2nd WEEK

In the first two weeks of pregnancy, your body prepares for ovulation and fertilisation. At this time, the uterus, or ‘endometrium’, begins to thicken in order to hold and protect the embryo. Blood supply to this part of the body will also increase to meet the needs of the fetus, which is beginning to grow in the uterus.

Your ovaries release a developed egg; if you are to have twins or triplets, this is when the egg will divide. If not, a single egg is sent down the fallopian tube.

Even at this early stage, you may feel changes in your body and your emotions. You may have sensitive breasts and stomach, and you may experience nausea, although this usually begins at around week six.

3rd WEEK

Your baby
In the 3rd week of pregnancy the sperm meets the egg and fertilization occurs. Your baby, just a tiny ball with hundreds of cells, will now begin developing in leaps and bounds after it has settled in the uterus.

Your
Your body begins to secrete pregnancy hormones, and the placenta develops. These hormones send a signal to stop ovulation, and ensure the protection of the internal layer of the uterus and of its little guest by triggering the increase of oestrogen and progesterone hormones, which start placental growth. By the end of this week, you can take a pregnancy test, due to the presence of the HCG hormone.

4th WEEK

Your baby
As of this week, your baby begins to be formed in your stomach. At this time, your baby is still an embryo the size of a poppy seed. In the first 10 weeks, all of your baby’s organs will start developing and some organs will even start working.

Your
Because this period is the most sensitive and vulnerable period of the pregnancy, you should protect yourself in the 4th and 5th weeks.

5th WEEK

Your baby
Your baby’s cells begin to migrate towards the region where the organs will take place. In this week, your baby looks like a tiny sea horse rather than a human being and her heart starts beating. As your baby is still too small, you might not hear the heartbeat easily.

Your
You are in the 2nd month of your pregnancy. After this week, nausea is most likely to begin. In addition, you may experience a variety of symptoms like vomiting, back pain, loss of appetite and fatigue. However, staying active is more important than ever to help you stay strong and resilient. If you are already playing sports or taking other forms of exercise, do not stop because you are pregnant. Exercise will help you to protect yourself from the aches and pains that the pregnancy can cause. Also, exercise is great for alleviating stress.

6th WEEK

Your baby
As of this week, your little baby’s nose, mouth and ears start to emerge. In these weeks, your baby’s heartbeats are between 100 and 160 a minute.

Your
A more challenging period for you will begin. You may feel nauseous when you smell different odours, such as cigarette smoke or strong food that you used to like before, or you may notice that your husband’s favourite cologne isn’t that good. Indeed, the smells stay the same but you are changing. This situation is a result of the stimulation of the brain’s nausea centre by the pregnancy hormones.

7th WEEK

Your baby
In this week, your baby’s growth has doubled and may have reached a height of 1.5 cm. Arms, hands, legs and toes begin to form. As your baby develops, your body also starts to change.

Your
Your uterus has doubled in size. This growth can cause abdominal cramps, and you may feel like you are in puberty. Nausea and vomiting, or “morning sickness”, may continue. In fact, In the first 3 months of pregnancy, this is quite normal and can last for up to 14 weeks of your pregnancy (or longer in some cases).
Currently, you have 10% more blood in your body compared with the pre-pregnancy period. At the end of your pregnancy, to meet the needs of your fully developed baby, you will have between 40–45% more blood than usual in your veins.

8th WEEK

Your baby
Your baby’s eyelids begin to form, and even cover the eyes. The fingers and toes, which were formed last week, become clearer and start to open. The nerve cells in your baby’s brain begin to develop. You may be wondering at this week about gender but the external genital organs haven’t developed enough to tell whether it’s a girl or a boy. In your 8th week, your baby is now the size of a bean, but you can’t feel it yet even though there’s a lot of activity in terms of growth.

Your
The world outside can’t see this exciting development inside you. You should avoid alcohol during your pregnancy. This is because the extent to which alcohol will harm an unborn baby is still not known precisely. In these weeks, your breasts will feel full. It’s time to get a new bra! Also, you will probably feel like urinating more often.

9th WEEK

Your baby
You are in your 3rd month. Between the 9th and 13th weeks, your baby’s organ development is completed. Arms, legs, spine, bladder and eyes will be formed so that you can see on them on the ultrasound scan. Your baby will grow to about 2.5 cm long. With brain formation, the senses begin to develop: taste, sense of smell and touch. The image of your baby will begin to look more human. But be patient, it’s still too early to know the baby’s gender.

