HOW YOUR BABY GROWS  

MONTH 3

Your Baby

  • Fingers and toes have soft nails.
  • The mouth has 20 buds that will become baby teeth.
  • Fine hairs begin to form on the baby’s skin.
  • You can hear your baby's heartbeat for the first time (10 to 12 weeks) using a special instrument called a doptone.
  • For the rest of pregnancy, all body organs will mature and the baby will gain weight.
  • By end of this month, the baby is about 2 1/2 to 3 inches long and weighs about 1 ounce.

Your Body

  • You may still feel tired and have morning sickness.
  • You may have headaches and get lightheaded or dizzy. If these symptoms persist or are severe, tell your health care provider.
  • Your clothes may begin to feel tight around your waist and breasts. Try pullover tops and skirts or pants with elastic waists.

Prenatal Care Guide

  • Visit your health care provider for one prenatal checkup.
  • You have a slightly increased need for almost all vitamins and minerals to nourish your baby. A healthy diet helps to meet these needs.
  • You may have gained 2 to 4 pounds by now. A woman who starts pregnancy at a normal weight should gain 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy. Ask your health care provider how much weight you should gain.
  • Exercise can be beneficial. Walking is a good choice. Check with your health care provider before starting an exercise program.
  • If your health care provider recommends prenatal testing using chorionic villus sampling (CVS), you can have the test now.