Pregnancy Timeline
Week 3
You’re pregnant! You may not know it yet, but you have conceived and the tiny cluster of cells making its way to your uterus is about the size of a pinhead. Within about a week, the embryo will implant in its new home. The sex has already been determined, but it will be about 3 months before you’ll be able to know if you’re having a boy or a girl.
Pregnancy Timeline
Week 4
Implantation has occurred and the placenta and amniotic sac are starting to develop. You may spot some implantation bleeding as the poppy seed-sized embryo burrows deeper into the uterine lining. An ultrasound at this stage may reveal a gestational sac (or two, if it’s twins!)
Pregnancy Timeline
Week 5
Welcome to month two of your pregnancy! You can officially take a pregnancy test now, as your HCG hormone levels are definitely high enough to be detected through urine (if they weren’t already). Nausea and fatigue are not uncommon at five weeks of pregnancy. Right now, your rapidly forming embryo is about the size of an orange seed.
Pregnancy Timeline
Week 6
At some point in the last week, your baby’s heart has begun to beat! The embryo now resembles a tiny tadpole, and is around the size of your pinky nail. Don’t be surprised if you’re experiencing nausea, heartburn, frequent urination, as well as breast tenderness.
Pregnancy Timeline
Week 7
Are your food aversions starting yet? That’s common at seven weeks of pregnancy. You’re now into the second half of the first trimester and the umbilical cord has formed, along with the cervical mucus plug that seals and protects the uterus from the outside world. Baby is about the size of a blueberry – 10,000 times bigger than the ball of cells that arrived three weeks ago. Mind blown.
Pregnancy Timeline
Week 8
Baby is growing really fast: about a millimeter every day, and is the size of a raspberry. By the end of this week, all major organ systems have begun to form. You’re probably really feeling pregnant now (if you weren’t already). Morning sickness could be quite pronounced.
Pregnancy Timeline
Week 9
They grow up so fast! This is your baby’s last official week as an embryo, and their little heartbeat is likely audible on an ultrasound, if your technician can get a good position. Baby is about an inch long now, and you’re probably really feeling the fatigue as placental development is in full swing.
Pregnancy Timeline
Week 10
Month three of your pregnancy, and it’s fetus time! It’s possible that you’re just beginning to show at this point, and a bit of increased vaginal discharge is not unusual. Baby’s bones (and even teeth!) are starting to form, and she has grown 50 percent in the last week – to about the size of a prune.
Pregnancy Timeline
Week 11
By the 11th week, your baby is similar in size to a large strawberry and has developed recognizable fingers and toes. Baby’s head accounts for about half of the length of their little body! Your morning sickness may be starting to ease up, as it often does at the end of the first trimester, but nausea, bloating and food aversions are still common.
Pregnancy Timeline
Week 12
Wow! This is a big week – your baby has grown to the size of a lime, and all vital organs are now fully formed. They’ve also begun producing hormones in their pituitary gland, which will make it possible for them to give you grandkids one day. That heartbeat should be loud and clear on an ultrasound, and you may be showing a little more. You’re probably needing to pee less and feeling less nauseous, but you may notice an increased sense of smell.
Pregnancy Timeline
Week 13
This is it: the final week of your first trimester! How did that happen so fast? Baby is now lemon-sized and many parents-in-waiting begin to tell people about the pregnancy at this point. But when you share your news is completely your call! Baby’s eyes have arrived, but his eyelids are fused shut to protect them as they develop. Vocal cords are also starting to form.
Pregnancy Timeline
Week 14
Welcome to the second trimester! Many describe this as the trimester of smooth sailing as pregnancy symptoms begin to subside and you feel more energetic and less nauseous. Every pregnancy is different, though, so if you’re still experiencing symptoms, that’s totally normal. Baby is about the size of your clenched fist, now, and is able to pull facial expressions and make more fluid movements as muscles develop.
Pregnancy Timeline
Week 15
During this week, baby’s facial features are taking shape, with ears and eyes moving towards their correct position on the head, and his little skeleton has developed to the point that it would show up on an X-ray. He’s about the size of a pear now. If your experience mirrors that of most women, you’re probably continuing to feel better and more energetic.
Pregnancy Timeline
Week 16
It might be time to start shopping for those maternity clothes, if you haven’t already. Now the size of an avocado, baby’s presence could be noticeable to those who are looking. Baby’s circulatory system is starting to gear up towards full swing, and their tiny heart can already pump around 15 quarts of blood per day. Their eyes can even perceive light through their closed eyelids!
