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The first stages of pregnancy is commonly called the First Trimester.  This is such an exciting time for most women, especially if you have been trying to get pregnant for some time.

You will always remember the time when you found out for the first time, you were going to have a baby.  I have had 3 children and still remember the feeling of excitement and apprehension I felt when I knew for sure I was pregnant.  All 3 were planned babies and all 3 were different.

I just want to tell you what to expect in the first stages of pregnancy to help you quell any fear you may be feeling.

What to Expect in Stage One of Your Pregnancy

The first thing you need to do if you have done a home pregnancy test or want to find out if you’re pregnant, is go and see your doctor.   They will give you a thorough check up which may include blood tests to check your iron levels and overall health.  It is also important to note when your last period was,  as this is the date they will start your 40 week gestation from.

Usually a woman won’t even know she is pregnant until she is officially 5 weeks on,  so if you are trying to become pregnant it is vital you look after yourself well and refrain from drinking alcohol, taking harmful drugs or smoking cigarettes, as these may harm your baby before you even know you are actually pregnant.

Symptoms You May Be Feeling

Some women are very lucky and don’t have any symptoms during their first stages of pregnancy, but if you are like me and many thousands of other women, you may experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tender breasts, fatigue, swelling and generally unwell.  These symptoms usually only last during the first 3 months and will vary in levels of discomfort, but it is very important if you are worried about anything, to check with your doctor.

Your body is going through an amazing process of growing another human being, so it is expected to have some side effects while this is happening.

You may also find that some foods will trigger the nausea, and I know myself I couldn’t bring myself to eat green beans – even though these are my favourite vegetable.  I also had to revert to bottled water, as I found the water from the tap gave me severe diarrhea.

What You Can Do to Help Yourself Through the First Stages Of Pregnancy

The most important thing to remember is if you feel unsure of anything, no matter how silly you think it is, go and check with your doctor. It is definitely better to be safe then sorry.  Below I have set out a few points for how you can get through your first stages of pregnancy while helping keep your baby happy and healthy:

• If you are a smoker, you really do need to try and quit or at least cut back. It is a known fact that  smoking really can harm your growing baby.

• Check with your doctor before taking any drugs at all, whether they be over the counter or subscription drugs.

• Limit your alcohol intake, as drinking too much alcohol can cause Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and birth defects.

• Try and get as much rest as possible.  I know this may be difficult if you are working full time or have other small children, but its important to look after yourself.

• Eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables.  These will help  give you the vitamins and minerals you need to grow a healthy baby.

• Most of all, enjoy this time of your life and keep the stress levels down.

In my future posts,  I will be talking about the next stages of pregnancy, what you may be feeling and how to best manage your changing body.

Until then, keep happy and healthy and most of all, enjoy these first stages of pregnancy.

Jackie Stenhouse

There are many things which  should be avoided while you are  pregnant and the most common of these are cigarettes and alcohol.

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can harm the growing fetus and cause ‘fetal alcohol syndrome’ (FAS) which is when alcohol crosses the placenta and can lead to stunted fetal growth or weight, create distinctive facial stigmata, damage neurons and brain structures and cause other physical, mental and behavioural problems.

Why would you risk this, when FAS is a 100% preventable disease by simply not drinking alcohol while pregnant.

Cigarettes is another health risk for your unborn baby. Every time a pregnant mother takes a drag from a cigarette, normal fetal breathing movements (a sign of a healthy
fetus) are reduced within five minutes. Women who smoke cigarettes (or anything else for that matter) while pregnant are at increased risk of many things.
Infants that are born to women who smoke during pregnancy have lower than average birth weight and are more likely to be small for their age. Low birth weight is associated with increased risk or death.

To give your baby and yourself the best possible start in life, which I know you want to, abstaining from cigarettes and alcohol for 9 months is the best possible thing you can do for your precious unborn baby.  If you are having difficulties doing this, speak with your doctor and they should be able to help you.

Have a Great Day

Jackie Stenhouse

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