Pregnancy month by month: what to expect
How your baby grows and how you will feel, month by month — with length and weight at every stage.
Pregnancy is counted in weeks from the first day of your last period, not from conception. Nine months is the familiar way to think about it, so that is how this guide is arranged.
Growth at a glance
| Month | Weeks | Length | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | 1–4 | — | — |
| Second | 5–8 | — | — |
| Third | 9–13 | 3 in (8cm) | 1 oz (28g) |
| Fourth | 14–17 | 6 in (15cm) | ¼ lb (114g) |
| Fifth | 18–21 | 10 in (25cm) | ½ lb (227g) |
| Sixth | 22–26 | 12 in (30cm) | 1½ lb (680g) |
| Seventh | 27–30 | 15 in (38cm) | 2½ lb (1kg 130g) |
| Eighth | 31–35 | 16½ in (42cm) | 4 lb (1kg 812g) |
| Ninth | 36–40 | 20 in (50cm) | about 6–7½ lb (2.7–3.4kg) |
First month — 1 month pregnant (weeks 1 to 4)
Your belly will be the same size as pre-pregnancy, but you may experience some fatigue, breast engorgement and frequent urination, which will fade in time. Do not worry — this is a natural process.
Read the full first month guide →
Second month — 2 months pregnant (weeks 5 to 8)
The fetus head is growing more rapidly than the other parts, as the brain has a crucial role in regulating the function of all the vital organs. Consult your doctor before taking any drugs.
Read the full second month guide →
Third month — 3 months pregnant (weeks 9 to 13)
Your abdomen and breasts are growing larger. Baby is in a “floating” position, weighs about an ounce (about 28g) and is 3 inches (8cm) long. The arms, legs and head are barely distinguishable.
Read the full third month guide →
Fourth month — 4 months pregnant (weeks 14 to 17)
Maternity clothes may be required by now. Baby is about 6 inches (15cm) long and weighs ¼ lb (about 114g). You may feel the first movements.
Read the full fourth month guide →
Fifth month — 5 months pregnant (weeks 18 to 21)
The skin on your abdomen stretches considerably. The doctor can hear baby’s heartbeat with a hand-held Doppler (possible from about 12 weeks), and baby’s movements are more easily felt — most first-time mothers notice them by 20 weeks. Length is about 10 inches (25cm), and weight about ½ lb (227g).
Read the full fifth month guide →
Sixth month — 6 months pregnant (weeks 22 to 26)
As your abdomen continues to enlarge, baby’s movements become more vigorous. The skin is red, wrinkled and covered with soft down, and hair has begun to grow on the head. Length is now about 12 inches (30cm), weighing 1½ lb (680g).
Read the full sixth month guide →
Seventh month — 7 months pregnant (weeks 27 to 30)
Baby’s eyes are open. If born at this time, with good neonatal intensive care most babies (around 9 in 10 or more) survive, although they will need specialist care for some weeks. Weight is about 2½ lb (about 1kg 130g) and length about 15 inches (38cm).
Read the full seventh month guide →
Eighth month — 8 months pregnant (weeks 31 to 35)
Baby’s movements are more forceful and may be seen from outside. Weight has increased to about 4 lb (about 1kg 812g), and length to about 16½ inches (42cm). The skin is not as wrinkled, and most babies turn head down during these weeks. If your baby is still bottom-first (breech) at 36 weeks, your doctor will discuss options such as turning the baby (ECV).
Read the full eighth month guide →
Ninth month — 9 months pregnant (weeks 36 to 40)
Baby settles lower into the abdomen, ready for birth. Most of the fuzzy down on the body has disappeared, and the head may be covered with hair. Weight is usually around 6 to 7½ lb (2.7 to 3.4kg) by term, although healthy babies vary, and length about 20 inches (50cm).
The finest doctor in Jordan — may God bless him and his whole medical team. A doctor in every sense of the word. I advise anyone planning a pregnancy to visit Dr. Najeeb Layyous. His manner is wonderful, always smiling, with the highest ethics; he gives every patient her due, and the patient’s comfort matters most to him. We had been to many doctors and none understood and treated my case except him. Special thanks to him and the whole team, and to Dina in particular — a lovely person. I recommend anyone considering IVF or pregnancy to visit his clinic.