First Trimester of pregnancy,Week By Week

– What to Expect

There are many wonderful joys to be had when you first find out that you’re pregnant. First, there’s the feeling of expectation and excitement as you begin to notice the signs – your period is late, your breasts are swelling and you’re more tired than usual. Maybe you even have a bit of morning sickness, but you don’t mind because you start to believe that you may be pregnant.
When you finally take that plunge and buy a pregnancy test, you know that you’re pregnant and the excitement takes over fully. The fact that you have to pee every five minutes or that you can’t keep any food down at all doesn’t dampen your mood one bit – at least most of the time! Many women will experience mood swings during this stage, so you might begin to have some downs, as well as ups.

All in all, the first trimester of pregnancy can be the most exciting and the most draining, although it isn’t always. Every pregnancy and every woman is different. You may experience one or all of the symptoms mentioned here, and possibly some that aren’t mentioned at all. The most important thing to remember is that if anything seems unusual, you can always contact your doctor to make sure all is well.

What to Expect

When you first discover you’re pregnant, you need to contact your doctor for an appointment. Your doctor will give you a general exam to make sure you’re healthy and ready for pregnancy. Your doctor will also determine your due date, which is typically based off of the date of your last period. If you don’t know this date or if you have irregular periods, a sonogram may be scheduled to determine the age of the fetus.

Your doctor will also provide you with prenatal vitamins. Some women complain that these vitamins add to symptoms of nausea and dizziness. However, it’s important that you get these nutrients, so if the prenatal vitamins simply won’t work for you, talk to your doctor to find out what foods and beverages can help you get these nutrients naturally. Your doctor may also be able to suggest some home remedies for nausea or prescribe medication to help with severe morning sickness.

Nausea, often called morning sickness, is common in the first trimester, although it may not always occur in the morning. You’ll likely feel very tired as well, and you could have some dizzy spells. As your pregnancy progresses, you’ll notice some tenderness in your breasts and possibly some swelling as well. Dizziness and frequent urination is also normal during your first trimester.
And while most weight gain occurs in the second and third trimesters, you’ll notice your abdomen begin to distend a bit, although it probably won’t be noticeable enough to cause you to change clothing sizes until your fourth month. This is the best time, however, to develop a diet and exercise plan that you can carry with you throughout your pregnancy. Just be sure to clear these with your doctor before starting in on them to be sure your plan is appropriate for you and your level of health and fitness.

First Trimester of Pregnancy – Week by Week

Every pregnancy is different, and not all women experience the same symptoms. However, it’s very important for you to understand what may or may not occur during your first trimester of pregnancy. This will help keep your stress levels low as normal symptoms occur and will help you to know which symptoms require a discussion with your doctor.

The First Six Weeks

The first six weeks of pregnancy are generally mild in the way of symptoms. You may not even realize that you’re pregnant until sometime between the fourth and sixth weeks, as this is generally the time that most women notice their missed period. It’s also around this time that you may begin to experience some nausea and fatigue.
The Rest of Your First Trimester

Week seven marks the true beginning of your baby’s development. He will begin developing eyes, ears, nose, heart and other organs, and by week eight, the heart will be well enough developed to be heard through an ultrasound. You should also have your first doctor’s appointment by this week, where you’ll likely get to hear your baby’s heart beat for the first time.

In week nine, your baby will begin to develop bones, and arms and legs will start to form. Webbed hands and feet will also become present. By the end of week ten, your baby will be fully developed, even though it’s still really tiny! Around this time, if you have had nausea, it may increase. Heartburn usually starts presenting itself around this time as well, although not everyone will have it.

In weeks twelve and thirteen, your baby is growing exponentially in size. You’ll likely find yourself very tired and you may need lots of rest and additional nutrition as your baby takes from you to help in its growth. It’s usually around this time that the first sonogram will be done and you’ll get to see your baby for the first time. You’ll also be able to find out what sex the baby will be by this time – if you choose to find out ahead of time.

The good news is, as this trimester ends, most nausea, dizziness, and fatigue end with it. You’ll feel a renewed sense of well begin and a burst of energy. Some mothers will have some lingering nausea, and if you have had heartburn during this stage, it will likely continue throughout your pregnancy.

By the end of this time, your baby bump will start to show to others, and you’ll be able to get everyone else as excited about the coming baby as you are. This is the time to start shopping for maternity clothes and time to clean house. As you head into your second trimester, you’ll likely start nesting, which means lots of extra cleaning and preparations for your coming baby.