What to Expect

In the First Month of Pregnancy

A woman may experience all of these symptoms or only one or two. Knowing that these physical and emotional symptoms are fairly common can help put you at ease during the first month of pregnancy.

• Fatigue
• Depression
• Morning sickness
• Breast changes
• Excessive saliva
• Frequent urination
• Fear of baby’s health
• Stress

Morning Sickness

During pregnancy, there are some common ailments many women experience. 

• Nausea or “morning sickness” is common; 50-90% of women may have nausea during a normal, healthy pregnancy.
• There is not one remedy that will work for everyone.
• Nausea is worse when a person is tired, so get plenty of rest. Eat lightly and try bland foods around the clock, drink enough fluids especially when queasy. 
• Try eating solids then waiting a while before drinking anything. Eating and drinking at the same time may make nausea worse.
• If you have persistent vomiting, talk to your doctor about medications that may help.

At Your First Prenatal Visit

What should a women expect at her first prenatal appointment?

This brief summary will help prepare expecting women as well as those who are planning to have a baby. Knowing what will happen helps women relax and get the most out of their prenatal care. Your health care provider will usually discuss the following topics and perform the following tests.

Check or download chart on Fetal Development Source: University of South Carolina

Average Fetal Length and Weight Chart Source: www.babycenter.com

In the Second Trimester of Pregnancy

In the Third Trimester of Pregnancy

Nutrition plays an important role throughout your pregnancy, but there are three particular areas of concern in the third trimester.

Calcium

During the last three months or pregnancy, your baby begins forming its first set of teeth under the gum line and begin to store calcium in their bones. Pregnant women need three to four servings of dairy products each day. If you cannot tolerate dairy products, a calcium supplement containing about 1500 – 1800 mg can be used daily. If you take a lot of Tums for heartburn, you may be getting that amount anyway.

Iron, Protein and Vitamins

The extra red blood cells that you produce will help to ensure good blood flow through the placenta, and act as a buffer to protect you against blood loss during delivery and afterwards. The extra blood cells your baby produces will serve as his or her iron storage for the first three months of life, when typical iron consumption is relatively low. In order for you to build red blood cells you need three types of nutrients: iron, protein and B vitamins. The best source of all of these nutrients is red lean meat, like steak, but also whole grain cereals and breads. If you are anemic and your doctor has put you on additional iron supplements, take it with orange juice. Avoid taking iron at the same time as calcium.

Omega 3, 6 and 9 Fatty Acids

Probably the most important thing happening with your baby right now is rapid brain growth. The brain is composed mainly of fat, but not just any type of fat. You need essential fatty acids: Omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids are all healthy fats. The Omega 3 fatty acid called DHA, (Docosahexanoic Acid), is a major component of human brain tissue and the retina (inside the back of the eye). You need four servings per week of foods that are rich in DHA. Those foods include fatty fish like salmon, trout, mackerel, sardines, and tuna. However, tuna should be limited to one serving per week because of the potential exposure to mercury. Also, organ meats, like liver or tongue, are a rich source of DHA. If you don’t like either of those choices, eggs, (including the yolk) and poultry (the dark meat) are pretty good sources as well. Vegetarian sources of Omega 3 fatty acids are flax seeds and flax seed oil.