Have you found out that you are pregnant? Congratulations! In the coming months, you will experience a journey that is incomparable to anything else in the world. Your baby will develop week by week and grow into a little human being. As expectant parents, you surely want to follow every single step your baby goes through. In our pregnancy calendar, we have summarized all the information for you that is important regarding your pregnancy. Here you can find out about the individual weeks and months of pregnancy. Feel free to save our pregnancy calendar and follow day by day how your baby and your body are changing.
Weeks of pregnancy
Your baby goes through changes in every week of pregnancy (also known as SSW). New organs develop, the senses are formed, and your baby starts to move. In our pregnancy calendar, you can follow week by week how your baby is developing, how big it is, and how its weight is changing.
The 10th week of pregnancy (Week 10)
Months of pregnancy
In the coming months, you will experience a special journey with your pregnancy. Do you want to know how your baby will develop in each month of pregnancy? In our pregnancy calendar, you will find an overview for each month of which developmental steps your baby is going through, which symptoms frequently occur, and which preparations become important.
Month 1
Month 2
Month 3
Month 4
Month 5
Month 6
Trimesters
Your pregnancy is divided into three trimesters. These each have a duration of three months or 13 weeks of pregnancy. They give you a good overview of which stages are coming up in the months ahead. Find out about the three trimesters in our pregnancy calendar.
First Trimester
Second Trimester
Third Trimester
How are the weeks of pregnancy & the due date calculated?
At the beginning of your pregnancy, you will certainly have many questions about all sorts of topics. You are probably aware that a pregnancy lasts 40 weeks or nine months. But do you also know how the start of your pregnancy and the due date are calculated? At first glance, this can seem quite complicated. Your pregnancy begins with the first day of your last period – at least mathematically. This means that in the first two weeks of pregnancy, strictly speaking, you are not pregnant yet. This is because fertilization of the egg usually only takes place in the third week with your ovulation. Then, 40 weeks, or 280 days, are added to the first day of your last menstrual period. This results in your baby's due date. It is not unusual for your gynecologist to provide information such as "GW 5 +4". This is intended to mean that you are five weeks and four days pregnant. This is again calculated based on your last period. If you want to calculate the possible due date before your first visit to the doctor, you can use the Naegele rule: First day of the last period + 7 days - 3 months + 1 year = due date. Example: 01.07.2024 + 7 days - 3 months + year = due date on 08.04.2025. Slight deviations may occur if, for example, you have an irregular cycle. You can obtain more precise information from your doctor. Do you want to prepare everything before your baby is born? Then you should look for a cradle before things get started. The automatic baby hammock from swing2sleep offers your baby a secure nest in which it can sleep closely embraced, just like in the womb. It is gently rocked to sleep by an intelligent motor – for restful nights.
From which week of pregnancy should I visit my gynecologist?
Do you suspect you are pregnant? Usually, a pregnancy test provides an initial result. If the test is positive, you should first try to determine which week of pregnancy you are in. There are various recommendations as to when you should visit your gynecologist after a positive pregnancy test. To have the pregnancy confirmed, you should see your doctor between the 5th and 9th week of pregnancy. Using an ultrasound, a blood test, and a urine test, they can confirm the pregnancy. Whether they can already see the embryo on the ultrasound depends on which week of pregnancy you are in. You will be issued a maternity record, and your pregnancy is thus official. For many couples, the first weeks of pregnancy are particularly exciting. They are associated with many emotions and anxieties that expectant parents are best to experience together.
Which prenatal check-ups are scheduled during pregnancy?
During your pregnancy, prenatal check-ups are carried out regularly. These serve to monitor the development and health of your baby. At the same time, prenatal appointments are also important for expectant mothers to ensure their own health. In Germany, prenatal check-ups are paid for by health insurance and are voluntary. Doctors strongly advise pregnant women to attend all recommended prenatal appointments so that babies and mothers can experience a healthy pregnancy. The initial examination is usually very detailed. Once your pregnancy has been established, your doctor will get an overview of your state of health. Previous illnesses are also discussed and noted. If you have already given birth to a child or suffered a miscarriage, this is also relevant for your doctor. A physical examination follows. For example, your urine is checked to rule out a chlamydia infection. Your blood values are also checked to detect a possible iron deficiency early on. In addition, your weight and blood pressure are measured. All values are then recorded in your maternity record. After the initial examination, it is recommended to see the treating doctor every four weeks. Only from the 32nd week of pregnancy are bi-weekly prenatal appointments scheduled. During these, your doctor checks aspects such as your baby's heartbeat, how much amniotic fluid is in the uterus, the age-appropriate development of the fetus, and many other factors. During pregnancy, you will see your baby three times on ultrasound. These ultrasound appointments are carried out in the 10th, 20th, and 30th week of pregnancy. In the event of complications or a high-risk pregnancy, more ultrasound examinations may take place.
