What to Look Forward to During Each Month of Your Pregnancy

Pregnancy is full of ups and downs. Most week by week timelines tell you how your baby is developing and your body is changing. They don't tell you what you have to look forward to. It can be so comforting to have that when you are dealing with morning sickness and other problems. So instead of focusing on what you can't see or help and on the symptoms, here are some things to be happy about!

4 Weeks: By now your period is late, and you may be beginning to suspect you're pregnant. If you haven't got a positive home pregnancy test result yet, you will soon. Congratulations! You are starting a miraculous journey. The first few weeks will be very enjoyable, as symptoms don't usually start for a few more weeks. Enjoy yourself!

8 Weeks: This is the time when many doctors will have you come in for your first prenatal visit. You may be able to hear your baby's heartbeat with a Doppler. The doctor may even let you view your little embryo on the ultrasound screen. Are you hoping you do or don't have twins?

12 Weeks: You are entering the second trimester! Soon you will have energy again, and your morning sickness will subside. Your risk of miscarriage drops significantly at this point. This is when most people tell the good news to the world!

16 Weeks: If you're not feeling your baby move yet, you should soon! Quickening is a remarkable sensation that makes you feel so connected to your unborn child. By now the doctor may have even determined the child's gender! Do you have a name picked out?

20 Weeks: At this point you are halfway there! You can now hear the baby's heartbeat at home with a cheap stethoscope or fetoscope. This is when the diagnostic ultrasound is usually performed. The chance of identifying the gender is very high now, and it gets easer as time goes by!

24 Weeks: By now you should definitely be showing! You may even start getting asked "When is your due date?" Others should definitely be able to feel kicking now by placing a hand on your belly. This is when most mothers have to start wearing maternity clothes. Wear them with pride!

28: You are entering the third trimester! Your belly should have popped by now or will soon. Now your pregnancy should be quite obvious, and you will start feeling more and more ready to be a mommy. Babies have a small chance of surviving if born now with NICU care.

32 Weeks: You may start readying your nursery and preparing for birth at this time, if you haven't already. Your baby's chances of surviving if born are very good and are growing everyday! You are getting larger everyday, and your baby should start gaining about a pound a week soon!

36 Weeks: Your baby now has an excellent chance of surviving if born and would only be considered a week premature. You should have completed your labor preparation classes. Your body may be preparing for labor by dilating and effacing some, and if he hasn't yet, soon your baby will drop!

38-40 Weeks: Now you are full-term! You should go into labor very soon. Most babies are born between 38-42 weeks. Your doctor may strip your membranes to bring on labor, and the baby should be engaged and head down.

42 Weeks: You are overdue! You should deliver any day now. Most doctors and midwives will induce you at 42 weeks if you consent, and pregnancy usually doesn't last any longer than 44 weeks. You'll meet your baby soon enough, mama!

Welcome to motherhood! The road was long and somewhat bumpy, but you made it. Hopefully you managed to stay positive throughout your pregnancy and keep doing so now that you're a parent. Try to always look on the bright side. It's the key to survival!