First Trimester of Pregnancy*

Written by Devan Allen

Most pregnancies in the modern world are happy stories. They end with a safe birth and a healthy baby. Nonetheless, it can be scary for any woman to carry a child, to witness its growth, worry about its health, and to begin thinking about how the new member of the family will change daily life.

Many women are familiar with the first signs of pregnancy -- period is late, breasts are swelling, one feels more tired than usual and somewhat nauseous, and there's the issue of having to go to the bathroom every few minutes. There are other signs too: the constipation that results from progesterone's effect on the intestines, cravings for new foods, hormone-related mood swings.

After the pregnancy test has come in positive at least twice, it’s time to contact the doctor for an appointment. A general physical exam will include

A medical history,
Arrangements for blood tests.

These will help the doctor determine the baby’s blood type and the mother's blood count, test for immunity to syphilis and rubella, evaluate the risk of genetic diseases, test for STDs, and overall, confirm that the new mother is healthy and can handle carrying a baby to term. A provider may also schedule a sonogram, particularly if Mother doesn't know the date of her last period, or if she is over 35. A perinatal consultation is also worth considering if there's a history of family genetic disorders or risky pregnancies. The doctor may recommend C-section births for women who've had them in the past.

After the first physical and blood work, the mother is likely to come in for monthly checkups until the 3rd trimester, and perhaps more frequently after that until the baby is born. In the meantime, it’s a good idea for the mother to start taking prenatal vitamins. If they intensify the mother's morning sickness, it is possible to get the nutrients naturally by consuming the foods and beverages that contain them.

As the pregnancy progresses, the expecting mother should not be surprised if she feels nauseous, tired, dizzy, and sore. Breasts can become tender and swollen. She begins to gain a bit of weight, too, although most of the extra pounds will come in the second and third trimesters. The abdomen begins to distend, and by the fourth month it will be time to wear maternity clothes. It is now, in the first few weeks, that she should establish new diet and exercise habits that will keep her healthy, trim and strong throughout her pregnancy.

Miscarriages occur in about 10 to 20 percent of first trimester pregnancies, and one of the symptoms is profuse bleeding. For this reason, any kind of bleeding during the first weeks is reason enough to see the doctor immediately. However, it is possible for pregnant women to experience "spotting,” or mild vaginal bleeding, in the first trimester for reasons that have nothing to do with the health of their growing babies.

The culprit may be cervicitis, an inflammation of the cervix in response to a yeast infection, and is easily tamed with over-the-counter or prescription creams.    Cervicitis usually causes bleeding as a result of the back-and-forth motions of sexual intercourse, a change in the acids inside the vagina, or the side effects of infections within the fragile cells of the cervix.

Bacterial vaginosis is another harmless infection, easily caught with a microscope, which may cause spotting and can be treated effectively with antibiotic pills or gels.   Although it is no cause for worry, treatment is important, because some research suggests that the disease is associated with a higher risk of preterm labor.

A third cause of bleeding is cervical polyps; overgrown cervical cells that grow into the vagina because they have been stimulated by the presence of estrogen.   These polyps can bleed from intercourse or even walking, and can be removed easily in a doctor's office or even by the pressure of the emerging baby during delivery.

A final cause of harmless bleeding is the disintegration of a loose piece of menstrual tissue that may have grown inside the vagina in response to pregnancy hormones; some mothers confuse this with a miscarriage, but this kind of bleeding has absolutely no health consequences for either the mother or the baby.

On the other hand, if the mother is losing actual fetal or placental tissue, she may at risk of a miscarriage. Outbreaks of STDs like Chlamydia, trichomonas or gonorrhea can also cause bleeding, and they are dangerous.

When miscarriages do occur, they can be difficult to identify because the cramping feelings they cause are similar to those produced by a growing uterus.   The most effective way to test for the likelihood of miscarriage in early pregnancy is to measure the amount of progesterone in the mother’s blood. Low progesterone suggests that a miscarriage is either about to occur, or has already taken place.

If the blood tests are normal, and the mother-to-be is still worried about the health of her baby, an ultrasound is the way to go. It can demonstrate that the baby is growing in the right place, and has a healthy heart rate.

*This article is based on the information at http://www.pregnancy-period.com,http://www.babyzone.com and http://www.pregnancy-info.net