Knowing about the different stages of pregnancy will help you prepare for what lies ahead during this very important time in your life. There are basically three stages of pregnancy, and various bodily changes can be experienced during each one.
As your body changes, so does the baby develop. Each stage features a new milestone in the baby’s growth, and you should be aware of when these things happen so that your nine-months of pregnancy could be a memorable and fruitful experience.
During the first trimester, you will experience the greatest effects of the hormonal changes in your body while your baby goes through the most critical stages of his development.
At this time, you start to experience morning sickness – a phenomenon caused by nausea and vomiting, usually occuring after you wake up in the morning. Some mothers never experience a single bout of morning sickness, while some curse this stage of pregnancy to high heavens.
It is also during this stage of pregnancy that your breasts start to swell and are tender to touch. You also will want to sleep many times during the day, despite getting a full night’s sleep.
During this first stage of pregnancy, you will strangely look for certain kinds of food – some oddly not even close to what you preferred to eat while you were pregnant. Other preferences could even include foods that are impossible to obtain or are out of season!
Although your baby grows during all stages of pregnancy, the first trimester is critical because this is when its major organs and body parts are formed. It is also when the neural tube and the brain develops, and thus if the mother is exposed to various infections at this time, there is a great possibility of the child having congenital anomalies.
The second trimester arrives like a blessing because this is when your morning sickness would have dissipated. It is at this stage of pregnancy when you could start enjoying your life because you have by now grown accustomed to carrying the extra weight.
You can also resume your regular exercises as soon as your doctor gives you the blessing. And since you have already “come to terms” with your condition by this time, it is also that stage of pregnancy when you can enjoy shopping for flattering maternity wear.
You could continue experiencing headaches or backaches, but these are of course natural. Maintain a healthy diet packed with fruits and vegetables, and religiously take the supplements which your doctor has prescribed.
When you finally reach the last stage of pregnancy – the third trimester – you will be able to enjoy your condition more despite all the discomforts. You can feel the baby’s kicks and can even ask to know what your baby’s gender is. This is an exciting time as you also begin purchasing stuff that you will need for the new arrival.
During the last of the 3 stages of pregnancy, you may again have feelings of anxiety, knowing that the day of reckoning is imminent. Relax and don’t let tense feelings overcome you. Enjoin a partner to accompany you to childbirth or Lamaze classes.
Read about the first signs of labor so you won’t get caught flat-footed. Remember, even if you’re given a due date, women tend to go into a labor up to a couple of weeks before or after that date.
Keep a journal of your wonderful experiences as you go through these three stages of pregnancy [pregnancyhelpblog.com/category/pregnancy-and-birth] You will definitely be riding a rollercoaster of emotions and physical changes, but when you write about it, your mind will be focused away from the negative vibes and you can even share your thoughs with others who are similarly pregnant like you.
Stages Of Pregnancy – What To Watch Out For
