Your pregnancy is divided into trimesters. The first trimester is from your first month of pregnancy to your third.
"MORNING SICKNESS"
In these first months you may experience morning sickness. Don't let the name fool you though, morning Sickness can occur at anytime of the day or night. It usually starts as early as three weeks into your pregnancy. High levels of the hormones called estrogen and progesterone cause your morning sickness. To help relieve or ease your morning sickness you can:
-Eat small frequent meals (6 meals a day instead of 3).
-Choose foods that are low in fat and easy to digest.
-Drink plenty of fluids.
-Avoid sudden movements.
-Keep bread or crackers near by.
You may want to contact your doctor if these tips don't help or if nausea is severe, your urine is in very small amounts or is dark in color,you cant keep down fluids,your dizzy or faint when you you stand,your heart is racing, or you vomit blood.
"TENDER OR SWOLLEN BREASTS"
Hormonal changes cause an increase of blood flow and changes in your breast tissue that may cause your breast to feel swollen, sore, tingly, or sensitive to the touch. Some mothers would compare it to how your breast may feel before a period except a bit more exaggerated. This may start to occur between four to six weeks of your pregnancy and last the whole first trimester. Usually around six to eight weeks of pregnancy your breast may start to get bigger especially if its your first child. Your breast may start to itch as the skin is stretching and there is a possibility that you may get stretch marks or may start to see veins on your breasts. Your nipples and areolas ( the pigmented circles around your nipples) will get bigger and darker. You may notice little bumps on your areolas that you never noticed before they are called Montgomery's tubercles. These little bumps will become more pronounced in preparation for nursing. In your third month (9 to 13 weeks) of pregnancy your breast start to produce colostrum ( a form of breast milk), a yellowish thick substance which may leak in your last month of pregnancy or a little earlier, although some women wont leak at all. To reduce the soreness you can:
-Wear supportive bras.
-Avoid underwires.
-Use cotton bras ( they offer more comfort and are breathable).
-During the day try maternity bras and at night a pregnancy bra.
"PEE MUCH?"
You may notice that your trips to the bathroom have increased about six weeks into your pregnancy. Hormonal changes are once again to blame. These changes are causing your blood to flow more quickly through your kidneys, filling your bladder often. Not to mention your growing uterus is applying pressure to your bladder which contributes as well. You may be wondering why your frequent urination is so profound at night, this is because when you lie down some of the fluid your legs and feet may have retained makes its way back into your bloodstream and eventually passing through your kidneys into your bladder. To help with the constant bathroom visits you can:
-Avoid beverages that elevate your urination rate such as coffee and tea.
-When you are urinating lean forward to help completely empty your bladder.
Notify your doctor if your felling pain or burning when your urinating, and if you continue to feel the urge to pee even if you can only produce a few drops of pee. This may be signs of a urinary track infection (UTI) which isn't harmful or serious unless untreated. If left untreated may lead to a kidney infection, preterm labor or both. To avoid a UTI try not to let your bladder get to full, so when you feel the urge go as soon as possible. On the brighter side you constant need to go will end a few days after the birth of your baby.
"Fatigue"
Fatigue in simple words is feeling weak, sluggish, or having lack of energy. It is common during the first trimester and late pregnancy. Possible reasons for fatigue are hormonal changes, not sleeping well due to discomfort or the frequent bathroom visits at night, morning sickness, if your feeling depression or stress, or symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia ( not uncommon during pregnancy), your doctor will run tests for this your first prenatal visit, your late second trimester, and early third trimester. The duration of fatigue is different for every woman but it usually lasts until you enter your second trimester. To ease this feeling you can:
-Go to bed early.
-Take a nap during pregnancy the day.
-Cut back your hours at work.
-Make sure to eat right.
-Stay hydrated.
-Moderate exercise.
"Pickles and Ice Cream"
There is no explanation for cravings. Some practitioners and nutritionists believe certain cravings are meaningful. For example a shortage of magnesium can trigger a craving for chocolate. With cravings that nutritionally do nothing for you ,indulge in them lightly. Instead of a king sized chocolate bar get a mini size. Its OK to give into your cravings sometimes. Just as you may be experiencing cravings you may be noticing certain foods or smells aren't so appealing anymore. If you are disgusted with food that nutritionally you do need to keep you and your baby healthy try finding substitutes for the foods you cant stomach.
Call your doctor if your craving clay, ash, laundry starch, or other weird things. These cravings are called Pica craving and can be harmful.