Your
In this week, the first visible changes may begin to emerge in your body. These differences might still only be seen by you, and not by the people around you. Morning sickness may now start to subside.

10th WEEK

Your baby
This week, the baby’s basic development is complete. From now on, the organs will grow to maturity. Sexual organs begin to develop, but it is still too early to know the gender. As almost all of your baby’s joints and muscles are completely formed, the baby now begins to move in the amniotic sac, but you will not yet feel these movements.

Your
You will be able to hear your baby’s heartbeat clearly via a stethoscope or ultrasound scan. Many women liken an unborn baby’s heartbeat to the sound of galloping horses; to hear this heartbeat can be very moving for you emotionally.

Before pregnancy, the size of the cervix was the size of a small pear. Now it will be as big as a large orange. During this period, you should change your bra size as your breasts will continue to grow. You can wear maternity clothes or at least comfortable, loose clothing so as not to constrict your expanding body.

11th WEEK

Your baby
Your baby is now 2cm taller compared to the previous weeks. She is approximately 4 cm now and has reached the size of a fig. Now it is not an embryo, it’s a big “foetus”! The brain develops rapidly and the bones also strengthen. Your baby will be able to dance in your stomach right now without any difficulty. This also means that your baby will start kicking.

Your
You can feel yourself more energetic this week compared to other weeks. Your nausea has passed completely and you can eat dinner easily now. But due to the hormonal changes which slow down your digestion, you may have symptoms like constipation and heartburn. To strengthen your body during your pregnancy, you should do sports like swimming, hiking etc. These type of exercises will make your body gain strength by making it resistant. Also in this period, doing sport will help you regain your old form quickly after birth as your muscle tissue will harden.

12th WEEK

Your baby
In the fourth month, your baby’s head and body size are balanced. His face now looks more human. His eyes move from the sides of his head to the front of his face. As of this month, your baby also develops reflexes. He will be moving frequently in your womb during these months; in fact, if you press gently on your stomach, your baby may respond, but it may still be too early to feel it.

Your
During these months, your bump might become more visible. But even if your bump isn’t very big, you may still be gaining weight and you should wear loose, comfortable clothes. You are likely to suffer heartburn at this time. This is because, during pregnancy, the placenta produces high levels of progesterone, which softens the valve between the stomach and gullet. Gastric acid can therefore leak back into the gullet, especially when you lie down, and cause an uncomfortable burning sensation.

13th WEEK

Your baby
The baby now looks more human. Organs are complete and fingerprints have formed on the fingers. The baby’s height is about 7.5 cm and the weight is 25g to 30g. But it may still be too early to identify the baby’s gender on the ultrasound, unless high-quality ultrasound equipment is used.

Your
In this week, your risk of miscarriage reduces. Again, you should still be aware of the risks. Your breasts start to make colostrum, which is the most useful food for your baby in the first days after the birth. Your breast milk will be produced after your baby drinks the colostrum. Your libido may also increase during this period.

14th WEEK

Your baby
Welcome to the second trimester period! You are in your fourth month and the development of your baby continues. The liver begins to produce bile this week. The spleen begins to help the production of red blood cells. Even though you cannot feel the kicks and the poking yet, your little boxer’s hands and feet, which are about 1.5 cm at the moment, are now more flexible and moving.

Meanwhile, your baby begins to make facial expressions. He can squint, frown, grimace and suck his thumb. During these months, your baby’s kidneys start working. Your baby can pee. If you wonder “Where the urine goes?” we should tell you right now that your baby’s pee goes into the amniotic fluid. This situation will continue until the birth.

Your
You may feel more energetic this week. If your nausea still hasn’t passed, it will disappear within a few weeks. Your belly is growing, so that everyone will see that you are pregnant.

15th WEEK

Your baby
You have entered an exciting week: you will be able to learn the gender of your baby via an ultrasound scan. The baby’s amniotic fluid moves to the upper airway through her nose, allowing the creation of simple air sacs in the lungs. The eyes are still closed, but can sense light, so if you shine light on your bump, your baby will notice it. Its current size is approximately 10 cm.

It is normal to gain weight rapidly during this period.