Pregnancy Timeline
Week 17
By now, baby is the size of a large onion, and her fingerprints are forming. She is also learning to suck and swallow, which will come in pretty handy for feeding when she’s born. You may notice some of that infamous pregnancy congestion – a result of all those pregnancy hormones causing the nasal membranes to swell. Her heartbeat is now regulated by her brain, making for a regular beat of around 140-150 bpm, but variations outside of that range are normal too!
Pregnancy Timeline
Week 18
Wait…Did you just feel something moving down there? Yes! At this point, baby is big and strong enough for you to feel his movements in your uterus, but don’t worry if you don’t feel them yet – some women don’t feel them until 24 weeks! When you do feel them, they’ll be soft and subtle, but once you experience it, you’ll notice them constantly. Baby is now the length of a cucumber, and their genitals are starting to take their final positions. You’re probably noticeably pregnant by now, and possible experiencing back aches.
Pregnancy Timeline
Week 19
Your baby is in the midst of a significant growth spurt at this stage, and is around the size of a mango, weighing in at a whopping half a pound. You might be noticing baby’s movements more regularly now. Some women describe them as tiny bubbles or butterfly flutters. If you’re not feeling them yet, that’s normal, too. You may experience increased appetite and back ache as baby continues to grow.
Pregnancy Timeline
Week 20
You’re at the half-way mark, and baby is now the size of an (extra) sweet potato. Only 20 more weeks to go. You’re probably going for an ultrasound scan this week, at which you should be able to identify the baby’s gender, if that’s something you want to know at this stage. Baby’s lungs are also developing rapidly, and he may be sucking his thumb already. You may notice some swelling in your feet in addition to the other symptoms of the last couple weeks.
Pregnancy Timeline
Week 21
At this stage baby’s limbs are in proportion, and she as much more control over her movements, which may mean an increase in those kick and movement sensations. She’s also starting to drink some of the amniotic fluid she’s floating in. Although baby is now the size of a large banana, she still has plenty of room in your uterus – for now. What’s new with you? Increased pregnancy hormones may lead you to notice your hair and nails growing faster than normal.
Pregnancy Timeline
Week 22
This is a milestone week! Baby, now the size of a red bell pepper, has a keener sense of the world than ever before. Their eyesight – or light sensitivity – is more pronounced, and they may be able to perceive sounds from the outside world. Try shining a flashlight at your belly and see if you feel your baby move. You are likely sporting a definite baby bump, and perhaps that innie belly button of yours is starting to look more like an outie.
Pregnancy Timeline
Week 23
Get ready for a major growth spurt. Your baby will likely double in size over the next four weeks. He’s already the size of a grapefruit. With your pregnancy hormones on overdrive, you may start noticing that hazy, forgetful feeling known as "pregnancy brain." The placenta is now fully developed and transferring oxygen and nutrients to baby, while removing waste.
Pregnancy Timeline
Week 24
Baby now weighs well over a pound and is roughly as big as a pomegranate. She’s packing on weight at the moment, mostly from fat and developing organs. Her hair and eyebrows are growing, but have yet to develop pigment, so they are all white. Amazingly, her hearing is advanced enough that if you play a certain song on repeat, she’ll recognize it after birth. You may notice more leg cramps, swelling feet and perhaps a touch of constipation.
Pregnancy Timeline
Week 25
In week 25, your uterus is the size of a soccer ball and you may finally have that classic baby bump. Your belly button has likely ‘popped’ by now, but don’t worry, it’ll go back to normal after birth. Meanwhile, your baby's nose and lungs are becoming more functional and their ‘startle reflex’ is developing. Try not to scare them. Note: you’ll likely go for your glucose test sometime between 24-28 weeks to screen for gestational diabetes (a temporary condition that can impact your diet and required levels of activity).
Pregnancy Timeline
Week 26
Around 26 weeks, when your baby is about the size of an acorn squash (14 inches long and 2 pounds in weight), he may well finally open his eyes! And symptoms-wise, you may start to contend with pregnancy insomnia and clumsiness as your baby bump grows.
Pregnancy Timeline
Week 27
This is officially the final week of the second trimester, and your baby is the size of a cabbage. Baby’s hearing is getting sharper and their lungs are developing fast – so much so that you may start noticing little jumps in your tummy: possibly caused by a case of the tiny hiccups! Faintness and light-headedness are not uncommon at this point. Laying down and elevating your feet can help alleviate the discomfort.
Pregnancy Timeline
Week 28
It’s the home stretch! You’re officially in the third and final trimester of your pregnancy. Despite that good news, you may not be in a celebratory mood if you’re dealing with backache or sciatica, but chances are you’re still fairly comfortable. Baby is the size of a head of lettuce and can blink, and even dream!
