Baby Timeline

At 1 week, you should be thinking about ...

Quit smoking

Quitting smoking is the best thing you can do for your baby. When you smoke, you breathe in over 4,000

chemicals from the cigarette. Those chemicals go from your lungs, into your bloodstream and then

travel across the placents right into your baby’s body.

At 2 weeks, you should be thinking about ...

Healthy diet

A healthy diet is an important part of a healthy lifestyle at any time, but especially vital if you’re

pregnant or planning a pregnancy. Healthy eating keeps you feeling good and gives your baby the

essential nutrients they need in utero.


Vitamins and nutrition

Eating a healthy, varied diet in pregnancy will help you to get all the vitamins and minerals you need. It

is best to get vitamins and minerals from the food you eat, but when you are pregnant you will need to

take some supplements as well.


Your pregnancy at 4 weeks

Conception usually takes place about two weeks after your last period, around the time that you ovulate

(release an egg). Three weeks after the first day of your last menstrual period, your fertilised egg moves

slowly along the fallopian tube towards the womb.


Early signs of pregnancy

For women who have a regular monthly menstrual cycle, the earliest and most reliable sign of

pregnancy is a missed period. Sometimes women who are pregnant have a very light period, losing only

a little blood.


Folate

If you haven’t already been taking folic acid, you should start as soon as you can. Folate and folic acid

are important for pregnancy as it can help prevent birth defects known as neural tube defects, such as

spina bifida.


Things to avoid during your pregnancy

There are a number of things a pregnant woman should be cautious of, or avoid during pregnancy,

including cleaning products, massages, saunas, foods, X‐rays, hair dye, sunbeds and fake tans.


Morning sickness

Morning sickness is a common symptom of early pregnancy and, in many cases, goes away by the end of

the first three months. It is caused by changes in hormones during pregnancy and may make eating

difficult.



By weeks 9‐12, the baby’s face is slowly forming, and the eyes are more obvious and have some colour

in them. You might still be feeling tired and sick, but this should clear up. By week 12 you should start

antenatal care.


Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) test

Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is a test carried out during pregnancy to detect specific abnormalities in

an unborn baby. A sample of cells is taken from the placenta (the organ that links the mother’s blood

supply with her unborn baby’s) and tested for genetic defects.


Antenatal care

You should book your first antenatal visit when you are 10‐16 weeks pregnant. This visit may take up to

two hours and will establish your history, general health and discuss any tests that you can take.


Dating scan

At 12 weeks, you may be offered your first ultrasound. This test is often called a ‘dating scan’ as it is

used to help determine the due date of your baby. As part of the screening, you will be offered a blood

test that will screen for a risk of Down syndrome



At this stage, your baby is about 85mm long from head to bottom. If you have been feeling sick and

tired, you will probably start to feel better when you are around 13 or 14 weeks pregnant. Some women

start to experience an increased sex drive around this time.


First antenatal visit

You should have your first antenatal visit between 10 and 16 weeks, so if you haven’t booked in for one,

you should plan that now.


Your amniocentisis test

Amniocentesis is a diagnostic test that takes a sample of the amniotic fluid from the womb to

determines how likely it is the baby will develop one or more conditions, which may be genetic

(inherited) or develop during the pregnancy.


Pelvic floor exercises

The muscles of the pelvic floor come under great strain during your pregnancy and childbirth. Every

pregnant woman should do pelvic floor exercises to help strengthen these muscles to reduce or avoid

stress incontinence.



At 17 weeks, your baby’s body grows bigger so that the head and body are more in proportion and the

baby doesn’t look so top heavy. You will probably feel your baby move for the first time when you’re

around 17 or 18 weeks pregnant.


Anomaly scan

Most women will have at least one ultrasound scan during their pregnancy. It usually takes place

between 18 weeks and 21 weeks. It’s called the ‘anomaly scan’ because it checks for structural

abnormalities (anomalies) in the baby.


Avoiding alcohol during your pregnancy

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can affect the unborn baby by damaging the development of the

baby’s brain and slowing down physical growth. Therefore, it is best to avoid drinking alcohol during

pregnancy as much as possible.


Where to give birth

There are several options available to women on where they choose to give birth. What is important is

that you have all the information you and your partner need to make an informed decision.



At 21 weeks, your baby is beginning to get into a pattern of sleeping and waking, which won’t

necessarily be the same as yours. Your womb will begin to get bigger more quickly and you will really

begin to look pregnant. You may feel hungrier than before ‐ try to stick to a sensible, balanced diet, and

make sure you know what foods to avoid.


Feelings and relationships during pregnancy

Pregnancy can mean the beginning of a new stage in a woman’s life, with all the changes that new stage

can bring. People talk about obvious ones – cravings, fatigue, nausea, body shape – but there are also

situations like negotiating new working arrangements and reworking your finances that can make this a

difficult time.


