First Trimester Pregnancy Symptoms

First trimester of pregnancy can be overwhelming for a woman because it is a tornado of hormonal changes and also a highly sensitive period when without adequate care the woman may go through miscarriage. Although, most symptoms of first trimester of pregnancy are easy to spot, most women do not realise until much later.

Bouts of Nausea

Morning sickness can occur to a pregnant woman any time of the day or night. This may begin occurring to the woman as early as three weeks post conception. Nausea occurs partly because of rising levels of progesterone and estrogen and this causes the stomach to empty food more slowly than usual.

Swollen or Tender Breasts

During pregnancy, the breasts tend to become or feel fuller than otherwise. If it is causing discomfort, wearing a slightly more supportive bra should help ease the discomfort.

Frequent Urination

You will realise that you have been urinating more than you used a few weeks ago. You will frequently visit the washroom especially at night. It is the pressure from the enlarging uterus on the bladder that causes one to leak urine when sneezing, coughing or even laughing. Make sure you urinate whenever you feel like to prevent the risks of contracting urinary tract infection. If you happen to lose sleep in the middle of the night because of the innumerable trips to the washroom, make sure you drink less in the evening.

Fatigue

Fatigue is one of the most commonly occurring symptoms during the first trimester. The level of progesterone soars during this period, putting a pregnant woman to sleep. To combat fatigue during the first trimester of pregnancy, take as much as rest as you can. Make sure that you get enough protein and iron.

Food Cravings

During pregnancy, you will find yourself having a special need to taste certain foods more frequently than others. Food cravings may be caused because of the rising hormone levels.

Constipation and Heartburn

During the first trimester of pregnancy, the movement of the foods you eat from the oesophagus to the stomach is slower.  This slowdown of the digestive process is important to ensure that the baby gets the nutrition it needs. To prevent constipation, make sure you include fibrous foods in your diet and drink lots of fluids. Exercising regularly also helps in relieving, treating or even preventing constipation during pregnancy.

Heartburn

To prevent heartburn, make sure you eat frequent, small meals and keep fried foods out of your list of foods to eat every day.