How do hormones affect emotions during pregnancy. What emotional changes are common in each trimester. When should you be concerned about mental health during pregnancy.

Understanding the Emotional Rollercoaster of Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a time of significant physical and emotional changes. The surge of hormones that accompanies pregnancy can have a profound impact on a woman’s mood, cognitive function, and overall well-being. It’s essential to recognize that these emotional fluctuations are normal and expected during this transformative period.

The Hormonal Influence on Emotions

Hormones play a crucial role in pregnancy, affecting both the body and mind. The primary hormones involved include:

• Estrogen
• Progesterone
• Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG)
• Oxytocin

These hormones can cause mood swings, fatigue, and changes in cognitive function. Understanding their impact can help expectant mothers better cope with the emotional challenges they may face.

First Trimester Emotional Changes: Navigating the Early Weeks

The first trimester of pregnancy is often characterized by a mix of excitement, anxiety, and physical discomfort. Common emotional experiences during this period include:

• Mood swings
• Anxiety about the pregnancy
• Feelings of ambivalence (especially in unplanned pregnancies)
• Irritability
• Heightened emotional sensitivity

Many women also experience extreme fatigue and morning sickness, which can further impact their emotional state. It’s important to remember that these feelings are normal and often temporary.

Coping with First Trimester Emotions

To manage the emotional challenges of the first trimester, consider the following strategies:

1. Get plenty of rest
2. Communicate openly with your partner and support system
3. Practice stress-reduction techniques like meditation or prenatal yoga
4. Maintain a healthy diet to support your physical and emotional well-being

Second Trimester: The “Honeymoon” Phase of Pregnancy

For many women, the second trimester brings a welcome reprieve from the intense physical and emotional symptoms of early pregnancy. This period is often referred to as the “honeymoon” phase of pregnancy, characterized by:

• Improved energy levels
• Reduced morning sickness
• Increased emotional stability
• Growing excitement about the pregnancy

However, some women may experience new emotional challenges during this time, such as:

• Body image concerns as pregnancy becomes more visible
• Anxiety about upcoming prenatal tests
• Forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating (often referred to as “pregnancy brain”)

Embracing the Second Trimester Experience

To make the most of this generally positive period, consider:

1. Celebrating your changing body through maternity photos or a new wardrobe
2. Connecting with your baby through activities like prenatal classes or reading to your bump
3. Planning for the future, such as setting up the nursery or choosing a name

Third Trimester: Emotional Preparation for Childbirth and Parenthood

As the due date approaches, many women experience a mix of excitement, anxiety, and impatience. Common emotional experiences during the third trimester include:

• Increased anxiety about childbirth
• Concerns about parenting abilities
• Nesting instincts and a desire to prepare for the baby’s arrival
• Mood swings and irritability, often exacerbated by physical discomfort
• Impatience and eagerness to meet the baby

It’s normal to feel a wide range of emotions during this final stage of pregnancy. Many women report feeling more emotional or easily moved to tears as their bodies prepare for the hormonal changes that accompany childbirth and breastfeeding.

Preparing Emotionally for Childbirth

To ease anxiety and feel more prepared for the upcoming birth, consider:

1. Attending childbirth education classes
2. Creating a birth plan to communicate your preferences
3. Practicing relaxation techniques that can be used during labor
4. Discussing your concerns with your healthcare provider

Recognizing and Addressing Mental Health Concerns During Pregnancy

While mood changes are common during pregnancy, it’s important to be aware of signs that may indicate a more serious mental health issue. Conditions such as prenatal depression and anxiety can have significant impacts on both maternal and fetal health if left untreated.

Signs of Prenatal Depression or Anxiety

Be alert for the following symptoms, which may indicate a need for professional help:

• Persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness
• Loss of interest in activities you previously enjoyed
• Difficulty sleeping or excessive sleeping
• Changes in appetite or weight unrelated to normal pregnancy changes
• Excessive worry or anxiety about the pregnancy or other aspects of life
• Thoughts of self-harm or suicide

If you experience these symptoms for more than two weeks or if they interfere with your daily life, it’s crucial to speak with your healthcare provider. Treatment options, including therapy and medication, are available and can be safe during pregnancy when prescribed by a qualified professional.

The Role of Support Systems in Managing Pregnancy Emotions

Having a strong support system can make a significant difference in how well a woman copes with the emotional challenges of pregnancy. Partners, family members, friends, and healthcare providers all play important roles in providing emotional support and practical assistance.