Your
If your nausea has subsided, your diet will change and you may gain weight quickly and suddenly. To ensure weight control, it is important to take regular exercise. This will keep you energised, and help you to lose weight after pregnancy. Our recommendation for this week is to do pregnancy pilates, which can help alleviate problems like indigestion and oedema, and help you have a comfortable birth.

16th WEEK

Your baby
After this week, your baby’s growth will double. Eyes are getting gradually closer together. With the simple reflex of blinking, she begins to move her eyes. Ears move closer to where they should be. Heart development is mostly completed. Toes and nails are now more distinct, legs get stronger and the head comes to a more upright position. In this period she will be more active and will be able to kick.

Your
Mood swings in pregnant women are very common. You may sometimes feel down, and other times very happy. This is normal. You should ensure you use fluoride toothpaste for your own and your developing baby’s dental health. As your blood volume increases, you may notice swollen blood vessels close to your skin: this is especially obvious in the legs and breasts. You weight has now started to increase.

17th WEEK

Your baby
You are now 5 months pregnant. Your bump is getting bigger. This means that your baby has started to gain weight. As the baby’s sense of taste develops, he will taste whatever you eat, so pay special attention to your diet. At 17 weeks, your baby’s organ systems become functional. She has begun to use and develop her lungs by inhaling and exhaling the amniotic fluid in which she is immersed.

Your
At this stage, expectant mothers should have a quad test and a detailed ultrasound scan. A quad test determines the risk of chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down’s Syndrome. A detailed ultrasound is performed by a doctor to check and monitor the baby’s health and development.

18th WEEK

Your baby
Your baby’s bones begin to harden, so ensure that you get enough calcium. Eyebrows begin to form over her eyes. The measurement from the head to bottom is up to 14 cm and weight is about 200 g – almost the size of a sweet green pepper.

Your
Your belly is growing steadily this week. From now on, you should lie down on your side or at an angle. If you lie on your back, your uterus might put pressure on one of your large veins, which leads to a reduction of the blood going to the heart. To sleep comfortably, you can put a pillow under your hips or between your thighs. In this week of pregnancy, an increase in appetite is quite common. Take care to eat healthy, nutritious food, rather than sugary or fried food.

19th WEEK

Your baby
Your baby looks distinctly more human this week. Her perceptual development will expand to include a sense of hearing to the other senses of smell and taste. As your baby completes the development of the inner ear, she will be able hear not only your voice, but all other sounds. If you have decided on your baby’s name, you can call her by her name, play music or read a book to her. She may begin to react well to your voice by moving and kicking in the womb.

Your
At this stage, expectant mothers may suffer lower back and groin pains, which are completely normal. As the baby grows quickly in the womb, you will continue to gain weight. Pregnant women should gain around 200 g each week. Continue taking regular exercise and avoid eating unhealthy food.

20th WEEK

Your baby
Congratulations! This week, you are halfway through your pregnancy. The baby has completed half of her time in your womb. Your baby is about 300 g and rapid brain development has begun. His eyebrows and hair become visible, and fine body hair, called “lanugo”, covers the entire body but especially the face and neck. Your baby’s heartbeat is faster and his swallow reflex increases, which helps to develop the digestive system.

Your
You continue to gain weight rapidly. Your increasing blood pressure during pregnancy and the growth of your baby’s placenta cause the need for more iron in your body. Remember that red meat is one of the best sources of iron for pregnant women, as well as poultry. Some non-meat sources of iron are spinach, prunes and raisins, and you can choose iron-fortified cereals.

21st WEEK

Your baby
You are almost in the sixth month of your pregnancy. Now when you put your hand on your bump, you may feel your baby. You can even familiarise yourself with the routine of her movements. The formation of your baby’s eyelids and eyebrows is completed this week. Also, your baby starts to feel your emotional and spiritual feelings.

Your
This week, your blood pressure may decrease, which is normal. This is an indication of your body’s needs: low blood pressure makes the mother feel like resting more, which sends more blood to the baby.

22nd WEEK

Your baby
The 22nd week of your pregnancy is a very important week when all of the organs of your baby have developed. Your baby is about 28 cm tall and weighs around 450 g. In this week, your baby’s lips, eyelids and eyebrows become even more obvious and tiny tooth roots develop in her gums. In this period your baby improves her reflexes by opening and closing her eyes.

