Stages of Pregnancy - Coming to Terms With Being Pregnant and the Trimesters

There are three main stages of pregnancy, these are called the first trimester, second trimester and the third trimester. Although a pregnancy term can not be broken down into three equal stages, it is most appropriate to split down the different stages of pregnancy as each is very different.

The first trimester is all about coming to terms with becoming pregnant. Most women find out that they are pregnant when they are six to seven weeks gone, although there are situations when women find out a lot soon or a lot later. As one of the stages of pregnancy, it is more about finding your feet and coping with some of the early physical and emotional challenges of being pregnant, than feeling as though you are really pregnant.

The stages of pregnancy when you actually feel pregnant are the second and third trimesters. This is because your belly has grown and you have been confident enough to tell people about your pregnancy. Although it is fair to say that if you did not tell them, they would most likely have guessed, this is because during these stages of pregnancy you will be putting on a lot of weight and your belly will become more visible.

Compared with the first and third stages of pregnancy, the second trimester is probably the one where most women feel more in control. This is because some of the more challenging symptoms of early pregnancy such as fatigue and morning sickness have now gone. In their place is a feeling of growing confidence and excitement as you look ahead towards labour and delivery.

Compared with the second trimester, the third stage of pregnancy can be a little more difficult. This is because you will most likely be suffering from the general aches and pains associated with pregnancy. You may be finding it difficult to sleep in the evening and be in discomfort for much of the day. There's not a huge amount of things you can do to change this, unfortunately it is one of the sacrifices that need to be made during the different stages of pregnancy.

During the different stages of pregnancy, you will be relying on different levels of support from your partner, family and friends. For example, during the first trimester, you will most likely want to keep your good news between yourself and your partner as you come to terms with your pregnancy. During the second stages of pregnancy, you may require support from friends and family, this is especially true if you already have other children. If you're able to arrange an afternoon or a few hours to yourself every now and then that would be great.

During the final stages of pregnancy, it often feels like all hands to the pump. Try to leverage any offer of help. You may find even the smallest of tasks a Herculean effort, so rather than struggling, take as much help as is offered. The final stages of pregnancy are often described as the lull before the storm, try to take as much rest as possible and do not overdo things in the third trimester.

Read more of our articles on the stages of pregnancy

Common Words for The Stages of Pregnancy
Stages of Pregnancy - What's Happening Inside Your Body
The Pregnancy Trimesters Explained