FIRST TRIMESTER
There are many wonderful joys to be had when you first find out that you’re pregnant. First, there’s the feeling of expectation and excitement as you begin to notice the signs – your period is late, your breasts are swelling and you’re more tired than usual. Maybe you even have a bit of morning sickness, but you don’t mind because you start to believe that you may be pregnant.
When you finally take that plunge and buy a pregnancy test, you know that you’re pregnant and the excitement takes over fully. The fact that you have to pee every five minutes or that you can’t keep any food down at all doesn’t dampen your mood one bit – at least most of the time! Many women will experience mood swings during this stage, so you might begin to have some downs, as well as ups.
All in all, the first trimester of pregnancy can be the most exciting and the most draining, although it isn’t always. Every pregnancy and every woman is different. You may experience one or all of the symptoms mentioned here, and possibly some that aren’t mentioned at all. The most important thing to remember is that if anything seems unusual, you can always contact your doctor to make sure all is well.
What to Expect
When you first discover you’re pregnant, you need to contact your doctor for an appointment. Your doctor will give you a general exam to make sure you’re healthy and ready for pregnancy. Your doctor will also determine your due date, which is typically based off of the date of your last period. If you don’t know this date or if you have irregular periods, a sonogram may be scheduled to determine the age of the fetus.
Your doctor will also provide you with prenatal vitamins. Some women complain that these vitamins add to symptoms of nausea and dizziness. However, it’s important that you get these nutrients, so if the prenatal vitamins simply won’t work for you, talk to your doctor to find out what foods and beverages can help you get these nutrients naturally. Your doctor may also be able to suggest some home remedies for nausea or prescribe medication to help with severe morning sickness.
Nausea, often called morning sickness, is common in the first trimester, although it may not always occur in the morning. You’ll likely feel very tired as well, and you could have some dizzy spells. As your pregnancy progresses, you’ll notice some tenderness in your breasts and possibly some swelling as well. Dizziness and frequent urination is also normal during your first trimester.
And while most weight gain occurs in the second and third trimesters, you’ll notice your abdomen begin to distend a bit, although it probably won’t be noticeable enough to cause you to change clothing sizes until your fourth month. This is the best time, however, to develop a diet and exercise plan that you can carry with you throughout your pregnancy. Just be sure to clear these with your doctor before starting in on them to be sure your plan is appropriate for you and your level of health and fitness.
What happens to my body
The uterus (the hollow, muscular organ that supports growth and development for the fetus) will begin to increase in size to hold your growing fetus. You may feel strong twinges (known as round ligament pains) on either side of your belly as the uterus grows.
The bladder is compressed by the growing uterus. You may feel the need to urinate more frequently.
The muscles in the bowel relax due to the increasing flow of certain pregnancy hormones, and the growing uterus begins to place pressure on the bowel. Digestion slows down and this may cause constipation, heartburn, and gas. Increasing your intake of liquids and eating extra fiber can be helpful.
In the cervix (the neck of the uterus), glands begin to release thick mucus that forms a structure called the mucus plug. This plug seals the canal that leads to the inside of the uterus in order to prevent infection.
Your breathing and pulse rates increase.
Your breasts begin to swell and feel fuller and tender to the touch. The nipples and areola (the pigmented area surrounding the nipples) will begin to darken, and the sweat glands that are found around the areola seem larger (like goose bumps). You'll probably notice the veins in your breasts more than usual; this is because the blood supply to them is increasing.
Your metabolism (the mechanical changes in your body that control digestion, elimination, breathing, and energy) will speed up. Around the third month, you may begin to notice an increase in your appetite. You may feel warmer than usual.
The changes in your body may also cause you to feel nauseated or to vomit. Although this is sometimes called "morning sickness", it can occur at any time of day. It usually goes away by the 12th week of pregnancy. Talk to your health care provider about what you can do to feel better.
You may have less energy and will probably feel an increased need for sleep. Take naps as often as you can.
You will probably experience mood changes. You may feel less in control of your feelings and may sometimes have mixed feelings about being pregnant.
Your Emotions
Pregnancy and birth are major events. It's perfectly normal to feel happy one minute and moody or sad the next. However, a small number of pregnant women experience a depression serious enough to require professional attention. If you are concerned about feeling blue, talk to your health care provider or get a referral to a mental health professional. You can contact your insurance carrier to find out how to connect with behavioral health providers directly and confidentially.
Physical and emotional stresses are part of everyday life and are usually manageable. Many factors can contribute to stress in pregnancy such as the changes your body is going through, possible changes in your relationships with your partner, co-workers, and family, and financial concerns. It's possible that too much stress can contribute to prematurity and low birth weight of the baby.
Learning to manage stress will help you and your partner avoid habits that can harm you and the baby, like drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, or using illicit drugs.
Here are just a few ways to help you handle stress in pregnancy (and parenthood):
Recognize the things that cause you stress, and try to avoid them.
Ask others to help you.
Take a break - meditate, nap, do something fun, be physically active.
Talk to someone - your partner, a friend, a health care provider.
Set your priorities carefully.
