First Trimester Pregnancy

Are you in your first trimester of pregnancy? The first trimester of pregnancy starts from conception and lasts up to the 12th week. Pregnancy periods usually last for about 40 weeks. These 40 weeks are subdivided into three trimesters. First trimester pregnancy marks the fertilization of the egg by the sperm and a continuous development process.

By the end of the first trimester of pregnancy, all the fetus and body systems are developing to ensure a healthy pregnancy period. A woman’s body undergoes a variety of changes during the first trimester of pregnancy. The initial symptoms of pregnancy are nausea and tender breasts but it varies from person to person. Women usually have several concerns over the pregnancy:

• What to avoid during the first trimester of pregnancy
• What to eat for a healthy pregnancy
• What kind of prenatal tests are important to examine
• What kind of weight limits are optimum to support a healthy fetus
• What other things they can do to keep their baby healthy

First Trimester Pregnancy

The first trimester starts from the first day of your last menstrual period. It is a period of rapid changes for you and your growing baby. Hormones are highly active to serve the basic needs of your pregnancy. The body releases increased estrogen during pregnancy. The increased surge of estrogen is also connected to unpleasant symptoms of pregnancy. You may feel bloated or tired due to these hormonal changes.

Check Your Trimester with our verified Pregnancy Trimester Calculator

What Are the Earliest Symptoms of First Trimester Pregnancy?

Every mother experiences a unique pregnancy phase. A surge in hormones is quite common for every pregnancy. Here are some of the commonly experienced symptoms of the first trimester pregnancy.

• Sore or tender breasts
• Nausea or morning sickness
• Mood swing due to rush of hormones
• Tired or lack of energy
• Increased frequency of urination
• Weight gain
• Heartburn
• Vaginal discharge
• Mild constipation
• Hormonal acne or skin changes
• Slight shortness of breath

Major Changes of First Trimester Pregnancy

• During the first trimester of pregnancy, the baby changes from a fertilized egg to a fully developed fetus. The major organs and body systems are developing to ensure anatomical structure. This phase is highly critical for the growth of your baby. As the first trimester is more prone to teratogen, it is essential to avoid any such teratogen that can cause harm to the fetus.
• A fertilized egg undergoes multiple changes to form a morula, a cluster of rapidly dividing cells, implanted in your uterus. Implantation occurs within the first week of pregnancy. After this, the placenta, umbilical cord, and all other important structures like the amniotic sac continue to grow.
• In the first trimester of pregnancy, the nervous system continues to develop from an open neural tube to the brain and spinal cord. Nerves and muscles work synergistically to attain an optimum structure of the fetus. Your baby can start moving in the amniotic start at the start of the 5th week. But, you can only notice the movement of your baby after the 20th week of pregnancy.
• In terms of the blood circulatory system, the heart develops into a proper structure and starts beating. Your doctor can hear it on ultrasound as your pregnancy period hits week 6. The normal heart beats at the rate of 120 to 160 beats per minute.
• Baby’s digestive system takes the form of intestine and kidneys.
• A soft skeleton continues to develop as your pregnancy period progresses.
• Your baby continues to develop arms, legs, fingers, and toes to look completely like a baby. The face starts developing properly to have proper eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. Tongues with taste buds continue to develop.
• Genitals also start developing but it is quite complicated to differentiate whether it’s a baby boy or girl.

At the end of the first trimester, your baby may have a length of about 2.5 to 3 inches. Moreover, all major organs of the fetus are under development to maintain the proper form and function.

Fetus Development in the First Trimester

During the first trimester, the major development of the organs occurs. This is the critical phase to take extra care because of the increased risk of developing congenital disorders. It is quite difficult to see the development of organs during the first trimester. But, it is a major developmental period.

