Pregnancy is the period of time during which a fetus develops inside the womb of a woman. In humans, the duration of pregnancy lasts for 40 weeks and it is divided into three phases known as trimesters. Each phase in the trimester is divided based on the development of the fetus inside the mother’s womb.
First trimester
The first 13 weeks of pregnancy is known as the first trimester. In this phase your body experiences hormonal changes which causes nausea, fatigue, headache and constipation. During the first trimester the development of the baby’s organs takes place. And you might experience a high irritability, disturbed sleep cycle and fluctuation in your energy level accompanied by unusual mood swings.
Second trimester
The duration of the second trimester is 14-26 weeks of pregnancy. This phase of pregnancy is a pleasant experience as most of the uncomfortable symptoms from the first trimester disappear during this stage. In the second trimester your body will have an increased energy level with balanced mental health and better sleep cycle. Muscle cramps, heartburn sensation, back and abdominal pain is common during this stage. During this trimester, around the 20th week you may feel your baby’s movement.
Third trimester
The third trimester lasts from the 27th week to 40th week or up until the delivery. During this stage the size of the uterus increases which causes different types of symptoms. Shortness of breath, varicose veins and sleeping disorders may arise in this trimester. In this stage the bones, body, skin and internal organs of the child will be developed and start functioning on its own.