First Trimester Part 2
What is happening with mom in the first trimester?
Whether you are pregnant for the first time or you are growing your family, changes during pregnancy may affect you in many ways. You may feel tired, fatigued, with low levels of energy. Some symptoms may even scare you. The line between normal pregnancy, harmless discomforts and abnormal and dangerous warning signs can often be very difficult to determine.
Every pregnancy is unique and every woman is a distinct individual. However, being aware of some of the most common symptoms by trimester could help expectant moms know when to self treat and when to call for help.
Morning Sickness, nausea and vomiting
Morning Sickness refers to the feeling of nausea most women experience during the first trimester of pregnancy, which is caused by increased levels of the hormone produced by the body to support the pregnancy. Most women experience nausea and vomiting during the first trimester. Around 85 percent of women experience nausea, while 60 to 70 percent experience vomiting as symptoms of morning sickness.
Although nausea and vomiting is mostly experienced in the morning, therefore its name, it may persist throughout the day and be triggered by different experiences like; odors, tastes, movements etc.
The best treatment for morning sickness, nausea and vomiting involves prevention. Here are some tips to avoid feeling sick in the first trimester:
Eat small meals throughout the day, starting before getting out of bed. Avoiding an empty stomach can prevent nausea. Eat saltine crackers 10 to 15 minutes before getting out of bed
Drink small amounts of fluids throughout the day to avoid dehydration. Sports drinks, like Gatorade, help.
Drink fluids 30 minutes before and after meals, instead of with the meal
Add raw ginger to your meals and drinks
The smell of lemon, drinking lemonade or lemon water, or other lemon flavored drinks with ginger may settle your stomach.
Open the windows while cooking, avoid odors that trigger nausea
Low impact exercise helps shift blood from the stomach to the muscles, therefore alleviating nausea
Get your rest. Sleep enough hours at night and nap during the day if your body calls for it.
Eating a bedtime snack may help.
Avoid high fat foods and large meals
Acupressure wrist bands have been found to work at preventing and alleviating nausea and vomiting.
Do not lie down after eating, actually take a walk to help digest your food
Do not skip any meal. Carry healthy snacks in your purse.
If natural, preventive treatments don’t work, seek help from your doctor. Untreated morning sickness tends to get worse and is more difficult to treat.
Avoid spicy and acidic foods, like tomato based sauces and dairy foods.
Sore Breasts
Breast tenderness, soreness and fullness are among the most common symptoms of early pregnancy. Women may feel these symptoms as early as 1 to 2 weeks after conception. A rise in levels of estrogen and progesterone in early pregnancy to support the developing pregnancy also stimulate mammary glands. In essence, these are growing pains in preparation for lactation. Nature is amazing! The good news is that this symptom tends to improve as the pregnancy progresses, but in the meantime, the following remedies may help ease the pain:
Wear a more supportive, properly fitted, full bra or sports bra. The extra support will help relieve the pressure off the tissue. Avoid underwire bras.
Drink plenty of water
Cold compresses help.
Warm showers or warm compresses sometimes help.
Cravings
Cravings during pregnancy start in the first trimester and peak by the second trimester. Surveys indicate that between 50 and 90 percent of women experience cravings during the first trimester. While you may crave funky combinations of foods other foods that you liked before pregnancy, may make you gag. The actual reason for cravings is unknown, but like most other symptoms and signs during pregnancy, it is thought to be due to the sudden rise in hormones. Most cravings don’t represent a threat to the pregnancy or a deficiency of vitamins and minerals. On the other hand, if the craving is for a nonfood item, it could represent the condition called pica. Pica can lead to the overwhelming desire to consume a number of substances that can be very harmful to the pregnancy.
Extreme Fatigue
Most women feel exhausted, fatigued and extremely tired within weeks of conception during the first trimester. High levels of progesterone during pregnancy may be part of the cause of feeling so fatigued during the day. An increase in metabolism, blood sugar levels and decreased blood pressure also contribute. Listen to your body, it is telling you that you need to take it extra easy during this time and allow your body to deal with the amazing process going on in your womb of forming a life. Take naps, push up your bedtime and take it easy, your body needs the extra rest. Ask for help around the house and work. Try to avoid unnecessary tasks. Healthy eating and light exercise may help give you some energy back. Fortunately, fatigue usually improves during the second trimester.
Frequency and Urgency of Urination
Urinary frequency and urgency in pregnancy is caused by increased levels of the hormones progesterone and human chorionic gonadotropin, as well as, the growing uterus applying pressure on the bladder. Increased blood volume also causes the kidneys to be more active and produce more urine. Some women may leak urine upon coughing, sneezing, exercising or laughing.
It is important to distinguish between normal urinary frequency and urgency of pregnancy and a urinary tract infection. If there are other symptoms associated with frequency and urgency, like pain on urination, fevers, cloudy urine, red or pink in the urine or foul smelling urine, it is best to consult a doctor for evaluation.
Kegel exercises help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and can help patients with bladder control. Avoiding caffeine is best because it is a bladder stimulant. Also, to avoid numerous nighttime trips to the bathroom, avoid drinking liquids one to two hours before bed.
Dry Eyes or Changing Vision
Up to 15 percent of pregnant women experience changes in their vision. Eyes may become drier and more irritated because of hormonal changes. Hormones can affect the quality of tears by affecting the oil content of tears, which causes tears to evaporate quicker. Dryness may persist as long as you are breastfeeding. Usually vision changes don’t alter your lenses prescription, but dryness and irritation may keep you from using contact lenses. Artificial tears can be used to lessen the discomfort caused by dry eyes and are safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Warm compresses stimulate blood flow, which can help alleviate irritation and stimulate tear production. If these remedies don’t work, a visit to the eye doctor may help. You may be informed about a procedure called punctal occlusion, which blocks tear drainage, therefore increasing the number of tears available to bathe the eye. This procedure is safe in pregnancy.
Dizziness/Lightheadedness
To help feed the growing fetus, the cardiovascular system undergoes exceptional changes, including an increase in blood volume of 25 percent, dilation of blood vessels and often a significant drop in blood pressure. The placenta functions as a reservoir of blood for the developing fetus. These changes may lead to you feeling dizzy, light headed or even passing out. To prevent mild, occasional dizziness, increase hydration. Sport drinks are especially helpful because they provide essential minerals that help you retain the volume within your circulation. Also avoid prolonged standing and rise slowly after lying or sitting down. A racing heart may be common.
Heartburn and Constipation
Heartburn affects most women during pregnancy. Progesterone, one of the main hormones supporting the pregnancy development, is also responsible for relaxing muscles. It relaxes the sphincter in the stomach that keeps its acids from moving up into the esophagus. It also slows down the transport of food through the intestines. This combined with a growing uterus causing pressure on the intestines causes heartburn. The following tips will help alleviate heartburn:
Eat slowly, relax and enjoy your meal
Eat small meals frequently. You may need to reduce your intake to 5 or 6 small meals of less than half your usual portions.
Sit, stand or take a leisure walk after your meals, but never lie down.
Raise the head of the bed 2 to 6 inches. Use gravity to keep stomach acids from getting to the esophagus
Don’t eat right before bedtime.
Avoid specific foods that cause you heartburn
To prevent constipation, increase fiber intake, and participate in light to moderate physical activity. Fiber rich foods include fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and legumes.
Bloating
The rise in hormones causes swelling and slows down the intestines. This leads to gas and bloating. Eating small meals and avoiding foods that cause gas such as beans, lentils, carbonated drinks, wheat, broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, onions, rye and fried foods will help prevent bloating.