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The first trimester

July 1, 2008
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Pregnancy and birth

Week one to week 12
The first trimester is a period of major development for your foetus and of profound physical and emotional changes for you.

You may realise that you are pregnant straight away, however many women will not realise they are pregnant until at least week four or five. This is one of the reasons why women are encouraged to plan for pregnancy.

During the first trimester of your pregnancy, your body is undergoing dramatic changes. Physically you may experience some of the following symptoms during the first trimester:

Fatigue
As your body begins working overtime developing the foetus, you will most likely be exhausted during the first trimester. You should take plenty of time out to rest during this period. If you feel like having a sleep during the day, try to do so. If you are in a relationship, make sure your partner helps around the house or if necessary, employ a cleaner or ignore some housework for a while.

Nausea
While we have all heard about morning sickness it is often not until you are pregnant that you realise you can be nauseous at any time of the day during pregnancy.

If you experience only slight nausea, you may find that snacking regularly on biscuits and cheese may help to alleviate the symptoms. If you have severe nausea and vomiting however, consult your doctor as you may be nutritionally at risk.

Micturition (Urinary frequency)
You may begin to experience frequency of urination early in your pregnancy (as early as one week after conception). With an increase in progesterone levels and secretion of hCG, the blood supply to the pelvic area increases, resulting in bladder irritation. As the uterus grows, it exerts increasing pressure on the bladder, resulting in the need to pass urine more often.

Breast changes
Breast changes can begin quite early in pregnancy with increasing levels of oestrogen and progesterone. You may notice nipples become darker, and the breasts feel larger, heavier and quite sore to touch. Wearing a comfortable bra can help alleviate some of the discomfort. Continued...