"DIZZINESS"
During pregnancy your blood vessels dilate and your blood pressure will drop, which may cause any dizziness you feel. Stress ,fatigue, and hunger could also cause some dizziness. Your heart rate goes up and your heart is pumping more blood per minute which also contributes. If you actually faint something might be wrong. Common causes of dizziness during pregnancy are standing up too fast, lying on your back, not enough food/drink, anemia, getting overheated, hyperventilating, and vasovagol syncope ( strain to cough, pee, or bowel movement ). Tips to help your dizziness:
-When sitting slowly get up.
-When lying down, slowly sit up, sit there for a few minutes with your feet dangling off the side of the bed or couch, then get up slowly.
-When standing for long periods of time move your legs for good circulation.
-Lay on your side instead of your back.
-Eat often and stay hydrated.
-If you have anemia take prenatal pills that have iron in them.
-Avoid overheating.
Contact your doctor if these tips don't help, if your dizziness is frequent, if a head injury cam with your dizziness, if your dizziness is accompanied by headache,blurred vision, impaired speech, palpitations, numbness, tingling, bleeding or you faint. Also contact your doctor if you experience abdominal pain with your dizziness it may indicate an ectopic pregnancy.
"HEARTBURN AND CONSTIPATION"
If you've never experienced heartburn, it is a burning sensation from the bottom of the breast bone to the lower throat. If you do experience heartburn its because of your hormonal and physical changes. It will com and go throughout pregnancy. Although you cannot eliminate it you can minimize it by:
-Avoiding chocolate, caffeine, acidic foods and juices, tomatoes, mustard, vinegar, processed meats, mint products, spicy foods, fried foods, highly seasoned foods, and fatty foods.
-Eat several meals.
-Take your time eating, and chew thoroughly.
-Avoid drinking large quantities of liquid during meals, sip instead.
-Chew gum after meals.
-Sleep propped up by pillows.
Now if your experiencing constipation this is because the hormone progesterone causes the food you eat to pass through your intestines more slowly. To help your constipation you should eat high fiber food such as whole grain cereals, drink plenty of water, exercise, try using the bathroom after eating, if your prenatal pills are high in iron ask your doctor about switching unless your anemic, and if nothing works ask you doctor of an over-the-counter stool softener or supplement.
"EMOTIONS"
Your emotional changes will start six to eight weeks of pregnancy due to hormones and feelings of becoming a parent and usually ease during your second trimester then may reappear towards the end of the pregnancy. These emotion vary from worry of being a good mom, costs, how it will affect your relationships, feeling unattractive, and loss of control with all the changes your experiencing. To help deal with your emotions take it easy, don't overwhelm yourself with chores or worries, bond with your partner, do something that makesyou feel good, talk it out, and if your emotions don't ease up ask your doctor for a referral to a counselor.
"FIRST PRENATAL VISIT"
On your first visit your doctor will check your overall health as well as identifying risk factors and determining how far along you are. The doctor will also ask of your health history. For now your visits will be every four to six weeks. Feel free to ask your doctor any questions you might have. No question is stupid. After all your just trying to be sure everything is OK for you and your baby.
In your second trimester (three to six months) there is more excitement and less disturbances. This is because your fatigue and morning sickness is easing up or may barely seem to be around. Also the even better news is that if you want to know the sex of your baby in these months you will find out!
" 36B TO 36C"
If you have ever wanted bigger breast congratulations pregnancy has given them to you! In your second trimester your breasts may have significantly grown and this is because the milk producing glands are getting larger and fat might be accumulating. The tenderness might improve but your nipples may continue to be sore.
"BABY BUMP"
In this part of your pregnancy your uterus is becoming heavier and your abdomin is expanding to make room for your baby. You should be gaining three to four pounds a month now so expect to start feeling little nudges, rolls, and kicks.
"BRAXTON HICKS CONTRACTIONS"
Braxton hicks contractions start at six weeks its just too early to feel them. Now that your in your second trimester you may start to feel them although some women never do. The reason you're having these contractions is because your uterus is contracting to build strength for labor. You should feel it in your lower abdomin and groin. The difference between Braxton hicks contractions and real labor contractions is the Braxton hicks contractions pretty much stay the Samoan real labor contractions grow stronger, longer, and become closer together. To help with the discomfort of the Braxton hicks contractions you can change activity or position,take a walk or rest ( whichever is more comforting), take a warm bath, drink water, do relaxation exercises or slow deep breathing.
Call your doctor if your contractions are getting longer, stronger, and become closer, or if you experience abdominal pain, menstrual-like cramping, more than four contractions in an hour, vaginal bleeding or spotting,increase in vaginal discharge or change in type of discharge (becomes watery,mucucy, or bloody), more pressure in pelvic area like the baby is pushing down, and lower back pain if you didn't have it before.