• During the first four weeks of pregnancy, a fertilized egg undergoes continuous division to form a tiny clump of cells. These cells undergo rapid division to form the amniotic sac, umbilical cord, and placenta. A neural tube also develops to serve the ancestral purpose of the spinal cord and brain. Moreover, the circulatory system of the fetus also continues to develop. The embryo attains a length of a quarter inch equal to the grain of rice.
• In the next fifth to eighth week, major organs like lungs, heart, arms, legs, and ears continue to develop. Bony tissue starts forming in the cartilaginous tissue. The head size is larger than the rest of the body. The fetus starts looking like a human. By the end of the eighth week, the embryo is called a fetus, equal to the size of a raspberry or one inch long. Some physicians can also go for a heartbeat examination through an ultra during this period.
• Towards the end weeks of the first trimester, the fetus starts growing toes, nails, and fingers. The fetus may start movements by opening and closing its mouth and hands. The urinary and digestive system of the fetus is also functional at this point. Around the 12th week, Doppler ultrasound can help to listen to the fetal heartbeat. The fetus may also develop a vagina or penis at this point but remain undetectable by the physician. At the end of the first trimester, the fetus grows about 3 to 4 inches with a weight of 1 pound.

What Kind of Tests Will I Have During the First Trimester Pregnancy?

The first prenatal visit is the most obvious. A complete medical history with proper examination tests is done to assess the health of the mother and the fetus. The common tests at the first prenatal visit are as follows:

• Medical history to diagnose any previous or current illness like diabetes, blood pressure, anemia, or any kind of allergies
• Maternal and paternal family history to assess any genetic disorders running in the family like Tay Sachs disease or sickle cell anemia.
• Gynecological or obstetrical history to know about any previous pregnancy experience
• Pelvic examination to determine the size and position of the uterus, age of the fetus, pelvic bone structure
• A pap smear test is performed to evaluate any abnormal growth of cells.
• Laboratory tests may include urine tests, blood tests, screening tests, and genetic tests.
• Ultrasound examination to assess the fetal heart rate
• Tests to check for any sexually transmitted disease.

What Things Should Be Avoided During the First Trimester Pregnancy?

The first trimester of the pregnancy is a highly critical phase due to the formation of major organs of the fetus. Once you know about your pregnancy, it is essential to modify your lifestyle to best suit the health of your baby. Here are some things that must be avoided during the first trimester pregnancy. Using these may induce severe mutations or genetic disorders in your baby, leading to severe consequences.

• Alcohol
• Tobacco, cigarettes, or any drug
• Opioid like drugs
• Heavy activities like sports or any other activity induce pressure on your abdomen.
• Food items containing raw fish, fish with high mercury content, uncooked or undercooked meat
• Hot tubs or tanning beds

How Can I Take Care of Myself During the First Trimester Pregnancy?

Staying healthy and active is important during all three trimesters of pregnancy. Here are some tips that will help you feel energetic and overcome the tiredness of pregnancy.

• Indulge yourself in daily activities. Stay as much active as you can. You can join mild yoga exercises or some daily life activities to stay busy. But, if you feel any discomfort, prefer taking rest. You can modify your exercise routine to mild exercises to maintain the activeness of your body.
• Make sure you are taking prenatal vitamins including folic acid. These vitamins are essential to serve the basic needs of your body and fetus.
• Focus on a balanced diet. It is important to take a balanced portion of fruits, vegetables, meat, effs, and whole grains. These provide essential nutrients for your baby to grow healthy.
• Take adequate sleep.
• Drink enough water
• Go for regular prenatal visits to assess any abnormal changes.

Conclusion

Pregnancy is a thrilling experience for mothers. However, for some mothers, it can be quite a scary time of their life. You may have multiple questions going through the mind related to your pregnancy. During the first trimester of pregnancy, your body undergoes multiple changes due to a sudden rush of hormones. As soon as the ovum is fertilized by the sperm, your body starts working grossly for a healthy experience of pregnancy. The fetus undergoes major development during the first trimester.

You may have typical symptoms of pregnancy during the first trimester due to hormonal changes. If you suspect any symptoms of pregnancy, schedule an appointment with your physician to confirm whether you are pregnant or not. Besides the general checkup, regular prenatal care is also important for your fetus to grow normally.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)