7 Things You Need to Know About the First Trimester

Congratulations on your new pregnancy! As you embark on the journey of pre-motherhood for the next 9 months, you will notice a multitude of changes taking place in your daily life.

Here are 7 things you need to know about the first trimester to help you have smooth beginnings during your first 12 weeks.

1.You Will Not "Look Pregnant" Yet

In your first trimester it's very likely that you will not "look pregnant" yet. What does this even mean?

Well, since your baby/fetus is just starting to grow you will not have a prominent baby bump yet which is usually the most telltale sign of pregnancy. You will, however, start to notice your breasts growing and your body changing slowly.

Most women don’t reveal their pregnancy to their friends and family until they reach the 12-week mark, so if you decide to keep it a secret, by the time everyone knows, you will be closer to having a noticeable baby bump.

2. Nap Time Please!

To say you will feel tired during your first trimester is an understatement. Your body is going through a tremendous transition form sustaining yourself to creating a brand new person from scratch.

So you can expect feeling:

• Tired
• Sleepy and
• Low in energy

Give in to the urge to take a nap every now and then and allow yourself to recharge your batteries when your body calls for rest. If this means adjusting your bedtime to an earlier time, then go for it. Before you know it, your second trimester will be here and you will start to feel more energetic then.

3. Morning Sickness Is Not Just in the Morning

This one's a doozy! Pregnant women often wonder why it's called morning sickness instead of All-day sickness. Although nausea for pregnant women is most common in the morning time, be ready to accept that it can happen at anytime, anywhere.

Take some precautions and always have a couple of sickness bags in your purse, car, and desk.

You can also try eating some goodies that are known to help nausea subside such as:

• Watermelon
• Tums
• Nausea Lollipops

4. Hello Heartburn

Ugh, heartburn is gross and chances are it will find its way into your daily life during your first trimester. In fact, heartburn is one of the most common tell-tale signs of pregnancy.

It makes it difficult to:

• Brush your teeth
• Eat
• Sleep
• Even just relax

Not all women get heartburn, but if you happen to be one of the unlucky ones, you can help the throat acid subside by keeping a bottle of Tums smoothies handy. These magic little chewables take care of heartburn quickly, safely and are loaded with calcium supplements to keep you strong. It's a win-win.

5. Some Foods Are a Big No-No

Unfortunately, you will learn that there are some foods that are a BIG no-no in your first trimester because they can be harmful to a fetus in its most crucial development stage.

• Refrain from consuming products made with unpasteurized milk such as soft cheeses & certain juices.
• If eating raw vegetables and fruit always make sure that they are washed properly.
• By all means, avoid eating rare temperature meats, Sushi & raw eggs.
• Keep your fish consumption to a minimum since most fish today are known to contain mercury which when consumed in large amounts, can be harmful to your fetus.
• Don't worry, the list of the foods you CAN eat is much bigger than this one and as your pregnancy progresses and your fetus grows stronger, you can have all the foods you love in small portions. Having a healthy diet is a sure way to give your baby the best chance at a healthy growth. (Always consult with your Doctor to be sure).

6. Some Scents Will Gross You Out

When you are pregnant and especially in the first trimester, there are some scents that will gross you out pretty badly. It seems like the spike in hormones cause women to have negative reactions to certain smells and although there isn’t a real solution to this issue, you can try to avoid those smells once you identify them.

• You can also keep a scarf handy that is soaked in a subtle perfume that you really love or even a little jar of coffee beans which can be a natural scent cleanser.

7. You Will Learn Where All the Bathrooms Are

Lets close with the most common effect of the first trimester of pregnancy, having to pee ALL THE TIME. Your bladder is slowly being pushed aside as your uterus expands to make room for baby. This gentle squeeze increases the sensitivity to liquid in your bladder thus giving you the urge to urinate more often.

Before you know it, you will become a professional Google map of clean public restrooms. To avoid any unnecessary accidents it's recommended that you wear panty liners for those times when the trickle is faster than your leap to the restroom.

Bellefit Products