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There is nothing better than seeing those beautiful blue lines appear in front of your eyes. You feel the excitement ripple through your veins and do a happy dance that it has finally happened. But then you raise the question to yourself, what should I expect in the first trimester of pregnancy?
The first trimester of pregnancy can be very different for each person and also for each pregnancy. Some people breeze through and may not know that they are even pregnant, but for others it may be very different.
The first trimester is the time from conception up until 12-14 weeks. During this time your body will be going through some dramatic changes, physically and also with your hormones.
So what should you expect in the first trimester?
Tiredness
Excessive tiredness is the most common symptom of the first trimester. It can leave you feeling like you could sleep for the whole day, sometimes you may just do that. Your baby is growing from a tiny cluster of cells to a foetus, this intense growth is why you feel so tired.
Sore Breasts
As your hormones increase, and have increased blood flow in your chest, you may notice your breast starting to become sensitive, sore and even swollen. This is all very common and can be a very reassuring thing for a lot of women. Find a good fitting bra and steer clear of underwired bra’s.
Spotting
Some spotting in the first trimester can be normal as the embryo implants into your uterine wall. You may notice some blood when wiping, which can be very alarming for women. If you are concerned then see your midwife or local doctor. You may need an early scan to make sure the pregnancy is going as planned.
Due to the surges of hormones, you may experience nausea and vomiting. This can be a hard time for some women, especially if you are wanting to keep the pregnancy under wraps. The sickness usually passes around 14-16 weeks as your hormones settle down. If you do experience excessive nausea or vomiting, seek medical attention as you may need hydration and anti- sickness medication.
Excessive urination
You will feel like the toilet is your best friend as you will be visiting it at every opportunity. It is one of the major symptoms of early pregnancy and the feeling will settle. The excessive urine is due to the increased blood flow to support the growing foetus.
Constipation
Due to the high levels of progesterone in the first trimester, is may cause your digestive system to slow down. This in turn may cause constipation, as well as the iron supplements you may be taking. Regular exercise, increased fibre and hydration will help get things going.
As you can see there are several symptoms that may be present in the first trimester of pregnancy. You may experience all of these symptoms or one or two, so don’t worry if you don’t have them all. Get lots of rest, hydrate, and let your body rest as much as you can.
For more informative pregnancy, birth and baby related articles, read our Maternity Mum blog.
