Soyou're an expecting couple, aye? There are many books and guides out there on pregnancy, but most of them are targeted at the woman. This article is a very basic guide to pregnancy, targeted at men, so you can support your wife / girlfriend through the process and be involved in the pregnancy.
The pregnancy is divided up into three periods of about three months each. They are called the first trimester, second trimester, and third trimester. Here is what you can expect in each trimester.
The first trimester is the first 14 weeks. During the first trimester, your baby will grow from a microscopic size to the size of a small melon. By then end of the first trimester, the baby will have defined facial features and you will be able to determine the sex of the baby with an ultrasound.
During the first trimester, the mother may begin experiencing morning sickness, and or unstable emotions. Be loving, supportive, and communicate as well as you can with your wife / girlfriend.
The second trimester is the 14th to 28th weeks of the pregnancy. During the second trimester, the mother will generally have much less morning sickness and nausea. The baby will be growing rapidlyweighing in at about two pounds by the 28th week.
The third trimester is from week 28 to birth. During the third trimester, the baby is nearly completely formed, and can live with specialized care, should it be born early. The mother will likely have various physical discomforts due to the growing baby, such as backaches, trouble sleeping, heartburn, etc. As throughout the rest of the pregnancy, communication, support, and love are very important.
As the baby's due date nears, you'll have many decisions to make with your wife / girlfriend, with help from your doctor. Of course, you'll want to pick out name(s) too! |
