It is the happiest time when a woman gets news of her pregnancy. Giving birth is the best gift for womankind. But it is very difficult to go through this period of life. There are many physical changes in her body and these stages of pregnancy can prove to be difficult to go through.

From the initial stages of conception to the time of labor, a woman goes through different stages of pregnancy, which includes the various signs and symptoms of pregnancy like nausea, morning sickness, back pain, cramps, vomiting and other such problems.

Pregnancy is divided into three main trimesters of approximately three months each. Each trimester brings about new changes in the mother as well as the fetus. The three trimesters are described below:

First trimester

In the first trimester of pregnancy, you learn to face your fears of pregnancy. During this stage of pregnancy, most women experience the following physical changes:

Missing their periods
Feel tenderness in their breasts
Morning sickness or vomiting and nausea
Frequent urination
Feeling extremely tired after the routine work
Increase in basal body temperature
Slight weight gain

During the first three months, the embryo grows from a cluster of cells to a fetus and then starts developing the major organs. Firstly the embryo attaches itself to the uterine wall and starts developing. By the end of the first month the embryo is one fifth of an inch long. In the second month the embryo develops into a fetus and is about one inch long. The fetus grows to three inches long and the placenta is fully developed till then. An elementary umbilical cord starts to circulate blood and nourish the fetus.

Second trimester

The fourth month or second trimester onwards your pregnancy will start to show. In these months you can feel the fetus move and will be more aware of its development. During this stage of pregnancy you will face the following physical changes:

In the 20th or 22nd week you will see that the uterus has grown till your naval
You will have colostrums, pre-milk, in your breast
Your nipples will begin to get darker and the areolas will get larger
You will experience difficulty in digesting some foods
As the fetus is growing, the blood vessels in your lower part of the body will be under pressure. This might lead to varicose veins, hemorrhoids and other such discomforts.

During the fourth month the fetus is grown six inches long and develops a strong heart beat and fine body hair. It grows up to twelve inches in the fifth month and starts developing the dominant features of our body. During this time, you will be able to feel strong movements and feel that it is responding to the environment.

By the end of sixth month the fetus is around fourteen inches long. The placenta and cord are now fully developed and will henceforth continue to increase in size with the fetus.

Third trimester

There is a burst of energy in this final trimester, and you might feel impatient about your body and feel helpless and dependant. Usually during this last trimester of pregnancy, you might start ‘nesting’ or setting up and preparing for the baby’s arrival. During this time you will experience the following physical discomforts:

Backache
Cramps
Heartburn
Linea nigra, a dark line that runs vertically from your belly to your pubic bone
Feeling shortness of breath
As the uterus is growing, this exerts pressure on the bladder and you might often feel the need to go to the washroom.
Braxton-hicks contractions, which are painless contractions of the uterus

By the end of the 38th week of your pregnancy the uterus will have reached to your breast bone and you will start having early signs of labor. The fetus by now has grown rapidly and is approximately 15 inches long by the seventh month. By the eight month, the fetus will be sixteen to eighteen inches long.

In the 37th and 40th weeks, the head of the fetus settles into the pelvic canal. As the position of the fetus changes, you will feel more pressure on the bladder.