When a woman is pregnant, her body undergoes rapid changes that are usually quite noticeable, especially for her. In the first trimester, everything is changing to accommodate the developing fetus and the needs that the woman will have after the baby is born. The growing fetus or placenta produces certain new hormones that can cause many different symptoms, and only the growth of the baby will make some changes in daily life. Symptoms and changes in the first trimester are variable, and some women will be more uncomfortable than others.
The presence of hormones like human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) can cause some of the most uncomfortable and noticeable symptoms of first trimester pregnancy. HCG can create significant mood swings. You can be happy one moment and cry the next, and these feelings can seem a bit overwhelming until you get used to them. Another common side effect of HCG is that it can cause the dreaded morning sickness, which may not always occur in the morning and many are not always that terrible.
Some women find that they dislike the smell of food, but rarely experience more than nausea. Other women, especially from the sixth week, find nausea and vomiting regularly. It can help to continue eating light meals, avoiding foods that seem repellent, as low blood sugar can make the situation worse. It's also important to talk to your doctor about very frequent nausea, especially if you can't seem to hold down any food. Fortunately, morning sickness tends to go away by the end of the first trimester, although some women remain sensitive to odors.
The mother's body undergoes changes during the first trimester. These include breast swelling, which can make the breasts feel sore and sore. The skin around the nipples darkens within a few weeks of pregnancy. The abdomen may increase in size and clothing may become a bit tight. If this is a first pregnancy, this may not be as noticeable, and you usually won't need maternity clothes this early. If she has had babies before, the abdominal muscles may be a little weaker and cause the baby's belly to appear a little sooner.
Other changes include the need to urinate frequently, as the uterus begins to press on the bladder. This pressure can also cause constipation and hemorrhoids. Another thing that women may experience in the first trimester is a general feeling of fatigue. It may all seem exhausting, but it won't always feel that way. In fact, the second trimester can often be a time when you feel great and have a lot of energy.
Expecting a baby can be an emotional time for anyone, and there may be some anxiety about getting over the awkwardness of the first trimester. Discuss these feelings with your doctor, who you should start seeing on her recommended schedule once she knows she is pregnant. The physical symptoms can also seem a bit overwhelming at first and it's important to be gentle with yourself during this period of time. Get plenty of rest, eat a healthy diet, and get regular light exercise.