8 Things A Pregnant Woman Must Know About The First Trimester

The length of a normal pregnancy can be anything from 38-42 weeks. This duration is mainly divided into three trimesters, each of these trimesters consists of three months. The first trimester of your pregnancy begins on the first day of last menstrual period and last until the end of week 12. The first three months of your pregnancy is very crucial, because the body goes through various changes to support the growth of the baby for ensuring a healthy pregnancy and labor. This is also the time, women must be very careful as they may experience miscarriages or pregnancy losses, so the mother should follow healthy behaviors and habits for the well being of the baby.

Growth during the first trimester is vital for the baby, because the main organs are developing in this stage. During this time, the body releases more hormone to support the growth of the fetus and placenta. These changes can bring many of the pregnancy symptoms, such as fatigue, headache, backache, morning sickness, etc. The following points should be known to a pregnant woman during the early days of her pregnancy.

1) Confirm your pregnancy

First of all you should confirm pregnancy. The solid signs of pregnancy include nausea, back pain, mood swings, tender or swollen breasts, etc. Sometimes false symptoms may be mistaken as pregnancy. The first sign of pregnancy is the missed periods. But it is difficult to confirm a woman with irregular menstrual cycle. An easy way to confirm your pregnancy is the home based urine kit or you can also get it confirmed from the doctor.

2) Bleeding or light spotting

It is normal that having light bleeding or spotting during first trimester. This type of bleeding is known as implantation bleeding. Implantation bleeding is actually an early sign of pregnancy. When the fertilized egg attaches into the uterus, small blood vessels present in the lining of the uterus may break. So the women may experience some bloods discharge during that time. It can occur anywhere from 6 to 12 days after fertilization and, often in pink or dark brown color other than normal menstrual blood. Almost one third of women experience implantation bleeding and it is harmless. Contact a doctor if you have heavy bleeding with cramps or fever because heavy bleeding can also be a sign of miscarriage.

3) Morning Sickness

Morning sickness is an early pregnancy symptom. Morning sickness may include nausea, vomiting, etc. It usually starts around 6 th week of pregnancy and you feel relief around 14th week. More than 50% pregnant women experience morning sickness. The main reason for the morning sickness is the increased production of hCG and estrogen hormone. Some doctors think morning sickness as part of a healthy pregnancy because its a sign of development of the placenta. You should definitely see a doctor, If you are vomiting excessively.

4) Consult a doctor

You must visit a doctor soon after the pregnancy confirmation. Choose the best Gynecologist and don’t forget to do monthly check ups. It will be helpful to find out any disorders at the beginning stages of pregnancy itself.

5) Take vaccinations

There is a myth that vaccinating mother can cause a health risk to the babies. There is no evidence to prove that. Take vaccinations without fail, because some illness in the mothers can seriously affect the physical and mental health of the fetus. So take vaccinations and stay secure.

6) Get enough nutrition

It is very important during pregnancy to have a nutritious diet, because what the mother eats, the baby gets a part of that. Your developing baby needs folic acid and iron during the earlier stages of development. So the best option is to include broccoli and spinach in your diet because, these are rich in folic acid and iron. It is normal to gain weight during pregnancy. If you are too much bothered, concentrate on quantity of food not quality.

7) Exercise

Before starting exercise you should check with your health provider. In some cases regular exercise can put you and your baby at risk. Otherwise, you can continue with your regular exercise or now famous prenatal yoga.

8) Quit alcohol

If you are a regular smoker or drinker it is the time to stop this habit. Through the umbilical cord alcohol present in the mother’s blood passes to the baby. Alcohol can cause long term harm to your baby. Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to premature birth, low birth weight and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). Smoking also increases the chance of birth defects. So you should avoid both during pregnancy time.

Pregnancy is a wonderful time in a woman’s life, So enjoy every moment of your pregnancy and motherhood !!! Wish you a joyful journey!