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What Happens During the First Trimester of Pregnancy?

The first trimester of pregnancy can be very overwhelming for many mothers. It is very important for pregnant women to understand the changes that they might experience, so they will know how to take care of themselves during this period. The first trimester of pregnancy is marked by an invisible (but still amazing) transformation. As many mothers know, the first trimester of pregnancy happens very quickly. Hormones are triggering their bodies so they can begin to nourish the baby even before the tests and a physical exam can confirm the pregnancy.

Physical Changes During the First Trimester of Pregnancy

It is very important to have a doctor or gynecologist, which can help you to deal with the symptoms of pregnancy, but also, he will give you advice on how to eat healthily and what you can do in every month of your pregnancy. After your first visit, you need to make regular checkups every four weeks. When you are going on an appointment, you need to discuss any concerns or fears that you might have about your pregnancy, childbirth, or life with your newborn.

You should remember that no question is silly or unimportant. The answers from your doctor can help you to take care of yourself and your baby. It is important to go on regular visits, so you will be sure that everything is okay with you, as well as with your baby. You need to follow a healthy diet, which will help you to have an easy and safe pregnancy. Your doctor will help you to get the best for your baby.

Physical Changes During the First Trimester of Pregnancy

  • Physical changes in the first month of pregnancy:

In the third week of the first month, the egg is fertilized by a sperm in the fallopian tube. This fertilized egg will travel through the fallopian tube to implant in the uterus. During the implantation, you might have a tiny bit of bleeding, which is known as implantation bleeding. Also, this week EPF is released. EPF is a hormone, known as the early pregnancy factor. This hormone prevents the body from rejecting the baby as an invader. From week four, you will start experiencing many physical symptoms, which will last through the first trimester of the pregnancy.

During the first 12 weeks of your pregnancy, a hormone known as HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is released in the body. This hormone is associated with symptoms, like vomiting, nausea, and mood swings. Also, you can feel other symptoms, like a strange and metallic taste in your mouth, tender or swollen breasts, frequent urination, and fatigue. Also, you can start experiencing aversions or cravings for certain types of foods. In weeks five and six, you may start to realize that you are pregnant. Also, your period may be late and the fatigue and other symptoms will continue.

Nausea can increase due to the rising hormone levels. You need to know that nausea in pregnancy tends to get worse on an empty stomach, so you should always have crackers or some plain biscuits on your hands. Also, you need to eat frequent, small, and high – carbohydrate meals throughout the day. Usually, nausea in pregnancy is referred to as morning sickness, but it can strike any time of the day. Also, your urge to urinate will increase as your expanding uterus presses on your bladder.

Your breasts will continue to feel heavy, swollen, and tender. Your nipples will become darker and the veins in your breasts will become more noticeable. You can also develop headaches, which are caused by the increasing levels of hormones in your system. You should not be afraid if you do not develop all of the mentioned symptoms. There are many women who sail through their first trimester without any nausea at all.

Physical changes in the second month of pregnancy:

You should know that the symptoms of your pregnancy during the second month will be similar to the first month. These symptoms include mood swings, food cravings or aversions, frequent urination, dizziness, nausea and fatigue. In this month, you might no longer enjoy the taste of alcohol or the smell of smoke, which is good for the health of your baby. These substances are harmful for your baby, so you need to avoid them from the moment you have discovered that you are pregnant.

In the second month, your breasts will continue to become larger, your nipples will be more prominent and small nodules may appear on the areola (this is the dark area surrounding the nipples). But, in this month you may start to develop other symptoms. You can have a slight vaginal discharge. The increasing hormone levels can also cause acne. But, there are many women who have found that their skin clears up towards the end of the month, which is resulting in that famous pregnancy glow. Also, your hair may be less manageable.

Some women can have a chronic stuffy nose, which can be alleviated with the use of humidifier. The gums will be softer due to the hormones in your body, so you need to be sure to maintain good dental hygiene. Also, hormones in pregnancy tend to make the intestines less efficient, which are causing constipation. You need to drink lot of water and eat a high – fibre diet, so you will guard yourself against constipation. In the second month of your pregnancy, cells in the ovary continue to produce a hormone called progesterone, which is very important to maintain the pregnancy.

Also, the amount of blood circulating in your body will increase to meet the needs of your unborn baby. This increase in your blood volume will make you to feel warmer. Also, your abdomen will begin to swell ever so slightly. In this month, your uterus is the size of orange, but it is still hidden within your pelvis. Your baby is moving gently, but not enough, so you cannot feel it. You should be sure that you get lot of sleep and exercise safely, so in this way you will avoid accidents which could harm your baby.

Physical changes in the third month of pregnancy:

When you are in the 11 week of your pregnancy, nausea will start to ease. You might feel faint if you stand up too quickly. Also, your vaginal discharge will increase. The amount of blood circulating through your body will continue to increase too. Also, the hormonal changes will continue to make your gums prone to bleeding, so you need to pay attention to your oral hygiene, avoid sugary foods and you need to have at least two dental check – ups while you are pregnant.

The constipation can persist and it may be accompanied by hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids are a form of varicose veins which are appearing around the anus and they are itchy, uncomfortable and sometimes painful. You should be sure to eat lot of fruits, vegetables and high fibre foods to guard against the hemorrhoids and constipation. Also, you can develop a backache, which is caused by leaning backward to compensate for the baby’s weight. You should try to maintain good posture, avoid lifting heavy objects, lift with your knees bent, wear flat shoes and sit with your back well – supported.

You can develop cramps in your legs and feet, especially at night. You can alleviate this sharp pain with the adequate calcium intake, massage therapy and regular exercise. Your extreme fatigue should start to ease and you should have more energy by week 12. Also, your abdomen will continue to expand and your risk of miscarriage is reduced a lot. In this week, it is a good idea to tell your employer and friends that you are pregnant. The nausea may be completely gone by week 13.

The uterus is enlarging at a regular and noticeable rate now, and your pregnant belly is now visible. In this week, the size of your uterus is about the size of a grapefruit. Also, your nipples are darker and the blue veins in your breasts are very obvious. In this week, your health – care provider will be able to hear your baby’s heartbeat using a small handheld ultrasound device. In the week 14, you will less tired and more fit and active. The dark area around your nipples (known as areola) will become darker and larger.

Also, hormonal changes can cause a dark line to develop down the middle of your abdomen to the pubic bone. In the third month, you will probably gain about 0.5 kg – 1 kg. Also, some women can lose a bit of their weight if they have not been eating, which is also okay. You need to focus on maintaining a good nutrition. You need to eat about 300 – 500 extra calories per day. You do not need to eat more than this amount. You need to avoid junk food and eat a lot of fruits, vegetables, and protein.

Vijila
Vijila
Dr. Emil Sarsath (aka) Vijila, a licensed naturopathic doctor (BSMS) who always ensures his patients receive compassionate, and individualized care. He has extensive experience in primary care, digestive health, mental health, nervous system disorder and more.Area of Expertise – Naturopathic Medicine, Whole Foods-based Nutrition, Siddha, Panchakarma.She is always available through [email protected]

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