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The first Trimester is a busy, busy time for her body, as the baby manages to grow from just a single sperm and egg all the way up to the prawn-like character you see on the screen at the first scan. Here's the low-down on what's going on.
Conception
It all happens in the slow wink of a post-coital eye: almost immediately after ejaculation your tadpole-like sperm swims up her vagina and into the fallopian tube where it fuses with her egg to form a single cell.
This divides and subdivides, forming a solid ball the size of a pinhead, and makes its way down her fallopian tube towards the uterus. After about a week it begins to implant itself in her womb and, hey presto, your partner is pregnant.
From the moment of fertilisation, your baby's genetic make-up is complete, including its sex.
The early weeks
At this point you’re probably still blissfully unaware of what’s taking place in your partner’s body, but the process happens phenomenally fast.
- Within four weeks your baby is being nourished by the placenta, attached to the umbilical cord, and starting to grow organs, muscle and bone.
- By week five his central nervous system, brain and spinal cord are developing and by the start of the sixth week his heart is about the size of a poppy seed and is beating.
- Next, bud-like arms and legs appear, the tail (yes!) vanishes, lips and tongue emerge and internal organs (including sex organs) are nearing completion.
 Before you know what’s happening, your partner may be eight weeks pregnant and your baby will be the size of a strawberry. |
Before you know what’s happening, your partner may be eight weeks pregnant and your baby will be the size of a strawberry. Their arms and legs are lengthening and it is beginning to move around.
The pregnancy test
By this stage there will be the telltale signs of pregnancy as strange things are happening to your partner’s body: maybe she’s been vomiting or peeing more often or her breasts are unusually tender.
At the first sign of a missed period it’s time to get a home testing kit, which detects a hormone called HCG in her urine to determine whether she is pregnant.
HCG can take a few weeks to appear so even if the first test is negative it’s a good idea to repeat the test a week later to be sure.
These kits are quick, cheap and easy to use and are around 98-99 per cent accurate but some couples still choose to check on a positive result with a visit to the GP.
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A bit of a shock…
Whether planned or unplanned you’ve proved that your partner is pregnant and it's a lot for you both to get your heads around!
In terms of the pregnancy cycle this is still an uncertain time because around 25 per cent of pregnancies end in miscarriage during the first 12 weeks.
Many couples don’t tell their friends and family until they have passed this milestone.
The first scan
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Within 12 weeks your partner will be scheduled to have the first full antenatal check-up and her first ultrasound scan.
The scan should show any abnormalities but will not, at this stage, be able to tell you what colour to paint the nursery.
The ultrasound is the first chance to see your baby and usually the technician will give you a photo of your baby. Just don’t expect to see a family resemblance at this stage.
During the ultrasound they spread gel over your partners stomach and move an instrument that emits high frequency sound waves through her body.
The sound waves and their echoes create a picture of the 2½ inch long foetus inside the womb.
Author
Gavin Evans is a father of two daughters - aged 17 and 13 - and lives in North London. 15 years ago he changed gear from being a full-time reporter to full-time parent and part-time journalist. His writing on issues affecting fathers has been published in a wide range of publications including The Guardian, The Independent, Men's Health, Cosmopolitan, The Times and The New Statesman. He has written five books on sport, a chapter on men in Your Pregnancy Bible and is completing his first screenplay. Gavin also regularly posts blogs at www.gavinevans.net.
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