0

ALL YOU NEED TO

KNOW FIRST TIME MOM

Module 03

1

3. Module 03: Early pregnancy

Table of Contents

3. Module 03: Early pregnancy .................................................................................................................................... 1

3.1 Dealing with early sickness ................................................................................................................... 2

3.2 1st Trimester Body Changes .................................................................................................................. 3

3.3 What’s Normal and When to Ask For Help ............................................................................................ 6

2

3.1 Dealing with early sickness

The first 12 weeks of pregnancy are commonly known as the first trimester. How many weeks pregnant you

are is dated from the first day of your last period, and your due date will be calculated from that date. Your

baby will grow more quickly during the first trimester than at any other point of your pregnancy. Your body

will change too, but bear in mind that you may experience different symptoms to someone else who is

expecting a baby. It is important to know what is happening to you and how to take care of yourself and your

growing baby. You may need to make lifestyle changes in order to ensure that you and your baby are as

healthy as possible. You can also begin to consider your views on big decisions such as how and where you

would like to give birth, and whether you would like try breastfeeding. In this module, we will look at the

growth stages and developmental changes which occur, as well as the medical and midwifery care you can

expect to receive.

What you’ll learn in this module:

1st trimester body changes

What’s normal and when to look for help

3

3.2 1st Trimester Body Changes

Cramps and Pregnancy Test: It is not unusual for the very first sign of pregnancy to be a missed period. It

is likely that you will experience low-level cramps, not unlike those associated with a normal period, and you

may also have minor bleeding, which is caused when the fertilized egg implants itself in the wall of your

uterus. If you have missed a period, and would like to find out as quickly as possible if you are pregnant,

then home pregnancy tests are widely available and can tell you within a few days of your missed period

whether you are pregnant.

Home pregnancy tests have a high degree of accuracy, and a positive test can usually be relied upon, although

a visit to your doctor is also recommended if you have a positive test, especially for a first baby.A negative

test may need repeating a few days later, as it is possible that your hormone levels are not yet at a level which

can be identified by the test.

Tiredness: During the first trimester, many women feel overwhelmingly tired. Even though your baby is still

extremely tiny, your body is already working very hard to prepare itself for the next few months. Whilst your

body goes through these changes, it is usual to feel tired and you may need to sleep longer at night, or even

take naps during the day to help you cope with the tiredness. Most women find that this exhaustion disappears

during the second trimester, and your usual energy levels will return.

4

Morning Sickness: A well-documented symptom of early pregnancy is morning sickness. Not all pregnant

women will experience this, but it is a very common symptom, particularly during the first trimester. The

sickness – which despite its name, does not only strike during the morning at all – is probably caused by, or

at least affected by, pregnancy hormones and your body’s reaction to them. You may feel sick, but not actually

vomit, and you may also find that certain foods and smells can bring on symptoms. If you find that you are

being frequently sick, and you are not able to function in a normal way because of the nausea, then you should

visit your GP. Very serious morning sickness is known as hyperemesis gravid arum, and can be treated by a

doctor. We will cover treatment of morning sickness later in this module.

Uterus Growing: One of the most obvious changes that your body will make during the first trimester is that

your uterus will begin to expand. With a first pregnancy, it is possible that your waistline will not change

significantly until the 2nd trimester. Do not worry if you cannot ‘see’ any changes early on – much depends on

your body shape and type as to when a recognizable growing bump begins to appear.

Urination and Constipation: It is common to notice an increase in the amount of times you need to visit the

bathroom during the first trimester.

As your uterus grows, it begins to push onto your bladder, and this in turn will make you feel as though you

need to urinate more frequently. You may find that your usual rate of digestion is also affected, and that you

experience constipation, as well as bloating.

5

If you do find that you are affected by constipation, visit your doctor. He or she can prescribe a stool softener,

or recommend changes in your diet which will alleviate or improve the symptoms.

Other Changes:Other changes are less likely affect your day to day lifestyle, but are worth keeping an eye

on:

Your breasts may well feel very tender, even to the point that you don’t want them to be touched.

You will see veins become visible under the surface of your skin as your breasts grow due to the

hormonal changes which take place to prepare your breasts for feeding your baby.

You may also notice an increase in vaginal discharge, which is likely to be white and thin. If you

have heavy discharge, or if it smells unpleasant, then you may wish to mention this to your doctor.

It is not unusual to have slight vaginal bleeding at this stage. It can be worrying, but it is normal. It is not

usually a cause for concern to see brownish blood mixed with normal vaginal discharge. However, if you see

a lot of fresh blood, or if you feel pain associated with the bleeding, or indeed if you are worried by any

bleeding, no matter how little the amount, then immediately telephone your doctor or midwife for advice.

6

Emotions: Not all changes are physical ones. It is extremely common to find that your usual emotional state

is affected by pregnancy hormones, the tiredness associated with the first trimester, and indeed your own

feelings about being pregnant. You find that your concentration is affected, along with your general mood and

usual state of wellbeing. It is normal to find that you become more emotional about many things, and that your

mood is liable to quick change. Again, in most pregnancies, these symptoms subside with the onset of the

2nd trimester.

3.3 What’s Normal and When to Ask For Help

Feeling Unhappy or Depressed: Although fluctuating hormones can make most women feel unsettled and

occasionally moody during the first trimester, if you find that you are being seriously affected by a change in

mood, then it might be worth speaking with your GP or midwife.

Some women suffer from pre-natal depression, and it can be debilitating, especially when you might expect

to feel happy and excited about the baby growing inside you .Don’t ignore significant changes to your mood

and emotional well-being; your GP will be able to help, and it is important that you feel supported in every

aspect of your pregnancy.

There are different ways of treating pre-natal depression, but if left unchecked, it can increase the risk of

suffering from post-natal depression, so talk to your doctor about how you feeling, and enlist the support of

your partner.Part of your ante-natal care should deal with your feelings and emotions, and it is absolutely

normal to feel upset or vulnerable during pregnancy, and your midwife will also be equipped to listen and help

you.

7

Bleeding: Whilst this is mentioned in the 1st Trimester Body Changes section, it is worth covering here in a

little more detail. There is no doubt that one of the most worrying things that a woman can see, during the first

stages of a pregnancy in particular, is vaginal bleeding. It is a reasonably common symptom, occurring in

20% of pregnancies, but a frightening and unsettling one, nonetheless. It is possible to experience bleeding on

and off during an entire healthy pregnancy term. However, you should always mention any bleeding to your

midwife or doctor. In some cases, bleeding can be a sign of impending or threatened miscarriage, and often is

associated with cramping and discomfort. It is imperative that if this is the case, then you should seek the

guidance of your doctor, who may suggest a referral to an EPU (early pregnancy unit) to monitor your

pregnancy.

Another cause of bleeding which needs immediate medical intervention is an ectopic pregnancy. This is when

the fertilized egg implants somewhere other than the uterus, most commonly in the fallopian tube. The embryo

cannot survive, but may continue to grow and eventually rupture the tube, causing a potentially life-threatening

situation for the mother. If diagnosed early on, then an ectopic pregnancy can sometimes be treated without

surgery, and the affected fallopian tube can be saved.

There are other reasons for bleeding during the first trimester, such as infection. Again, it is always important

to get checked out in order to discount potentially serious conditions.