Pregnancy Timeline by Week: Heartbeat Check, Second Trimester, Final Month and Full Term
From learning you're pregnant to giving birth, several milestones depend on the week: when is the heartbeat check, when does the "stable period" start, and is the final month the same as full term? This article lists the main events and categories in week order, gives actual dates for a last menstrual period of August 3, 2026 (due date May 10, 2027), and explains how the prenatal checkup schedule in Japan changes.
First trimester (weeks 0–15): from noticing the pregnancy to setting the due date
The first trimester is when you notice the pregnancy, the gestational sac and heartbeat are confirmed, and the due date is set. All timings are general guides, and those for the heartbeat check and morning sickness are shown as ranges because they vary a lot from person to person.
| Event | Approx. week | With a last period on August 3, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Ovulation and fertilization | Around 2w0d | Around August 17 |
| Implantation | Around 3w0d to 3w6d | Around August 24 to 30 |
| Next expected period | 4w0d | August 31 |
| Home pregnancy test usable | From 5w0d | From September 7 |
| Gestational sac visible | Around weeks 5–6 | Around September 7 to 20 |
| Heartbeat check | Around weeks 6–8 | Around September 14 to October 4 |
| Morning sickness most likely | Around weeks 5–15 | Around September 7 to November 22 |
| Due date set, maternal and child health handbook | Around weeks 9–11 | Around October 5 to 25 |
Home pregnancy tests can generally be used from one week after your expected period (5w0d). Too early, and they may show negative even if you're pregnant. A clinic visit is best from around weeks 5–6, when the gestational sac starts to be visible. If you go too early, you may be told it isn't visible yet and to come back in 1 to 2 weeks. For when to get your maternal and child health handbook, follow the guidance from your municipality or clinic.
Second trimester (weeks 16–27): the stable period and fetal movement
| Event | Approx. week | With a last period on August 3, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Second trimester (stable period) begins | 16w0d | November 23, 2026 |
| Fetal movement first felt | Around weeks 18–20 | Around December 7 to 27 |
| Preterm category begins | 22w0d | January 4, 2027 |
| Checkups change to every 2 weeks | 24w0d | January 18, 2027 |
The "stable period" (anteiki) isn't a medical term, but in Japan it generally refers to the second trimester (from 16w0d), when the placenta has formed and morning sickness tends to ease. Many people time telling their workplace or planning trips around it, but note that entering the second trimester doesn't mean anything is safe.
Fetal movement is often felt earlier in second and later pregnancies, and some people don't notice it until after week 20 in a first pregnancy. 22w0d is the line from which a birth is called preterm rather than a miscarriage.
Third trimester (from week 28): final month, full term and the due date
| Event | Week | With a last period on August 3, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Third trimester begins | 28w0d | February 15, 2027 |
| Prenatal leave can start for multiple pregnancies | 26w1d | February 2, 2027 |
| Prenatal leave can start | 34w1d | March 30, 2027 |
| Final month (10th month), weekly checkups | 36w0d | April 12, 2027 |
| Full term | 37w0d to 41w6d | April 19 to May 23, 2027 |
| Due date | 40w0d | May 10, 2027 |
| Post-term | From 42w0d | From May 24, 2027 |
The final month (rinketsu) and full term are a week apart, so they're easy to confuse. The final month is a count of months, the 10th month of pregnancy (from 36w0d), while full term is the category from 37w0d to 41w6d, the desirable period for birth. A birth in week 36, just after the final month begins, is still classed as preterm. How to work out prenatal leave dates is explained in when maternity leave starts and how to calculate it from your due date.
What births are called by week
| Category | Week | With a last period on August 3, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Miscarriage | Before week 22 | Through January 3, 2027 |
| Preterm | 22w0d to 36w6d | January 4 to April 18, 2027 |
| Full term | 37w0d to 41w6d | April 19 to May 23, 2027 |
| Post-term | From 42w0d | From May 24, 2027 |
Even after the due date, a birth through 41w6d is full term. But from week 42 the placenta's function tends to decline, so measures such as inducing labor are often considered before then. Approaches after the due date differ by clinic, so ask at a checkup.
Prenatal checkup intervals: every 4 weeks, every 2 weeks, weekly
In the standard schedule set out by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the interval between checkups changes by week. Following it means about 14 checkups during pregnancy, and many municipalities issue 14 vouchers (subsidy tickets) to match.
| Week | Checkup interval | With a last period on August 3, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Early pregnancy to week 23 | Every 4 weeks | Through January 17, 2027 |
| Weeks 24 to 35 | Every 2 weeks | January 18 to April 11, 2027 |
| Week 36 to birth | Weekly | From April 12, 2027 |
The actual schedule varies with when you first visit, how you're feeling and the clinic's policy. In early pregnancy, visits every 1 to 2 weeks to check the heartbeat and set the due date are also common.
Find the milestone dates for your own due date
The dates in the tables above are examples for a last menstrual period on August 3, 2026. Enter your last period or the due date set by your clinic in the Due Date & Pregnancy Week Calculator, and "Upcoming milestones" lists the same events with dates based on your due date, with "Now" marking where you are.
The "Date ⇔ week" tab shows which week and day a trip, a stay with family or an event falls on, whether a birth on that day would be preterm, full term or post-term, and the checkup interval at that time. Enter 36 or 37 weeks to see when the final month or full term begins. How weeks are counted is explained in counting pregnancy weeks and months.
FAQ
- At how many weeks is the heartbeat check?
- Around weeks 6–8 as a guide. With a last menstrual period on August 3, 2026, that's around September 14 to October 4. If ovulation was late, for example, it may not yet be visible at the week counted from your last period, and it may be checked again 1 to 2 weeks later.
- When does the stable period start?
- It's generally said to start at 16w0d, when the second trimester begins. That's the start of the 5th month of pregnancy, and with a last period on August 3, 2026, it's November 23, 2026. It isn't a medical term. It's used to mean the time when the placenta has formed and your condition tends to settle.
- What's the difference between the final month and full term?
- The final month is the 10th month of pregnancy (from 36w0d), and full term means birth between 37w0d and 41w6d. A birth in week 36 falls in the final month but is classed as preterm. With a due date of May 10, 2027, the final month starts on April 12, and full term runs from April 19 to May 23.
- How many prenatal checkups are there?
- About 14 in the standard schedule: every 4 weeks through week 23, every 2 weeks in weeks 24 to 35, and weekly from week 36. Many municipalities issue 14 vouchers, but the number and subsidy amount vary.
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