First Trimester

 

Checklist: 

- Schedule your first prenatal visit with your practitioner when you're about nine weeks' along. Plan on seeing your practitioner every four weeks.

- Avoid alcohol, drugs and cigarettes.

- If your immunizations are not up to date,
let your practitioner know.

- Drink lots of fluids, especially water (8 to 10 glasses a day).

- Stick to a diet naturally high in folic acid (oranges, melons and dark green vegetables).

- Eat plenty of iron-rich foods (whole grains, beans, raisins and nuts).

-Keep your blood sugar level elevated by eating lots of high-protein and high-carbohydrate foods such as breads, brown rice, potatoes and cheese.

- As a general rule, avoid medication and consult with your doctor before taking any.

- Get plenty of sleep, and try to nap if you feel tired during the day.

- Exercise, but moderately. Don't start a new exercise regimen when you're pregnant, and be careful not to become overheated for prolonged periods.

- If you're a coffee drinker, cut back, switch to decaf or try herbal or decaffeinated tea.

- If your family has a history of genetic disorders, consider prenatal testing.

- Choose a place to give birth (hospital? birthing center? home?).

- Consider starting a pregnancy diary and having someone take a picture of you (and your expanding belly) each month.

- Refrain from getting perms, dyes and other hair treatments involving heavy chemicals.

 

 First Month: 

Your Baby

For the first 8 weeks, your developing baby is called an "embryo."
Tiny limb buds, which will grow into arms and legs, appear.
Embryo looks like a tadpole.
Heart and lungs beginning to form. By the 25th day, heart starts to beat.
Neural tube, which becomes the brain and spinal cord, begins to form.
At end of first month, embryo is about 1/2 inch long and weighs less than 1 ounce.

Your Body

You become pregnant and miss your period.
Your body is making hormones needed to "grow" a baby. Your breasts are slightly bigger and sore.
If you have morning sickness, try eating crackers.
You may have cravings, or hate foods you usually like.
You will urinate more often because your growing uterus is pressing on your bladder.

Prenatal Care Guide

Before you get pregnant, supplement your diet with B vitamin folic acid (found in most multivitamins) to reduce the risk of birth defects of the brain and spine.
Visit your health care provider for your first prenatal care checkup as soon as you think you are pregnant.
During the first 8 weeks of pregnancy, all of your baby's organs are forming and can be damaged if you smoke, drink alcohol or take drugs.
Ask your health care provider before taking any prescription drugs or over-the-counter products.
Stop smoking and drinking alcohol. Stop doing street drugs.

Second Month: 

Your Baby

All major body organs and systems are formed but not completely developed.
Early stages of placenta, which exchanges nutrients from your body for waste products produced by the baby, are visible and working.
Ears, ankles and wrists are formed. Eyelids form and grow but are sealed shut.
Fingers and toes are developed.
By end of second month, fetus looks more like a person than a tadpole, is about 1 inch long and still weighs less than 1 ounce.

Your Body

Your breasts are still sore; your nipples and the area around them begin to darken.
Morning sickness may continue.
You may feel tired and need to rest more as your body adjusts to being pregnant.
The total amount of blood in your body increases.

Prenatal Care Guide

Visit your health care provider for one prenatal care checkup.
Eat a variety of healthy foods from the five major food groups: cereals and grains; fruits; vegetables; dairy products; and meats and beans.
Continue to supplement your diet with folic acid during your second and third months of pregnancy to reduce the risk of certain birth defects.
Drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water, juice and/or milk every day.
Don't cut down on salt unless your doctor says so.

Third Month:

Your Baby

After 8 weeks as embryo, baby now is called a "fetus."
Fingers and toes have soft nails.
Mouth has 20 buds that will become "baby teeth."
You can hear your baby's heartbeat for the first time (10 to 12 weeks) using a special instrument called a "doptone."
For the rest of pregnancy, all body organs will mature and fetus will gain weight.
By the end of this month, the fetus is 4 inches long and weighs a little over 1 ounce.

Your Body

You may still feel tired and have morning sickness.
You may have headaches.
You may get lightheaded or dizzy.
Your clothes may begin to feel tight around your waist and breasts. Try pullover tops and skirts/pants with elastic waists.

Prenatal Care Guide

Visit your doctor or health care provider for one prenatal care checkup.
You have a slightly increased need for almost all vitamins and minerals to nourish Your Baby. A healthy diet meets most of these needs.
You may have gained 3 or 4 pounds by now. A woman who starts pregnancy at a normal weight should gain 25 to 35 pounds. Ask your health care provider how much weight you should gain.
Exercise can be fun and good for both of you. Walking is a good choice.
If your health care provider recommends prenatal testing using chorionic villus sampling (CVS), it will be done now.

By the end of the 3rd month, the fetus is 4 inches long and weighs a little over 1 ounce.


Back