First trimester (tri-weekster?)

Phoenix is one-third through gestation already! Three out of nine weeks have flown by (would that humans could get it over with so quickly!)

Puppy development starts quite slowly. It takes a couple of days just for fertilization to occur and another several days for the fertilized ova to reach the uterus where they will attach to the uternine wall. At seven days the ovum has divided only four times to make 16 cells. During the second week it divides only twice more, to form 64 cells, and will find a place in the uterine wall to embed itself. During the third week the placentas are formed and development of the basic structure of the puppy begins in earnest. At 20 days the ovules have finally changed shape, elongating to begin to form a puppy. The nervous system is the first part to form.

Puppy embryo

 By this time we often notice some changed behaviour in the mama-to-be - she gets picky about eating (it's not just a human trait!) and might be a bit moody. I can't say I've noticed much change with Phoenix - she seems to eat as much as ever - so I hope she really is pregnant. Within a few more weeks we should notice some breast tissue swelling and swelling in the abdomen if she is. (And the ultrasound in late Feb will be definite confirmation one way or the other).