First Trimester Of Pregnancy:

Weeks 1-12

This is your first trimester of pregnancy! Congratulations!

The first day of your last menstrual period (LMP) is how pregnancy is measured. It is grouped into trimesters of in which equal a total of 40 weeks.

The start of pregnancy begins at the time of fertilization of the egg by a sperm cell. The fertilized egg grows into blastocyst which is a microscopic ball of cells packed together. It then implants into your uterine wall. This is the beginning process of physical and hormonal changes that spark in your body.

Between the third and eighth weeks, the growth is now the embryonic stage. This is when the embryo develops most major body organs. At this time, the embryo is vulnerable to damaging substances such as infectious diseases, radiation and alcohol.

By the 9th week of growth, the embryo is now a fetus and the uterus has grown from about the size of a fist to the size of a grapefruit.

First Trimester: Early Signs Of Pregnancy:

Your first sign of pregnancy may be a missed menstrual period. Other symptoms that can occur which are caused by hormonal changes are:

- Increased urination
- Breast tenderness
- Mild aching or fullness in your lower abdomen
- Morning sickness: Nausea with or without vomiting

There are other changes during your first trimester you may notice on a mild to severe level:

- Mood swings: Can be caused by hormonal changes, extreme fatigue. Sometimes from the stress of expecting a new baby or just from hormones causing more emotion on day to day situations such as work environment or family life.

- Constipation: Can be due to change in hormones. This can slow down the regular function of your bowels. The iron in your prenatal vitamin can also contribute to constipation.

- Vaginal discharge changes: Leukorrhea which is a thin, milky-white discharge is absolutely normal throughout your entire pregnancy. The tissues that line the vagina also become thicker and less sensitive during pregnancy.

- Vaginal yeast Infection: Yeast infections are more common in pregnancy because of the increased hormonal levels. Contact your doctor if you experience symptoms of yeast infection or bacterial vaginal infection (bacterial vaginosis).

- Vaginal bleeding: Spotting in early pregnancy is pretty common. It may go away on its own. It can also be the start of pregnancy complications such as

miscarriage. Contact your doctor if you experience any sign of vaginal bleeding during your pregnancy.

~ Be ahead of any possible situations
Keeping track of your pregnancy week by week is a clear way to keep you current with how you and your little baby are doing. During pregnancy our bodies become overflowed with extra hormones which cause numerous changes in our everyday lives.

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