Your
In the 22nd week, as your baby’s emotional feelings begin to be developed, she will respond to your emotions. It’s therefore a good idea to share happy moments with your partner. The improvement of the father’s relationship with the baby is also important for you and for your baby. Let your partner to talk to your baby and to observe her movements in your tummy.

23rd WEEK

Your baby
Your baby now detects all sounds, from a car horn to a dog barking. So when she is born, these sounds will already be familiar. You can feel the movement of your baby more frequently now.

Your
There will be a slow but steady weight gain in your body. Cravings will increase in this period. During pregnancy, the appearance of a brown line extending from the belly button to the genital area (linea nigra) is quite normal, and will disappear from your body after pregnancy. Your hands, arms, feet and ankles may become swollen (oedema) which is normal. Forgetfulness may become more noticeable and red spots may appear on the hands and feet.

25th WEEK

Your baby
The seventh month of your pregnancy has begun. The baby starts to use her developing lungs by using the gullet and larynx, and making small breathing movements. Her wrinkled skin starts to become smoother.

Your
If you have been losing your hair, that should stop this week and it may appear thicker and brighter than before. You may not feel as nimble as before and may have lower back pain. Unless your doctor says otherwise, you should continue to exercise unless you are feeling tired or feel any pain, dizziness or shortness of breath. Don’t sleep on your back, and try to sleep on your left side.

We advise you to take the tetanus vaccine this week. If you already had the vaccine within the last five years, this treatment is not necessary. This vaccine is important to help reduce the risk of bacteria and infection in your baby during birth.

26th WEEK

Your baby
Your baby continues to lubricate. She is currently about 750-800 grams and the length of the head to heel is 35 cm. Your baby has now learnt to control their movements.

Your
This week, there will be visible fluctuations in your belly. On the 26th week, you may often have the hiccups and they even may last a few minutes. These seizures will not bother you, but it can give you a slight tickling sensation. You should pay attention to your diet. You should also consume fiber for your pinched intestine and drink plenty of water. If there is an excessive increase in your weight gain, we advise you to avoid carbohydrates.

27th WEEK

Your baby
In this week, your baby moves her/his eyes and open and closes the eyelids. This action can be clearly observed on an ultrasound. If your baby is a boy, the testicles begin to descend toward the scrotum, this process will take 2-3 days.

Your
The second trimester period expires. This period is the week you need to take measures for early birth risk. If your contractions, vaginal discharge and lower back pain gives you too much trouble; you should contact your doctor and question whether these symptoms lead to premature birth risk or not.

As there’s not much time left until the birth, spending your time looking for the childbirth preparation courses will make your special day less painful. Pilates which you have started in your early pregnancy period will also reduce your labor pains. The reason for the back pain in this week is the uterus which causes the change of your body’s center of gravity by growing and which stretchess and weakens the abdominal muscles.

28th WEEK

Your baby
You are in the third trimester period. In this week, your baby will continue to grow rapidly and will fill the uterus as much as possible. Your baby’s lungs continue to develop. Billions of nerve cells are formed in her brain and her body continues to gain fat to prepare for life outside the womb.

Your
Your uterus expands and you may notice an increase in swelling and varicose veins in your legs this week. Avoid lying down on your back and try to sleep on your left side: this position will help prevent low blood pressure.

Fatigue, spasms and pain will be common at this stage. It is important to pay attention to any excessive pain due to the risk of premature birth. In this period a rapid increase in your weight gain is possible. Your visits to the doctor will be more frequent as you get closer to the birth: usually every two weeks. However, after the 36th week, doctor check-ups must be weekly.

29th WEEK

Your baby
The eighth month of your pregnancy begins and your baby continues to grow rapidly. She currently weighs over 1 kg and her head grows to accommodate the developing brain. In this important week, with your baby’s increasing food requirements, you should take plenty of protein, vitamin C, folic acid and iron. To strengthen your baby’s bones, you should also ensure you are getting enough calcium: this can be found in milk, yogurt and cheese, for example.

The more your baby grows, the more her movements increase – this is a good sign. If you cannot detect your baby moving, you must consult your doctor. If abnormality is suspected, you may be given a NST (non-stress test). This is the first step in the evaluation of infants with a high probability of fetal distress.

