From pregnancy tests to morning sickness, here’s how it all begins
Welcome to your 1st and sleepiest trimester; during these 12 weeks your baby will grow from an embryo 1/5th the size of the period at the end of this sentence to a nice juicy plum. Every day, the pregnancy hormone HCG is increasing and it’s this that makes your pregnancy test positive. It’s also responsible for feeling tired, tender or sore breasts, frequently needing to pee and for many women—morning sickness. It’s normal to want a nap every day—your body is working hard to grow your baby—it’s exhausting!
Start—or continue—habits that keep your pregnancy as healthy as possible all the way to term:
- Daily prenatal vitamin, especially if you haven’t been taking one
- Make and keep all prenatal appointments
- Healthy food with lots of water
- No, smoking, drinking or using illegal drugs if you have any of these habits
- Caffeine limited to no more than 200mg a day—that’s up to 12 ounces of coffee. Foods like chocolate and other beverages have caffeine too
Before you knew you were pregnant, baby’s neural tube—what becomes her brain and spinal cord—formed and closed. The 800 micrograms of folic acid in most prenatal vitamins protect against neural tube birth defects, so it’s important to take a prenatal vitamin before conception and through pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Baby finishes the 1st trimester 10 times bigger than at conception. Your body is changing too: Your breasts are likely bigger and sore, you may have frequent headaches, fatigue and nausea. It’s not unusual to have some spotting or mild cramping and this doesn’t always mean miscarriage. Call your provider right away, especially if the bleeding is heavy or if you’re cramping.
Around week 8, you’ll have your first prenatal visit; after that you’ll likely see your provider:
- Every 4 weeks (until 28 weeks)
- Every 2 weeks (28-36 weeks)
- Weekly (week 36+)
You may be offered 1st trimester screening—non-invasive tests done between weeks 11-14 for chromosome disorders like Down Syndrome and genetic testing. Your nurse can talk with you about the risks and benefits of these tests. Bring your questions to every prenatal visit—your care providers expect and welcome them!
As you complete week 12, you can relax—all of baby’s organs and bodily systems have formed and the next 28 weeks are all about growing. You’ll be able to hear your baby’s heartbeat and the early symptoms of pregnancy should begin to subside.
Nutrition Know-How
- No one food combats morning sickness; smaller meals eaten more frequently seem to help
- Eat 3 servings of protein daily, such as lean meats, low-mercury fish, nuts, beans, milk or eggs, to support your growing baby
- Eat no more than an extra 100 calories a day—that’s a small apple and 6 ounces of skim milk
- Bulk up on fruits, veggies and water to combat constipation
Go Full Term
- Reason #1: End right by starting right—keeping all of your prenatal appointments helps ensure a healthier ending
- Reason #10: Nourish your body—a healthy diet and breastfeeding will help you lose the baby weight
- Reason #20: Maximize those little lungs—babies born just 2 weeks or more early can have twice the number of complications with breathing
