If you’re one of those currently trying to absorb the joy of a positive pregnancy test – congratulations! But what now? There’s a lot to take in during the first trimester of pregnancy. You’ll probably find out you’re expecting around week four, with a missed period or other early pregnancy symptoms, and there are a few key things you need to fit in before the 12-week mark.
What is 1st trimester of pregnancy?
If you are a first-time mom, you probably wonder what is 1st trimester of pregnancy is, or maybe you mistakenly call it the first semester of pregnancy. Mommy-to-be, it’s not the first semester of pregnancy but rather the first trimester of pregnancy.
Your pregnancy journey is divided into three trimesters. Each of your trimesters lasts for about 3 months. The first trimester is the earliest phase of your pregnancy journey. It starts from the first day of your last period until the end of the 13th week.
Being aware of what to expect during the first trimester of pregnancy may help you prepare yourself for the changes that you will encounter and experience.
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1st trimester of pregnancy precautions
During your 1st trimester of pregnancy, it is paramount to take safety precautions because that three-month time is vital for the development of your baby. Your baby will develop all of its organs by the end of the 12th week of pregnancy. The risk of miscarriage is high during the first trimester of pregnancy. So, it’s important to take care of yourself to protect your baby from any harm. But how to take care during pregnancy of first month to third month?
Prenatal care during the first trimester
It’s important to know how to take care of yourself during pregnancy of first month to third month or during the first trimester of pregnancy. Your first prenatal check-up should take place 6 to 8 weeks after your last period. Your urine and blood will be tested to confirm your pregnancy.
Here are some of the things that you need to remember during the first trimester:
- Avoid smoking cigarettes and drinking alcoholic beverages
- Refrain from eating deli meat and shellfish
- Cut out caffeine from your diet
- Take prenatal vitamins
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According to Healthline, dietary changes help decrease the chances of miscarriage during the first trimester of pregnancy. Similarly, taking prenatal vitamins is good for you and your baby.
Prenatal vitamins especially folic acid help prevent neural tube defects in your baby. Consult your doctor about what specific diet is best for you and your baby.
The first trimester of pregnancy is also a good time to consider pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and parenting classes. You may ask for your doctor’s recommendation regarding this matter. Honest and direct communication with your doctor is one of the best things to do all throughout your pregnancy journey.
1st trimester of pregnancy symptoms
Aside from a positive pregnancy test and a missed period, there is another 1st trimester of pregnancy symptoms that you may experience. Here are some of the symptoms of early pregnancy:
- Morning sickness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Constipation
- Implantation bleeding
- Breast tenderness
- Increased vaginal discharge
- Frequent urge to urinate
- Food cravings and dislikes
At this point, your body is going through a lot of changes to accommodate your growing baby. Other symptoms such as leg cramps, heartburn, backaches, varicose veins, and nasal congestion may be experienced in the second trimester.
Pregnancy tips
Pregnancy tips first trimester:
For soon-to-be moms and dads looking forward to the arrival of their new bundles of joy, here is a checklist of essential tasks and pregnancy tips first trimester to help you through these early weeks.
Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich from Pexels
1. Choose your obstetrician
The choice of whether you should go with the Obstetrician who took care of your mom when she gave birth to you, is all up to you. What is important though, is that you are comfortable with your OB.
In the course of nine months, you will be seeing and feeling a lot of changes in your body as your baby grows. And your OB will be there to answer any questions you may have, plus questions that you weren’t able to think of! So, having a doctor you are comfortable talking and sharing time with is an essential first step.
2. Work out your due date
If you don’t know which day you ovulated, you’ll need to know the first day of your last period and the average length of your menstrual cycle in order to estimate your baby’s due date.
Your OB will use these numbers to calculate a due date 40 weeks from the start of your last cycle – and tell you how many weeks pregnant you currently are. This estimated due date will be confirmed or adjusted when your OB does an ultrasound between weeks 10 and 14. But do remember, this is just a rough guide – so try not to get too hung up on that day-by-day countdown!
Additional information from Jobelle Macayan
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