First Trimester Of Pregnancy: What To Expect

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The first trimester of pregnancy goes by in confusion and adjusting to the fact that you are pregnant. On one hand you are feeling pangs of morning sickness and nausea that is rocking you up. And you are yet to get used to the fact that you are now a pregnant woman. If this is your first pregnancy then you do not have any prior experience to compare with.

But we can give you a complete set of guidelines that will help you survive the first trimester of your pregnancy. These guidelines will help you differentiate pregnancy myths from facts. Pregnancy is a genuine medical experience. You cannot depend on old wives tales to get through your morning sickness and other pregnancy symptoms. However, some solid medical and personal advice will be really handy in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Every pregnancy is essentially different but there are some common points of comparison.

You will feel anxious and confused during the first trimester of pregnancy. But these guidelines will help you get through this difficult period and enjoy your pregnancy.

Here are is a gist of what you can expect from the first trimester of pregnancy.

Morning Sickness

Morning sickness is a pregnancy symptom that has been talked about endlessly. But here is the real story; yes you will feel nausea in the morning and medications can help only to a certain extent. So rise early and ride out the phase of nausea before you start your day.

Acidity

Your digestion is slow during pregnancy. You might experience indigestion and acid reflux during this time. Doctors usually prescribe an anti-acid for this purpose. But don't make it a habit to pop pills everyday.

Food Cravings

During the first trimester of pregnancy, you can smell everything and the smells make the stomach turn. It is quite common to develop an aversion to certain foods that you might have loved normally. Try to eat foods that do not have a very strong smell. Potato, rice and pulses are great foods for this time.

Feeling Disconnected

You can only feel your pregnancy through symptoms right now. You cannot see or experience it yet. Don't be upset if your maternal instincts don't start kicking. A line on the pregnancy test kit is not enough for you to bond with your baby.

Abdominal Pain

You may experience some pain in your cervical region during early pregnancy. This could be due to implantation, stretching of uterine muscles or because of constipation. Talk to your doctor about it and find out the cause.

Hormone Test

These test of pregnancy is the hormone or HCG test. This will be done around the 5th or 6th week of your pregnancy. The HCG is a pregnancy hormone and its levels will tell you how far your pregnancy has proceeded.

Early Pregnancy Scan

An ultrasound scan is done around the 7th or 8th week of your pregnancy. This is to ensure that the implantation of the foetus is at the right place and you can also feel the infant's heart beat. This will be your first real encounter with the baby in your womb that is the size of a kidney bean now.

Antenatal Blood Tests

The antenatal blood tests are a series of 6 different groups of testing. Your blood is screened for blood group, antibodies, HIV, viral infections, hepatitis and syphilis.

Fear And Paranoia

It is natural to feel anxiety due to regular hospital visits, strange blood tests and scans. This is still very early for you and you will learn to cope with these emotions as your pregnancy progresses. Have faith in your doctor and do as advised. That is best you can do.

Adapting To Pregnancy

You need to tune your body and mind to the fact that you are pregnant now. Make small changes like taking the lift instead of the stairs, not walking in a hurry, wearing appropriate footwear etc.