"SKIN CHANGES AND STRETCH MARKS"
Certain parts of your skin may darken from the increase of blood circulation like your areolas, certain areas of your face, and the line going down your belly. At least half of pregnant women get stretch marks. A factor that increases your chances of stretch marks is genetics. If your mother got stretch marks during pregnancy you possibly might. Studies show that younger mothers especially teen mothers are more prone to getting stretch marks. You are also more likely to get stretch marks if you gain a lot of weight rapidly, are carrying multiple, are carrying a big baby, or have excess amniotic fluid. There isn't much you can to to prevent stretch marks, there is no proof that the creams,oils,or salves that claim to prevent stretch marks work. Although keeping your belly moisterized may help the itching. Stretch marks don't go away they just lighten up to a shade lighter then the surrounding skin, this varies with skin tones but the texture remains the same. After having your baby you can ask a dermatologist what you can do to reduce their appearance.
"NOSE AND GUM ISSUES"
If you never snore before and now you do or find yourself congested this is because the increase of circulation is causing more blood to flow through your body's mucus membranes causing the lining of your nose and airways to swell which restricts airflow also may cause nosebleeds. Your gums will also soften which may cause your gums to bleed when you brush your teeth or floss. Switching to a softer toothbrush can help.
"STILL FEEL DIZZY"
You may still feel dizziness at times during your second trimester and you may still feel short of breath since your processing more air so that your body will carry more oxygen to the placenta. It is also common to see a thin white discharge that is thought to suppress harmful bacteria or yeast. Panty liners can be used for comfort. Be sure to also continue to look out for any signs of a UTI.
"EMOTIONS"
Heres something your partner may or may not enjoy hearing, in this stage of pregnancy your sexuality might be reduced or heightened. This depends , sometimes the reduced sexuality is caused by feeling unattractive but remember to share this with your partner he may help to comfort you. You may also be feeling anticipation since you will be approaching the end of your pregnancy in your next trimester.
"APPOINTMENTS"
Now your appointments will focus on your baby's growth checking your weight blood pressure, the baby's heartbeat, and measure your belly. The most exciting part too, the ultrasound. This would be a great time to find out if your having a little boy or little girl. Don't forget to ask any questions you may have.
In your third trimester (six to nine months) your brave will have gained two pounds in breast tissue, you will have gained all of twenty five to thirty five pounds that you didn't have prior to your pregnancy. Don't freak out though all the weight Goldstein the baby, the placenta, the amniotic fluid, larger breast and uterus, extra fat that's stored, and increased blood and fluid volume. You still may be experiencing Braxton hicks contractions, and backaches since hormones relax the joints between the bones in your pelvic area from the weight gain. You can ask your partner for a back rub or apply ice to the painful area, when sitting use a chair with good support, wear low healed shoes not flat ones to ease your back pain. If the pain is unbearable callous doctor. You still may feel short of breath since the baby is preparing to settle down into your pelvis before delivery. Keep in mind good posture may help your breathing. Some people say that heartburn towards the end of your pregnancy means that you baby will be born with a lot of hair and you should expect more heartburn towards the end of your pregnancy but it also might be because your uterus has pushed your stomach out of its usual place. By now you might be experiencing swelling of your feet and legs. Your uterus is putting pressure on the veins that return blood from your legs and feet, also expect to possibly see swelling of your face and arms. However contact your doctor if swelling of your eyelids is continuous. To reduce swelling elevate your feet with a stool or pillows when you sleep. Increased blood circulation may also cause to see litter reddish spots on your face, neck, and arms that sprout tiny blood vessels, you might also see varicose veins (blue or reddish lines under your skin). Hemorrhoids are another possibility due to constipation. Frequently urinating may still be annoying you now especially since your baby is moving deeper into your pelvis, you may even leak when you laugh, cough, or sneeze. Panty liners are useful for this as well. Continue to be aware of a UTI. Vaginal discharge is still common at this stage of pregnancy but if you think your leaking amniotic fluid or have to change your panty liner every few hours from saturation contact your doctor. As far as your emotions go you may be feeling fears of child birth, use this time to take child birth classes if you haven't already, ask your doctor about your options on pain relief, and plan ahead. You may be feeling anxious and overwhelmed especially if its your first child but stay calm. Try writing in your journal or talking with your partner or someone close to you. By now your appointments are every other week beginning at thirty two weeks to thirty six weeks then every week until you give birth. The doctor will check the usual and a vaginal exam to see if your dilated. Don't forget to ask any questions and don't forget to get as much rest as you can before your bundle of joy comes.
