How your due date is calculated:

Your due date is estimated by adding 40 weeks (280 days) to the approximate first day of your last menstrual period. Only 5% of women deliver their babies on their projected due date, so this date should be used as an estimate - it is not an exact calculation.

PREGNANCY CALENDAR - Weeks One and Two

These first few weeks of pregnancy are an important time for you to take care of your body because a lot happens with the baby's development. During weeks one and two, conception has not yet taken place, but your body is preparing for ovulation. The lining of the uterus is thickening and preparing to implant a fertilized egg. Begin taking prenatal vitamins, which contain folic acid to prevent birth defects.

Week Three

During week three, the sperm has probably met up with your egg in the fallopian tube and will travel down to the uterus. The fertilized egg implants in the lining of the uterus for nourishment during the rest of your pregnancy. The egg divides and grows to over 100 cells, but is still so tiny you would not be able to see it.

Week Four

This week, you will miss your period because you are officially pregnant. The egg is extremely small in size, but your body begins experiencing signs of pregnancy such as tender breasts and fatigue.

Week Five to Eight

Your baby becomes a fetus as the sack surrounding the baby fills with amniotic fluid. The fetus is approximately the size of a grain of rice, but with the sack surrounding the baby filling with fluid, your abdomen may actually start to protrude a bit. Some women "show" a pregnant belly at around week eight. During the first trimester, your weight gain should have been approximately three to five pounds.

Weeks Nine to Twelve

Week twelve marks the end of the first trimester of pregnancy. Pregnancy size by week 12 becomes obvious to you and everyone else as your belly size increases and you need to wear maternity clothing. The baby has developed significantly and has toes and fingers and external genitalia. Your doctor may be able to determine the sex of your baby by ultrasound. The size of the fetus is approximately two and half inches long and weighs about half an ounce.

Weeks 13 to 20

Your pregnancy is half way done at 20 weeks. The baby has grown to about six inches long and weighs approximately nine ounces and the uterus stretches significantly. During this time, you should sleep on your left side to keep the heavy baby from constraining the vena cava vein. Keep track of your weight gain and plan on gaining one pound per week for the rest of your pregnancy to keep within normal limits of pregnancy size by week.

Weeks 21 to 28

Week 28 is the beginning of the third trimester of pregnancy. The baby has grown to approximately two pounds and is 15 inches long. He now appears pretty much the way he will at birth.

Week 29 to 36

Near the end of your pregnancy, your baby is approximately 4 pounds and 20 inches in size. Your belly is nearly six inches from your belly button to the top of the uterus.

Week 37 to 40

The baby puts on about a half of a pound per week during these last few weeks. Keep your weight to around 35 pounds for a healthy baby and pregnancy.