Building a Supportive Network

To create a robust support system during pregnancy:

1. Communicate openly with your partner about your feelings and needs
2. Reach out to friends and family members for help and understanding
3. Consider joining a prenatal support group to connect with other expectant mothers
4. Establish a trusting relationship with your healthcare provider
5. Explore online communities for additional support and information

Remember that accepting help and support is a sign of strength, not weakness. Don’t hesitate to lean on your support system when needed.

Self-Care Strategies for Emotional Well-being During Pregnancy

Practicing self-care is essential for managing emotions and maintaining overall well-being during pregnancy. Incorporating these strategies into your daily routine can help you feel more balanced and in control:

• Regular exercise (approved by your healthcare provider)
• Adequate sleep and rest
• Healthy, balanced nutrition
• Stress-reduction techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, or prenatal yoga
• Engaging in hobbies or activities you enjoy
• Journaling to process your thoughts and feelings
• Practicing gratitude

Remember that self-care looks different for everyone. Experiment with various techniques to find what works best for you and your changing needs throughout pregnancy.

Preparing for Postpartum Emotional Changes

While focus is often on the emotional changes during pregnancy, it’s equally important to prepare for the postpartum period. The weeks and months following childbirth can bring their own set of emotional challenges, including:

• Baby blues
• Postpartum depression
• Anxiety about caring for a newborn
• Relationship changes with your partner
• Identity shifts as you adjust to motherhood

Planning for Postpartum Support

To ease the transition into parenthood and protect your emotional well-being:

1. Discuss postpartum expectations with your partner and family
2. Arrange for practical help with household tasks and baby care
3. Learn about the signs of postpartum depression and anxiety
4. Consider joining a new parents’ support group
5. Plan for self-care activities and alone time
6. Maintain open communication with your healthcare provider about your emotional health

By preparing for the emotional changes that may occur after birth, you can better equip yourself to handle the challenges of new parenthood.

Embracing the Emotional Journey of Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a unique and transformative experience that brings a wide range of emotions. By understanding these changes, practicing self-care, and seeking support when needed, you can navigate this journey with greater confidence and resilience. Remember that every pregnancy is different, and there’s no “right” way to feel. Be kind to yourself as you adapt to the physical and emotional changes that come with creating new life.

As you progress through your pregnancy, stay attuned to your emotional needs and don’t hesitate to reach out for help if you’re struggling. With the right support and resources, you can embrace the emotional aspects of pregnancy as part of the beautiful and complex journey to motherhood.

Signs and symptoms of pregnancy

Early signs of pregnancy

If you have a regular monthly menstrual cycle, the earliest and most reliable sign of pregnancy is a missed period.

In the first few weeks of pregnancy you may have a bleed similar to a very light period, with some spotting or only losing a little blood. This is called implantation bleeding.

Every pregnancy is different and not everyone will notice all of these symptoms.

Feeling sick during pregnancy

You may feel sick or be sick. This is commonly known as morning sickness, but it can happen at any time of the day or night.

Morning sickness symptoms usually start when you’re around 4-6 weeks pregnant

If you’re being sick all the time and cannot keep anything down, see a GP.

You may have hyperemesis gravidarum, a serious condition in pregnancy that causes severe vomiting and needs treatment.

Feeling tired is common in pregnancy

It’s common to feel tired, or even exhausted, during pregnancy, especially during the first 12 weeks or so.

Hormonal changes in your body at this time can make you feel tired, sick, emotional and upset.

Sore breasts in early pregnancy

Your breasts may become larger and feel tender, just as they might do before your period. They may also tingle.

The veins may be more visible, and the nipples may darken and stand out.

Peeing more often suggests pregnancy

You may feel the need to pee more often than usual, including during the night.

Other signs of pregnancy you may notice are:

Strange tastes, smells and cravings

During early pregnancy, you may find you no longer like some foods or drinks you used to enjoy.

You might notice:

• a strange taste in your mouth, which some describe as metallic
• you crave new foods
• you lose interest in certain foods or drinks you used to enjoy, such as tea, coffee or fatty food
• you lose interest in smoking
• you have a more sensitive sense of smell than usual – for example, the smell of food or cooking

If you’re worried about any symptoms you’re having, talk to a GP or your midwife.

If your pregnancy test is negative

A positive test result is almost certainly correct, as long as you have followed the instructions correctly.

A negative result is less reliable. If you get a negative result and still think you may be pregnant, wait a week and try again.

If you’re pregnant, use the pregnancy due date calculator to work out when your baby’s due.

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Video: what pregnancy symptoms are normal?

