Having a baby - being pregnant
pregnancy; pregnant; baby; fetus; foetus; embryo; miscarriage; birth; cchildbirth; trimester; morning sickness; uterus; breast; colostrum; stretch marks; antenatal; maternity; premature; term; alcohol;
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Being pregnant isn't a sickness, it's a perfectly normal part of a woman's life. However, not all women are well during their pregnancy. If you are pregnant, you should get exercise, rest and eat healthily. If you are in doubt about anything you want to do, check with your doctor.
How far a pregnancy has progressed is measured in weeks from the beginning of the last period before a woman becomes pregnant. For example, a woman is said to be 4 weeks pregnant even though it is only 2 weeks since the egg was fertilised (conception). Doctors have different names for the unborn child. From 1 day it is called a zygote, from 1 month an embryo, and from the 3rd month to birth it is called a foetus.
Not all young women who are pregnant want to have a baby. For more information have a look at the topic 'Pregnancy - options'.
Trimesters of pregnancy
The nine months of pregnancy are divided into three stages which are called 'trimesters' - each is about three months long.
1st Trimester (0 -12 weeks) [embryo stage]
- The fertilised egg settles in the uterus (womb) and begins to grow.
- You may feel sick and may throw up (morning sickness). It may not only be in the morning (see the topic Pregnancy – morning sickness for more information about how to manage this.)
- You may feel tingling in your breasts and they will grow larger throughout the pregnancy.
- You may feel tired.
- By 8 weeks, the developing baby has hands and feet.
- By 10 weeks the baby can pass urine.
- By 12 weeks the baby weighs about 60 grams, and with the fluid around it, is the size of a large egg. Fingers and toes have developed. The head is large in proportion to the rest of the body.
- By 12 weeks the uterus has grown large enough to be felt at the top of the pubic bone (bottom of the tummy). You may need to pass urine more often because the uterus is pressing on your bladder.
The first few weeks of pregnancy are very important for your baby's health, and babies do better if their mother sees her doctor for advice early in the pregnancy. Many things can harm your baby before birth, such as smoking, alcohol, drugs and infections (eg. Rubella).
2nd Trimester (13 - 28 weeks)
- By 14 weeks, morning sickness has usually stopped, but it sometimes continues.
- At 16 weeks the baby is about 15 cm long. The uterus has grown to about half way between the pubic bone and the belly button. Stretch marks may start to appear on the tummy and thighs of some women. Colostrum (clear fluid) can sometimes be expressed from the breasts.
- At 20 weeks the baby is 20 cm long. There are fine hairs on the head and eyebrows and there are fingernails. The mother can feel movements. The uterus has grown to just below the belly button.
- At 28 weeks the foetus measures about 36 cm long, and weighs about 1 kilo. The foetus is fully formed but still very immature. A baby born at this stage will need special care, but has a good chance of surviving and being healthy. A baby is said to be very premature if it is born this early.
3rd Trimester (29 - 40 weeks)
- At 30 weeks the uterus has grown to halfway between the belly button and the bottom of the breast bone (sternum).
- At 32 weeks the baby is about 40 cm long and weighs about 1.5 kg. There is less downy hair on the baby's body and the skin is red.
- At 36 weeks the uterus is at the bottom of the breastbone, its highest level. You may find this very uncomfortable and have some difficulty breathing. The baby weighs about 2.5 kg. The nails reach the fingertips and the edges of the ears are soft.
- At 38 weeks the baby is fully formed, and spends the next one to four weeks putting on weight.
- At full term (which is usually said to be 40 weeks, but may be anywhere between 38 and 42 weeks) the baby has smooth pink skin, usually weighs between 2.8 and 4.5 kg and measures about 50 cm long. The mother's breasts are much larger, the nipples being darker and erect.
Health care
Take care of yourself during pregnancy. It's important to care for yourself at any time - you are worth it! In pregnancy, your health affects the growing child inside you. This means that you need to eat healthily, get suitable physical exercise and have check-ups with a midwife or doctor regularly.
