The first 2 months are when your body gets ready for the changes that pregnancy brings. It’s also the time when your baby’s brain, heart, bones, blood vessels and organs develop.
The sex of your baby and colour of their hair are determined when you conceive and before you even know you’re pregnant.
Every woman and every pregnancy are different. Sometimes things may happen for you a little earlier or a little later than for other mums to be. This is normal, so try not to worry.
By the end of the first week:
When the blastocyst’s strongly fixed to the lining of your womb it’s called an embryo. It’s about the same size as a full stop.
The cells on the outside of the embryo start to link with your blood supply, so your baby can get everything they need to grow. This link develops into the placenta, which is attached to your baby by a cord.
Your baby’s growing at a faster rate than at any other time in your pregnancy, but they’re still difficult to see without a magnifying glass.
Your baby’s spine starts to grow very early in your pregnancy – often before you know you’re pregnant.
Folic acid (folate) helps:
If you’re not already taking folic acid, now’s the time to start.
More about taking folic acid in pregnancy
Your baby’s spine starts to grow very early in your pregnancy – often before you know you’re pregnant.
Folic acid (folate) helps:
If you’re not already taking folic acid, now’s the time to start.
More about taking folic acid in pregnancy
By week 5 to 8 you may start feeling:
You may start feeling sick around week 6 – although some women go through pregnancy without feeling sick at all.
It’s just as important to look after your emotional wellbeing as it is your physical health. It’s okay to not feel okay about being pregnant.
There’s lots of help and support for mums to be and partners, so you don’t need to manage alone. Talk to your partner, midwife or a friend about how you’re feeling and get help if you need it.
You may start noticing:
Your baby’s still tiny but growing quickly. They grow from the size of an apple pip at week 5, to about the size of a raisin at week 8. They’re starting to look a bit like a tadpole, but the tail will disappear and become the bottom part of their back.
Your baby’s growing from 3 layers:
By week 5 their heart and blood vessels are just starting to form.
By week 7 their heart’s started to beat. Tiny buds are developing that will become their arms and legs.
By the end of the week 8, your baby has tiny hands and feet with webbed fingers and toes, and their lungs have started to grow.
Your baby’s floating inside the amniotic sac (bag of waters) which will protect them throughout pregnancy.
They may start to move around now, but you won’t feel any movement for a while yet.
By week 9 you don’t look pregnant yet, but your waistline may be changing and your breasts are probably getting bigger.
Now’s a good time to get measured for a new bra to make sure you’re getting enough support.
Your baby:
The ends of their arms and legs are starting to look like hands and feet.
Your midwife will measure your baby’s growth at each antenatal visit.
To do this, they’ll measure your tummy from the top of your pubic bone to the top of your bump. This is called the fundal height. They might also do a growth scan.
The measurements are put on a chart and checked to make sure your baby’s growing well.
By week 10 and 11 you’ll probably feel hungrier than usual because it takes a lot of energy to grow a baby.
Most women have an ultrasound scan about now, so you’ll be able to see your baby for the first time.
More about early pregnancy scans
Your baby is about 4 cm long from head to bottom and weighs about the same as a large grape.
Their:
Your baby at week 12 and 16
By around week 12 some women start to get a small bump.
At about this time, you’ll probably be offered some tests and checks for you and your baby. Your midwife will help you make decisions needed.
More about screening tests in pregnancy
Your baby:
Sometimes antenatal checks pick up that a baby’s smaller and lighter than they should be for the stage of pregnancy. This is called fetal growth restriction.
Most small babies are born healthy and grow into healthy children, but if they do have fetal growth restriction they’ll need extra care during pregnancy.
More about fetal growth restriction
By week 13 and 14 if you’ve had morning sickness it should be starting to get better, but for some women it carries on longer.
You may start to see a dark line appearing from your tummy button to your pubic hair. This is called the linea nigra.
Your baby is about 7 cm from head to bottom and now looks much more like a baby.
Their:
They now get all the energy and nutrients they need from you through the placenta.
By week 15 and 16 you may have that pregnancy glow, and your:
You might just have started to feel your baby move inside you, although this doesn’t usually happen until later.
If you had been feeling sick this should start to pass. Your breasts should feel less tender too.
Your baby’s body is growing fast to catch up with the size of their head.
They:
By week 17 and 18 you may be able to:
Your baby’s probably kicking and moving around a lot, especially at night. Don’t worry if you can’t feel anything yet.
Your baby’s about 13 cm from the top of their head to their bottom.
Their taste buds are beginning to form.
Your baby at week 20 and 24
You’re halfway there, so it may be now that it really sinks in that you’re going to be a parent.
You may feel:
You might also feel your baby kick and move, though if you allow someone to put their hand on your tummy they might not be able to feel it.
You’ll be offered a second ultrasound scan at about this time.
