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When you've conceived a child, your first thoughts may be of the baby, and how it will develop. However, it is also very important to think about the next nine months, and how you will also change during this time. You can be prepared by learning about what will happen during the three pregnancy stages, and by planning for the birth.

Once conception takes place, the first of the three pregnancy stages is called the first trimester. Most women discover that they are pregnant by the time they're about halfway through this stage. Common pregnancy symptoms like fatigue, morning sickness or frequent urination begin to appear at this time. The first trimester lasts for three months.

The next pregnancy stage is the second trimester. During this trimester -- months three through six -- your stomach will grow larger and you will start to "show" the pregnancy. By this time, it can often become difficult to sleep, or even to just be comfortable while lying down.

At this moment during the second trimester your baby will begin kicking. As he or she does so, you may feel these motions. Some women find them alarming, but they are a sign that the baby is active. At the end of this trimester, baby will be around 10 inches long and begin to develop hairs.

During the 3rd trimester, the baby is fully formed, but needs these last three months to grow and develop lung and heart functions. Your body will undergo even more changes as the baby grows. You may need to urinate more often (as the baby puts pressure on your bladder), and it may be difficult to balance with your now-large belly.

It is during the third of the three pregnancy stages that you should begin to take birthing and breastfeeding classes. Having a partner to learn proper breathing may be helpful. It also may help at this point to watch birth videos so that you know what to expect. Ask your obstetrician about joining classes and obtaining videos.

At this point, you will want to give some thought to how you plan on giving birth. While it is most common for a woman to deliver at a hospital with pain medications available, more and more women are now choosing less traditional methods. For instance, some women decide to give birth without using any painkillers, while others are choosing to give birth at home, usually with a midwife's assistance. Some women are even opting for a waterbirth, where the actual birth takes place in a hot tub or other large bathtub filled with warm water.

At the time of the excitement of pregnancy, it is easy to forget to plan for the pregnancy stages which will occur. By knowing what to expect, and having a proper plan in place, surprises are limited and the mother's comfort is put in the forefront. With all of these options, visiting with an obstetrician is the best plan, as he or she can give you further options and resources.

After conception, you should become familiar with what to expect in each of the three pregnancy stages, and plan for the birth of your child. In the first trimester, you may experience common pregnancy symptoms such as morning sickness and fatigue. The second trimester is when you will begin to "show", and is also when the baby starts kicking. In the third trimester, the baby is fully formed, but still growing. At this point, you should prepare yourself for the birthing process by taking classes or watching birth videos. Also, you should develop a birthing plan, which may include alternative approaches to childbirth, such as a home birth or waterbirth.