In this video, a midwife describes which symptoms during pregnancy are normal.

Media last reviewed: 20 March 2020
Media review due: 20 March 2023

Page last reviewed: 8 October 2019

Next review due: 8 October 2022

Emotional Changes During Pregnancy | Michigan Medicine

Topic Overview

Pregnancy prompts your body to make lots of hormones. These hormones can affect your mind and your body. It’s common to feel tired, forgetful, or moody. And you also may be focused on other things, like body changes, symptoms, money worries, and all the ways your life is about to change.

It is common to go through many changes in a pregnancy. Here are some examples:

• First trimester. Extreme fatigue or morning sickness can affect your daily life. Many women feel moody (as with premenstrual syndrome). It’s common to feel happy or anxious about a new pregnancy. Or maybe you feel upset if your pregnancy wasn’t planned.
• Second trimester. Fatigue, morning sickness, and moodiness usually improve or go away. You may feel more forgetful and disorganized than before. You may feel lots of emotions about things like the way you look or feeling the baby move.
• Third trimester. You may still feel forgetful. As your due date nears, it is common to feel more anxious about the childbirth. You may worry about how a new baby will change your life. As you feel more tired and uncomfortable, you may be more irritable than before.

For some women, serious anxiety or depression problems improve during pregnancy. For others, they do not improve. Do you get no pleasure from daily life? Do you have a lot of trouble sleeping? Do you feel sad, tearful, or guilty? Or anxious, irritable, hopeless, or worthless? Have you had big changes in your appetite, or do you have trouble concentrating? If so, talk to your doctor or midwife. Without treatment, mental health problems can get in the way of a healthy pregnancy.

Credits

Current as of:
October 8, 2020

Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
Sarah Marshall MD – Family Medicine
Kathleen Romito MD – Family Medicine
Adam Husney MD – Family Medicine
Kirtly Jones MD – Obstetrics and Gynecology

Current as of: October 8, 2020

Author:
Healthwise Staff

Medical Review:Sarah Marshall MD – Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito MD – Family Medicine & Adam Husney MD – Family Medicine & Kirtly Jones MD – Obstetrics and Gynecology

18 signs you might be pregnant -Kidspot

Could you be pregnant? For some women, the earliest symptoms of pregnancy appear in the first few weeks after conception.

Medically reviewed by Dr Sam Hay (B Med Sci, MBBS (Hons), FRACGP, GDip Sport Med, Dip Child Health). Dr Sam Hay has been a practicing general practitioner in Australia since 2005, with a special interest in Paediatrics.

Even before you miss a period, you may suspect – or hope – that you’re pregnant.

For some women, early symptoms of pregnancy begin in the first few weeks after conception.

Pregnancy symptoms can also vary in their intensity, frequency and duration.

The following early signs and symptoms of pregnancy checklist are only a guideline.

Many early pregnancy symptoms can appear similar to routine pre-menstrual discomforts.

So what are the signs…?

Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this. 

Which of these did you experience? Source: supplied.

1. Tender, swollen breasts

Your breasts may provide one of the first symptoms of pregnancy. As early as two weeks after conception, hormonal changes may make your breasts tender, tingly or sore. Or your breasts may feel fuller and heavier.

Healthline.com says it is not uncommon to develop noticeable veins on your breasts, which is due to an increase in blood volume due to the growing needs of your baby.

Tips to combat tender breasts: wear a supportive wire-free bra, wear loose-fitting clothes, communicate to your partner or children and ask them to be careful in this area, try a cold compress or warm shower.

2. Flatulence

Progesterone is a funny thing, even in early pregnancy, it can cause big changes to your body. It causes your muscles to relax and this includes the muscles in your intestines, so your digestion can slow down. This can cause bloating, burping and passing wind.

According to several studies, as cited in Clinics in Colon and Rectal Surgery, “the incidence of constipation in pregnancy ranged from 10 to 40 percent,” which means if you’re suffering from this condition, you’re not alone.

3. Fatigue

Fatigue and tiredness also ranks high among early symptoms of pregnancy. During early pregnancy, levels of the hormone progesterone soar. In high enough doses, progesterone can put you to sleep. At the same time, lower blood sugar levels, lower blood pressure and increased blood production may team up to sap your energy during your pregnancy.

A study published in Sleep Medicine looked at the average hours of sleep during pregnancy, and discovered that women slept an average of 7.01 hours per night in the first two months of pregnancy. This increased slightly in months three and four, but went downhill after that, ending in 6.31 hours per night after eight months of pregnancy.

