1st Trimester - What to Expect
Changes in Your Body
During the first trimester (first 3 months of pregnancy), your bodygoes thru a number of changes. As your body changes to adjust to the state of pregnancy and the growing baby, you may experience nausea, fatigue, backaches, mood swings, and stress. All of these are normal.
As your pregnancy progresses, most of these symptoms will go away. Different women experience different levels of discomfort and even If you have been pregnant before, you might feel differently this time around. Much like each person is different, so is each pregnancy.
As your body changes, you might want to make adjustments to your normal routine.
Here are some of the most common symptoms and changes you might experience in the first trimester:
Exhaustion and Tiredness
Many women feel quite exhausted and tired in the first trimester. This is completely normal and is your body’s way of letting you know that you need more rest. After all, your body is working very hard to nurture and develop a whole new life.
Try these tips to ease exhaustion:
- Get at least eight hours of sleep each night, and take naps during the day if possible.
- Go with the flow - if you are tired, rest or relax.
- Adjust to sleeping on your left side. This relieves pressure on major blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to the fetus. If you have high blood pressure during pregnancy, it is even more important to be on your left side when you are lying down.
- If you are stressed, try to find ways to relax.
Nausea and Vomiting
The infamous “morning sickness,” nausea and vomiting are quite common in early pregnancy. For some women, though, it isn’t limited to just the morning. Although it can seem like it will never end, nausea and vomiting usually diminish after the first trimester.
Consider these tips to help prevent and soothe nausea:
- Eat frequent, small meals (6 to 8 small meals a day) rather than 3 large meals. Avoid fatty, fried, or spicy foods.
- Eat starchy snacks, like toast, saltines or dry cereal when you feel nauseated. Keep some by your bed and eat something before you get out of bed in the morning. If you feel nauseous in the middle of the night, reach for a cracker. It’s also a good idea to keep these snacks with you at all times, in case of nausea.
- Try drinking carbonated drinks like ginger ale or seltzer water in between meals.
- Ask your doctor if you should change prenatal vitamins if it seems to be making your nausea worse. Sometimes taking your prenatal vitamin at a different time (e.g. at night not in the morning) can also help.
- Ask your doctor about taking vitamin B6 for nausea and vomiting that doesn’t get better with dietary changes.
If you think you might be vomiting excessively, call your doctor. Constant nausea and/or frequent vomiting may mean you have a condition called hyperemesis gravidarum. If you lose too much fluid you might become dehydrated. Dehydration can be dangerous for you and your baby.
Frequency of Urination
Running to the bathroom all the time? In early pregnancy, the expanding uterus presses on your bladder. This causes the frequent urge to urinate.
See your doctor right away if you notice any pain, burning, pus or blood in your urine. You might have a urinary tract infection that needs treatment.
Weight gain
During the first trimester, it is normal to gain only a small amount of weight, about one pound per month.
Fetal Development
By the end of the first trimester, your baby is about three inches long and weighs about half an ounce. The eyes move closer together into their positions, and the ears also are in position. The liver is making bile, and the kidneys are secreting urine into the bladder. Even though you can’t feel your baby move yet, your baby will move inside you in response to pushing on your abdomen.
Doctors Visits
During the early months of pregnancy, regular doctor visits (prenatal care) are especially important. Learn to communicate with your doctor and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Keep all of your appointments — every one is important!
During the first prenatal visit, you can expect your doctor or nurse to do the following:
- Ask about your personal medical history including diseases, operations, or prior pregnancies
- Ask about your family’s medical history
- Preform a complete physical exam
- Do a pelvic exam and a Pap test
- Order lab tests
- Check your blood pressure, urine, and weight
- Determine your expected due date
- Answer any questions and concerns