Pregnancy Timeline
Week 29
Moving deeper into the third trimester, baby is continuing to grow (she’s now about as big as a head of cauliflower) and while she still has room to move, space is getting tighter. Kicks feel more jab-like than before, and you should consider laying down and doing kick-counts once or twice a day. Count any and all movements until you hit 10. If you don’t reach 10 in a 2-hour window, it’s worth a quick call to your practitioner (everything is probably fine, but better to be safe)!
Pregnancy Timeline
Week 30
Only 10 weeks to go! Baby is the size of a bunch of broccoli, and brain development is now proceeding rapidly. You might be noticing the urge to pee often again. Keep on doing those kick counts!
Pregnancy Timeline
Week 31
Baby's brain is getting more sophisticated by the day, and he's probably more active than ever. Kicking his feet, sucking his thumb and practicing other important skills like pulling faces, swallowing and hiccupping. He’s the size of a (super adorable) coconut. You’re probably urinating pretty often and perhaps feeling a bit of that familiar pregnancy fatigue.
Pregnancy Timeline
Week 32
Your little one is probably feeling a lot less little! She’s approximately the size of a cantaloupe now in week 31, with fully formed organs, and is continuing to practice those-all important skills, including breathing by inhaling amniotic fluid! Your body is also preparing for birth and you may be noticing those “practice” Braxton Hicks contractions. Don’t worry, that’s normal and not a sign you’re not going into labor yet!
Pregnancy Timeline
Week 33
You’re almost halfway through the third trimester, and your baby has reached their birth length (about the size of a butternut squash). Unbelievably, though they’re gaining about half a pound of weight each week! Those kicks are getting sharper, and you might notice that you’re short of breath as your growing uterus crowds around your lungs.
Pregnancy Timeline
Week 34
You’re into the eighth month of your pregnancy, and baby now weighs somewhere around 5 pounds and is as large as a pineapple. When he naps, he does so with his eyes closed, and opens them when he’s awake. If he’s a boy, his testicles will start descending into the scrotum around this time. You might be able to make out the shapes of little hands and feet when they press against the inside of your abdomen.
Pregnancy Timeline
Week 35
There’s only one month left to go, and your little one, now the size of a spaghetti squash, may be shifting to the head-down position in preparation for birth, all while continuing to add body fat and brain matter. You will probably be feeling those Braxton Hicks contractions as your uterine muscles run drills to be ready for the big day.
Pregnancy Timeline
Week 36
Welcome to the ninth month! Baby is ~18-20 inches long and weighs around 6 pounds. Most of your infant’s systems are more or less ready for primetime (hearing is particularly sharp), but not digestion, which won’t be fully mature until after birth. Growth is starting to slow now, which will be a relief for you and your aching…everything.
Pregnancy Timeline
Week 37
The end is in sight! Your baby, as big as a mini watermelon, is continuing to practice thumb sucking and grasping skills. At your next prenatal appointment, your practitioner may check your cervix to see how you're progressing. Also, fun fact - if your baby were born this week, they’d be considering full term because of normal fluctuations in gestation across women.
Pregnancy Timeline
Week 38
You’re both almost there! As you prepare for baby's arrival, she is preparing too. Her lungs have strengthened and her vocal cords have developed, ensuring she’ll be ready to communicate with you, loudly. You’re in the final countdown, and you may notice your cervical mucus plug or bloody show appear – a good sign that labor is imminent.
Pregnancy Timeline
Week 39
Congratulations! Your baby might be coming any minute now. Keep an eye out for any hints of labor, as it could start at any point. If your birth bag isn’t yet packed, you had better get on that! Baby has reached his birth weight now, and is as big as a honeydew melon, but his brain is still growing fast, and in fact, is already roughly a third bigger than it was a month ago.
Pregnancy Timeline
Week 40
It’s almost over. Your little one is fully prepped for life outside the womb, with all systems (including organs and reflexes) go.
Have you passed your due date? Not to worry, nearly a third of pregnancies reach the 41-week mark, especially first-time pregnancies. Right now, baby weights anywhere from 6 to 9 pounds and measures between 19 and 22 inches but plenty of healthy babies fall outside this range.
Pregnancy Timeline
Week 41
So your due date, which is a scientific estimate, may have been a little off, but that’s OK. Mother Nature knows best. At 41 weeks, you're due any day now and your baby will arrive a little more alert, slightly bigger (the size of a pumpkin) — and with longer fingernails. Your practitioner may have spoken with you about inducing labor, but keep a close eye out for contractions or other signs of labor in case you go into labor like…now.
Pregnancy Timeline
Week 42
Well, you made it as far as you can usually go. Your baby will probably get some extra monitoring in advance of their late debut. Your practitioner may be recommend inducing labor to get the process moving along and your little one into your arms at long last!