The second trimester of your pregnancy is an important development stage for your baby, and you may begin to notice more changes in your body. As the fetus grows, your abdomen will too, and you may need to put away your normal clothes in exchange for your first maternity outfits. During this time, you will hit a significant point in your pregnancy--the halfway mark.

Each pregnancy development stage, medically called a trimester, results in changes in your body as well as that of your growing baby. The actual side effects associated with pregnancy are different for every mom. For the most part, pregnancy development stages remain consistent whether this is your first or third pregnancy.

Nine months might seem like a long time to wait for a baby to be born. When you consider, however, all the changes an egg undergoes from fertilization until the end of the third trimester, nine months really isn't too long to wait. As described by Dr. Carolyn Jacob on the Family Doctor website, pregnancy begins at fertilization and is broken down into three trimesters; each trimester lasts roughly three months.

Finding out you are pregnant can be one of the most exciting times of your life. You dream of holding your baby, covering him with kisses and holding his little hand as he takes his first steps. Long before any of these things can happen however, your baby will grow and develop within your body.

While the physical, emotional and spiritual experience of pregnancy is special for each mom, several development stages exist for every pregnant woman. Typically, pregnancy lasts for 40 weeks; your future son or daughter develops over three distinct stages or trimesters. Knowing what to expect during each stage of your pregnancy can help you and your loved ones during this special time in your life.

Learning you are pregnant can be great news. Adjusting to the thought of becoming a new mother can have you walking on clouds one moment and chewing your fingernails in distress the next. Not only is your body changing right under your eyes, your baby is rapidly getting ready for life outside your womb. Like many mothers, you may want to begin keeping track of your child's milestones even before he is born.

Whether you are new to being pregnant or an old pro, each pregnancy brings its own excitement and anxiety. In those early months, before you feel the baby move, it can be difficult not to worry too much about the health of your little one. Buying or renting a fetal heart Doppler allows you to hear your baby's heartbeat at any time, easing your anxiety and helping you to bond with your baby. The digital fetal heart Dopplers also have features that allow you to record that precious sound onto a computer. With this, you can share your baby's first sound with family and friends, no matter how far away.

Most people realize that once they have children, the days of swearing (not to insinuate that you ever do) are long gone. Contrary to what some people believe, it is not "cute" to hear a toddler using foul language. This only leads to trouble when school starts and can get your child off on the wrong foot with teachers and other parents. Nope, the swearing has to stop. But, did you know baby can hear you long before you give birth?

Sonograms, commonly referred to as ultrasounds during pregnancy, provide an invaluable look at your growing baby. But the use, especially for moms who must have several during pregnancy, does bring about questions and concerns regarding the safety of this medical technology. To put your mind at ease, know that after more than five decades of use, the normal use of sonograms for medical purposes has never been associated with any harmful effects on fetuses, according to the American Institute of Ultrasound Medicine (AIUM). However, the AIUM does concede that there is always a chance of learning about adverse effects in the future. Therefore, non-medical use of sonograms should be used with caution.

The stages of pregnancy fall into three segments of about three months each. These segments, known as trimesters, contain important milestones for prenatal development. While every moment of a pregnancy matters, the first trimester may be the most important time. Learning how a baby develops during these early weeks can help parents-to-be understand the miracle developing inside the mother.