You and your body in pregnancy

First trimester

• Tender breasts - Your breasts may start to feel sore, swollen or tingly.  This is often the first sign of pregnancy as, even at this stage, your body prepares for breast feeding.

• Nausea - A surge of pregnancy hormones at around seven or eight weeks can trigger morning sickness. It generally peaks by 10 weeks and subsides by 13 weeks.

• Tired and emotional - The first trimester is your baby's most critical growth stage, when all the vital organs are forming. Hormonal changes mean you can expect to feel exhausted, not to mention tearful and emotional. This is all normal. Take things easy and try to rest whenever you can.

• Frequent loo stops - Thanks again to hormonal changes, you may find you need to empty your bladder more often than usual.

Did you know?
By the end of the first trimester, your unborn baby can curl and fan their toes, squint, frown and open their mouth.

Second trimester

• Hair, skin and nails - Increased levels of the hormone progesterone may mean your hair looks and feels thicker. Some women find their nails also grow faster too, while others find they break more easily. Your skin retains more moisture during pregnancy and your blood volume increases, so you may develop a healthy-looking glow.

• Stretch marks - With your uterus moving upwards, your bump becomes more obvious. As your skin stretches, you may develop stretch marks. They can also appear on your thighs and breasts but generally fade after the birth.

• Dark patches on your face - Dark patches of pigmentation may appear on your face. They are caused by melanin, the natural pigment in your skin, darkening as a result of hormone changes and will fade after the birth. In the meantime avoid the sun and wear a high factor sunscreen.

• The linea nigra - Pigmentation changes can also mean you develop a dark line, the linea nigra, that runs vertically down the middle of your bump. This will fade after the birth.

• Baby's kicks - You can look forward to feeling your baby kick any time from around 20 weeks, possibly earlier if this not your first pregnancy

Did you know?
At around 27 weeks, your baby's eyes, which have been fused shut, will open and they will start to blink.

Third trimester

• Puffy and out of puff - You may start to feel breathless as your expanding uterus presses against your diaphragm. Meanwhile water retention is common in later pregnancy and can cause your feet, ankles and fingers to swell. Try to avoid standing for long periods. If swelling is severe and accompanied by headaches, dizziness, nausea or visual disturbances seek immediate medical advice as these can be symptoms of pre-eclampsia.

• Itchy bump - Your bump may itch from time to time as the skin stretches. Applying moisturising cream can help. But if it is severe, especially at night, contact your GP as this can indicate a rare pregnancy liver disorder.

Did you know?
At 35 weeks your baby's hearing is fully formed.