4. More prominent veins

As the uterus expands to make room for the growing fetus, pressure can be placed on the inferior vena cava which is the large blood vessel that runs down the right side of your body. This reduces blood flow to the legs causing varicose veins. But it doesn’t stop there! Some women experience these in their vulva (“vulval varicosities”) or even worse afflictions known as “hemorrhoids”. Early in pregnancy, some women liken their breasts to “road maps” due to the added prominence of these blue veins (see point 1).

5. Slight bleeding or cramping

Sometimes a small amount of spotting or vaginal bleeding is one of the first symptoms of pregnancy. Known as implantation bleeding, it can happen when the fertilised egg attaches to the lining of the uterus – about 10 to 14 days after fertilisation. This type of bleeding is usually a bit earlier and lighter in colour than a normal period and doesn’t last as long.

A 2010 study published in Annals of Epidemiology revealed that one in four pregnant women experienced bleeding. Only eight percent of those reported heavy bleeding, and most episodes lasted less than three days and occurred between five and eight weeks gestation.

Some women also experience abdominal cramping early in pregnancy. These cramps are similar to menstrual cramps. If you are ever concerned about bleeding or cramping, speak to your medical provider.

RELATED: The weirdest symptoms of early pregnancy

6. Nausea with or without vomiting

Morning sickness,  which can strike at any time of the day or night, is one of the classic symptoms of pregnancy. For some women, the queasiness begins as early as two weeks after conception. Nausea seems to stem at least in part from rapidly rising levels of oestrogen, which causes the stomach to empty more slowly.  We still don’t really know what causes morning sickness, but fluctuations in oestrogen levels, changes in blood pressure, and all the physical changes of pregnancy are likely major factors . Pregnant women also have a heightened sense of smell,  so various odors – such as foods cooking, perfume or cigarette smoke –  may cause waves of nausea in early pregnancy. There are some hints and tips to help combat the effects of morning sickness.

GP Dr Sam Hay says, “It’s worse when the stomach is completely empty. Having a pack of biscuits by the bed to make sure you are never completely hungry can help.

“Eating ginger or drinking ginger tea or ginger beer helps most expecting mums as well. In extreme cases chat to your GP or obstetrician about anti-nausea medications that are completely safe for you to take even during the earliest months of your pregnancy.”

Article continues after graphic.

7. Food aversions or cravings

When you’re pregnant, you might find yourself turning up your nose at certain foods, such as coffee or fried foods. Food cravings are common too. Like most other symptoms of pregnancy, these food preferences can be chalked up to hormonal changes – especially in the first trimester, when hormonal changes are the most dramatic.

Dr Sam Hay says: “There’s no proof that what you are craving is a sign of what your body needs for the baby. For example, drinking two litres of orange juice a day doesn’t mean you’re Vitamin C deficient.

“Be sensible with your eating during pregnancy. Sure, spoil yourself every now and again, but you aren’t eating for two. Eat the best foods you can eat for yourself, and baby will take all the nutrients it needs.”

RELATED: What to eat in your first trimester, according to a nutritionist

8. Headaches

Early in pregnancy, increased blood circulation caused by hormonal changes may trigger frequent, mild headaches.

Tips to combat headaches from HealthDirect:

• getting more sleep or rest and relaxation
• pregnancy yoga classes or other exercise
• practising good posture, particularly later in your pregnancy
• eating regular, well-balanced meals
• putting a warm facecloth on your eye and nose area, if it is a sinus headache
• putting a cold pack on the back of your neck, taking a bath or using a heat pack, if it is a tension headache
• neck and shoulders massage

9. Constipation

Constipation is another common early symptom of pregnancy. According to a report published in The Obstetrician and Gynaecologistjournal, “rising progesterone levels in pregnancy contribute to slow gut motility,” which means those pregnancy hormones are slowing down your digestion, which can lead to constipation.

Tips to combat constipation: increase fiber and water intake and if symptoms persist, see your doctor for advice before taking any sort of laxatives or stool softeners.

10. Mood swings

The flood of hormones in your body in early pregnancy can make you unusually emotional and weepy. Mood swings also are common, especially in the first trimester.

11. Faintness and dizziness

As your blood vessels dilate and your blood pressure drops, you may feel lightheaded or dizzy. Early in pregnancy, faintness also may be triggered by low blood sugar.

12. Metallic taste in the mouth

Many women find that in the first few weeks of pregnancy their taste buds are affected. Some people say it’s a metallic taste, others say it’s more sour. The taste is actually something called dysgeusia, and it is caused by pregnancy hormones, particularly oestrogen. It isn’t dangerous and usually disappears after the first trimester. 