Your
This week may be a little bit difficult for you. Leg pain, varicose veins, oedema, heartburn and constipation may become more frequent. The pregnancy hormone progesterone will relax your muscles, including the gastro-intestinal muscles. Your digestive system will slow down naturally, which can cause wind, heartburn and constipation, especially after eating a big meal.

30th WEEK

Your baby
Now your baby begins to breathe and sleep regularly, and brain development nears completion.

Your
Meanwhile, you continue to change. Your belly has grown considerably. Your baby’s height is around 40 cm and weight is 1400 g. Your uterus is gradually preparing for birth, so your sleep may become disturbed. Avoid food and drink and heavy meals that may keep you awake before bedtime. You may feel sluggish and you may experience mood swings, but this is quite normal.

31st WEEK

Your baby
Since the development of the baby’s organs has finished, your baby grows taller day by day and his body looks more human while he/she gains weight. Now you are in the eighth month of pregnancy and you will take your baby in your arms in just a few weeks. Your baby is probably moving a lot by now; she can turn her head from side to side and kicks you like a football player during the day or night.

Your
Most pregnant women experience random contractions called “Braxton Hicks” in the second half of pregnancy. These contractions usually last for about half an hour, but they are not painful. However, they can be a sign of premature birth. Therefore, you must consult your doctor if you’re feeling any signs of premature labour:
– If you have more than four contractions in an hour;

– If your vaginal discharge increases or if its colour changes (watery, mucous, bloody or pinkish);

– If you have abdominal pain like menstrual cramps;

– If pressure rises in the womb or pain in your lower back appears, even if you never had it before.

These are the symptoms of premature (preterm) labour and you should contact a doctor immediately.

32nd WEEK

Your baby
Your baby is no longer a fetus. As she continues to grow, the fatty tissue under her skin increases. Meanwhile, her fingernails are fully developed and extend to the fingertips.

Your
Your bump grows steadily and you gain weight rapidly. Do not worry! This week, your body produces more blood for your baby’s needs – an increase of 40% to 50%. You may experience shortness of breath and gastrostenosis (a shrinking of the stomach). To overcome this, eat small, frequent meals and sleep with multiple pillows for support. This week leg cramps are very common and may be a sign of calcium deficiency. Continue to take any vitamin and mineral supplements until birth.

33th WEEK

Your baby
This week, your baby’s wrinkles begin to disappear and the skin becomes much smoother. Meanwhile, her skeletal structure becomes firmer. The bones in the skull are fused and head diameter will begin to grow more rapidly than before in this week. Pupils in your baby’s eyes, like yours, will shrink in the light and expand in the dark. Like newborns, your baby spends a large part of her time sleeping. In this week, her lungs are almost complete. Rapid weight gain starts in this phase. Subcutaneous fat, which protects the body temperature of your baby, thickens and the baby gradually gets into the birth position.

Your
As your belly grows, there will be a slowdown in your movements and your pain will increase. During this period, you may need help to sit down or stand up because of your big belly. Because of this, we do not recommend spending time alone from this week alone. You must also be conscious of the risk of premature birth. If you are a working mother, you should consider taking your maternity leave from now.

34th WEEK

Your baby
In this month, your baby’s immune system develops. Sleeping pattern, like we mentioned in previous weeks, is still regular. Your baby has 1-1.5 hours of regular sleep. Also this week, a substance called “surfactant” begins to form in your baby’s lungs. The surfactant is a substance which prevents the walls of alveoli which provides ventilation in the lungs from sticking together after emptying the air inside.

Your
If you have early birth this week, do not worry. Today, the babies who are born between 34 and 37 weeks don’t have health problems usually. If you give birth this week, your baby will stay at the neonatal unit until the 41st week. This is important to complete her development phase. The very first time babies are outside of surfactant is in the neonatal unit. Again in the neonatal intensive care unit, the baby’s development is followed by checking the eyes and the ears.

35th WEEK

Your baby
Your baby is about 45–46 cm in length and weighs around 2.5 kg. As your baby prepares herself for birth, her head moves closer to your bladder. This can make you to go to the toilet frequently and you will feel tired. This week you might also experience difficulty in breathing; a lighter diet can help. Also you may suffer insomnia as your body is practising waking up every 2–3 hours to feed your baby after birth, so this is quite a normal process. You may start napping during the day from now, and especially after birth, as you won’t get much sleep at night

Your
As of today, you’ll start seeing your doctor every week. Your doctor may require vaginal and anal culture tests between this week and the 37th week. Group B streptococcus bacteria screening is a harmless test performed by a cotton swab. This bacteria is harmless in adults, but if your baby catches it at birth, this might cause a very serious disease such as pneumonia, meningitis or blood infection (sepsis).

