1st Trimester – Pregnancy Discomforts
The news of a pregnancy can be full of many emotions ranging from surprise, to dismay, to absolute elation. Once all the emotions have settled down though, the physical symptoms of pregnancy start to kick in. The first trimester of pregnancy has many discomforts, but there are simple ways to cope with them.
The first symptom to arise will likely be morning sickness. This will vary from a higher than normal gag reflex, to a slight nausea to outright vomiting.
It may occur in the morning, afternoon, or evening or all three! Making sure to keep some kind of food in the stomach at all times can really help, although nothing may sound good at this point.
If it becomes too much, contact your healthcare provider for help, including prescription medications to help alleviate the vomiting.
Next, you may notice feeling more tired than usual. This is normal because the body is working so hard to support the growing baby inside of you. There is also a distinct change in hormone levels that causes you to feel more sleepy.
Try either going to sleep a little earlier or waking up a little later. If neither of these is possible, try taking a short nap during the day.
You may suddenly notice an increase in your trips to the bathroom as well. Not only is your uterus swelling and putting pressure on your bladder, but your body is also becoming more efficient in removing waste.
Make sure to go to the bathroom as soon as you feel the urge. This will avoid urine leakage as well as possible urinary tract infections.
Along with your morning sickness, you may notice an increase in heartburn or acid reflux. This is most common due the relaxation of the muscles, including the muscle at the entrance to the stomach.
This allows the contents of the stomach to back up into the esophogus and causes the feeling of heartburn. Avoid spicy foods or foods that have a high acid content.
If it continues to be a problem, contact your healthcare provider to find out what medications they recommend to reduce the acid in your stomach.
Lastly, a common discomfort in the first trimester is a change in your mood. Although you may have once been an energetic and optimistic person, you may find yourself a bit on the moody side.
Once again, this is caused by the change in hormones and you may find yourself feeling like you have PMS. Don’t be alarmed if you cry over small things or find yourself losing your temper more often than usual.
Although in the first trimester pregnancy can be full of new feelings and sensations, the good news is they are often short lived. Most common discomforts can be remedied or eased and will often disappear completely by the time the second trimester comes around.