Studies say this usually improves after the first trimester, but if you’re looking for ways to combat, you could try:

• eating sugar-free mints or gum
• chewing on ice chips
• eating foods high in citrus or vinegars to drown out the taste

13. Stuffy nose

A blocked sinus is often an early sign of pregnancy. An increase in oestrogen levels can make the sinus passages swell and produce more mucous. If you think you might be pregnant be sure to speak to a doctor before taking any decongestants.

RELATED: How to track your cycle

Did you track your temperature to conceive? Source: iStock.

14. Raised basal body temperature

Your basal body temperature is your oral temperature when you first wake up in the morning. This temperature increases slightly soon after ovulation and remains at that level until your next period. If you’ve been charting your basal body temperature to determine when you ovulate, its continued elevation for more than two weeks may mean that you’re pregnant.

15. Missed Period

Perhaps the most obvious early symptom of pregnancy is when you’ve missed your period. This possible sign of pregnancy is often what causes women to search for more details about the other pregnancy symptoms.

Some women might only experience a much lighter period compared to their usual. You might not experience any of the pregnancy signs listed below until around the time you notice you’ve missed your monthly cycle.

16. Vivid dreams and nightmares

Those pesky hormones have been blamed for an increase in vivid dreams and nightmares too. But there is also another explanation. A pregnant woman’s sleep is often broken during pregnancy,  whether it’s from those midnight bathroom runs, baby movement or cramps. And the more recent a dream is, the more likely it will be remembered.

A study published in Sleep Medicine reported that 43.5 percent of pregnant women experienced “vivid dreams” during pregnancy.

RELATED: Safe sleep guidelines during pregnancy

17. Bleeding gums or a bleeding nose

Hormonal changes during pregnancy can make your gums more vulnerable to plaque, leading to inflammation and bleeding, known as pregnancy gingivitis or gum disease.

Due to an increase in hormones, gums are more likely to become inflamed and bleed when brushed or flossed. The blood vessels in the nose can also expand during pregnancy, increasing the risk of nose bleeds.

18. Just “feeling” pregnant

This early pregnancy symptom may be the reason why you are checking this list right now. Many women believe they have an intuition about pregnancy signs. Their intuition is often proven correct.

Maybe you just feel different; tired, moody, queasy, lightheaded. You may also have heartburn, constipation, or find yourself making more frequent trips to the toilet. Perhaps you feel a dull ache or stiffness in your lower back, you have sore breasts or they seem overly sensitive, or you are simply not feeling like your usual self.

Did you feel tired or light-headed? Source: iStock.

How can you really tell if you are pregnant?

Unfortunately, these symptoms aren’t unique to pregnancy. Some can indicate that you’re getting sick or that your period is about to start. Likewise, you can be pregnant without experiencing any of these symptoms.

Still, if you miss a period or notice any of the tip-offs on this list, you might want to take a home pregnancy test – especially if you’re not keeping track of your menstrual cycle or if it varies widely from one month to the next. If your home pregnancy test is positive, make an appointment with your health care provider. The sooner your pregnancy is confirmed, the sooner you can begin prenatal care.

If you are worried about possible early symptoms of pregnancy, you can put your mind at ease with a pregnancy test. More than just a pregnancy symptom, this is scientific proof positive of whether you are expecting a baby or not.

Pregnancy tests work best if you wait to take them until at least a day or two after you miss your period. Even if the pregnancy test result is negative you should try it again a few days later to be sure.

To help you on your journey to conceiving, you can take prenatal vitamins and supplements that will keep you in good health and ease some of the less-than-pleasant side effects of pregnancy. 

Medically reviewed by Dr Sam Hay.

Depression During Pregnancy: Risks, Signs & Treatment

What is depression?

Depression is a condition that affects your emotional state. It can cause you to have feelings of sadness and disconnection. A depressed mood is a normal reaction to loss, change, life’s struggles or self-esteem issues. However, depression can sometimes become intense, last for long periods of time and prevent you from leading a normal life.

It’s important to reach out to a healthcare provider if you’re experiencing depression. It can be treated, helping you feel better.

Is it common to get depressed during pregnancy?

Depression is almost as commonly seen in pregnant women as it is in non-pregnant women. This condition can happen at any time in your life, including during pregnancy.

What factors increase my risk of being depressed during pregnancy?

