The moment you discover that you are pregnant, everything around you takes on another dimension. Your life begins to revolve around that baby that is forming inside you, and your body will adapt to it in an amazing way. Your emotions will also undergo important changes, going from the most absolute allergy and euphoria, to the uncertainty about the future and the fear that something is not going well.
Today we analyze what happens in the first trimester of pregnancy , both the physical and emotional changes that the mother will experience, as well as the growth and development of the baby in these first weeks.
The most important physical changes
One of the first symptoms that many mothers begin to experience is general tiredness and the desire to sleep at all times. This is due to the important physical changes that your body is undergoing, among which is the increase in blood volume, which make the heart and the organs involved work more than usual. In addition, in this first trimester, the placenta and the main organs of the baby are formed, so it is normal for there to be a greater consumption of energy.
Nausea and vomiting are common to many pregnant women during the first few weeks , especially in the mornings. In other cases, the urge to vomit is triggered by a smell or taste, as many women experience a remarkable acuity of smell and taste. This can lead the pregnant woman to reject foods that she previously liked or to flee from certain smells that before pregnancy went unnoticed.
Discomfort and changes in the breasts are also normal, and usually begin to be noticed from the beginning of pregnancy, as one of the first symptoms. In the first weeks it is common to feel tightness, sensitivity, tingling and swelling, as well as changes in the pigmentation of the nipple and areola.
This is perhaps the most notable physical change, because as for the tummy, it is normal that nobody appreciates anything except the woman herself, who may notice that her waist widens in the first weeks. On the other hand, if it is not your first pregnancy, the gut is more likely to appear earlier, although it will also depend on your constitution.
To try to prevent or alleviate these discomforts, it is recommended that the pregnant woman rest whenever possible, stay well hydrated, eat a healthy and balanced diet with foods that help combat nausea, and practice moderate exercise to keep fit and raise her level of Energy.
The typical fears and doubts of the beginning
If up to now we have talked about physical changes, it is undeniable that with pregnancy the woman will also experience a spiral of emotions , which will change as the gestation progresses. Thus, from the absolute happiness that many experience upon hearing the news, it is common to move on to fear and uncertainty about the future and the well-being of the baby.
Among the main concerns in this first trimester is to know if everything will be fine – in many cases it takes weeks since the woman confirms the news with a pregnancy test, until the first ultrasound is done – or what things can harm the baby.
If you already have another child, it is normal to wonder if you will be able to love the new baby as much as your first-born, or if you will have the ability to care for all your children equally. Although living a pregnancy with another child -especially if it is very young- can be physically and emotionally exhausting, it is recommended that you take time to rest and self-care daily, and that you spend a little time connecting with your baby. It will be great for both of you!
The first pregnancy checks
After confirming the pregnancy through a test, you will have a first visit with the midwife or gynecologist, who will assess your general condition, perform a physical examination, calculate your probable delivery date based on when your last period was, and they will ask you the tests that you should do in this first stage , and which are:
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On the one hand, a complete blood test that includes information on the presence or absence of antibodies against diseases (for example, toxoplasmosis, syphilis, rubella, HIV …) or possible infections that the mother could pass to the fetus through the placenta.
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A urine culture to rule out infection, one of the most common discomforts during pregnancy and which can put the health of the mother and the baby at risk if it is not diagnosed and treated in time.
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Although in some cases the first ultrasound takes place around week eight of gestation , for many women this time does not arrive until week 11 or 12. This ultrasound is the most important in the first trimester, as it allows determining the real time of gestation Depending on the measurements of the fetus, listen to its heartbeat and measure the nuchal fold, the most sensitive and specific early ultrasound marker for suspected Trisomy 21 or Down Syndrome.
In the first visit, the doctor or midwife will also inform you of the care that you should take from now on, the physical exercise that is best for you or the foods that you should avoid consuming. If you did not take it before getting pregnant, you will have to start taking folic acid supplements , as maintaining correct levels of this vitamin helps prevent neural tube defects in the baby, such as anencephaly, encephalocele and spina bifida.
The amazing development of the baby
From the moment of conception , your baby will begin to develop at an amazing speed, changing surprisingly for weeks and leaving us really spectacular images.
Thus, in the sixth week of pregnancy, the embryo measures only a few millimeters, has a ‘C’ shape and a small heart can already be seen that begins to beat regularly. In this week the vestiges of the future organs begin to develop , as well as the folding of the embryonic disc at the cephalic and caudal ends of the embryo, one along its longitudinal axis and the other along its transverse axis.
At week eight, the embryo already has a more human appearance, since its external appearance has been modified by the formation of the brain, liver, somites, limbs, ears and eyes, although it still has a tail at the end of the back that will disappear in around week nine.
In week ten , all the organs of the fetus have been formed and the heart, brain, liver, kidneys and intestines are working, which will grow and develop continuously until the moment of birth.
With week 12, the first trimester of pregnancy is concluded. At this moment, the baby is about the size of a kiwi, weighs about 14 grams and does not stop kicking and shaking the arms and head , already formed perfectly, although it is not yet possible to perceive their movements.
This first stage of pregnancy is considered by many women as the most special , since knowing the news that the baby is on the way marks, without a doubt, a before and after. In addition, since the gut is still not noticeable, many couples decide to live these first weeks in privacy and not share the news until the end of the first trimester.
Photos | iStock
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