First Trimester of Pregnancy
Changes in Baby
Your baby begins life as a single cell, and before the end of the first trimester he is a full human with a heart that pumps blood, a brain that sends and receives signals, arms and legs that move, unique fingerprints, a face that can smile or frown, a mouth that can suck and swallow, the ability to urinate, external genitals and bones that are beginning to harden.
Also from that single cell will develop a placenta which implants in the uterine wall to ensure your baby has everything she needs to stay healthy and grow. The placenta will be the source of hormones needed to support your pregnancy and will be born right after your baby.
Surrounding your baby and connected to the placenta is an amniotic sac. Within this sac your baby is floating in amniotic fluid (think salt water), which is continually replenished by the combined efforts of you and your baby.
Changes in mom
Some of the most common changes in mom are:
As your body reacts to the pregnancy hormones, you may find you feel bloated in your lower abdomen and may experience constipation. The changes in your circulatory system may leave you feeling short of breath or faint. Some women experience food aversions or cravings, although no one knows why this is.
Some women lose weight during the first trimester either because of vomiting and food aversions or because they started eating healthier and exercising. Some women find they have gained up to 5 pounds during the first trimester. It is also normal to have no weight change during this time. It is not healthy for you or your baby to try to limit weight gain by dieting.
Emotionally, you may experience everything from anxiety and hope as you wait to find out if you really are pregnant to fear of miscarriage or excitement at actually being pregnant. If pregnancy was not planned, you may struggle with feelings of anger, fear or disappointment. Regardless of who eager they were or were not for a pregnancy, most women find they experience mood swings as their hormone levels adjust – which can mean going from deep lows to extreme highs. Most women also find themselves considering who they are as a women and who they want to be as a mother.
What would you like next?Learn comfort techniques for labor. Explore the process of labor. Find products to help you enjoy pregnancy and prepare to give birth.. Read research about birth options. Find natural birth resources in your area. |
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