There are many different factors that can add to your risk of developing depression during your pregnancy. These risks can include:

• Having a history of depression or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).
• Your age at time of your pregnancy — the younger you are, the higher the risk.
• Living alone.
• Having limited social support.
• Experiencing marital conflict.
• Feeling ambivalent about your pregnancy.

Does pregnancy cause depression?

Pregnancy can cause you to experience depression. Your body goes through a lot of change and the stresses of pregnancy can trigger depression in some women. Not everyone who becomes pregnant will also be depressed.

If you have experienced depression in the past, your symptoms could return or if you were living with depression before your pregnancy, it may get worse once you’re pregnant.

It’s important to talk to your healthcare provider about depression during pregnancy because it can extend after delivery. Women who experience depression during pregnancy are at a higher risk of postpartum depression (depression after the baby is born).

What are some of the signs of depression during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, your body goes through many changes. You may experience a lot of different emotions throughout pregnancy — sometimes carrying you up the emotional roller coaster, and sometimes down. It’s okay to feel all of these different emotions. However, if you find you’re having any of the following symptoms during your pregnancy, it could be depression and you should reach out to your healthcare provider right away. Signs of depression during pregnancy can include:

• Having recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.
• Having a depressed mood for most of the day, nearly early day, for the last two weeks.
• Feeling guilty, hopeless or worthless.
• Having difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions.
• Losing interest or pleasure in most activities during the day, nearly every day, for the last two weeks.

If you have any of the above symptoms your provider may ask you the following questions:

• Over the past two weeks, have you felt down, depressed or hopeless?
• Over the past two weeks, have you felt little interest or pleasure in doing things?

If you answer yes to either of these questions, your healthcare provider will ask you more questions during a more in-depth depression screening test.

How does depression affect pregnancy?

Experiencing depression during pregnancy can impact a mother’s health in several ways. Depression during pregnancy can affect you by:

• Interfering with your ability to care for yourself. It’s important to take care of your own health during your pregnancy. Depression can cause you to push those personal needs aside. If you’re depressed during pregnancy, you might be less able to follow medical recommendations, as well as sleep and eat properly.
• Placing you at a higher risk of using harmful substances. These substances can include tobacco, alcohol and illegal drugs. Depression may cause you to turn to these substances, all of which can have a negative impact on your pregnancy.
• Interfering with your ability to bond with your growing baby. While your baby is in the womb (uterus), the baby can actually hear you talk and can sense emotion by the pitch, rhythm and stress in your voice. If you are experiencing depression during your pregnancy, you might find it difficult to develop this bond with your baby. You might feel emotionally isolated.

What are my options if I’m depressed during pregnancy?

If you are experiencing depression during your pregnancy, there are steps you can take to help improve how you’re feeling. Preparing for a new baby is a lot of hard work, but remember that your health is important and needs to come first. There are a few things you can do to help with depression during pregnancy, including:

• Resisting the urge to get everything done. Cut down on your chores and do things that will help you relax. And remember, taking care of yourself is an essential part of taking care of your unborn child.
• Talking about your concerns. Talk to your friends, your partner and your family. If you ask for support, you’ll find that you often get it.

If you are not finding relief from anxiety and depression by making these changes, seek your healthcare provider’s advice or a referral to a mental health professional.

Are antidepressant medications safe during pregnancy?

Growing evidence suggests that many of the currently available antidepressant medicines are relatively safe for treating depression during pregnancy, at least in terms of short-term effects on the baby. Long-term effects have not been fully studied. You should discuss the possible risks and benefits with your doctor.

Do Men Get Pregnancy Symptoms? 6 Common Male Pregnancy Symptoms

Supporting a partner during pregnancy? Then you’re sure to relate to at least some of the following puzzlements, like this one: Your pregnant partner has a good excuse for indulging her cravings for potato chips and ice cream, but why are you digging in just as fast?

Chances are, you’re not just sharing snacks — you’re sharing symptoms too, along with at least half of all other non-pregnant parents-to-be. In fact, pregnancy symptom-sharing is so prevalent, researchers have dubbed it couvade syndrome, a French term meaning “sympathetic pregnancy” or, roughly, “we’re pregnant.” 

Have you done or felt something over the past few months that made you wonder, “Wait, who’s pregnant here?” Read on to see how many of these sympathetic-pregnancy symptoms resonate with you.

Anxiety

It’s not uncommon for people to experience restless nights, heartburn and bouts of fatigue while their partners are pregnant. In fact, about 11 percent of fathers experience anxiety during the pre- and postnatal period.

