Tips for New Moms During the First Few Weeks - WebMD
To help you get through those first few weeks, parents share their hard-earned lessons and favorite tips.
pregnancy
Spend quality time with others. As a new mom, you’re often stretched thin. But make time for others, such as your partner and older kids. “During <anchor>pregnancy</anchor>, I tried to read a book or do a puzzle with my older two at bedtime,” Huryn says. “I continued this once the baby was born, so things didn’t feel so different.”
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The essential **pregnancy destination** for trusted advice at every step of the journey

- [Getting Pregnant](https://www.webmd.com/baby/getting-started-on-getting-pregnant)
- [First Trimester](https://www.webmd.com/baby/first-trimester-of-pregnancy)
- [Second Trimester](https://www.webmd.com/baby/second-trimester-of-pregnancy)
- [Third Trimester](https://www.webmd.com/baby/third-trimester-of-pregnancy)
- [Labor and Delivery](https://www.webmd.com/baby/normal-labor-and-delivery-process)
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- [Baby](https://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/default.htm)
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## 1 of 6 /  Getting Pregnant

[View All](https://www.webmd.com/baby/guide-chapter-pregnancy-getting-pregnant)

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- [**Getting Started** \
\
If you're considering having a baby, you probably have wondered how long it will take to get pregnant.](https://www.webmd.com/baby/getting-started-on-getting-pregnant)
- [**Pre-Pregnancy To-Do List** \
\
You may not be pregnant yet, but there's plenty you can do now to make yourself as healthy as possible for a growing baby.](https://www.webmd.com/baby/your-pre-pregnancy-to-do-list)
- [**Prenatal Vitamins** \
\
Prenatal vitamins are made for pregnant women to give their bodies the vitamins and minerals needed for a healthy pregnancy.](https://www.webmd.com/baby/prenatal-vitamins)
- [**Pregnancy After Age 35**\
\
Rest assured, most healthy women who get pregnant after age 35 and even into their 40s have healthy babies.](https://www.webmd.com/baby/pregnancy-after-35)

[View All](https://www.webmd.com/baby/guide-chapter-pregnancy-getting-pregnant)

## 2 of 6 /  First Trimester

[View All](https://www.webmd.com/baby/guide-chapter-pregnancy-first-trimester)

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- [**Weeks 1-4** \
\
If you are newly pregnant or trying to conceive, you have many questions about what to expect.](https://www.webmd.com/baby/your-pregnancy-week-by-week-weeks-1-4)
- [**Weeks 5-8** \
\
You might suspect by now that you're pregnant. You may also notice some early symptoms of pregnancy.](https://www.webmd.com/baby/your-pregnancy-week-by-week-weeks-5-8)
- [**Weeks 9-12**\
\
Your uterus is continuing to grow, and you may notice your waistline thickening.](https://www.webmd.com/baby/your-pregnancy-week-by-week-weeks-9-12)
- [**Healthy Pregnancy Diet** \
\
Good nutrition during pregnancy, and enough of it, is very important for your baby to grow and develop.](https://www.webmd.com/baby/eating-right-when-pregnant)

[View All](https://www.webmd.com/baby/guide-chapter-pregnancy-first-trimester)

## 3 of 6 /  Second Trimester

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- [**What to Expect** \
\
The second trimester of your pregnancy lasts from week 13 to 28, or months 4, 5, and 6. It’s the middle phase of pregnancy.](https://www.webmd.com/baby/second-trimester-of-pregnancy)
- [**Weeks 13-16** \
\
You may have more energy and feel your best these next couple of months. Your uterus has grown a lot.](https://www.webmd.com/baby/your-pregnancy-week-by-week-weeks-13-16)
- [**Weeks 17-20** \
\
You're showing more now, with a typical weight gain of 5-10 pounds. You may also be noticing that your appetite has grown.](https://www.webmd.com/baby/your-pregnancy-week-by-week-weeks-17-20)
- [**Weeks 21-25** \
\
This marks the second half of your pregnancy. You're starting to show! You may notice stretch marks on your breasts or belly.](https://www.webmd.com/baby/your-pregnancy-week-by-week-weeks-21-25)

[View All](https://www.webmd.com/baby/guide-chapter-pregnancy-second-trimester)

## 4 of 6 /  Third Trimester

[View All](https://www.webmd.com/baby/guide-chapter-pregnancy-third-trimester)

