“BEING PREGNANT”
It makes no difference between a mother and a baby whether the pregnancy is planned or surprised. Pregnancy just turns the page of your life’s book and this turning brings a good change though. These 9 months of pregnancy have lots of mood swings and hundreds of challenges for a mother.
These 9 months have been divided into 3 trimesters of 3-3 months, and many changes and traumas take place in this duration.
FIRST TRIMESTER:
In one month of pregnancy, the baby’s primitive face takes form with a dark large circle for eyes; the mouth, lower jaw, and throat are developing. By the end of the first month of the pregnancy, the baby is around 6-7 MM long. About the size of a grain of rice!
In month two of pregnancy, each ear begins as a little fold of skin. Tiny buds that eventually grow into arms and legs are forming. Fingers, toes, and eyes are also forming. By the end of the second month, the baby, now a fetus is about 2.54cm long and weighs about 9.45g.
In the third month of the pregnancy, the baby is now made up of its head. By the end of the third month, the baby is fully formed. The baby has arms, hands, fingers, feet, and toes. And can open and close its fists and mouth. At the end of month three, the baby is about 7.6-10cm long and weighs about 28g.
This first trimester is considered the riskiest one. This is an initial and very sensitive trimester period of pregnancy to the baby’s development. During this period, the baby’s body structure and organ systems develop. Most miscarriages and birth defects occur during this period.
Each trimester is roughly 14 weeks long. When you enter your second trimester, you are around 14 weeks pregnant.
During this trimester, your fetus will start to look more like a child — with its facial features aligning, and its fingers and toes becoming well-defined. By month four, your fetus will have eyelids, eyebrows, eyelashes, nails, and hair. Your fetus will also be able to stretch, make faces and even suck on its thumb. You’ll soon be able to determine the gender of your fetus on an ultrasound. You might also start feeling your fetus move.
Your fetus will be doing flips and movements throughout your second trimester. This first movement is called the quickening.
FAVOURITES OF FIRST TRIMESTER:
Most of us are in the same boat or need more information about the pregnancy, from food to info, to fitness, and more, everything that helped a pregnant lady to get through the beginning stages of pregnancy is discussed below. Hope our readers get satisfaction through us.
Healthy CARBS! Rice and Chickpea or Lentil Pasta and Popcorn as a late-night snack. You will need and crave all the carbs to help keep your nausea away.
Belly Laughs is a light, funny read written by Jenny McCartney on her very REAL take on pregnancy. You can finish it in three sittings and be able to relate to a lot.
When you first found out that you are pregnant you could continue with your workouts as long as they were not high intensity, but you started enjoying moving with some long walks each day. You think moving right away in the morning helped with some of your nausea.
Pregnant women can get organic pregnancy pillows to help with their sleep schedule.
How can you stay healthy during the first trimester?
- Take prenatal vitamins.
- Exercise regularly.
- Work out your pelvic floor by doing safe exercises.
- Eat a diet high in fruits, vegetables, low-fat forms of protein, and fiber.
- Drink lots of water.
- Eat enough calories.
SECOND TRIMESTER OF PREGNANCY:
The actual joy of pregnancy is in the second trimester which a pregnant lady can sense and remember. But also as you enter your second trimester of pregnancy, the morning sickness and fatigue you may have felt during the last 3 months should fade. The second trimester is, for many women, the easiest 3 months of pregnancy. Take the time now, while you are feeling better and your energy is up, to start planning for your baby’s arrival.
Your baby is growing quickly between your 18th and 22nd week of pregnancy then you will have an ultrasound so your doctor can see how your baby is progressing during this trimester.
Although you should be feeling better now, big changes are still taking place inside your body. Here is what you can expect. In that ultrasound, you may know the sex of your baby unless you would rather be surprised. And if you are having twins, you might find that out during this trimester.
You will go through with:
- In your second trimester, you may notice some cramps or aches in your lower belly.
- The extra weight you’ve gained in the last few months is starting to put pressure on your back, making it achy and sore.
- Hormone changes are sending more blood to your gums, making them more sensitive and causing them to bleed more easily.
- It’s normal to see a thin, milky white vaginal discharge (called leucorrhea) early in your pregnancy.
- Frequent urination.
- The hair on your head will become thicker. You may also be seeing hair in places you never had it before, including your face, arms, and back.
FAVOURITES OF THE SECOND TRIMESTER
- In this trimester of pregnancy stretch marks are inevitable, but the more you take care of them the less they will show later. Women are very obsessed with such products. Some of us use the oils which go all over the clothes and sheets and some use a true balm, which is so easy to rub in and smells amazing! This balm came out with new shades & scents.
