Week 0-4:

About the only physical change most women notice by the second week after conception may be a little breast tenderness or mild cramping.



Occasionally, a woman will have light bleeding (also known as spot­ting) when the embryo implants in the wall of her uterus, or at the time when she normally would get her period. Some of the patients, however, swear that they knew the minute they became preg­nant because they felt some special emotional or physical change.

Week 5-8:

You are now in the thick of the first trimester, the first third of pregnancy. By this time you're probably well acquainted with some of the symptoms of early preg­nancy, such as nausea and fatigue. But take heart: these common nuisances usually peak around Week 9 and then start to fade away.

You're likely to have noticed emotional symptoms as well. Even women with planned and desired pregnancies can have mixed feelings at this point, as they see their relationships, their lives and their bodies start to change. Your emotions may swing between excitement and worry, euphoria and the blues. The whole thing may seem unreal. But no matter how you feel, your lit­tle embryo is developing at an amazing rate, with new organs forming every week.

Just like your embryo, your body is undergoing a wondrous transformation. Most women have symp­toms that tell them something big is happening - some welcome, others not so pleasant. Here are some of the physical and emotional changes you may notice in this month:

• breast tenderness, an increase in breast size, and a darkening of the area surrounding the nipple called the areola pronounced air-ee-OH-Ia)
  
  
• a cessation of your menstrual periods (although some women experience a little spotting in the first month or so)

• cramps, similar to menstrual cramps: this is normal in early pregnancy, but if the cramping is severe or accompanied by vaginal bleeding, contact your practitioner.
  
  
• unusual fatigue: you often may need to take a nap in the afternoon or go to bed in the early evening.

• frequent urination

• an unusual sensitivity to certain odors

• nausea and vomiting: if your so-called morning sickness is excessive, you may even lose some weight.

• an increase in appetite or a craving for certain foods . weight gain: although your embryo is still very small, your blood volume increases and your fat stores go up, in preparation for carrying the baby.

• constipation

• heartburn

• dizziness or feelings of faintness

• emotional instability, such as mood swings and irri­tability, or difficulty concentrating.

Some mothers-to-be feel very different during early pregnancy, while others hardly notice any changes. You may react one way in your first pregnancy, and just the opposite the second time around. Many symptoms and conditions will disappear as the months pass, while others may continue until you deliver your baby. If your symptoms are making you miserable, there are some things you can do to relieve them, but also try to remind yourself that these are signs of your own per­sonal miracle in the making.

Week 9-13:

By the end of the third month, you may start feeling a little better, regaining a bit more of your former energy and experiencing less nausea. Now that your symptoms are less distracting, you may be ready to think of enjoying your life during pregnancy instead of feeling taken over by your symptoms - a very common phenomenon in early pregnancy.

Week 14-17:

In the fourth month, most mothers-to-be start to 'show'. Generally, your energy level is good and your nausea is gone, or at least much improved.

Women having a second (or subsequent) baby may start to feel movement by the end of this month, but first-time mums will have to wait a little longer. You also may start noticing a new set of physical changes to your body as you enter your second trimester, includ­ing dramatic changes to your skin, hair, and nails.

Week 23-26:

At this point in your pregnancy, you may be feeling strong and well, or strained by the physical demands on your body (probably a little of both). One of the less pleasant legacies of pregnancy is stretch marks or striae, the red, pink or brown lines that you might begin noticing on your abdomen, breasts or hips. Whether or not you get them is truly a matter of luck (and good genes); some women are riddled with them as their skin stretches to accommodate their growing babies, while others look as fresh and unblemished as Demi Moore on that famous cover of Vanity Fair.

Week 27-31:

In this time period, your body undergoes a whole new slew of physical changes, which can lead to new - and some­times annoying - symptoms. One of the common symptoms at this stage is the lowdown on lower-back pain.

Week 32-35:

You are heading into the homestretch of pregnancy, and may be riding a roller coaster of emotions. One minute you may be very excited to meet your new son or daughter, then suddenly feel extremely worried whether or not your baby will be healthy. You may fret that you don't know enough to be a good mother, but then become convinced that you and the baby's father are going to be the best parents ever. You also may be very apprehensive about the birth, and how well you and your partner will perform. In addition to this strong surge of emotions, physical changes continue in the third trimester, and many of them can be uncomfort­able and sometimes even embarrassing. They include:

• Bladder problems may send you scurrying for the bathroom

• Pregnancy is a constipating affair

• Haemorrhoids are a common problem

• Varicose veins can make your legs swell and ache

• Yet more skin changes may occur

• Your belly button changes

• You may feel clumsy or confused

Week 36-40:

As you reach the last few weeks of your pregnancy, you may notice that suddenly it is easier to breathe, and there seems to be more space between your breasts and your uterus. This change may occur over the course of a sing day or more gradually, over a week or two.  Your food may be a little easier to digest, and if you were suffering from heartburn, you may notice improvement. Other symptoms at this stage include:

• Engagement (baby is engaged in positioning himself for the labor deep into the pelvis) comes early for first-time mums.

• You may not be able to see them, but you know your feet are swollen.

• Swelling in your hands can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome.

• Fatigue may be back again.

• Preeclampsia can strike women without risk factors

• Bleeding is not uncommon in late pregnancy

• Placenta previa

• Breaking your waters is sometimes the first sign of labor