A normal pregnancy lasts between 37 and 42 weeks.
Your estimated due date is based on your 40th week of pregnancy.
Your body is changing so much in these months as your baby grows and develops. It’s hard to know what is normal, or when to be worried about something. Raham Project Hub thinks of your pregnancy in three stages, giving you information about common changes to your body and what to expect.
Always speak to your midwife or GP if you are worried about anything in pregnancy. Most maternity units have a 24 hour midwife number to call, or call 999 if it is urgent.
conception to 16 weeks
Early Pregnancy
As your baby grows you start to feel lots of changes to your body. You may only see your midwife once and will be offered lots of screening tests in early pregnancy. You probably have lots of questions about how your body changes and what recommendations you should follow in pregnancy – our information will help answer any of these questions and link you with further support and advice.
– www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk
Information and support about sickness, nausea, vomiting and Hyperemisis Gravidarum in pregnancy
Screening tests for you and your baby (infomation available in 12 languages )
Weeks 16 - 28
Mid Pregnancy
During this stage of pregnancy your bump starts to grow, your body changes shape and you will begin to feel your baby move.
You usually see your midwife 2-3 times abut we always advise to trust your instincts and always seek help if you are concerned about your baby’s movements or your own wellbeing.
Use our information to find out what to expect in this stage of pregnancy, including some common conditions of pregnancy.
Information about developing diabetes in pregnancy, screening tests and what this means for you and your baby
Weeks 28 - Birth
Late Pregnancy
As you enter the last stage of your pregnancy, you start to see your midwife more frequently and may have appointments with the obstetrician.
You may want to start antenatal/parenting classes to help you prepare for labour, birth and the early weeks of parenting. Our information and useful resources guide you right up until you are in early labour.
As your body continues to change, there are some symptoms in pregnancy that you should always seek urgent help for.
Information about best practice for treatment and management of pregnancy-related Pelvic Girdle Pain
Symptoms to be aware of include an ache, sharp shooting pain, or deep muscular pain in the pelvic region. Clicking or grinding feeling in pelvic joints and hips.
Intra-hepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy (ICP) support and information for families
Symptoms to be aware of include severe itching, typically on the hands and feet, right upper quadrant pain, jaundice (yellowing of the skin), dark urine, pale stools.
Pre-eclampsia support and information for families
Symptoms to be aware of include severe headache, disturbed vision, sudden onset swelling of hands/face/feet, right upper quadrant pain (pain/tenderness under your ribcage). Your midwife may notice you have raised blood pressure, and/or protein in your urine.