Pregnancy 101: Five unusual things that happen to your body (first trimester)
A pregnant woman’s first trimester is a special time in her life. For one, she will be greeted with changes in her body as the baby starts to develop inside her womb. It can be overwhelming to go through, especially if she’s a first-timer, but a lot of what occurs during the first 12 weeks of her pregnancy are actually normal. In fact, they are even crucial to her baby’s development.
According to Dr. Ma. Neva Luna Batayola, medical director, it is important to know about the physical and emotional changes one will go through in the first three months of her pregnancy. From morning sickness to constant urination, there are reasons behind the weird things that happen to her body during this crucial stage.
So here are five unusual—but normal—things one needs to know during her first trimester:
Food aversions
She might become more sensitive to certain odors and her taste for food might even change. Just like cravings, food aversion is often caused by the hormonal changes of pregnancy.
In fact, it is possible to have an aversion toward food she used to enjoy and crave for food that she did not like before. This is due to the heightened sense of smell and taste during pregnancy, which can make her feel nauseated.
As such, she must learn that there are some food items that should be avoided, which can be harmful to her baby, like raw eggs, raw meat, fish high in mercury, unpasteurized milk, caffeine, and many more.
Morning sickness
One will find out that morning sickness does not only strike during the early time of the day and will often begin during the first month of her pregnancy. Strangely enough, nausea and vomiting may be a sign of a healthy pregnancy. The reason behind these episodes is the scrambling of pregnancy hormones that start to adjust to one’s uterus to prepare it for growth.
To relieve nausea, it is important for her to avoid having an empty stomach. She should try eating meals slowly in small amounts and drink plenty of water. However, it is noteworthy that morning sickness might not necessarily occur on every pregnant woman. It is still good to know about it in case it leads to unnecessary worry.
Mood shift
From feeling elated to feeling anxious, a pregnant woman might find herself going through a rollercoaster of emotions caused by the sudden increase in estrogen and progesterone, which are types of hormones that regulate her mood.
She will also find her metabolism has increased, as her blood sugar and blood pressure get lower. This might be a lot to take on but these feelings are normal and will continue until her 10th week and again in her third trimester. She should fight mood swings by taking the time to slow down in her usual routine and get enough rest.
Constant urination
An increase in blood production can cause her kidneys to process extra fluid that ends up in her bladder. This will result in her finding herself urinating more often than usual.
There is no way she can control it, but she will just gradually improve over time. So she should keep herself hydrated by drinking six to eight glasses of water every day to maintain a healthy pregnancy.
She will get tired easily
Yes, a pregnant woman will get tired. But why wouldn’t she when she is growing another human inside of her belly? It is normal and she will understand that during this time, sleeping and napping are important. It is best for her to simply get enough rest by going to bed early when possible. A healthy diet and exercise might also help in boosting one’s energy.
A lot of physical changes would have taken place by the time she reaches the end of her first trimester. Hormones, mood swing and fatigue will all play a part in how she feels about her pregnancy. This is why it is important for her to talk to a health care professional to help and guide her along the way. Last, nutrition plays an important role in her baby’s development. Choosing the right maternal milk is key at this stage. ProMama®, a delicious tasting nutritional milk drink, is designed to support one during pre-pregnancy, pregnancy and lactation. It is scientifically formulated with key nutrients needed for fetal brain formation and developments in the womb, such as Folic Acid, DHA, Choline and Iodine.
Pregnancy will be an overwhelming time as one tries to go through the nine months planning and caring for the baby inside her womb. So, a mother should look after herself, take it easy, listen to her body when she needs to rest, and start instituting healthy food habits to ensure her baby’s bright tomorrow.