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What
to Expect in Each Trimester - Dr. Sahetya
First Trimester
Nausea, Queasiness and Vomitting:
This can occur off and on at any
time of the day or night (not just in the morning),generally upto 14-16
weeks. This is due to changing hormones and hypoglycemia.
Swollen and Tender Breasts:
These are signs that indicate that
hormone changes are taking place and preparing the woman for motherhood.
Increased Fatigue:
This is a result of the trememdous
amount of energy used by the body for the formation of baby in the womb
Frequent Urination:
This occurs because the weight of
the growing uterus presses on the partially full bladder.
Aversion and cravings:
You are likely to have aversions
to oily foods and cravings for citrus, salty and starchy foods because
these help in quelling sickness.
Increased Vaginal Discharge:
There is generally no associated
complaint with this discharge. Sometimes discharge could be significant
enough to warrant a panty liner.
Darkening of Skin:
The skin around the nipples gets
darker, and a thin dark line appears on the abdomen, from the pelvis upto
and beyond the umbilicus.
Loss of Weight:
You may even lose weight in the
first trimester because of morning sickness.
Second Trimester Complaints
Overall Healthy Feeling:
Discomforts of sickness disappear
in the second trimester and you will feel a burst of energy.
Thickening Waistline:
As you start gaining body weight,
your abdomen will become round and firm.
Increase in Heartburns:
As the uterus grows, it displaces
and presses the stomach containing increased acid secretions, and thereby
causes heartburns.
Constipation (or even Haemorrhoids):
As the uterus presses on the intestines,
it slows the movements of foods and causes constipation. Constipation
also is aggravated by the intake of iron and iron supplements.
Stretch Marks:
Stretch marks may begin to appear
on your breasts, hips and abdomen as a result of skin expansion over these
areas.
Itching:
Itching is a result of healing cracked
skin (caused from stretching). Excessive itching results in marks.
Fetal Movements:
Movements (quickening) of baby can
be felt like tiny thumps or bubbles. These movements are first felt
at 20 weeks.
Pregnancy Bulge:
Your stomach will start showing
between 26 and 28 weeks. This is the time to start wearing loose
maternity clothing.
Third Trimester Complaints
Backaches:
The enlarged uterus in the front
causes a strain on the muscles and ligaments supporting the back.
This results in backaches.
Leg Cramps:
Also called night cramps of pregnancy,
these cramps are a result of venous congestion.
Frequent Urination:
Urination is frequent because of
the growing uterus and the pressing of presenting part (head or breech)
of the baby on the urinary tract.
Shortness of Breath:
This is due to an overload on circulation.
There is also less space for lung expansion because of the uterus pressing
on the diaphragm.
Fetal Movements:
Baby movements, felt as kicks, become
more prominent due to increased weight and larger size of the baby.
Difficulty in Sleeping:
The causes of sleeping difficulties
are baby movements, frequent urination, and discomfort from weight gain.
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