The moment you get the news that you are pregnant, you will be filled with lots of emotions and most likely a flood of questions too. The first trimester is the earliest phase of pregnancy. It starts from first day of last menstrual period- before you are actually pregnant and lasts until the end of 12 th week. Knowing what to expect will help you get ready for the months ahead.
Pregnancy is different for every woman. Some women glow with good health during first 3 months, but maximum women feel miserable. Some changes that women feel during first 3 months are:
Breast tenderness- It is triggered by hormonal changes, which are getting your milk ducts ready to feed your baby. Buy some comfortable bras to support breasts.
Constipation- during pregnancy, high levels of hormone progesterone slow down the muscle contractions that normally move food through system . eat more fiber and drink extra fluids to keep things moving more smoothly. If your constipation is really bothering you, talk to your doctor.
Excessive tiredness- your body is working hard to support a growing baby. Take rest when you need to during the day
Nausea and vomiting- morning sickness is quite common during early pregnancy.
Excessive urination- due to pressure of growing uterus on bladder , you may have urge to pass urine frequently
Heart burn- you may feel more of heart burn during early pregnancy. To avoid burns – eat a few small meals throughout the day, don’t lie down right after you eat.
Mood swings- it’s ok to cry, but if you feel overwhelmed, try to find someone who can talk to you, be it your partner, a friend, a family member or even a professional
As soon as you come to know that you are pregnant, consult your doctor. They will do one blood test beta HCG to confirm the diagnosis. If beta hcg is less , they might tell you to repeat the test to see increase in the level, folic acid is the essential medicine that needs to be started prior to conception only. If you are not taking folic acid prior to conceiving , no worries, you have to start as soon as you know you are pregnant. Early pregnancy scan – also known as dating scan should be done between 6- 7 weeks. NT scan should be done between 11- 14 weeks. This scan is done as a screening for Down’s syndrome. If NT scan + Double marker shows low risk, then 90% it is confirmed that baby doesn’t have Down’s syndrome
Some routine blood tests – TSH, Blood sugar , CBC, Blood group and Rh typing should be done . urine routine and microscopy should also be done.
When to visit the hospital:
Severe abdominal pain, bleeding or spotting in the vagina, and excessive vomiting.
Want to consult the best gynecologists in India? Please find the links below.
