Week 3:

Mother:
You have ovulated and one ripe egg (or ovum) is released from one of your ovaries. It moves down into the fallopian tube, where it is fertilised by your partner's sperm. Although several sperm may penetrate the egg's outer layer, only one sperm will enter the ovum and fertilize it.
If two eggs are released from the ovary (or one egg from each ovary) and are fertilized by two separate sperm, fraternal twins would have been conceived. If one fertilized egg, later divides in two, identical twins will develop.
You may experience some spotting or bleeding at the time the blastocyst implants into your uterus. Not all women will experience this, however it is normal in those who do, and should not be cause for alarm.

Baby:
The journey begins along the fallopian tube. The baby is a cluster of rapidly multiplying cells.

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Week 4:

Mother:
You are probably unaware about the drama going on inside your body, and will at this stage still be expecting your period - or hoping it doesn't come, if this pregnancy is planned. Some women say they feel "strange" while others experience a metallic taste in the mouth. Mood swings, breast tenderness and fatigue, are also other early pregnancy symptoms to be on the look out for.

Baby:
Baby has arrived and settled in the womb. The inner cells form into two, and three layers. Each of these layers will form to be different parts of your baby's body. The emphasis at this stage is on the development of the baby's nervous system, even though other vital organs, such as the heart, are developing at the same time. By the fourth week, the tiny embryo is 6mm long and has 40 pairs of muscles, which run from the base of the skull to the lower end of the spinal column, and 33 pairs of very primitive vertebrae.
 

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Week 5:

Mother:
You begin to think you may be pregnant.
You have missed a period and you may feel that your period is about to start at any time. Your breasts are slightly enlarged and tender and you may feel the need to pass urine more often than usual.

Baby:
Although the embryo is only about 1cm long, it's now definitely recognizable as a human embryo. Anchored to the placenta by the umbilical cord it floats in a bag of water called the amniotic fluid. At this stage the embryo still has a tail.

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Week 6:

Mother:
You may be feeling tired and nauseous especially in the mornings. It should
be possible to find out by a urine test if you are pregnant. This is a critical period in your baby's organ development, so make a point of avoiding alcohol, drugs and other substances which could affect the normal development of your baby's vital parts.

Baby:
Growth is very rapid this week, with the first of many heartbeats having had begun - By the end of this week the baby's circulation will begin to function. Tiny buds on the side of the head are forming which will become your baby's ears. There are thickenings where the eyes will be and limb buds show where the arms and legs are growing.

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Week 7:

Mother:
Your breasts are noticeably larger, and your nipples more prominent. Your doctor should be able to confirm your pregnancy by a vaginal examination. You're not showing yet and may have lost or gained a few kilos - Relax, both are normal at this stage.


Baby:
Nearly 2,5cm long and only about 2g in weight, the embryo rests safely in its shock absorbing sac of fluid. Despite the fact that it is still so tiny it now has all its organs and features. The tiny heart beats rapidly, the brain is growing and the eyes and ears are taking shape. The little face has eyes, nose, lips, tongue and even the beginnings of milk teeth. The limb buds now look like tiny arms and legs, small indentations are showing which will later become fingers and toes.
 

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Week 8:

Mother:
You may have a slight vaginal discharge
which is normal as long as it is not irritating or painful. Many moms-to-be feel depleted of all energy, others suffer from horrible bouts of morning sickness and nausea and are terribly sensitive to strong smells, or have "gone off" or have a craving for certain foods. Your uterus is about size of an orange now, and you may experience a slight expansion in your waistline.

Baby:
Your baby's face is slowly forming, taking on a more human shape, as the ears, eyes and tip of the nose appear. All main organs are present although only in rudimentary form.


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Week 9:

Mother:
At this early stage your baby begins to tune into your emotions. He can sense when you're excited, happy, stressed or sad. Because emotions trigger the release of hormones, your baby is affected by the way you feel and react to situations. When you're frightened or scared, adrenalin is pumped into your bloodstream which causes a faster heartbeat and increased movements in your baby. But unless you're under severe stress, the emotional highs and lows typical of pregnancy shouldn't affect your baby badly. Your uterus is still low in your pelvis and presses against your bladder so that you feel the need to pass urine more often. Your nipples are larger and probably darker. Your breasts may feel very sensitive, and be more fuller than usual - wearing a supportive bra may ease some of the tenderness. Heartburn and indigestion are also common at this stage.

Baby:
Fingers and toes are beginning to be defined on the hands and feet, and cartilage and bones have begun to form. The major internal organs are all developing, and the intestines take up their place within the abdomen. He gets hiccups, can yawn or frown and may even raise his eyebrows. These movements are vital as your baby's discovering sensations and his brain is learning to store this information.. Your baby has grown to about 17mm long from head to bottom.

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Week 10:

Mother:
The morning sickness may begin to taper off. Your breasts are starting to feel heavy and the veins are more prominent. The placenta begins to produce progesterone - a process that will be completed by the 14th week.

Baby:
Your baby is fully formed and from now on has to grow and mature. Although these first movements are too soft for you to notice, it is very exciting to know that baby has begun to move about in the womb.

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Week 11:

Mother:
As your nausea begins to subside, you may find your appetite returning, however certain smells may still bother you. The amount of blood circulating in your body has started to increase and will go on increasing until about the 30th week of pregnancy. You should start planning to attend childbirth classes, as they often get booked-up fairly quickly. Your uterus is the size of a small grapefruit already!

Baby:
From the start of this week, you can now refer to your developing baby as a fetus! The most critical part of development is over, and the fetus is now linked by the umbilical cord to the placenta which has implanted its spongy, rough side into the uterus and provides the fetus with oxygen and food from the mother's blood via the umbilical cord. The placenta also removes carbon dioxide and waste products from the fetus and caries them back to the mother's blood so they can be excreted. The sex organs have formed and are now well developed. But at this early stage it is impossible to detect the sex of your baby on an ultrasound scan. From the end of this week, the baby is relatively safe from the risk of developing any congenital abnormalities.

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Week 12:

Mother:
You will probably visit your doctor or antenatal clinic for your first
check up. You will have a full medical examination and the doctor will be able to feel your uterus by external examination, because it will have risen above the pelvis. Morning sickness usually fades around this time, and you may be feeling less tired. Dizziness and headaches are common, due to the increased blood volume.

Baby:
A real little baby, now over 7,6cm long and weighing about 20g. Still very tiny, the baby is growing by a few millimeters every day. The head is large and out of proportion to the body but the features are clear. The little fingers and toes are fully formed but still webbed, and the ears and eyelids have formed. The organs, muscles and the nervous system are not only differentiated, but start to become interconnected and integrated and, when the brain signals, the muscles respond and the e.g. begins to kick. The tiny arms can bend and the baby can open and close its hands. Amniotic fluid begins to accumulate, as your baby's kidneys begin to produce and excrete urine.

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