As a pregnant woman, your first trimester is a special time in your life. For one, you will be greeted with changes in your body as the baby starts to develop inside your womb. It can be overwhelming to go through, especially if you’re a first timer, but a lot of what occurs during the first 12 weeks of your pregnancy are actually, normal. In fact, they are even crucial to your baby’s development.

According to Dr. Ma. Neva Luna Batayola, medical director, it is important to know about the physical and emotional changes you will go through in the first three months of your pregnancy. From morning sickness to constant urination, there are reasons behind the weird things that happen to your body during this crucial stage.

So here are five unusual—but normal—things you need to know during your first trimester:

Food Aversions

You might become more sensitive to certain odors and your 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 towards food you used to enjoy and crave for food that you did not like before. This is due to the heightened sense of smell and taste during pregnancy, which can make you feel nauseated.

As such, you must learn that there are some food that should be avoided, which can be harmful to your baby, like raw eggs, raw meat, fish high in mercury, unpasteurized milk, caffeine, and many more.

Morning Sickness

You 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 your 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 your uterus to prepare it for growth.

To relieve nausea, it is important to avoid having an empty stomach. Try eating your 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, you might find yourself going through a rollercoaster of emotions caused by the sudden increase in estrogen and progesterone, which are types of hormones that regulate your mood.

You will also find your metabolism has increased, as your blood sugar and blood pressure get lower. This might be a lot to take on but these feelings are normal and will continue until your 10th week and again in your third trimester. Fight mood swings by taking the time to slow down in your usual routine and get enough rest.

Constant urination

An increase in blood production can cause your kidneys to process extra fluid that ends up in your bladder. This will result in you finding yourself urinating more often than usual.

There is no way you can control it but, you will just gradually improve over time. So keep yourself hydrated by drinking six to eight glasses of water every day to maintain a healthy pregnancy.

You will get tired easily

Yes, you will get tired. But why wouldn’t you when you are growing another human inside of your belly? It is normal and you will understand that during this time, sleeping and napping are important. It is best to simply get enough rest by going to bed early when possible. A healthy diet and exercise might also help in boosting your energy.

A lot of physical changes would have taken place by the time you reach the end of your first trimester. Hormones, mood swing, and fatigue will all play a part in how you feel about your pregnancy. This is why it is important to talk to a health care professional to help and guide you along the way.

Lastly, nutrition plays an important role in your baby’s development. Choosing the right maternal milk is key at this stage. ProMama®, a delicious tasting nutritional milk drink, is designed to support you 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 you try to go through the nine months planning and caring for the baby inside your womb. So, look after yourself, take it easy, listen to your body when you need to rest, and start instituting healthy food habits to ensure your baby’s bright tomorrow.

Published: 2018-07-11 20:52:24