How can you tame the tossing and turning? Reach out to other expectant parents, many of whom may be shaking in the same shoes as you. And don’t think you can turn off the nerves by shutting out the pregnancy. Being more involved can actually make you feel better prepared and in control.

Nausea

Morning sickness isn’t exclusive to mornings — or moms-to-be. While this infamous pregnancy woe is attributed to an uptick in a woman’s hormones during pregnancy, others may also find themselves reaching for the saltines (or running for the toilet). 

But rather than estrogen being the culprit, these queasies are likely the result of the aforementioned anxiety as well as changes in diet, which are pretty common for those who eat to relieve stress. The cures: Get (or stay) physically active as a means to blow off steam, talk about what’s worrying you with your partner or a friend, eat right and watch your alcohol intake.

Mood swings

Thanks to surging hormones, your partner may ping-pong between joy and sadness, tranquility and anxiety, and sweetness to crankiness — and you may do the same. The fact is that while hormones intensify mood swings, the underlying cause is the same in everyone: nerves.

As you’ve no doubt realized (likely in the middle of the night), having a baby is a big deal, and your life will never be the same. In many ways, it’s changing already, which could lead to less sleep and even more mixed emotions.

All this worrying is natural, and balancing out the highs and lows of becoming a new parent takes practice — so cut yourself some slack. There’s no such thing as a perfect parent, and learning to accept that now is great practice for when baby finally arrives.

Sex drive changes

During pregnancy, a woman’s sex drive can either rev up or shift into neutral — or do both within the same week. Some mamas-to-be experience a sexual surge (especially during the second trimester), while others are too tired, uncomfortable or self-conscious about their bodies to be interested. 

But your mojo is just as unpredictable right now: Some soon-to-be parents are turned on by the changes in a pregnant partner’s body, while others may find the transformation an overwhelming reminder of the responsibilities looming around the corner. Some find themselves energized by the prospect of having a baby, while others are exhausted just thinking about it.

And some expectant parents are too scared about hurting the baby to even think about having sex during pregnancy. (For most couples, there’s no risk at all.)

If your sex life has stalled, try to remain intimate. Remember, sex is only one physical display of intimacy, and there are many other ways to be close without touching at all. 

A few tender tactics to try: Wake up a little earlier to have a morning cup of decaf together before work, take an evening walk (hand-holding encouraged) or snuggle on the couch with popcorn and a movie. The important thing is to find ways to communicate affection with your partner and share the new feelings you may both be experiencing in and out of the bedroom.

Weight gain

A bigger belly may be a given for a mom-to-be, but why is it that a man gains an average of 14 pounds during his partner’s pregnancy? Sympathetic snacking might be one factor, but that’s not the whole story. 

A more likely culprit is cortisol, aptly dubbed the “stress hormone” because it’s secreted at higher volumes during periods of anxiety. Cortisol helps control blood-sugar levels and regulates metabolism. During periods of high stress, cortisol is released into your body, giving your appetite the green light and making you think you’re hungry when you’re really not.  

Plus, cortisol directs where you pack on the pounds, which is often to the belly. Take action by stocking your kitchen with healthy snacks and eating more mindfully. Also consider amping up your exercise routine, which will help both your physical and mental health. 

Aches and pains

Many symptoms of couvade syndrome seem to have clear causes (read: nerves), but others are more mysterious. Toothaches, backaches, headaches, leg cramps and other pains consistently appear in various studies on sympathetic pregnancy. Some even report experiencing pains in the same places at the same times as their pregnant partners. 

Researchers have yet to find any physical explanations for these simultaneous pangs, so the cause is likely psychological: Some people may be responding to subconscious feelings. They might not be carrying a child, but they’re becoming a parent too.

Whatever the case, some honest communication about the upcoming changes in your life will probably help any symptoms you’re feeling during this pre-parenthood period.

Pregnancy Symptoms | 17 Signs Of Pregnancy

If you’re reading this, you probably don’t want to wait for a missed period before you take a pregnancy test.

You’re looking for a way to know as soon as possible.

You want to know about early pregnancy symptoms.

Here are the most common early pregnancy signs and symptoms.

How early do pregnancy symptoms start?

Some women say they ‘just knew’ the moment they conceived. It’s as though they had a feeling or intuition that conception had occurred.

There are definitely some early pregnancy symptoms that are noticeable if you know what you’re looking for. If you’re waiting for your period, though, you might just put it down to hormones.

How early can I take a pregnancy test?

If you’re anticipating pregnancy you might start to inspect your body for changes right after ovulation.

