Pregnancy might turn to be a puzzling time, especially for the newly expectant mom. As she really experiences a hormonal chute-the-chute, her body is supposed to undergo some very surprising changes. Any newly pregnant lady will probably have heard their obstetrician referring to the term 'trimester'. The nine months of pregnancy are classified into three equal trimesters. These mark essential pregnancy stages in the development of the fetus. To learn about the trimesters will help the expecting mother to understand her baby's development better and also serve to elucidate pregnancy for her.
Pregnancy stages – the beginning
The first stage of pregnancy is much easier to miss; sometimes women don’t even know that they have successfully conceived and are pregnant until the end of the last period of this first stage. The first stage is medically known as the first trimester. The woman will experience several changes in her first trimester of pregnancy because of the body adapting to the newer life it is supposed to hold. Many women feel morning sickness; this is because of the high level of hormones in their system. Sometimes morning sickness can occur due to certain smells, and other times it looks to develop without any environmental factors.
Another major change the women's body is alteration and continuous change in the sizes and shapes of the uterus. The uterus will grow very large in the first stage of pregnancy for accommodating the growth of the fetus. Since the uterus is growing very rapidly in the first stage, frequent bathroom visits are very common result. Backache is also a constant problem throughout the period of pregnancy as the fetus often rests against the spine that ultimately causes pressure onto the bladder.
The second stage of pregnancy, or the second trimester, is generally characterized by mood swings and different cravings of the foods. Whilst every woman and every pregnancy is very much different, many women feel at least sudden shifts in their nature and moods; this is because of the extreme alteration and changes of hormonal levels in her body. Food cravings are generally present, but not every woman experiences them. The symptoms a woman might experience will also depend largely upon her diet during the pregnancy. She should eat healthy and get the proper vitamins and nutrients, as they are vital to both mother and child's health throughout pregnancy. Women who got a proper diet is likely to have a much easier pregnancy and a healthy baby. It is important, nevertheless, if the woman is on a diet pre-pregnancy to discuss with midwife if it is still appropriate during pregnancy.
The third trimester is the last among pregnancy stages or periods and this could be the happiest, anxiety-codded, uneasy time for a pregnant woman. Many couples become too anxious for their new little life of joy to arrive; mothers often prepare the house for baby, and are as happy and anxious to welcome the little one as they have never been. In the final stage of pregnancy it is essential to try to get all of the rests and sleeps possible. It can often be very uneasy for mom to sleep at night; the baby has become too big, searching for a comfortable position and this can make nights be nearly impossible. Baby is also consuming a lot of mother’s energy, so frequent naps might become very necessary. It is essential at this time to try to be relaxed and remain as calm as possible in preparation for infant's birth.
Important things to remember for pregnancy stages
During the first stage and definitely the time when the woman is most fragile, this is when the baby starts to grow and begins to develop its body parts and important organs. It is also the period wherein most miscarriages and spontaneous abortions may happen. It is essential to have a checkup as early as possible, once the woman suspects that she is pregnant. To know that she is indeed carrying a baby inside her will motivate her to become more cautious of all the edibles that she eats or drinks. Alcohol and caffeine, for example, are to be avoided. She must also begin to take prenatal vitamins at this stage since the fetus requires certain vitamins and minerals at the crucial stage of growth. Deficiencies in those important nutrients might lead to irreversible congenital defects.
In the first trimester, the woman may possibly experience nausea and vomiting, also called as "morning sickness." She will also find herself looking for strange foods or having an edacious appetite. The cause of such cravings is unknown, though some researchers reveal that it is her body's way to make her take in substances that she needs during the pregnancy.
