The first trimester of pregnancy is a significant time when your body prepares itself to develop a baby. These three months can be crucial for pregnant women especially for those who are becoming pregnant for the first time.
In addition to hormonal changes, you would notice discomforting signs that includes morning sickness, nausea, vomiting etc. If you are in your first trimester, then here are a few tips that will help you sail through this difficult phase easily.
What is the duration of first trimester?
A normal pregnancy is of forty weeks. These weeks are bifurcated into three trimesters. The first trimester starts from the first day of the last period and ends at the end of twelfth week of pregnancy. During this phase, the fertilized egg divides into different layers of cells that gets attached in the wall of the womb and develops there. At this stage the baby develops at the faster rate. The major development of the baby takes place during these three months.
By the end of six weeks, you can hear the heartbeat of the baby. At the end of twelve weeks, bones, muscles, and organs of the baby will develop. You can say that by the end of the trimester, your body looks like a small human being. It is referred to as a fetus.
Signs in the first trimester of pregnancy
A woman’s body goes through myriad of changes in the initial trimester of pregnancy. The pregnancy hormones released by the body impacts each and every organ in the body. In addition to a missing period, there are a few more signs that you would notice in this trimester:
- tiredness
- constipation
- mood fluctuations
- tender and sore breasts
- indigestion
- weight gain
- cravings and aversion towards specific types of foods
- headaches
Tips To Deal With The First Trimester
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- Fatigue is commonly experienced by women at this time. To deal with it, you need to give adequate rest to your body. Doctors advise women to slow down at work. Ask spouse to help you in performing uneasy household chores. You can even seek assistance of a professional to do these tasks.
- Keep your feet in elevated position for most of the time of the day.
- Nausea is one of the commonest discomforting signs that women experience at this stage. It is the nature’s way to protect the developing fetus from harmful foods. Foods like chicken broth, saltine crackers, popsicles, gelatin desserts, pretzels, ginger ale can help reduce nausea. You can even incorporate vitamin B6 supplement after consultation with the doctor. This supplement helps to give relief from nausea.
- Wear a soft and comfortable cotton bra that can accommodate the changes of your breast.
- Your appetite will increase as now you have to eat to feed your growing baby as well. By eating healthy food at regular intervals during the day, not only you will ensure sound development of baby but will also observe reduction in nausea. Protein bars, fresh fruits, nuts, yogurt, etc. are some of the quick and easy snacks that can fill your stomach and nourish your body.
- Drinking more water is highly recommended to deal with the annoying signs of this trimester like headache, constipation, nausea and more. Lemon water, herbal teas, buttermilk, broths, etc. will help you feel great even on the inactive days.
- Get assistance of a midwife who can accompany you on your journey. You can share your experiences with her and get trusted support to deal with these tough signs effectively.
- You may become sensitive to smells and so have to avoid specific items such as cosmetics, sprays, foods, etc. that can irritate you.
- Keep moving and include moderate pregnancy friendly exercises in your daily routine. It is good for your physical and mental health. Doing walking, and yoga in the morning will get you fresh air and vitamin D and promote overall health and wellness in the body. It will also reduce your anxiety, stress and fear to a good extent. Inclusion of Kegel exercises in your exercise routine can be beneficial.
- Make sure you eat a balanced diet that provide the right amounts of essential nutrients such as healthy fats, carbs, lean protein, vitamins, and minerals in the body. It will keep you and your baby healthy and adequately nourished. During pregnancy, you should consume 300 more calories in your diet than your usual intake. Eat smaller portions throughout the day to boost your metabolism and prevent digestion issues. Abstain from sugary, spicy, and junk foods.
- Prenatal vitamins are very important in pregnancy. Talk to your doctor to start taking them from the first trimester of the pregnancy.
- Abstain from alcohol, coffee, tea, raw sprouts, unpasteurized milk, smoking, deli meats, raw fish, illegal drugs, smoked seafoods, and varieties of fishes that have high level of mercury in it such as shark, mackerel, swordfish etc.
Conclusion
Week by week understanding of the pregnancy helps in making informed decisions. It prepares your body to face the changes that are in store for the future course of pregnancy. All of these effective tips will definitely assist you to conquer the challenges bravely and successfully move towards the second trimester.