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1st Trimester

CONGRATULATIONS! You´re pregnant!

You have just found out that you are pregnant and there are a million and one emotions running through you. Your telltale signs of sore breasts, late period and being more fatigued than usual may have lead to the pregnancy test, which has confirmed you are going to welcome a new little one in about 40 weeks.


The 1st trimester can be filled with drastic and different ranges of emotion as your hormonal levels increase. It is also a time of exhaustion, anxiousness, nausea and mood swings. However, there is no need to worry, as these are all normal symptoms of pregnancy. Every woman and every pregnancy is different. Just because your first (or second or third) pregnancy was a certain way, it does not mean that the next one will be the same. Just remember to contact your doctor if you are concerned about anything outside the range of normal symptoms.


Some of you will notice that morning sickness is not always experienced in the A.M. Nausea can come at any time of the day and/or night. This is very common and yet not every woman experiences it. As your pregnancy progresses you might find that your breasts may become tender and swollen. This is all normal and part of the incredible miracle of pregnancy.


During the 1st trimester you might also find that your stomach starts to protrude and expand, although most of the weight gain isn´t until the 2nd and 3rd trimester. Some of you might also notice that your stomach feels larger earlier if you´re on your second or subsequent pregnancy.


THE FIRST 6 WEEKS

The 1st trimester might seem as though it flies by, since many women don´t even realize they are pregnant right away. You might have expected your period to come up to the 5th week and only took the pregnancy test then, which means that you are half way through the 1st trimester. It is at this point that you realize your period isn´t coming and many begin to feel breast tenderness and nausea.


WEEKS 7-12

Your 7th week of pregnancy marks the beginning of your baby´s development. This is when the fetus begins to develop eyes, ears, nose and other organs. Usually around week 8 you visit with your OB-GYN and hear your baby´s heart beat through an ultrasound.


During weeks 9 and 10, you will notice webbed looking hands & feet in the ultrasound. Your baby´s limbs and bones begin to form and by the beginning of week 11, your baby will be fully developed even though he/she is still minuscule.


As the 1st trimester ends, so do most of the uncomfortable symptoms you may have been experiencing. The majority of pregnant women enter the 2nd trimester feeling their best as the early symptoms ease off. There are some cases, however, in which nausea can continue well into your 2nd and even 3rd trimester. If you experience this, you should speak to your doctor.


THINGS TO DISCUSS WITH YOUR DOCTOR

The most important thing is to be attentive to your body as it grows with the baby. The 1st trimester is the time during which miscarriages can happen and are usually most prevalent. If you are aware of any spotting and/or cramping, you should speak to your doctor. However please note that some healthy, successful pregnancies may have some spotting and yet continue normally without any problems. If you are worried at all, consult your doctor, and remember that excessive worrying is not good for your little growing babe.