Anaemia during pregnancy

A woman’s body changes during her pregnancy to look after the growing child. As a result of this, some

women can develop anaemia during their pregnancy. This condition is possible to protect against and

also possible to treat.


Antenatal appointments

From around 24 weeks, your antenatal appointments will usually become more frequent. However, if

your pregnancy is uncomplicated and you are in good health, you may not be seen as often as someone

who needs to be more closely monitored.



Your baby may begin to follow a pattern for waking and sleeping. Very often this is a different pattern

from yours, so when you go to bed at night, the baby may wake up and start kicking. You may also get

indigestion, feel tired and have some swelling.


Travelling during your pregnancy

With the proper precautions, and armed with information on when to travel, vaccinations and

insurance, most women can travel safely well into their pregnancy. Wherever you go, locate healthcare

facilities at your destination and take your medical records with you.


Dealing with cramps, swelling and varicose veins

Cramps, swelling and varicose veins are some of the most well known issues women experience during

their pregnancy. But maintaining a healthy lifestyle along with some regular exercise and plenty of rest

should help alleviate the symptoms.


Diabetes during pregnancy

During the second part of pregnancy, some women develop gestational diabetes. It’s common for

pregnant women to be offered a glucose test around 26‐28 weeks of pregnancy.



By about 32 weeks the baby is usually lying with its head pointing downwards, ready for birth. Your baby

continues to be very active at this stage, and you’ll probably be aware of lots of movements. Leg cramps

at night are common around 29 to 32 weeks pregnant.


Backache during pregnancy

As your pregnancy advances, your back and pelvis may start to ache. This is a normal part of pregnancy

as the ligaments in your body naturally become softer and stretch to prepare you for labour.


What to have ready for the baby

Babies grow very quickly. All you need for the first few weeks are enough clothes to make sure that your

baby will be warm and clean. You will also need a cot and suitable bedding.


Making a birth plan

A birth plan is a written list of what you’d like to happen when you are in labour and give birth. A plan

includes things like who you’d like to be with you in labour, and what position you’d like to give birth in.



Your baby’s bones are starting to harden now, even though the skull bones will stay soft and separated

to make the journey through the birth canal easier. You may be aware of your uterus tightening from

time to time. These are known as ‘Braxton Hicks’ contractions.


Signs of premature labour

When a baby is born early, it is known as ‘prematurity’. Most pregnancies last around 40 weeks and

babies born between 37 and 42 weeks are considered full‐term. Babies that are born before 37 weeks

are considered premature.


Pain relief during labour

If you haven’t already started thinking about, you may way to start to think about whether you want to

take some kind of pain relief during labour and if so, what kinds are avalilable to you.


Going to hospital

When you are approaching your due date, its important that you are ready to go at a moments notice.

Here is a useful list of what you will need to bring with you to the hospital and what to expect when you

get there.



At 37 weeks, your pregnancy is considered full‐term. In the last weeks, the baby’s head should move

down into your pelvis. When your baby’s head moves down like this, it is said to be ‘engaged’. Most

women will go into labour between 38 and 42 weeks of pregnancy.


Labour

You’re unlikely to mistake the signs of labour when the time comes, but if you’re in any doubt don’t

hesitate to contact your midwife. The main signs of labour starting are strong, regular contractions, and

a ‘show’.


What happens after the birth

After carrying your baby for 9 months and finally giving birth, your body has gone through significant

changes and so too has your baby. There are also a number of tests that will be offered to you and your

newborn.


Newborn health tests

There are several tests that will be offered to you when your baby is born, such as the neonatal

screening test, hearing test and the vitamin K injection. It’s important to be well informed of what these

tests are.


Overdue

Pregnancy normally lasts about 40 weeks or around 280 days from the first day of your last period. Most

women go into labour within a week either side of this date, but some women go overdue.


Options for feeding your baby

One of the most important choices you need to make as a new mum is how you will feed your baby. It’s

a good idea to have a think about this well ahead of time, so you’ll be ready once your baby is born.

http://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/due‐date‐calculator

Description Week

Your baby is conceived Week 2

Positive pregnancy test Week 4

Organs begin to form, heart starts beating Week 5

Major organs have formed, heart can be heard Week 10

Second trimester, risk of miscarriage decreases Week 12

Now is a good time to announce your pregnancy Week 14

Your baby can now see light Week 15

Your baby's gender is visible on ultrasound Week 16

You can feel your baby move around Week 18

Your baby can now hear sounds Week 19

Premature babies have a chance to survive Week 23

Third trimester, your baby can breathe Week 27

Fingernails and toenails have formed Week 32

Your baby is now considered full term Week 37

Your baby is due any time now! Week 40

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Baby Timeline