The second trimester is the most physically enjoyable for most women. Morning sickness usually lessens by this time, and the extreme tiredness and breast tenderness usually ease up. Your fetus has now developed all its organs and systems and will now begin to grow in length and weight.
For many expectant mothers, the second trimester is the easiest three months of pregnancy. It is full of new and exciting milestones for you and your baby. However, despite leaving behind morning sickness and food aversions, some new pregnancy symptoms will begin to take their place.
The third trimester is the final stage of pregnancy and can be considered to be the most painful. During this stage, your baby is getting bigger, which puts more stress on your body that causes aches and discomfort.
The first trimester is the most crucial to your baby's development. During this period, your baby's body structure and organ systems develop. Most miscarriages and birth defects occur during this period. Your body also undergoes major changes during the first trimester.
The third trimester is the shortest, and includes weeks 28-40. We're sure you're feeling all kinds of emotions now that you get to meet your baby soon! During these last few months, it is time to organize everything before your baby gets here.
Your nausea and vomiting may be worse than ever: Morning sickness peaks around 9 or 10 weeks of pregnancy for many women. That's when levels of the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) are highest (morning sickness is thought to be linked to rises in hCG and estrogen).
Most miscarriages - 8 out of 10 (80 percent) - happen in the first trimester before the 12th week of pregnancy. Miscarriage in the second trimester (between 13 and 19 weeks) happens in 1 to 5 in 100 (1 to 5 percent) pregnancies.
Even though it's called morning sickness, it can last all day and happen any time of day. At least 7 in 10 pregnant women have morning sickness in the first trimester (first 3 months) of pregnancy. It usually starts at about 6 weeks of pregnancy and is at its worst at about 9 weeks.
The nausea and vomiting you're suffering from should improve around 12 to 14 weeks into pregnancy. If you need some relief now, try these tips.
Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy is a common condition. It can occur any time during the day, even though it's often called “morning sickness.” Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy usually doesn't harm the fetus, but it can affect your life, including your ability to work or go about your normal everyday activities.
At 10 weeks pregnant, you're probably still experiencing some first-trimester pregnancy symptoms. In some cases, these symptoms might be decreasing already, while other women will have to wait a little while longer to find relief.
Common First Trimester Miscarriages
Most miscarriages happen between 6 and 8 weeks gestation. We know that most of these occur due to a major genetic abnormality in the fetus. The sperm and the egg (which are known as gametes) each contain half the genetic material necessary for a complete person.
For instance, research indicates that between 10% and 20% of people with a medically confirmed pregnancy will end in miscarriage. Meanwhile, the risk of miscarriage after a fetal heartbeat is detected is only around 4%, dropping to 1.5% after 8 weeks and 0.9% by 9 weeks.
Weeks 8–13
In the second half of the first trimester, the rate of miscarriage seems to be 2–4%.
Fatigue is most common in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy because this is when your body changes and starts adapting to the development phases of an embryo.
The chance falls to below 1% after 10 weeks. Though a missed miscarriage can be detected after a 12-week scan, the chances are much lower at that stage of pregnancy.
Choose fish that are lower in mercury. These include salmon, rainbow trout, pollock, herring, shrimp, mussels, clams, oysters, and canned "light" tuna. Avoid foods that could harm your baby. Do not eat raw or undercooked meat, chicken, or fish (such as sushi or raw oysters).
A small baby bump will be visible. Breasts will also swell up. You might notice pregnancy glow or skin pigment changes, such as a dark line on the abdomen or dark patches on the face. You may notice light stretch marks on the stomach area and breasts due to the skin stretching during pregnancy.