It's very important to avoid smoking, drugs and alcohol, as these can all harm babies.
- Alcohol at any stage of your pregnancy can harm your developing baby. Large amounts of alcohol are more likely to do harm, but even a small amount of alcohol sometimes does harm. Have a look at the Parenting and Child Health topic Alcohol – effects on unborn babies for more information.
- If you smoke, your baby is more likely to be small and not so healthy, and there is a greater risk of SIDS (cot death). Nicotine increases your heart rate and your baby's heart rate, the blood vessels are narrowed and the amount of oxygen that gets to the baby is less. The breathing movements of the baby are also reduced by the effect of the nicotine. To find out more about the effects of smoking, see our topics Smoking and Passive smoking (Parenting and Child Health section). In South Australia there is a Pregnancy Quitline 1300 889 010 to help women stop smoking during pregnancy.
- If you need to take any medicines, let your health care worker or doctor know - they will be able to give you information about whether this is safe, or may be able to suggest alternatives. Even 'natural' medicines could have a harmful effect on a baby.
Taking care of yourself
Attend antenatal (before the birth) classes if you can, as a preparation for birth.
Apart from the physical side, look after yourself emotionally. Pregnancy can mean ups and downs emotionally, especially if you are young and the pregnancy wasn't planned. Try to focus on the positives each day. An unplanned pregnancy doesn't mean you can't do the things in your life that you want to do - it does mean you may have to do them differently or at a different time.
Choices in childbirth
Your choices about how you will give birth depend on what services are available to you, and on any medical conditions you might have that could affect the health and safety of yourself and your baby at the birth.
- Some women choose to give birth in a hospital, others in a birthing centre (at a hospital) and some have home births with midwives.
- Some mothers choose natural births (no pain relief) and some choose "give me all the pain relief you've got, NOW!" births. Childbirth is painful, so be prepared to change your mind about your birth plan!
If you start thinking about your choices near the beginning of your pregnancy, you'll have time to consider different services and book into the one that feels right for you. You can also be thinking about who you would like to have with you to support you at the birth.
Miscarriage
Miscarriage happens in about 1 in 4 pregnancies, mostly in the first 3 months. Often there is no known cause for a miscarriage, even when tests are done after it happens.
Signs that a miscarriage may be beginning are bleeding, cramping pains and then heavier bleeding. If any bleeding occurs while you're pregnant, it's important to contact your doctor. The doctor might suggest an internal examination, a scan or a few days in hospital.
If the miscarriage happens, a woman bleeds for one or two days and she may feel cramping pain. It is likely that your doctor will suggest a procedure to clear any material left in the womb so that an infection does not start.
Emotionally, the miscarriage may have been bewildering and frightening. Common feelings after a miscarriage include sadness, and a sense of isolation and emptiness. The parents could have very different feelings from one another and this can cause conflict. Try to be supportive to each other and share feelings with each other.
Resources
Medical
- Your family doctor (General Practitioner or GP) will be able to provide you with care during your pregnancy, and with a lot of information. Your doctor will also be able to refer you to a specialist if needed and a hospital. You may also choose to have a midwife as the person who provides you with much of your care.
- Maternity hospitals - Women can get care during their pregnancy, and can have their baby at many hospitals, both public and private, in South Australia, including some of the large hospitals in the country, such as in Whyalla and Mt Gambier. Some of the city hospitals include the Women's and Children's Hospital, Flinders Medical Centre and the Lyell McEwin Hospital. Your doctor will be able to help you decide where to get care. You should call the Pregnancy Infoline to find out which is your nearest hospital 1300 368 820.
Financial
- In Australia, there are some parenting benefits that you might be eligible for. Have a look at the Centrelink website (see the 'Individuals' section, 'Are you a parent or guardian?' You can also talk to a social worker at Centrelink for more information.
http://www.centrelink.gov.au/ or call on 13 13 05
Accommodation
Support services
General
The information on this site should not be used as an alternative to professional care. If you have a particular problem, see a doctor, or ring the Youth Healthline on 1300 13 17 19 (local call cost from anywhere in South Australia).