Pregnancy is a time of rapid growth and development — for you and your baby. In just nine short months, your barely visible embryo becomes a complete little person. Each trimester brings new change, both exciting and challenging, as you and your baby progress toward delivery day.
At Solace Women’s Care in Conroe, Texas, Farly Sejour, MD, FACOG, Natalie Gould, WHNP-BC, and our team want to help you prepare for the exciting changes coming your way with this trimester-by-trimester guide.
The first 13 weeks mark your baby’s most critical development period. All major organs and body systems begin forming during this time. Your first prenatal appointment typically happens around week 8-10, where we confirm your pregnancy, calculate your due date, and run initial blood work.
Your baby’s heart starts beating around week 5. Just three weeks later, all major organs have begun developing, and tiny fingers and toes start to form. The neural tube, which is the brain and spinal cord, closes during these crucial early weeks. That is why folic acid is so critical.
First-trimester symptoms vary widely, but many women experience:
These symptoms stem from rapidly changing hormone levels, meaning that nothing is wrong. Most women find relief as they enter the second trimester. We also discuss optional genetic screening tests based on your age and health history.
Weeks 14-27 often bring welcome relief from early pregnancy symptoms, but not always. Your energy may return, and you should start showing as your belly gets bigger.
Between weeks 18-22, you’ll likely feel your baby move for the first time — a sensation many women describe as flutters or bubbles. During this trimester, your baby’s development includes the following:
The anatomy scan at week 20 is one of the most detailed ultrasounds of your pregnancy, checking your baby’s growth, organ development, and placental position, which is also when many parents learn their baby’s sex if they choose.
Your pregnancy becomes visible to others as your uterus expands. Rounded ligament pain, backaches, and stretch marks are normal as your body accommodates your growing baby. We perform glucose screening between weeks 24 and 28 to check for signs of gestational diabetes.
Week 28 until delivery brings you closer to meeting your baby. Your prenatal visits increase in frequency as we monitor you and your baby more closely.
A baby focuses on weight gain and lung development during the final months. The lungs are typically the last organ system to mature. Your baby settles into a head-down position (usually by week 36) and is considered full-term at 37 weeks.
You might experience shortness of breath, frequent urination, swelling, and Braxton Hicks contractions (false labor) as your body prepares for labor. We help you understand the difference between practice contractions and actual labor, and test for Group B streptococcus between weeks 35 and 37 of pregnancy.
The first three months after delivery are an adjustment period as your body recovers and you adapt to caring for your newborn.
Physical recovery varies depending on the delivery. Typical postpartum experiences include:
Many new mothers experience the “baby blues” in the days following delivery, but if intense feelings persist beyond two weeks, you may need support for postpartum depression or anxiety. These conditions are common, treatable, and not your fault. Your postpartum checkup around 4-6 weeks addresses your physical recovery, birth control options, and emotional well-being.
Every pregnancy is different, and our team tailors your care to your individual needs. We monitor your progress, answer questions, and help you feel confident about the changes you’re experiencing.
Call our Conroe, Texas office at 936-441-7100 or message us online to make an appointment with our team today.
