pregnancy timeline: stages of pregnancy
Twin Cities Birth Center: Your Pregnancy Journey Week by Week
Pregnant and interested in seeing what the stages look like? Let this blog guide you through what to expect each week what’s happening in your body, how your baby develops, and when to connect with your care team at Twin Cities Birth Center.
Pregnancy Starts Here: Calculating Your Due Date
Pregnancy dating begins from the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP), not conception. Counting from the LMP, a typical pregnancy spans about 40 weeks, even though conception typically occurs around week 2.
Trimester Overview: What Happens When
Highlight Weeks: What You’ll See & Feel
Weeks 3–4: Fertilized egg implants into the uterine lining, and the placenta begins to form
Week 5: The neural tube (future brain and spine) forms; limb buds appear; heart and lungs begin developing
Week 6–8: Facial features, fingers, toes, eyelids, and genitals start to take shape; heart beats can sometimes be detected.
Weeks 9–12: The embryo officially becomes a fetus. Organs grow, and you may begin to feel less morning sickness due to the placenta taking over.
Second Trimester (14–26 weeks): The baby moves, you feel quickening, and you will have an anatomy scan. Limb movements strengthen with this development.
Third Trimester (27–40+ weeks): Rapid brain and lung development; the baby's position and birth readiness become key focus areas.
The Twin Cities Birth Center Advantage: Local, Expert-Centered Care
At Twin Cities Birth Center, your pregnancy timeline connects with personalized prenatal care that’s rooted in community and expertise. You can expect:
Regular prenatal visits, generally every 4 weeks through week 27, every 3 weeks until 36 weeks, then weekly until birth
Scheduling your ultrasound anatomy scan around 18–20 weeks
Guidance on nutrition, comfort, and birth planning/prepping
4 complimentary classes including breastfeeding and childbirth education
Local Tips for Expecting Parents in Minneapolis–St. Paul
Schedule a consultation/tour to learn more and see our birth suites.
Make your first appointments. TCBC takes a limited number of clients per month. We do accept transfers of care up until 26 weeks.