36th WEEK

Your baby
This week you are past the high-risk phase. You will feel your baby’s hands and arms moving. The skeleton finishes its development in these weeks. Your baby is about 47 cm tall and weighs approximately 2,700 g. In addition, your baby begins to shed the vernix layer, a waxy, protective substance covering the skin.
This week, your baby is considered to have reached the end of normal term. Between 37 and 42 weeks is considered the normal time to give birth; birth before 37 weeks is considered premature; and birth after 42 weeks is considered overdue. Your baby is in a head-down position now. If he or she is not, your doctor may suggest an ECV method for you (when the baby is turned).

Your
Finally, in this week, you must prepare your birth bag! Keep it somewhere you can easily access anytime, because labour may be sudden and you may easily forget it. What should be in the birth bag? Breastfeeding tops, sleepwear and clothes for you and baby depending on the season, bootees, alcohol-free wet wipes, diapers and a diaper changing mat.

37th WEEK

Almost there! Now the baby completes its development phase. She is ready to be born, because her lungs are developed enough for her to live outside the womb. Your baby is between 48–49 cm in length and weighs 2900 g. If she opens her eyes to the world this week, she will have 1–3 cm of hair on her head.

38th WEEK

Your baby
Your baby weighs about 3 kg and is 50 cm long. Organs are ready to function in the outside world. Your baby completes her organ development as of this week. The grip ability is stronger, so when she comes to the world her curious fingers will want to touch everything.
During this period especially, parents wonder what their baby will look like. The eye and hair colour of new-born infants don’t usually stay the same as they grow. Newborn babies often have grey or dark blue eyes, but their real eye colour will appear in their ninth month.

Your
Changes in your body also continue. Your feet and ankles may swell a little; this is normal at this stage. However, if your feet, ankles, face and even the area around the eyes swell suddenly, you should inform your doctor.
This week is called “birth waiting week”. Stopping work, if applicable, is important for your health. We advise you to read books, get rest and even do some shopping for your baby while waiting for the birth

39th WEEK

Your baby
The 39th week is the week when your baby continues moving regularly. His weight increases and he is now ready for birth. If you haven’t already, you should think about your birth plan. Your baby is approaching the roof of your pelvic bone, which naturally puts pressure on this area and causes discomfort. Meanwhile, the mucus plug, which protects your cervix against infection, begins to release this week, resulting in discharge.

Your
Contractions and discharge now can be signs of labour. Your waters may break, which is fluid from the amniotic sac, and means that your baby is ready to come into the world.

40th WEEK

Your baby
There’s not much time left for delivery! Your baby can come into world any time now. You should visit your doctor often at this stage. Your doctor will observe your baby’s movements, breathing, muscle movements and amniotic fluid.
Again, in this period, the NST (non-stress test) is also performed as part of ultrasound screening.

Your
You may also have a test where only NST and amniotic water are examined. Apart from your daily doctor check-ups, you must also constantly monitor the movements of your baby. If there is a decrease in movement, you must inform your doctor immediately.
If you calculated the estimated time of birth according to your last period, there might be a delay, because women sometimes ovulate later. Even if you’re sure about the date of birth, birth can be delayed without any reason. There should be no need to worry.

41st WEEK

Wellcome baby!
Yes, the 41st week of your pregnancy is the last week that your baby will spend in your belly. You should give birth by this week. If your contractions don’t start this week, your doctor may induce the birth. Your baby’s skull bones aren’t fused yet so that she can pass through the birth canal. After the birth, your baby’s head may look a bit flat and long. This happens in all babies who are delivered vaginally and is usually rectified within a few days or one week after the birth.

Birth is an event that begins when your waters break. As soon as the amniotic fluid is discharged, your labour pains increase. Contractions occur 3 times every 10 minutes for 40 to 50 seconds, and increase in frequency.

The uterus must be dilated to a certain extent to enable birth, but this can take hours. After opening your cervix, you may begin to push, but follow the midwife’s instructions.