What to expect during pregnancy’s first trimester

Did you recently find out you’re pregnant? Here’s what you can expect during the first trimester

If you’ve just found out that you’re pregnant, congratulations! There’s so much ahead of you that you’re likely excited and maybe even a little scared about.

The first trimester of pregnancy is from week one to the end of week 12. Your due date is an estimated date that is 40 weeks from the first day of your last period.

Common changes during the first trimester

You’ll notice that your body begins changing during the first trimester, and these are some of the common physical changes you can look out for:

• Morning sickness: Although it’s called “morning sickness,” bouts of nausea can really strike at any time throughout the day. Morning sickness is caused by the rising levels of estrogen and progesterone in your body and can begin as early as three weeks after conception.
• Tender breasts: Since hormonal changes begin so early on in pregnancy, you may find that your breasts become tender and swollen during the first trimester of your pregnancy. They may also feel fuller and heavier because of the milk your body is already starting to produce.
• Fatigue: One of the most prominent first trimester symptoms is fatigue. It’s caused by your rising progesterone levels and often leaves you feeling sleepy. You may find yourself sleeping in on the weekends and even going to bed earlier at night.
• Food cravings and aversions: Food cravings are common during pregnancy, first trimester included. When you think of food cravings, the image of a woman much further along waking up in the middle of the night and asking her partner to fetch her pickles may come to mind, but these cravings can come along during the first trimester, too. Don’t be surprised if that food you once loved so much is now something that makes your stomach cringe.
• Emotions: There will likely be times that you’ll feel a little overwhelmed during your first trimester. Not only are you dealing with the joy that comes with knowing you’re having a baby, you also have a lot of stress that’s going to try to ruin the fun. While it’s natural to worry about you and your baby’s health during this time, focus on the good and remember that you’re going to be a mom!

OB/GYN appointments

No matter what type of health care provider you choose, you’ll need to find someone you trust to care for you and your child during your pregnancy. Whether you choose an obstetrician, midwife or other pregnancy specialist, your visits during the first trimester will focus on your overall health, identifying risk factors and determining your due date.

Sometime around the 11th week of your pregnancy, you’ll go in for your first trimester screening to check for chromosomal abnormalities such as Trisomy 21 and 18.

What were some of the things you experienced during your first trimester? Leave your comments below!

If you have questions about your first prenatal OB visits, or just need a reminder checklist of important questions to ask, download our free Guide to Prenatal OB visits. Just click below.