3 Month Pregnancy – What To Expect

Embarking on the pregnancy journey can be a rollercoaster of emotions – a thrilling mix of excitement, eager anticipation, and perhaps even nervousness. As you enter your third month of pregnancy, it’s only natural to wonder what the weeks ahead will hold.

Brace yourself for a plethora of changes, both physical and emotional, as you nurture and grow the tiny life within you.

Three-month pregnancy is not much easier and brings some symptoms and complications. Although it is a challenging milestone, knowing what to expect will help make the journey convenient and comfortable. Aastha Fertility helps make a three-month pregnancy more comfortable for you, giving you a stress-free period. 

Fetal Development Between 9-12 Weeks of Pregnancy 

Week 9

• The chin of the baby is not yet developed, and the head continues to be large, with a gradually forming face. 
• The baby’s eyes are more obvious, bigger, and contain some pigment or color. 
• They have taste buds, a tongue, and a mouth.
• The feet and hands are in the developing stage. 
• Ridges show the placement of toes and fingers. Kidneys, gut, lungs, brain, and heart are some of the primary internal organs still developing.
• At week 9 of pregnancy, the embryo size is like a grape and has developed to approximately 22 millimetres.  

Week 10

• The development of ears begins on the sides of the baby’s head, and the ear canals continue to form inside the baby’s head.
• The two tiny nostrils in the nose and upper lip are developed by this time. 
• Each of the milk teeth is present, and the jawbone continues to develop.
• The heart is completely developed and beats about 180 times per minute, i.e., two to three times faster than the normal heart.
• As ultrasound shows, small movements are made, and elbows can now bend. Mother is yet to feel these movements. 
• The toes and fingers are now becoming defined.

Week 11

• The eyelids do not open and are closed for a couple of months.
• The formation of face bones is done. 
• One-third of the length of the body is the head. 
• The toes and fingers will separate, and the body develops quickly and straightens. 
• In this phase, the fingernails are developed.
• Earbuds form on the head’s sides, and as they expand, they mirror ears more and more.
• The placenta (afterbirth) develops quickly.

Week 12

• With good development of sex organs, bones, muscles, limbs, and all the organs are in place.
• Feeling the baby’s movement is still too early, yet the baby moves fairly.
• The cartilage-like tissue makes up the skeleton. 
• This cartilage begins to transform into hard bone during this period.
• The baby now could suck their thumb. They are about the size similar to the plum, i.e., 61mm long.

Symptoms During The Third Month Of Pregnancy 

Symptoms during the third week of pregnancy can be some as early pregnancy or may experience a few new symptoms. While a few signs are manageable, some may be challenging, including the following:

Changes in Breast

Breasts may change or grow within three months of pregnancy. Your nipples might begin to stick out a bit further, and the areolas might get darker and larger. The breasts may gain fat below the surface as milk glands prepare milk. It’s the right time to size up your bra.

Changes in Skin

The body creates more melanin, a pigment type changing the nipples’ colour. Chloasma, or brown patches on your skin caused by an excess of melanin, may also appear. A dark, straight line that extends from the centre of your abdomen to the pubic region may also be visible. 

During three months of pregnancy, this line may emerge when your belly begins to grow. Many of these stains will fade or lighten when the child is delivered.

Constipation

Constipation may occur from certain pregnancy hormones slowing down your digestive process. It’s also possible that the added iron in your prenatal supplements is the cause. Drinking plenty of water and consuming additional fibre is the right approach—fibre-rich foods you may consume are fruits, whole grains, and veggies.

Fatigue

Once your body starts nourishing the child, the lethargy might persist during this period. Maintaining hydration, engaging in mild, and resting are activities proven to enhance slumber. 

Prenatal yoga, swimming, and walking are all viable options, but reach your healthcare professional when beginning any activities.

Increased Discharge from the vagina

An increased supply of blood and pregnancy hormones may lead to more discharge from the vagina than usual. There isn’t anything to worry till this discharge is whitish or clear and has no unpleasant odour. You must wear breathable and loose clothes and cotton underwear to avoid infections in the vaginal area.

Nausea

A little sickness may still be experienced that may not be for an extended period. Many expectant experiences reduced morning sickness. You can settle your stomach by consuming ginger tea or ginger ale, bananas, rice, toast, or other bland foods.