Proper nutrition during pregnancy
To ensure your baby develops healthily and you stay healthy as an expectant mom, prenatal care is not the only important factor. Your behavior and diet during the 40 weeks of pregnancy are also of great significance. As soon as you find out about your pregnancy, you should try to eat as balanced a diet as possible. This is because you have an increased need for micronutrients in the coming months. Folic acid, iron, calcium, and vitamin B12 are particularly important for you now. Therefore, make sure to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables and avoid very fatty meals due to heartburn. You have probably already heard that pregnant women are not allowed to consume certain foods. These include raw dairy products, raw meat, and raw fish. Certain types of fish, such as eel, pike, or mackerel, should also be avoided by pregnant women due to their potential mercury content. It is also recommended not to consume more than 100 milligrams of caffeine per day during pregnancy. Keep in mind that not only coffee, but also certain types of tea contain caffeine. Throughout the entire pregnancy, you should also avoid alcohol and nicotine. Alcohol increases the risk of miscarriage and developmental disorders. Alcohol can cause great damage not only at the beginning of pregnancy but also in the later months. This also applies to nicotine. The toxins reach your baby via your blood, damage the placenta, and significantly increase the risk of premature birth and miscarriage. Have you found out about your pregnancy? From this point on, you should follow the tips in this article and avoid nicotine and alcohol. You can find more tips on healthy nutrition during pregnancy in our video:
An overview of the most common pregnancy complaints
For many pregnant women, pregnancy is a wonderful journey: however, it is also associated with some complaints. Right at the beginning of your pregnancy, you will probably be confronted with the issues of nausea and fatigue. Further complaints will follow in the coming months. There are a variety of symptoms, but they do not necessarily have to occur in every pregnant woman.
We therefore summarize the symptoms that occur particularly often:
Nausea:
One of the most common symptoms of pregnancy is nausea. It occurs in many expectant mothers, especially in the morning, and can be very exhausting for those affected. The nausea is triggered by the pregnancy hormone progesterone. Once your body has gotten used to it, the nausea may subside.
Fatigue:
Your body is now no longer just supplying you, but also your growing baby. This costs a lot of energy and therefore leads to severe fatigue in many pregnant women. Give yourself enough breaks and listen to your body's signals. It is working hard and needs many rest periods now.
Digestive issues:
Many women suffer from bloating, constipation, or diarrhea during pregnancy. One reason for this is the new hormones spreading through your body. In addition, in later months of pregnancy, your uterus presses on your intestines, digestion slows down, and you move less.
Back pain:
During the course of pregnancy, you will likely have to deal with back pain. Especially in the third trimester, your back has to carry the weight of your baby, which can lead to severe pain. Light exercises and plenty of rest can help to alleviate the pain.
Water retention:
Due to pregnancy, your body has increased blood flow. This causes your veins to work harder and water to accumulate in the feet and hands. Many pregnant women also complain about water retention in the legs and arms. It can help to drink plenty of fluids and elevate your legs.
Many pregnant women notice they are pregnant through one of the symptoms mentioned above. Morning nausea is often a first indication of pregnancy. Perhaps one complaint is particularly troublesome for you, while you don't feel another at all. Every pregnancy is individual – this also applies to your symptoms. If the complaints become very severe, you should discuss this with your doctor.
When does maternity leave begin?
If your baby's development is progressing well and there is no high-risk pregnancy, then maternity leave begins for you six weeks before the calculated due date. It ends eight weeks after the birth and thus extends over a total period of 14 weeks. If your child is born too early or too late, the maternity leave period is still 14 weeks. An exception is if your baby is a medical premature birth. This is the case, for example, if it weighs less than 2,500 grams at birth. In this case, maternity leave is extended by four weeks and then totals 18 weeks (12 weeks after the birth). This extended period of 18 weeks also applies if you give birth to multiples. For children born with a disability, mothers are also entitled to maternity leave of 12 weeks after the birth.
The most important preparations for birth
No matter which month of pregnancy you are currently in: you are certainly thinking about the birth often and want to prepare everything for it. There are indeed a variety of things you should prepare. It is often better to take care of them before the exhausting final stretch of pregnancy. For example, it is important that you decide on a hospital where you want to give birth to your child. You have to introduce yourself and register there – it is often also possible to visit the delivery rooms. It is recommended to register at a hospital about four to six weeks before the expected delivery. If you are expecting twins, you should register before the 32nd week of pregnancy. Furthermore, it helps many pregnant women to take a childbirth preparation class before the birth. There you will learn about different birth positions. It will also be explained to you how a birth proceeds, how you should breathe, and how your partner can support you in this exceptional situation. Many pregnant women also want to be accompanied by a midwife. However, in many cities, midwives are in high demand and there are long waiting times. You should therefore try to find a midwife as early as possible. She can support you with her experience during your pregnancy and answer your open questions.
