Healthypregnancy - The first trimester of pregnancy is really an introduction
period for your body and the new baby. There is a lot going on inside of you, as
you can imagine, and a lot of changes being made so that there is room for baby
to grow and so that baby can get all of the nutrients it needs to mature into a
full term fetus. The first trimester is the moment of conception up to the 12th week, or the
3rd month. For many
women this is the most difficult trimester of them all. Your body is making a
lot of adjustments and there are tons of things that are taking place in your
body to support the second life that is growing inside of you.
The experience
during first trimester varies for all women. You may not feel pregnant or then
again you may feel very pregnant. Some women say that they have a full feeling
inside of their stomach from the very moment they conceive. Others even swear
they know the exact moment that the baby was conceived. While there are no
medical tests that can confirm a pregnancy this early, it is very much possible
for a woman to have this type of experience.
During the first trimester you will feel
many changes within your body. With that being said
it is hard to know for sure what you will experience or how intense your
experience will be. Heartburn, morning sickness, being uncomfortable and
nauseated -these are all things that are commonly experienced by pregnant women
during the first trimester.
Sometimes these experiences can be very
difficult, and even if you have experienced them
before pregnancy, these experiences are more intense during pregnancy.
Heartburn is maximized 10 times over; your body is hot and you feel bloated.
Even the smell of water makes you want to run to the bathroom to vomit. Morning
sickness, even when you do not actually vomit, can cause pure misery. And, has
anyone warned you about dry heaves? These are a few of the common experiences
that occur during your first trimester.
Heartburn is also something that you
probably will experience during the first trimester. It is one of the most common side effects during pregnancy.
Women who are pregnant with multiple babies report that the heartburn is even
worse. However most women with child will experience heartburn, and it really
burns. It is a good idea to go ahead and get a bottle of Tums and expect to chew
them like candy. You can drink water to help ease heartburn as well.
Pregnant women actually inhale deeper in order to better supply all the extra blood with oxygen. Even though you may be getting plenty of air, don't be surprised if you feel breathless, partly because the baby is transferring more carbon dioxide to you.
Heightened sense of smell
Many women report having a sharper sense of smell during pregnancy. One theory: It helps you stay away from foods that have a high bacteria content or natural toxins, which could harm the fetus during this crucial period of development. This bionic sense of smell usually abates as the months go on.
Swollen breasts
Even though your baby is the size of a comma, your breasts are getting ready to nurse her. Hormonal changes and expanding milk ducts produce a growth spurt, usually around your sixth week of pregnancy, and make your breasts feel swollen and tender. To ease the ache:
- Buy larger bras with extra rows of hooks for easy adjustments. Don't waste money on tight front closures.
- Get a soft cotton "sleep" bra if soreness is preventing you from getting rest—the support will ease the ache.
Unstable Emotional ups and downs
Many would say you were bipolar if they did not know you were pregnant with child. It can be the smallest of things that can cause an emotional meltdown. You could feel quiet and withdrawn, elated, worried, angry, tearful or happy-go-lucky—and it's all perfectly fine.
The changes your body is undergoing can produce a wide variety of first trimester symptoms and an equally wide range of feelings to go along with them. It isn’t your fault; it is all of those hormones that your body is
accumulating. Try not to worry too much, and ask your doctor if you have any questions about what you're experiencing.