Congratulations! Pregnancy is an exciting time, but with so much pregnancy information available in books, in magazines, and on websites, how can you hope to cover it all before giving birth?

We've made it easy for you to get all the pregnancy info you need in one place. Our illustrated pregnancy calendar is a detailed guide to all the changes taking place in your baby — and in you!

Each week of pregnancy includes a description of your baby's development, as well as an explanation of the changes taking place in your body. You'll also find important medical info that will help keep you and your baby healthy.

A Word About Due Dates and Trimesters

After you announce your pregnancy, the first question you'll probably be asked is "When are you due?" At your first prenatal visit, your health care provider will help you determine an expected delivery date (EDD). Your EDD is 40 weeks from the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP). If you deliver on your EDD, your baby is actually only about 38 weeks old — that's because your egg didn't become fertilized until about 2 weeks after the start of your last menstrual period.

It's important to remember that your due date is only an estimate — most babies are born between 38 and 42 weeks from the first day of their mom's LMP and only a small percentage of women actually deliver on their due date.

Another common term you'll hear throughout your pregnancy is trimester. A pregnancy is divided into trimesters:

• the first trimester is from week 1 to the end of week 12
• the second trimester is from week 13 to the end of week 26
• the third trimester is from week 27 to the end of the pregnancy

Getting Started

To get started, simply click below on the week of pregnancy you'd like to view. Many of the articles include links to other pregnancy and newborn articles with more information.

Check back every week of your pregnancy to see how your baby is developing and to find out what changes you can expect in your own body, too!

Reviewed by: Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD
Date reviewed: January 2012