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Pregnancy week by week

A simple guide to all 40 weeks of pregnancy. Pick your week to see how your baby is growing, how you may be feeling, what to do now and when to ask for help.

Before you use this guide: This is general educational information, not an individual medical assessment. Every pregnancy is different, so please confirm personal health decisions with your doctor or midwife.

First trimester: weeks 1 to 12

From your last period to the end of week 12. Your baby's organs form and early symptoms like sickness and tiredness are common.

Week 1Getting ready Week 2Getting ready Week 3Getting ready Week 4a poppy seed Week 5a sesame seed Week 6a lentil Week 7a blueberry Week 8a raspberry Week 9a grape Week 10a strawberry Week 11a fig Week 12a plum

Second trimester: weeks 13 to 27

Often the most comfortable stretch. Energy returns, your bump grows and you will probably feel your baby move for the first time.

Week 13a peach Week 14a lemon Week 15an apple Week 16an avocado Week 17a pear Week 18a sweet pepper Week 19a mango Week 20a banana Week 21a carrot Week 22a papaya Week 23a grapefruit Week 24an ear of corn Week 25a swede (rutabaga)Week 26a head of lettuce Week 27a cauliflower

Third trimester: weeks 28 to 40

Your baby gains weight and gets ready for life outside the womb while you prepare for the birth.

Week 28an aubergine Week 29a butternut squash Week 30a cabbage Week 31a coconut Week 32a large squash Week 33a pineapple Week 34a cantaloupe melon Week 35a honeydew melon Week 36a head of romaine lettuce Week 37a bunch of Swiss chard Week 38a leek Week 39a mini watermelon Week 40a small pumpkin

How pregnancy weeks are counted

Pregnancy is counted from the first day of your last menstrual period, not from the day you conceived. Ovulation and conception usually happen about two weeks later, which means you are already "4 weeks pregnant" around the time your period is due. A full-term pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks, and babies are considered full term from 39 weeks.

If your cycles are longer or shorter than 28 days, or you are not sure of your dates, an early scan may give a more accurate due date. Your care team will tell you which dates they are using. You can also try our due-date calculator for an estimate.

Key milestones at a glance

Timing varies between countries, clinics and individual pregnancies, so use this as a rough guide and ask your own care team what to expect.

Week 4: A home pregnancy test can show a positive result from the day your period is due.
Week 8: Many people have their booking appointment with a midwife or doctor between about 8 and 12 weeks.
Week 12: A dating scan and first-trimester screening are often offered between about 11 and 14 weeks.
Week 16: Many people first feel their baby move between about 16 and 25 weeks.
Week 20: The anomaly scan is usually offered between about 18 and 21 weeks.
Week 24: A glucose test for gestational diabetes is offered between about 24 and 28 weeks, to everyone or to those at higher risk.
Week 28: The third trimester begins. From now on, sleep on your side and learn your baby's usual movements.
Week 36: Your midwife checks your baby's position, and group B strep testing is offered in some countries.
Week 37: Your baby is considered early term.
Week 39: Your baby is considered full term.
Week 41: Induction of labour is usually discussed from about 41 weeks if labour has not started.

About baby size comparisons

Comparing your baby to fruit and vegetables is a friendly way to picture growth, but the comparisons differ from one source to another. Lengths are measured from head to bottom (crown to rump) until week 20 and from head to heel after that, which is why the figure jumps at week 20. Weights and lengths are averages. A baby who is a little bigger or smaller than the figures is very often perfectly healthy, and your midwife will check your baby's growth at appointments.

Also useful: all pregnancy guides, the hospital-bag checklist and our guide to antenatal appointments and tests.

This content is for general information only and is not medical advice. Every pregnancy and every baby is different. Always talk to your doctor, midwife or paediatrician about your own situation, and seek urgent care if you are worried.