- Ice rolling on the swelled area is better for a pregnant woman in the second trimester. The ice roller not only feels amazing but helps to depuff your face and gets things going.
- Wearing special pregnancy dresses is one of my favorite works to do all the time. It makes a woman happy.
Most women who didn’t feel good in the first trimester of pregnancy usually start to feel better in the second trimester of pregnancy. Nausea and vomiting from morning sickness should lessen over time. You may have more energy and fewer mood swings as your hormones balance out.
Eating a healthy diet can help provide you and your growing baby with all of the nutrients you need during the second trimester.
Your healthy diet can help provide you and your growing baby with all of the nutrients you need. During your second trimester of pregnancy, you may notice that your appetite has increased. Resist the urge to “eat for two,” and prioritize getting plenty of healthy fruits, vegetables, and other important food groups. Experts agree that while your caloric need does go up in the second trimester, it only increases by around 340 calories.
Some healthy and satisfying snack choices during the second trimester include:
- Smoothies with yogurt, fruit, and leafy greens.
- Raw nuts including almonds, pecans, walnuts, and cashews.
- Vegetables dipped in hummus.
- Fresh fruit.
Like during the first trimester of your pregnancy, your body and your baby need these important vitamins. Prenatal vitamins include all of the calcium, iron, zinc, and folate that you need. Folate is important because it helps to prevent some common and serious birth defects.
HABITS THAT MAKE YOU HAPPY:
Women love to spend time with them as in working out in the gym and if you had a regular exercise habit before your pregnancy and through the first trimester, it’s important to keep your level of activity up. The benefits of exercising through your second trimester of pregnancy are;
Exercise decreased stress levels, balanced mood, reduced fatigue, reduced excess weight gain and gestational diabetes, improved sleep and minimized insomnia, and reduced back pain.
Pregnant women have some safe and healthy options to do as well during the second trimester like; Walking, jogging or running, Yoga, Swim, and Lifting light weights.
It is still important to get as much high-quality sleep at night as you can and avoid the use of alcohol throughout the time.
THIRD TRIMESTER OF PREGNANCY:
This amazing and final trimester is the last phase of your pregnancy. It continues from weeks 29 to 40, or months 7, 8, and 9. During this trimester, your baby grows, develops, and starts to change position to get ready for birth. Now that you have reached the third trimester, you are in the home stretch of your pregnancy. This time is a little sensitive and needs care at every step. You have only got a few more weeks to go, but this part of your pregnancy can be the most challenging. The baby begins to turn its head down to get ready for delivery. At week 36, the baby’s head should begin to move into your pelvic area, also called lightning. The baby will move more and more making him comfortable in the small space in which he cannot fit anymore. It will stay in this down-facing position for the last 2 weeks of your pregnancy. Your baby develops in other important ways in the third trimester. During this phase, it’s able to open its eyes and see, hear, suck on its thumb, cry and smile.
MAKE YOUR THIRD TRIMESTER COMFY:
Nowadays it is very easy to fulfill your requirements according to your taste; you can start to make your third trimester easier by getting prepared with essential items for this time. You have to spend some quality time with yourself and set boundaries with your time and energy. Prioritize gentle daily movements like yoga, walking, and stretching. Take some time to breathe throughout the day and inhale and exhale. Book yourself a massage session and take your supplements and stay hydrated.
The essentials you love to use during the trimester are a U-shaped pregnancy pillow, Refreshing wipes, Protein-rich snacks, Maternity clothes, a Yoga ball, a Heating pad, Comfortable pajamas, a Thermal water bottle, Nursing bras, Calming tea, Comfortable underwear and many more.
If you are willing to know the gender of your little one before through ultrasound, then go ahead. Women love to celebrate the gender reveal party with their family and friends. This is one of the favorite days for the ‘mom-to-be’.
It is likely, however, that labor will start a couple of weeks earlier or later — in fact, about 30 percent of all babies linger past the 40-week mark. If that is the case, you can try a few tricks to naturally induce labor on your own, but once you reach around week 41 or week 42 of pregnancy, you will likely be considered overdue. At that point, your doctor may decide to induce labor if it doesn’t begin on its own.
Your healthcare provider will also check your baby’s size and heart rate. Near the end of your pregnancy, your healthcare provider will also check your baby’s position and ask about your baby’s movements. He or she might also ask about your preferences regarding labor and pain management as you get ready for delivery.