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- [**What to Expect** \
\
The third trimester is the last phase of your pregnancy. It lasts from weeks 29 to 40, or months 7, 8, and 9.](https://www.webmd.com/baby/third-trimester-of-pregnancy)
- [**Weeks 31-34** \
\
Your uterus now fills a large part of your abdomen, and you've probably gained 21-27 pounds.](https://www.webmd.com/baby/your-pregnancy-week-by-week-weeks-31-34)
- [**Weeks 35-40** \
\
Your uterus is about 6 inches above your navel. By now, you've probably gained 24-29 pounds.](https://www.webmd.com/baby/your-pregnancy-week-by-week-weeks-35-40)
- [**Braxton Hicks Contractions** \
\
Braxton Hicks contractions are the "false" labor pains that a pregnant woman might have before “true” labor.](https://www.webmd.com/baby/true-false-labor)

[View All](https://www.webmd.com/baby/guide-chapter-pregnancy-third-trimester)

## 5 of 6 /  Labor and Delivery

[View All](https://www.webmd.com/baby/guide-chapter-pregnancy-labor-delivery)

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- [**What to Expect** \
\
Your baby's due date is near. Here's what you can expect from the start of labor until the first days and weeks with your baby.](https://www.webmd.com/baby/normal-labor-and-delivery-process)
- [**Am I in Labor?** \
\
Some pregnant people have distinct signs of labor, while others don’t. No one knows what causes labor to start or when.](https://www.webmd.com/baby/labor-signs)
- [**Stages of Labor** \
\
Labor is the body’s natural process of childbirth. It occurs in three stages and lasts 12 to 24 hours for a first birth.](https://www.webmd.com/baby/pregnancy-stages-labor)
- [**Pain Relief Options** \
\
How do you want to handle labor pain? You can count on some pain. But how much could be hard to predict.](https://www.webmd.com/baby/pregnancy-pain-relief)

[View All](https://www.webmd.com/baby/guide-chapter-pregnancy-labor-delivery)

## 6 of 6 /  Pregnancy Complications

[View All](https://www.webmd.com/baby/guide-chapter-pregnancy-complications)

- [**What Is Anemia?** \
\
It's normal to have mild anemia while pregnant. You may have more severe anemia from low iron, vitamin levels, or other reasons.](https://www.webmd.com/baby/anemia-in-pregnancy)
- [**Bleeding During Pregnancy** \
\
Bleeding during pregnancy is common, especially during the first trimester, and usually it's no cause for alarm.](https://www.webmd.com/baby/bleeding-during-pregnancy)
- [**Abdominal Separation** \
\
Diastasis recti means your belly sticks out because the space between your left and right belly muscles has widened.](https://www.webmd.com/baby/abdominal-separation-diastasis-recti)
- [**Preeclampsia and Eclampsia** \
\
Preeclampsia usually happens late in pregnancy, though it can come earlier or just after delivery.](https://www.webmd.com/baby/what-is-preeclampsia)

[View All](https://www.webmd.com/baby/guide-chapter-pregnancy-complications)

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### News

- [Surprising Number of Women Using Marijuana During Pregnancy](https://www.webmd.com/baby/news/20240829/surprising-number-of-women-using-marijuana-during-pregnancy) An analysis of over 90,000 umbilical cord samples taken over the last 5 years found that nearly a fifth were positive for cannabis, another name for marijuana.


## Suggested Reads about Health & Baby

- [**Maternal Mortality Risks: What You Can Do to Help** \
\
The maternal mortality rate for Black women in the U.S. is nearly three times higher than it is for white women. If you’re a pregnant Black woman, what can you do to help protect yourself and your baby?](https://www.webmd.com/baby/features/black-maternal-mortality-fears)
- [**How to Find an OB/GYN Supportive of Transgender Pregnancies** \
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Many transgender men and nonbinary people can carry a pregnancy. Here are tips to find an OB/GYN who will offer supportive transgender pregnancy care.](https://www.webmd.com/baby/features/ob-gyn-doctors-for-transgender-pregnancies)
- [**11 Things You Didn't know About Twin Pregnancies** \
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If you are expecting twins and don't know what to expect, you are not alone. Here's some advice from experts about what's in store for you and your twins.](https://www.webmd.com/baby/features/11-things-you-didnt-know-about-twin-pregnancies)
- [**Predicting Your Baby's Sex** \
\
How well do old wives' tales work in predicting your baby's sex?](https://www.webmd.com/baby/features/predicting-your-babys-sex)

## Top Search Terms for Pregnancy

- [Pregnancy Symptoms](https://www.webmd.com/baby/pregnancy-am-i-pregnant)
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- [Ectopic Pregnancy](https://www.webmd.com/baby/pregnancy-ectopic-pregnancy)
- [Prenatal Vitamins](https://www.webmd.com/baby/prenatal-vitamins)
- [Getting Pregnant in Your 40s](https://www.webmd.com/baby/pregnant-at-40)
- [Implantation Bleeding](https://www.webmd.com/baby/implantation-bleeding-pregnancy)
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