Pregnancy Calendar: A week-by-week guide to your fetus and your journey

Are you ready to discover how your little baby is growing and developing week by week? Here is an exciting guide that gives you a cue for each week of each trimester and how your own experience will also change. From the first little signs of life to the final preparations for birth, discover the important stages of your baby's development and what to expect on your own journey through pregnancy. Get ready to follow each and every week, where every day brings something new and amazing!

First Trimester (Weeks 1-12)

  1. Week 1-2 : Preparation

    • Fetus: Fertilization and cell division begin.
    • You: Ovulation and possible fertilization; perhaps not yet aware of the pregnancy.

  2. Week 3 : Implantation

    • Fetus: The blastocyst implants in the uterine wall.
    • You: Light bleeding may occur; early signs of pregnancy.

  3. Week 4 : Positive Test

    • Embryo: Initial formation of embryonic layers.
    • You: Positive pregnancy test; possible nausea and fatigue.

  4. Week 5 : Organ development

    • Fetus: Heart and blood vessels begin to develop.
    • You: Morning sickness and fatigue; breast tenderness.

  5. Week 6 : Heart palpitations

    • Foster: The heart begins to beat.
    • You: Increased nausea and fatigue; mood swings.

  6. Week 7 : Brain activity

    • Fetus: The basic structures of the brain are formed.
    • You: Weight gain; continued nausea and fatigue.

  7. Week 8 : Movement

    • Fetus: Starting to move, even if you can't feel it yet.
    • You: Increased frequency of urination; continued nausea.

  8. Week 9 : Facial features

    • Fetus: Eyes, nose and mouth begin to take shape.
    • You: Possible mood swings and skin changes.

  9. Week 10 : Fingers and Toes

    • Fetus: Development of fingers and toes.
    • You: The belly may start to get a little bigger; fatigue.

  10. Week 11 : Bones

    • Fetus: Bones begin to harden.
    • You: Continued nausea; possible weight gain.

  11. Week 12 : Reflexes

Second Trimester (Weeks 13-27)

  1. Week 13 : Resuscitation

    • Fetus: Grows quickly; becomes more proportionate.
    • You: More energy; less nausea.

  2. Week 14 : Movement

    • Foster: Can move and suck on thumb.
    • You: Possibly starting to show a baby bump.

  3. Week 15 : Sense of taste

    • Fetus: Taste buds begin to develop.
    • You: Increased appetite and weight gain.

  4. Week 16 : Skeleton

    • Fetus: Skeleton becomes stronger.
    • You: Might start to feel the baby's movements.

  5. Week 17 : Fat layer

    • Fetus: Begins to develop fat layer.
    • You: Increased weight and energy; possible feeling of the baby's movements.

  6. Week 18 : Ear

    • Foster: May begin to hear sounds.
    • You: Increased energy; feeling the baby's movements.

  7. Week 19 : Skin layer

    • Fetus: Vernix caseosa (fatty layer) covers the skin.
    • You: Weight gain and possible skin changes.

  8. Week 20 : Halfway

    • Fetus: All organs and systems developed, must now mature.
    • You: Halfway through pregnancy; increased energy and appetite.

...pssst, then it's also about time to buy your diaper bag, so the birth bag is ready ;)

  1. Week 21: Taste

    • Fetus: Can start to taste the amniotic fluid.
    • You: Possible sleep problems; weight gain.

  2. Week 22 : Wrinkles

    • Fetal: The skin will be wrinkled, but fat will fill in later.
    • You: Weight gain; possible leg cramps.

  3. Week 23 : Lungs

    • Fetus: Begins to develop lung maturation.
    • You: Increased pressure on the bladder; more frequent urination.

  4. Week 24 : Vitality

    • Fetus: Viable outside the womb with intensive care.
    • You: Possible swelling in the feet and ankles.

  5. Week 25 : Nerve growth

    • Fetus: The nervous system matures.
    • You: Increased weight and appetite; possible heartburn.

  6. Week 26 : Lung function

    • Fetus: The lungs develop alveoli.
    • You: Increased discomfort when sleeping; more frequent urination.

  7. Week 27 : Sleep pattern

    • Foster: Has regular sleep patterns.
    • You: Possible sleep problems; beginning difficulty breathing.

Third Trimester (Weeks 28-40)

  1. Week 28 : Eyelashes

    • Embryo: Eyelashes develop.
    • You: Increased weight and discomfort; more frequent doctor visits.

  2. Week 29 : Movement

    • Foster: More active movements.
    • You: Increased pressure on ribs and bladder; more frequent urination.

  3. Week 30 : Main position

    • Fetus: Begins to move towards the birth position.
    • You: Weight gain; possible breathing problems.

  4. Week 31 : Sensory nerve

    • Fetus: Sense organs work well.
    • You: Increased fatigue; discomfort and difficulty sleeping.

  5. Week 32 : Fat shield

    • Fetus: Fat layer thickens.
    • You: Increased weight and swelling; preparation for birth.

  6. Week 33 : Bone development

    • Fetus: Bones are almost fully developed.
    • You: Increased discomfort; more frequent doctor visits.

  7. Week 34 : Immunity

    • Fetus: Receives antibodies from the mother.
    • You: Possible shortness of breath; increased weight and swelling.

  8. Week 35 : Kidney function

    • Fetus: The kidneys produce urine.
    • You: Increased discomfort; more frequent toilet visits.

  9. Week 36 : Position

    • Fetus: The head falls into the pelvis.
    • You: Increased discomfort and preparation for birth.

  10. Week 37 : Full term

    • Fetus: Considered full-term.
    • You: Ready for birth; possible light bleeding.

  11. Week 38 : Maturity

    • Fetus: Organs are mature and ready for life outside the womb.
    • You: Increased discomfort; ready for birth.

  12. Week 39 : Birth preparation

    • Fetus: Continues to grow and gain weight.
    • You: Ready for birth; more frequent contractions.

  13. Week 40 : Birth