimester of pregnancy

The first trimester of pregnancy starts from 1 week of gestation to 13 weeks. Calculation of the first day of pregnancy has started on the first day of the last menstruation.

From then until the day of your last menstrual period, you are one week pregnant.

1. Changes in the mother's body in the first trimester of pregnancy

In the first trimester of this phase, you may not look pregnant yet, but the body is undergoing a major overhaul of functions to prepare the fetus for growth and development.

The increase in the pregnancy hormone HCG will affect almost every organ in the body.

During the first trimester, there are various changes in the mother's body that indicate the characteristics of a young pregnancy, such as:

Body tired quickly
Stomach aches such as constipation and heartburn
Nausea and vomiting (morning sickness)
Mood or mood changes
Breast pain and swelling
Weight gain
Headache
Cravings or dislike for certain foods

However, there are also some young pregnant women who do not feel these symptoms at all during the first trimester.

2. Fetal development in the first trimester of pregnancy

On the first day of pregnancy which is also the first day of the last menstrual period, there is no fetus in the uterus.

The fertilization that creates the embryo of a new fetus will occur about 10 to 14 days after that. Over time, a new fetus begins to form slowly.

Fetal development from 1 week to 12 weeks starts from the brain, spinal cord, and other vital organs, including the heart, which starts beating.

While the arms and legs begin to form at the age of the fetus 2 to 8 weeks. At the end of the first trimester, the baby's genital organs have been formed, although not yet perfect.

Ideally, your baby should weigh about 28 grams and a length of about 1 inch (2.5 cm) by the end of the first trimester of pregnancy.

3. Health tests in the first trimester of pregnancy

After finding out that you are positive about being pregnant, you should immediately consult a gynecologist. Throughout the first trimester, your doctor will perform screening tests, including:

Ultrasound to determine the size and position of the baby, also helps predict the risk of fetal birth defects.
PAP smear.
Check blood pressure.
Blood test to detect chromosomal abnormalities.
TORCH blood test to determine the risk of infectious diseases in infants.
Test for sexually transmitted infections, such as HIV and hepatitis.
Calculates gestational age and expected day of birth.
Check thyroid levels.
Genetic test passed nuchal translucency (NT).

If your doctor doesn't offer screening, you can ask first.

The development of the second trimester of pregnancy

The second trimester begins at 13 weeks to 27 weeks of gestation.

In the second trimester, this is the most comfortable moment for most mothers-to-be. The reason is, the body has managed to adjust to the big changes that have occurred during the previous 3 months.

1. Changes in the mother's body in the second trimester of pregnancy

Most of the early signs of pregnancy gradually begin to subside. There are several other changes that occur in pregnant women in the second trimester, namely:

The stomach starts to enlarge as the uterus grows.
Easily dizzy due to low blood pressure.
Begins to feel fetal movement in the stomach
Body aches
Increased appetite
Start appearing stretch marks on the stomach, breasts, thighs, or buttocks
There are several parts of the skin that are darkened, for example on the nipples
Body itching
Swollen ankles or hands
Less nausea

The frequency of nausea and vomiting has significantly reduced, and pregnant women regain the energy they lost in the first trimester of pregnancy.

2. Fetal development in the second trimester

During this trimester of pregnancy, almost all fetal organs are expected to be fully developed. The fetus also begins to hear and swallow the pregnant woman's healthy food that enters the stomach.

In addition, small hairs on the body of the fetus, which are called lanugo, have begun to grow.

According to the American Pregnancy Association, by the end of the second trimester the fetus is expected to reach about 10 cm in length and weigh more than 1 kilogram.

3. Health tests in the second trimester

Not only in the first three months of pregnancy, expectant mothers must regularly visit the doctor every two to four weeks during the second trimester of pregnancy.

Tests that doctors may order during visits in the second trimester of pregnancy include:

Measuring blood pressure
Check for weight changes during pregnancy
Diabetes screening with blood tests

For ultrasound, in the second trimester, it is specifically to determine gender, check the condition of the placenta, and monitor the overall growth of the fetus.

The development of the third trimester of pregnancy

The third trimester generally lasts from the start of the 28th week of pregnancy to the 40th week.

At the end of this pregnancy period, it is not uncommon for many expectant mothers to start experiencing false contractions. The emergence of anxiety before childbirth is also normal and experienced by many expectant mothers.

1. Changes in the mother's body in the third trimester

Approaching the D-day of delivery, the stomach will get bigger so that complaints of aches and insomnia are also common.

Generally, the cervix of pregnant women will also stretch to become thinner and softer the closer to the baby's birth date.

This aims to open the baby's exit during labor.

Here are other conditions that mothers should watch out for in this trimester of pregnancy, such as:

Movement of the fetus in the stomach is getting tighter and more intense
Experiencing false contractions
So you pee more often
Feeling heartburn
Swollen ankles, fingers, or face
Experiencing hemorrhoids
Swollen breasts and sometimes leaky milk
It's hard to find a comfortable sleeping position

In addition, you also need to be aware of the danger signs of pregnancy in the third trimester.

2. Third trimester fetal development

In the third trimester of pregnancy, to be precise at 32 weeks, the bones and skeleton of the fetus are fully formed.

The fetus in the womb is able to open and close its eyes and feel the light from outside the mother's stomach.

At the end of 37 weeks of gestation, generally all fetal organs can function properly independently.

The final fetal weight should ideally be about 3 kg or more, and the fetal body length of up to 50 cm.

In the final weeks of labor, the fetus's head should ideally be down facing down.

If not, the doctor will try to move the baby's head position. If the position of the fetal head does not change, it is possible that the mother will be advised to give birth by caesarean section.

3. Health tests in the third trimester

At the beginning of the third trimester of pregnancy, the doctor will guide you in preparing for labor and delivery.

Including how to distinguish between false contractions and contraction signs of labor, as well as how to deal with and deal with the pain of childbirth.

The doctor will also continue to monitor the size of your stomach at each consultation to check the baby's growth.

In addition, the consultation at the end of the pregnancy trimester is also to check the condition of the vagina. Is there a risk of infection and whether the cervix has opened or not.

In this third trimester, pregnant women should get a GBS test (group B streptococcal infection test) between 35 and 37 weeks to avoid the risk of infection to the baby during later labor.

If your doctor doesn't offer it, you can ask in advance.