There are three stages during a pregnancy which are called the trimesters. Each trimester consists of three months and the total of the trimesters completes the 9 months period required for completing the pregnancy after which the baby is fully ready to be delivered.

First Trimester

The first trimester are the early stages of pregnancy lasting for three months. During this period the fetus is called an embryo and there are dramatic changes and developments taking place inside the body of the women. This is the time that a woman experiences the early symptoms such as nausea, headaches, fatigue, stress and moodiness due to hormonal imbalance. There are not many changes in the external physical shape of the woman as the fetus is still very small. The weight gain at this stage is also considerably less. However one cannot take the first trimester very lightly as this stage is crucial for the normal development of the fetus. The mother must avoid any medications, drugs, alcohol or illnesses at this stage and consult a doctor even if she requires taking a simple tablet such as crocin as that can harm the baby and cause a miscarriage if taken lightly.

Second Trimester

This is the fourth, fifth and sixth months of pregnancy. By the time a woman reaches the second trimester she is quite comfortable with her pregnancy and the changes occurring in her body as well as outside. The mother begins to feel better with reduced signs of morning sickness and other symptoms. External signs such as increase in abdomen size, stretching of the skin and skin pigmentation can occur at this stage. There is an increase in the appetite of the women as compared with the previous stage as the fetus develops organs such as heart, kidneys, and external features like eyebrows and fingernails. The umbilical cord thickens at this stage as it carries nutrition to the baby. The second trimester is the most enjoyable one out of the three stages as the woman’s body faces less problems. There could be occasional nose bleeds, frequent urination or constipation at this stage but the moodiness and nauseating symptoms vanish at this stage. The fetus also grows in size and weight at this stage increasing the appetite of the mother.

Third Trimester

The third trimester is the last three months of the pregnancy. Some women might deliver before their due date in the seventh or eighth month of pregnancy. There is no similarity between two pregnancies, if you have had a difficult first pregnancy the second one might be easier or vice versa. At this stage the fetus continues to grow in size and shape. The mother can feel movements of the baby in her stomach as this stage. The mother might feel slightly uncomfortable in the third trimester as she gains more weight during this period and may experience false labor contractions. Her anxiety about the approaching pregnancy might also increase so it is helpful to keep her relaxed and happy.