Pregnant women experience various symptoms, from nausea to back pain.
Though everyone’s body and every pregnancy are different, some women experience the common following pregnancy symptoms week by week.
Browse through the blog to learn about the possible symptoms you might face every week.
Table of Contents
Pregnancy Symptoms Week by Week
Let us scan through the pregnancy symptoms week by week in detail.
Week 1
The early symptoms of pregnancy are early morning sickness and nausea, a mimic of vomiting but not the actual one.
However, the classic sign of pregnancy is missed menstruation.
Week 2
Week 2 of pregnancy brings a few slight bodily changes like a raised body temperature, tenderness over the breasts, mood swings, and cravings for food and sex.
Week 3
Slight spotting or a discharge from the vagina is usually normal. It is the cervical mucus in most cases. The sensation of smell increases as a symptom of pregnancy.
Week 4
When we discuss the pregnancy symptoms week by week, it is by the 4th week that the early symptoms mostly persist for around 4 weeks and the physical condition has not yet changed. Meanwhile, the embryo inside starts its initial stages of development through the proliferation of its cells.
Week 5
The feeling of aversion and fatigue lasts the first trimester. At this stage, the mother must seek antenatal care from the physician and provide the baby with the required nutrients for optimal growth.
Week 6
Early morning persists, alongside you will develop an increased frequency of urination. There can also be bloating. Proper genital hygiene should be maintained to prevent urinary tract infections.
Week 7
The urge to pee often is another common early pregnancy symptom. The hCG hormone increases the fluid level in your body, giving your kidneys extra work to clear the wastes and thereby urging you to urinate often.
Week 8
Headaches might hit you often by this time. It is important to have antenatal visits scheduled by your physician to detect any complications and ensure you and your baby are healthy.
Week 9
With morning sickness and headaches now, you might also have constipation and excess gas. The digestive system works slower than usual during pregnancy, making it tougher for moms.
Week 10
Women experience their pregnancy glow during their first trimester, and you can see your little baby bump growing.
Week 11
Aching and cramping around your abdomen may be caused by your growing baby bump.
Week 12
Almost every part of the fetus has accelerated development by week 12 of pregnancy. From now until delivery, your baby will continue to grow in size and strength.
Week 13
When talking about pregnancy symptoms week by week, by the 13th week your first trimester ends, your early pregnancy symptoms will fade slightly. However, you may feel woozy throughout the day. Combat them by staying hydrated and switching sides slowly.
Week 14
In the upcoming weeks, you might be craving more, your energy might have been boosted up, and you might have a desire for sex.
Week 15
A stuffy nose, muscle cramps, and sensitive gums are all possible symptoms. Because relaxin loosens your ligaments, you may feel clumsy at this stage of pregnancy.
Week 16
The skin around the nipples, inner thighs, underarms, and belly button darkens in about 90% of pregnant women.
Week 17
Back pain hits you by this time. Back pain is common among most expecting moms. Keep your hot water bags handy for the rescue.
Week 18
And the exciting baby kicks start from now. Most pregnant women experience their baby’s first kick between 18-22 weeks of pregnancy. So watch out ladies!
Week 19
Your belly most likely looks pregnant by now. In addition, your breasts have begun to grow in size in preparation for the production of breast milk. Your weight and foot size might also increase.
Week 20
Leg cramps, dry eyes, and difficulty sleeping are also common during this time.
Week 21
Your round ligament pain increases when your baby grows. Your hip, groin, and abdominal muscles may feel sharp as they extend to accommodate your growing uterus.
Week 22
Increased levels of progesterone result in thicker and silky hair. However, because your stomach is constantly stretched, you may develop dry, irritated skin.
Week 23
Your expanding belly can turn an “innie” navel into an “outie,” but it will bounce back after delivery. Your headaches, back pain, cramps, constipation, and stretch marks will be continued.
Week 24
Yaayyy!!! It is the completion of the second trimester. While some pregnant women still have strong sexual desires, others notice a decrease in libido.
Week 25
You could suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome, which is frequently caused by normal swelling and fluid retention in the hands during pregnancy. This numbness should subside after you give birth.
Week 26
Sleep may be difficult to come by as you approach the third trimester, whether due to anxiety, leg cramps, frequent urination, or general discomfort. Itching in your hands and feet is also possible.
Week 27
Some women experience hemorrhoids, which can be relieved with a high-fiber diet and plenty of fluids, as well as a hemorrhoidal ointment, sitz baths, or witch hazel pads.
Week 28
As you approach the major milestone, you may begin to feel completely tired and generally uneasy. Furthermore, blood pressure begins to rise after 28-32 weeks of pregnancy.
Week 29
Within the next few weeks, as your body prepares to feed your baby after birth, you may notice yellowish colostrum leaking from your breasts.
Week 30
Itching, swelling, aching, and heartburn are all symptoms that have not yet subsided. If you’ve got stretch marks, like the greater part of pregnant women, they are most likely becoming more visible.
Week 31
And it is the time to stay strong. Your first trimester symptoms may come back, and for a few, they might not have left. Tender breasts and frequent urination can make a comeback.
Week 32
Your body may start to experience Braxton Hicks contractions, commonly called practice contractions, after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Braxton Hicks contractions typically last between 30 seconds and two minutes and occur infrequently.
Week 33
Your pelvis may begin to feel as though it is under pressure, causing bad back pain. This feeling of heaviness may indicate that your baby is ready to be born and is lying head down.
Week 34
You may observe an increase in the frequency of movements as your baby grows and prepares for birth, but if you have any concerns or start noticing significantly less movement, immediately contact your physician.
Week 35
Your Braxton Hicks contractions will become more regular as labor draws near. Make sure you understand how to distinguish between these true pain (Real contractions) and false pain (Braxton hicks contractions).
Week 36
Your child is on the shift! Your baby will begin “falling” into your lower pelvis about two to four weeks before delivery. This maneuver may relieve pressure on your vital organs, enabling you to take deep breaths.
Week 37
By this time, the Braxton-Hicks contractions may be intensifying. Your pregnancy symptoms like heartburn, indigestion, and frequent urination get reduced gradually as your baby descends towards your pelvis.
Week 38
Most pregnant women lose their mucus plug around week 37 or 38. To safeguard your baby from harmful bacteria, the mucus plug closes the opening to your cervix.
Week 39
Regular labor pains, abdominal pressure, a dull backache, and a sense of uneasiness are also early signs of labor. Early labor can last for several hours.
Week 40
The third trimester comes to an end with a fully developed baby in the mother’s womb. As everybody is unique, some might get their baby/babies delivered prior to 40 weeks of gestation, while a few might deliver after 40 weeks. It is all considered normal unless there is no complication for the mother and the child.
Finally, understanding the pregnancy symptoms week by week enables expectant mothers to handle the physical and emotional changes with awareness and preparedness, resulting in a healthier and more enjoyable pregnancy journey.
Vaginal or C-section, your body knows you better
Stay strong! Happy Birthing!
Chennai Women’s Clinic is now Jammi Scans
