Every woman is different and so are her experiences of pregnancy and childbirth. This section aims to give you general guidelines of what to expect throughout this exciting and often nerve-wracking experience.
Whether you want more information on the signs and symptoms of pregnancy, or would like an overview of what's happening with you and your baby during each trimester of pregnancy – you can read about it here. There are also further details for those who’d like to learn more about the process of labour and delivery, and the contraceptive options available to women post- delivery.
Finally, our Self Help Resources section can point you to further sources of information to help you on your journey.
Every woman is different and so are her experiences of pregnancy. While the only way to know for sure is by taking a pregnancy test, there are early symptoms of pregnancy that may point to the possibility. What follows is a description of some of the most common early symptoms of pregnancy.
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At 4 weeks:
At 8 weeks
At 12 weeks
At 16 weeks
At 20 weeks
At 24 weeks
At 32 weeks
At 36 weeks
Weeks 37-40
Pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks, counting from the first day of your last normal period. The weeks are grouped into three trimesters. See below for an overview of what's happening with you and your baby in these three stages.
According to the Office on Women’s Health , the first trimester is marked by hormonal changes that affect almost every organ system in your body. These changes can trigger symptoms, such as breast tenderness, nausea and fatigue, even in the very first weeks of pregnancy. Your emotions may range from excitement to anxiety. See Signs and Symptoms of Pregnancy for more information.
As your body changes, you might need to make adjustments to your daily routine, such as going to bed earlier or eating frequent, small meals. The good news is that most of these discomforts will go away as your pregnancy progresses.
For your baby, the first trimester is also a time of rapid growth and development. Your baby's brain, spinal cord and other organs begin to form, and your baby's heart begins to beat. To learn more about your baby’s development during pregnancy, go to Fetal Development.
For most women, the second trimester of pregnancy is the time they physically feel best. As your body adjusts to being pregnant, your energy level improves and symptoms like nausea start to fade away. But other, more noticeable changes to your body are now occurring to make room for your growing baby. This might include larger breasts, a growing belly and skin changes.
During the second trimester, your baby may begin to seem more real. For your baby, the second trimester often marks the ability to kick, make facial expressions and hear.
The final trimester can be physically and emotionally challenging. Some of the same discomforts you had in your second trimester will continue, plus you might experience shortness of breath, backaches, and swollen ankles. You may also have trouble sleeping, walking quickly, and doing routine tasks.
During the third trimester, your baby will gain weight rapidly and likely open his or her eyes. By the end of week 37, your baby is considered full term.
As you near your due date, your doctor will check the baby's position and assess cervical changes. Ask as many questions as you like. Knowing what to expect can help you get prepared for labour and delivery.
Giving birth to a baby can be exciting, frightening, and unpredictable. The process that leads to the birth of your baby is called labour and delivery. Every woman's experience of labour and delivery is unique. Below are general guidelines that will help you understand what to expect.
The process of labour and birth is divided into three stages:
Since every pregnancy is different, there's wide variation in the length of labour. According to Baby Center , labour often takes between 10 and 20 hours for first-time mums. However, labour generally progresses more quickly for women who’ve already given birth vaginally.
If your labour doesn't start on its own, your doctor or midwife can use medication and other techniques to bring on contractions, known as inducing labour. The decision to induce labour is often made when a woman is past her due date but labour has not yet begun or when there is concern about the baby or mother's health.
While induction is generally safe, it does carry some risk, which may vary according to the methods used and your individual situation. Some procedures may occasionally hyperstimulate the uterus, meaning that the contractions come too frequently or are abnormally long and strong. This in turn can stress your baby.
Cesarean birth, also called c-section, is the delivery of a baby through incisions made in the mother’s abdomen and uterus. Your doctor might recommend a c-section if he or she thinks it is safer for you or your baby than vaginal birth. Some c-sections are planned, but most c-sections are done when unexpected problems happen during delivery. While most cesarean births result in healthy babies and mothers, c-section is major surgery and carries risks. Healing also takes longer than with vaginal birth.
After having a baby, a woman’s fertility can return fairly quickly. This means that planning your next pregnancy if you want more children — or preventing a pregnancy if you don't — is important.
There are many contraceptive choices available for women. The choices you have depend on your needs and whether or not you're breastfeeding. If you're not breastfeeding, you can choose any type, you just need to talk to your doctor about how soon you can start using the type you choose. If you're breastfeeding, contraception containing estrogen should be avoided.
Breastfeeding can work as a form of birth control by delaying the return of your periods. If properly done, frequent and regular breastfeeding as a form of contraception is over 98% effective. This will only work for you if:
Sexual Health and Family Planning Australia states that using the following types of contraception are considered safe when breastfeeding:
Because the following methods contain estrogen, they're not usually recommended until your baby is at least six months old. However, you can consider using them when your baby is at least six weeks old and at least half bottle fed:
If you want to find out more, feel free to check out the following self-help resources:
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