So you want to have a baby? Congratulations! Parenthood is a very rewarding experience, though it does come with its own set of challenges. Before you get pregnant, it’s important for you to plan, sit down and think about what pregnancy and parenthood will mean in your life. Raising a child from infancy to age 18 is an expensive responsibility – the financial responsibility can be upwards of $200,000 for a middle-class family. Are you willing to make sacrifices to keep your child safe, happy, and healthy? Are you and your husband or partner ready for this life-changing responsibility?
First, you will need a pre-pregnancy checkup with your doctor. At this visit, your doctor will evaluate your medical history and help identify any issues that might complicate your pregnancy. For example, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, lung problems (such as asthma), and chronic anemia are all problems that might make your pregnancy high-risk. Your doctor may perform a pre-pregnancy physical exam to make sure that you are in good shape to have a baby.
If you’re planning your pregnancy, it’s very important to start eating healthy and exercising regularly. Get rid of any unhealthy lifestyle habits or activities, such as smoking, drug use, or alcohol.
Good luck with planning your pregnancy! (When you do become pregnant, don’t forget to check out our Due Date Calculator to get your baby’s estimated date of arrival!)
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Pregnancy Symptoms in First Trimester
Way to go, mom-to-be! You’ve got a little bun in the oven! Though you must be thrilled—especially if you have been planning for your new arrival—pregnancy is not always pleasant . . . especially in the first trimester. You’re not showing yet, but you definitely feel pregnant. Some of the early symptoms of pregnancy can make daily life unbearable, especially if you are constantly tired or experiencing morning sickness.
In the first trimester, your lack of energy, or pregnancy fatigue, can make every day tasks difficult. Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy can also add to your fatigue. You may be throwing up all the time – even into the evening hours. We know the term “morning sickness” can be misleading, but it’ll be over soon. Your second trimester will give you relief from your nausea and pregnancy vomiting.
Your pregnancy hormones can really wreck havoc on your body in the first 13 weeks of your pregnancy. Don’t be surprised if you notice yourself having to go to the bathroom more often. Urinary frequency in pregnancy is a very common early symptom. Pregnancy migraines and headaches can also cause some problems. Because your choice of medications is limited now that you’re expecting, you may need to find natural ways for relief, such as resting in a dark, quiet place and massaging your temples.
Along with pregnancy hormones comes a whirlwind of emotions. Don’t be surprised if you are happy one second and having crying spells the next. Though this is a very normal pregnancy change, emotional changes in pregnancy can make your partner or husband a little unpleasant to be around. (Just give him fair warning that your hormones are to blame!)
Other symptoms you may experience include pregnancy breast changes – swollen and tender breasts – pregnancy abdominal pain due to your round ligaments stretching to accommodate your growing uterus, and skin, hair, and nail changes in pregnancy. As uncomfortable as these symptoms are, they won’t last long. In less than 40 weeks, you will be holding your darling baby in your arms!
Every parent wants to have a healthy and happy baby . . . and though you can’t control every aspect of your pregnancy, living a healthy lifestyle can increase your chances of a positive outcome. Keep in mind that the first trimester is a very critical time in fetal development – all your baby’s vital organs are developing, and any bad habits that you continue to practice will affect your little one more severely in these first 13 weeks than later in the trimester.
Living an active and healthy lifestyle is the best thing you can do for your baby. This means avoiding bad habits, such as smoking during pregnancy, drinking alcohol, and illicit drug use.
Exercising in pregnancy is also another wonderful way for you to stay healthy and improve your baby’s chance at being healthy and full-term. The benefits of exercise include reducing your stress level, boosting your energy level, and reducing your fatigue. In addition, exercising during pregnancy will help you sleep better, strengthen your back muscles to relieve those annoying pregnancy backaches, and it will make you feel better about your body and help you maintain a healthy pregnancy weight gain.
Your lifestyle choices can also impact your weight gain during pregnancy. Gaining too much or too little weight in pregnancy can have negative consequences for your little one. That's why it's important that you watch what you eat and make sure that you have a balanced and healthy pregnancy diet.
Did you know that there are certain foods to avoid during pregnancy? These foods include raw or uncooked meats, imported soft cheeses, certain types of fish, and undercooked eggs. Though you may be experiencing some pregnancy food cravings, remember to not overindulge in one area and neglect the rest of your diet.
In the first trimester, it’s also important that you take your prenatal vitamins. Certain nutrients and vitamins, such as folic acid during pregnancy and vitamin D during pregnancy, can improve your chances of having a healthy pregnancy.
You might not be showing yet, as it is still early in your pregnancy, but your body is going through some amazing changes!
If you haven’t already noticed, your breasts are undergoing some great changes! Your husband or partner may be thrilled by this change but you might not feel the same way. Breast sensitivity and tenderness can make them very uncomfortable.
As you grow larger, don’t be alarmed if you start to feel faint or dizzy at times. Lower backaches are also a normal change to expect. Emotionally, you may feel a bit unstable. But as soon as you start feeling your baby move inside you, it will be worth it!
If you experience some light spotting, don’t automatically assume the worst. This can be implantation bleeding, which is a sign that your new life is now attached to your uterine wall.
Your little one's heart, brain, lungs, and other major organs are all in the early stages of development, and pretty soon, your baby will look like a miniature human being.
Although planning for pregnancy and living a healthy lifestyle can all help you have a positive outcome (a healthy baby), sometimes complications can occur to even the most prepared parents.
In the first trimester, miscarriage is the most common pregnancy complication. A majority of miscarriages occur within the first 13 weeks of pregnancy, and they can be caused by a number of reasons—the common being genetic or chromosomal issues that occur by chance.
One of the warning signs that a miscarriage may occur includes early pregnancy bleeding. Keep in mind, however, that vaginal bleeding can have other causes too. These include implantation bleeding vaginal infections, genital warts, swollen labia, cervical polyps, and uterine fibroids.
In addition to miscarriage, many expectant parents are worried about birth defects and genetic disorders. While these are valid concerns, living a healthy lifestyle and eating a good diet can decrease your risk for genetic disorders.
Don’t delay in scheduling your first prenatal visit. Prenatal care is very important to the health of both you and your baby. Meeting your obstetrician or healthcare provider on a regular basis throughout your pregnancy will help you track your health and your baby’s development. If anything goes wrong in your pregnancy, regular prenatal visits can help identify complications and problems quickly.
In the first trimester, you should be having prenatal visits every four weeks. At these visits, be sure you have open communication with your doctor about your questions and concerns. These doctor’s visits also give you an opportunity to gather important information about the pregnancy and childbirth process. Prenatal visits also give expecting parents an outlet for counseling and support.
The most exciting part of your prenatal visits is learning your due date! You will also get to see your baby and hear his or her heartbeat for the first time at your doctor’s office.
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So you want to have a baby? Congratulations! Parenthood is a very rewarding experience, though it does come with its own set of challenges. Before you get pregnant, it’s important for you to plan, sit down and think about what pregnancy and parenthood will mean in your life. Raising a child from infancy to age 18 is an expensive responsibility – the financial responsibility can be upwards of $200,000 for a middle-class family. Are you willing to make sacrifices to keep your child safe, happy, and healthy? Are you and your husband or partner ready for this life-changing responsibility?