Screenings And Tests in The Third Month of Pregnancy

It is essential to have frequent health examinations throughout the pregnancy to track the fetus’s development and growth. Ultrasound scans, urine and blood tests, and other prenatal care procedures during the third month of pregnancy are as follows:

Urine Tests

Glucose Levels of Urine: High glucose levels may detect pregnancy-related diabetes in your urine sample. Both the fetus and the mother may suffer negative consequences from it. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG), a hormone that raises the risk of pregnancy-related diabetes, may reduce the production of the hormone insulin.

Protein Assessment: Excessive protein in your urine sample is a high blood pressure sign brought on by pregnancy and may exhibit organ damage.

Urine Culture: Bacteria in urine tests are a sign of urinary tract infections. Urine culture helps identify the infection-causing organism and determine the best course of antibiotic therapy.

Blood Screening

Your physician would advise a complete blood count (CBC) examination to check the blood component amounts. (WBCs, platelets, and RBCs). High white blood cell counts suggest an illness. Red blood cell and haemoglobin levels are routinely tested during pregnancy for signs of anaemia.

Screening for group B Streptococcus

Between 35 and 37 pregnancy weeks, your doctor might advise you to get screened for group B strep. The most common infection source that may be fatal in newborns, Group B streptococcus, may result in hearing loss, mental retardation, and poor vision. In this screening, group B strep germs are found by analysing rectal and vaginal swabs.

Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring

Fetal heart rate is monitored electronically during delivery, pregnancy, and labour. It assists in determining if the baby is healthy or in difficulty.

Ultrasound Scan

An ultrasound scan is necessary for three-month pregnancy to monitor the placenta’s position, the development of the child and positioning, and the amniotic fluid levels present.

Baby Bump at 3 Months Pregnant 

The pregnancy belly will gradually begin to appear during the three months of pregnancy. The uterus is lifted into the abdominal region and covers the pelvis. Besides, the baby bump might only appear in females with powerful abdominal muscles in the fourth or fifth month.

The physical characteristics of every woman differ from the others, and a female’s core strength, weight, and height influence these variations. Therefore, the pregnant female of the same gestational period will have different-sized bellies.

Checklist for 3-Month Pregnancy 

☑️Consult with your specialist about safe physical activities during the three months of pregnancy.

☑️Consume prenatal vitamins. 

☑️Be focused on healthy and nutritious foods. 

☑️Sleep as much as feasible. 

Dos and Don’ts of 3 Month Pregnancy

Dos

• Prepare for morning sickness and have tea or hard candies to deal with vomiting and nausea.
• Staying organised, practising deep breathing, and planning everything slowly are a few ways to limit stress.
• Eat healthily and get more sleep.
• Regular exercise is suggested.

Don’ts

• Avoid smoking since it harms you and the fetus’s health and life.
• Avoid alcohol since it may affect the developing organs and brain of the baby because alcohol passes through the umbilical cord and placenta during pregnancy.
• Avoid staying in the same position for a longer time.

Sleeping Position

Sleeping in any position is safe during three months of pregnancy. Here are a few sleeping positions to get relief when sleeping is challenging due to hip or back pain or when dealing with nausea.

• You can reduce heartburn by elevating the upper body using pillows.
• You can relieve leg swelling and pain by using pillows to elevate the legs.
• You can get back support and cradle your body using a body or pregnancy pillow.  

Sitting Position 

• Ensure the shoulders are back, the back is straight, and the hips touch the chair’s back when sitting.
• Use a rolled-up, small towel or lumbar roll when you sit.
• Pregnancy pillows will support your back when sitting.

Healthy Eating Habits 

Consume the following nutritious and protein-rich foods and maintain healthy eating habits to make the three months pregnancy period less challenging for you:

Conclusion

Three months of pregnancy is not an easy milestone since you might struggle all day. However, knowing what may occur and how to deal with it will make this challenging milestone easier for you and help you deal with it. 

Aastha Fertility Care will help you guide through the process; staying positive and enjoying baby kicks will help make the milestone easier since you will be more energetic during the three months of pregnancy. 

Frequently Asked Questions