The First Trimester From a Mother’s Point of View

For many moms-to-be, encountering standard signs means their pregnancy is right on track. The truth is, every pregnancy is unique, and no two mothers can experience the exact same thing, at the exact same week. To make the most out of your nine months, it is important to understand that your body has a natural tendency to cope with a developing child in your womb. You may find yourself dealing with overwhelming changes in the first trimester, as this is when your baby is aggressively developing, and so your body needs to adjust to make this happen:

First month: The second week is perfect time to have a pregnancy test. You now have HCG levels in your blood which can be detected by a home kit, or a blood test in your doctor’s office. All those hormones are causing symptoms similar to your monthly PMS – bloating, sore and swollen breasts, frequent urination, moodiness, fatigue, among others. You may experience nausea and vomiting in the morning, but it may occur the entire day. A baby bump isn’t visible yet. Your vulva is bluish in color. You may notice that you are extra sensitive to scents and tastes, even the ones you used to like. Blame it on your hormones – they take a little getting used to.

Second Month: “Are you pregnant? You’re glowing!” is one of the nicest things you may hear from other people. Hormones make your skin glow. On the other hand, they may also give you breakouts. It won’t be permanent, don’t worry. You will have larger breasts, and your uterus is about the size of a grapefruit. It won’t give you a bump yet, but you will obviously be a little thicker around the belly. Frequent urination is common from this point onward, because your growing womb pushes against your bladder. Heartburns may occur, as acids from your stomach are pushed upward. Weight gain should be very apparent, but talk to your doctor about how much weight you should gain. Little things like a stuffy nose, increased vaginal discharge, carpal tunnel syndrome and even gums that bleed easily may bother you. Again, they’re effects of the hormones that help your pregnancy.

Third month: Your blood volume has increased, so you may feel hot most of the time and vessels may swell (think hemorrhoids or varicose veins). In addition, you may also encounter moodiness, which is why you need a lot of emotional support. Morning sickness will have decreased by now, a sign that your body is now adjusted to the hormones. Be prepared for skin changes, such as chloasma and linea nigra. You may experience food and non-food cravings. The veins in your breasts will become bluish and your nipples will have a darker shade. Finally, you may feel sharp but short pains on your pelvic sides – these are called round ligament pains, brought about by the stretching as your uterus is aggressively growing.

Read more of our articles on the first trimester

First Trimester Emotional and Physical Needs
Getting Used to the First Trimester
Fatigue and Morning Sickness in The First Trimester
First Trimester Worries
First Trimester Scans
Before a Pregnancy Test Says Positive
The First Trimester From a Mother’s Point of View
Zygote, Embryo or Fetus?
Should You Consider Back-up Prenatal Testing?

Read about the other trimesters

• Second Trimester
• Third Trimester