Pregnancies are divided into three periods called trimesters as a way to better understand your pregnancy and what is happening with your body and your baby’s body. From the time your baby is conceived to 13 weeks gestation, you are in your first trimester. The first trimester is a very crucial time for the health of your baby and his or her development. During this critical time, the baby’s body structure and organ systems develop. It is important that you are taking good care of your body, and subsequently your baby’s body. In order to do that, you have to understand what should be expected during your first trimester, and what you should watch out for.
It is entirely normal to experience symptoms such as tiredness and fatigue, nausea, vomiting, constipation, heartburn, indigestion, and gas. You can also expect an increase in both your breast size and waist size, as your body is preparing for the growth and development of your baby. As your baby grows, so does your uterus, which will cause it to press on your bladder and will make you need to urinate more frequently. Because your heart needs to pump more blood to support the life growing inside of you, you may notice an increase in your pulse rate. This is also normal and should not be cause for alarm unless you notice a significant increase. If you are concerned about anything happening during your pregnancy, always consult your healthcare provider.
There are a few things to be on the lookout for that are considered red flags in your first trimester. While nausea and vomiting are normal in the early stages of pregnancy, you may become severely dehydrated if your vomiting becomes excessive. You should also watch out for spotting or vaginal bleeding. This can be entirely normal in small amounts, but you should check with your healthcare provider to be safe. Other symptoms for which you should consult your doctor are fever, pain while urinating, abnormal vaginal discharges, lower abdominal pain, and chest pain. Again, this is a very important time in the life of you and your baby, so it is important to take care of your body. You should stay away from drugs and alcohol during the entirety of your pregnancy and limit your caffeine intake early on.
As your body is changing so rapidly during this first trimester, it is important to remember that these changes are helping your baby to grow just as he or she should. There is another life beginning to unfold inside of you!
“Pregnancy Symptoms.” Ucsfhealth.org, The Regents of the University of California, www.ucsfhealth.org/conditions/pregnancy/trimesters#:~:text=Pregnancy%20The%20Three%20Trimesters%20%7C%20UCSF,Trimester%20(27%20to%2040%20Weeks).
“Red Flags in First Trimester OF Pregnancy: Blog Post by Dr. Smita Vats.” Momspresso, www.momspresso.com/parenting/article/red-flags-in-first-trimester-of-pregnancy.
“The First Trimester.” Johns Hopkins Medicine, Johns Hopkins Health System, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-first-trimester.