What are the Stages of Pregnancy?

Most people tend to divide pregnancy into three distinct stages, known as the trimesters of pregnancy. The three stages of pregnancy are roughly equal in their duration. These stages of pregnancy are a bit arbitrary, in that they are made up by people to describe the experience of the pregnant woman and her baby during the different parts of pregnancy. While using the stages of pregnancy is a useful tool, it is important to remember that not every woman, and not every pregnancy, will be the same as the next one.

The first stage of pregnancy is known as the first trimester. The first trimester will last about three months, or about 13 to 14 weeks. During this first stage of pregnancy, many things will happen. You will discover you are pregnant. You will begin to have pregnancy symptoms, such as morning sickness and breast changes. You will also have your first prenatal visits, and begin to learn what the rest of your pregnancy will be like, including what you should expect during the next two stages of pregnancy and what you should expect during the labor and delivery process.

The second stage of pregnancy is called the second trimester. The second stage will last, like the first stage, for about three months, from your third through your sixth month of pregnancy. Again, this stage will last around 13 or 14 weeks. Most women tend to feel better during the second stage of pregnancy than they do during the first or third stages. During this stage, many of the early pregnancy symptoms like morning sickness have passed, and you're belly has not yet grown so big as to be terribly uncomfortable.

The final stage of pregnancy is the third trimester. This stage lasts from the end of the second stage, around the seventh month, through the end of your pregnancy. It also will last about 13 to 14 weeks. This is the stage at which your baby will grow bigger and bigger. This is when your baby will begin to make you feel uncomfortable, affecting any number of areas including your sleep, your balance, and even your ability to get up and down from a chair. This final stage of pregnancy, of course, ends in the most happy event of pregnancy: the birth of your baby.

Each pregnancy, expectant mother, and unborn child is different. Your pregnancy may not progress the same as the information found here. The information here is based on the average pregnancy. It's not meant to be a replacement for any advice your may receive from your doctor. If you have any concerns about your pregnancy, we advise you to contact your doctor.