Nine Month Guide to Pregnancy.

Below are some monthly changes that take place in your baby during his nine month stay in your womb. There is also a list of symptoms you may experience during each month of your pregnancy.

Month one : In just the first month of pregnancy your little one's heart, lungs, and spinal cord have already begun to develop. And your baby's heart has already begun pumping blood. By the end of the first month your baby is about 1/8 of an inch. Some common symptoms that may take place in the first month include: frequent urination, soreness of breasts, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, bloating, and missed period.

Month two : During the second month your baby's internal organs and other major structures of the body continue to grow and by the end of the month all the organs are present. The arms begin to form as small buds off your baby's body and even this early your baby already has his own fingerprints. Your baby's eyes are also beginning to form although he won't be able to see until later. Tooth buds have also begun to appear this month. By the end of this month your baby is about 1 inch long and weighs around 0.1 oz. Some common symptoms that may take place in the second month include: frequent urination, soreness of breasts, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, increased moodiness, and an increase in vaginal discharge.

Month three : This month muscles have begun to form as well as cartilage bones which are forming rapidly. As the brain, nerves, and muscles begin to function your baby will begin to move. However you won't be able to feel these movements just yet. And your baby may already be sucking on his thumb or fist since his sucking reflex is developed. He has also begun to practice swallowing amniotic fluid and is able to excrete urine. By the end of this month your baby is about 3.5 inches long and weighs around 1.7 oz. Some common symptoms that may take place in the third month include: frequent urination, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, increased moodiness, an increase in vaginal discharge, nosebleeds, and some weight gain.

Month four : During the fourth month of pregnancy your baby's bones will begin to harden and his ears and face will become well developed. Your baby may be able to hear some sounds this month although hearing will not be complete until the seventh month. Your little one now also has the ability to frown, squint, and grimace. The lungs will continue development and your baby uses amniotic fluid to practice breathing. Among other human-like features eyebrows and scalp hair have begun to appear and although your baby still can't see yet his eyes are becoming sensitive to light. By the end of this month your baby is about 5.5 inches long and weighs around 6 oz. Some common symptoms that may take place in the fourth month include: nausea and vomiting, fatigue, an increase in vaginal discharge, nosebleeds, heartburn, blotchy skin, weight gain, and you may even feel your baby move (may feel like butterflies fluttering).

Month five :This month your baby's senses have begun to function. His skin is sensitive to touch, he can hear (and may even respond to some sounds), he can taste, and his eyesight is continuing to develop. Among many other things your baby has begun to develop are the Vernix Caseosa (a cream-like substance that forms on the baby's skin to protect the skin from amniotic fluid) and Lanugo hairs (downy hairs that grown on the skin to help keep the Vernix Caseosa in place and regulate temperature) appear this month. This month your baby also develops "Brown Fat", which is a special type of fat that helps regulate his body temperature. By the end of this month your baby is about 7.5 inches long from crown to rump and weighs around 1 pound. Some common symptoms that may take place in the fifth month include: vaginal discharge, nosebleeds, heartburn and indigestion, blotchy skin, stretch marks, swelling, varicose veins, bleeding gums, constipation, weight gain, leaky breasts, pelvic pressure, and fetal movements.

Month six : This month your baby's lungs have continued to develop and now are producing surfactant which will keep his lung from sticking to themselves. However the lungs are one of the last parts of your baby to fully mature. Your baby's body and head are now in the right proportions for that of a newborn and his brainwaves even resemble a full-term newborns. Your baby has begun to develop a sleeping pattern and may become being active at around the same time each day. By the end of this month your baby is about 10 inches from crown to rump and weighs around 2 pounds. Some common symptoms that may take place in the sixth month include: vaginal discharge, nosebleeds, heartburn and indigestion, blotchy skin, stretch marks, swelling, varicose veins, bleeding gums, constipation, leaky breasts, pelvic pressure, fetal movements, bladder infections, contractions, hemorrhoids, leg cramps, shortness of breath, and weight gain.

Month seven : Your baby can now see and hear. He is beginning to adjust to day and night just by seeing the light of day and the black of night through your belly. He is also becoming familiar with mommy and daddy's voices and all the sounds he hears each day. Your baby is also able to taste the types of food you eat through the amniotic fluid and although the taste is subtle he is becoming accustomed to the types of food you eat. Also his brain and nervous system will be growing drastically this month. His bone marrow is now fully responsible for making his blood and your baby produces about 1 pint of urine per day. By the end of this month your baby is about 11 inches from crown to rump and weighs around 3 pounds. Some common symptoms that may take place during the seventh month include: vaginal discharge, nosebleeds, heartburn and indigestion, blotchy skin, stretch marks, swelling, varicose veins, bleeding gums, constipation, leaky breasts, pelvic pressure, fetal movements, contractions, hemorrhoids, leg cramps, shortness of breath, backaches, faintness, weight gain, and difficulty sleeping.

Month eight :This month your baby (and his brain) will be growing rapidly and he will gain at least two pounds. This increase in growth and lack of space may cause your little one to slow down on his movements some. His body is pretty well formed this month his eyes can focus and blink. However his lungs are still forming. By the end of this month your baby is about 12 inches from crown to rump and he weighs around 5 pounds. Some common symptoms that may take place during the eighth month include: vaginal discharge, nosebleeds, heartburn and indigestion, blotchy skin, stretch marks, swelling, varicose veins, bleeding gums, constipation, leaky breasts, pelvic pressure, fetal movements, contractions, hemorrhoids, leg cramps, shortness of breath, backaches, faintness, weight gain, bladder issues, swelling of breasts, decreased libido, nausea, increased moodiness, and lightening.

Month nine :This month your baby is continuing to grow and grow. His lungs are finishing up their development and his downy hairs are beginning to shed along with the vernix. His immune system is still not completely mature so he is receiving antibodies from the placenta while in the womb and after birth will get those antibodies through your colostrum and breast milk. By the end of this month your baby will be 14-15 inches from crown to rump and weigh around 6-9 pounds. Some common symptoms that may take place during the last month of pregnancy include: vaginal discharge, nosebleeds, heartburn and indigestion, blotchy skin, stretch marks, swelling, varicose veins, bleeding gums, constipation, leaky breasts, pelvic pressure, fetal movements, contractions, hemorrhoids, leg cramps, shortness of breath, backaches, faintness, weight gain, bladder issues, swelling of breasts, decreased libido, increased moodiness, and lightening.

Below is a chart which makes it easy to tell which month and trimester you are in. Since there are 40 weeks in a pregnancy it is often difficult for women to tell which month they are in so hopefully the information below will be helpful. 

FIRST TRIMESTER:

• Month one - weeks 1 - 4 

• Month two - weeks 5 - 8 

• Month three - weeks 9 - 13

SECOND TRIMESTER: 

• Month four - weeks 14 - 17 

• Month five - weeks 18 - 21 

• Month six - weeks 22 - 26

THIRD TRIMESTER:

• Month seven - weeks 27 - 30

• Month eight - weeks 31 - 35

• Month nine - weeks 36 - 40