More about mid-pregnancy scans
The Baby Box is a welcome gift for every baby born in Scotland. It can help you get ready for the arrival of your baby and gives them a safe and comfortable place to sleep if safe sleeping guidelines are followed.
Your midwife will help you register for a Baby Box when you’re about 20 to 24 weeks pregnant.
By week 20 your baby’s about 25.5 cm from head to toe and very active.
They can grasp with their hands, and their:
As your baby grows, and your bump gets bigger, some women have difficulty sleeping. This may cause a bit of absentmindedness or forgetfulness. This is normal and nothing to worry about.
Some women also:
How to do pelvic floor exercises
Your baby weighs about 500g, and:
By week 23 and 24 it’s normal for some women to have:
You might also:
More about common health issues in pregnancy
From 24 weeks you should start going to sleep lying on your side. Don’t worry if you wake up lying on your back, just roll on to your side again.
It doesn’t matter if you lie on your right or left side.
Your baby:
You should feel your baby move every day from about week 24.
By week 25 and 26 you’ll be walking differently because your centre of gravity’s changed. Your feet, ankles and fingers might be swelling too, so sit with your feet up whenever you can.
It’s normally perfectly safe to have sex when you’re pregnant, but you and your partner might find that your desire for sex changes.
In the last 3 months of your pregnancy, go to sleep lying on your side. Don’t worry if you wake up lying on your back, just roll onto your side again. It doesn’t matter left or right side.
Your baby’s:
Everyone’s different, so:
If your baby’s moving less or the pattern of their movements has changed it could be a sign of a health issue.
The sooner you pick up these changes, the sooner you can get the right treatment if there’s something wrong.
Your baby at week 28 and 32
At week 28 you’re into your third trimester.
Because your baby’s aware of voices, you and your partner or family members can talk, sing and play music to them. Finding a quiet time to do this helps you to bond with your baby and your baby feel safe and secure.
A Braxton Hicks contraction is when you feel your abdomen tightening for about 30 seconds, several times a day. This can easily be mistaken for labour, but they’re different from labour contractions.
Braxton Hicks contractions can start happening from around week 28 onwards.
More about Braxton Hicks contractions
Your baby’s chances of surviving outside the womb are increasing week by week.
They’re:
They might begin to open and close their eyes, and can:
By week 29 and 30 some women are uncomfortable lying down at this stage. If you’re finding it hard to sleep, try a cushion between your knees or at your side.
If you’re getting backache as your baby grows, try some gentle massage and make sure your posture’s good.
Your baby’s:
The fine hair (lanugo) covering them may be starting to fall out.
By week 31 and 32 you may have indigestion or feel a bit out of breath. This is caused by the pressure on your stomach and lungs as your baby gets bigger. If this happens don’t worry. Your baby’s getting the oxygen they need from the placenta.
You may have some stretch marks as your bump grows. These can look quite discoloured but will fade to become faint, silvery lines.
Your Baby Box should have arrived. This usually happens 4 weeks after your register.
Your baby’s about 42 cm from head to toe and putting on weight.
Their lungs have formed and are developing. They may also be dreaming while they’re asleep.
By week 33 and 34 your breasts may be leaking colostrum to get ready for breastfeeding, but this doesn’t happen to everyone.
If you’ve got varicose veins, then resting with your feet up may help your legs feel better.
It’s common for women to feel puffiness in their feet, ankles and fingers, but if your face is swelling too, tell your midwife, GP or the hospital.
More about common issues in pregnancy
Your baby’s lungs are now fully developed, and they:
By week 35 you’ll probably be feeling tired. As there won’t be much time for rest after the birth, try to get as much as you can now.
Take some gentle exercise, such as a walk or a swim, to help you relax and make it easier to sleep.
You should be thinking about things you can do, read or ask your midwife about now. This will help you feel as ready and confident as possible to be a parent when your baby arrives.
More about preparing for parenthood and caring for your new child
Your baby weighs about 2.3 kg and is still putting on weight.
Their toenails and fingernails could almost do with a trim
Your baby at week 36 and 40
Your bump’s getting lower (called lightening) as your baby gets ready to be born.
Your baby’s head may be engaged, which means the widest part has moved down into your pelvis. Don’t worry if their head doesn’t engage at this stage as some babies don’t until labour starts.
Your baby probably weighs about 2.7 kg. They’re also still moving every day, but have less room to move around now.
By week 37 to 40 you might be getting stronger and more frequent Braxton Hicks contractions.
You can help to ease any discomfort by:
Taking a gentle walk will be good for easing any aches and pains.
Many babies arrive earlier or later than their due date, so make sure your bags are packed and you’re ready when baby is.
More about packing for the birth
Your baby’s now fully developed and ready to be born. They’re:
Last updated:
25 January 2023