A fertilized egg only starts to produce hCG (the hormone which the pee-stick tests detect) after implantation, however, not before.

And implantation occurs from about 7-10 days after ovulation.

That’s why it’s not possible to have physical symptoms of pregnancy, or detect a pregnancy, before this time.

How do I know if I’m pregnant without any symptoms?

The best way to find out whether you’re pregnant without symptoms is to wait for a missed period before taking a pregnancy test.

As hard as it might be, it’s best to wait until you miss a period before using a home pregnancy test kit. This makes sure your hormone levels are high enough for an accurate result.

Find out more in our article How Accurate Is An Early Pregnancy Test?

What are the early signs of pregnancy?

Remember, each woman and every pregnancy is unique.

Don’t worry if you don’t experience any of the specific early pregnancy symptoms listed below. You might have few or many signs of pregnancy, but there is a wide range of ‘normal’.

Here are 17 early pregnancy symptoms which you might experience:

#1: Higher basal body temperature (BBT) in early pregnancy

Of all the symptoms of pregnancy, this is quite a niche sign of early pregnancy. It will probably only help the fertility buffs out there who’ve been tracking their BBT for a while. But it’s one of the earliest signs you might spot.

If you chart your periods and take your temperature, as a first symptom you’ll notice your BBT remains high throughout your luteal phase (the time between ovulation and your expected period).

Progesterone causes your BBT to rise when ovulation occurs and, if you’re pregnant, it will stay elevated.

If you’re not pregnant, your BBT will drop as you experience pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS), followed by your menstrual period, as normal.

#2: Missed period

An obvious early pregnancy symptom is missing a period – especially if there hasn’t been any implantation bleeding.

Although this symptom is the one we most commonly associate with pregnancy, there could be other reasons why you’re missing periods.

Factors such as high-stress levels, air travel, major illness, or surgery can all result in missing a period.

Or your period might just be late, after a longer PMS.

Find out about other reasons in Missed Period – Am I Pregnant?

#3: Increased weight

You might be aware your waistline is expanding, which is another early pregnancy symptom. An increase of up to 4 lbs (1.8 kgs) in the first trimester is commonly accepted as normal.

Some women might actually lose weight, because of food aversions or sickness.

In your second and third trimesters, extra weight is the result of your growing uterus and baby, increased blood volume and fluid, and the placenta.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) suggests an overall weight gain of 25-35 lbs (11-16 kgs) for women with a normal body mass index.

#4: Morning sickness

Right after a missed period, nausea, retching, or vomiting are all common early pregnancy symptoms.

Many women experience nausea during early pregnancy, due to hormonal changes a few weeks after conception.

Blame those hormones, but don’t let the name ‘morning sickness’ fool you. It can pay you a visit any time of the day. Certain foods or smells can really set it off too.

This symptom is related to the increased levels of estrogen running through your blood vessels, and levels can fluctuate throughout the day.

Make sure you’re eating enough and avoid letting your blood sugar levels drop. This can be difficult when you’re suffering from food aversions that cause nausea.

Often, unfortunately, the very foods that make you feel better to tend to be processed and full of sugar.

You’ll feel better in the long run if you eat healthily, and avoid the temptation to binge on sugar or junk food. Be sure to drink filtered water, too.

For many pregnant women, morning sickness disappears by the end of the first trimester. For some, it carries on for longer.

If your morning sickness persists, you might need to see a doctor. You could have a condition known as Hyperemesis Gravidarum.

Here are 8 Tips To Reduce Morning Sickness.

#5: Breast changes

Early in pregnancy, not too long after you get a positive pregnancy test, a pregnancy symptom you might experience is breast changes.

Some of the first signs when it comes to breast changes are:

• Breast tenderness. Your breasts change throughout all stages of pregnancy. You could have tender breasts during the first weeks after conception.
• Your areolas and nipples. They might feel enlarged and look darker. The areola act as visual ‘targets’ for your baby to latch on after birth and the darkening pigment makes it easier for the baby to see.
• Your nipples might be more sensitive. The little ‘bumps’ on your areolas (Montgomery glands) often increase or enlarge.

Find out more in Breast Changes During Pregnancy – 7 Different Changes.

#6: Increased vaginal discharge

Hormonal changes in early pregnancy can result in increased vaginal discharge. A surge in your progesterone levels often results in a surge of cervical mucus production.

Some women have only a little discharge, while others notice much more. If it bothers you, wearing a panty liner might help.

To learn more, be sure to read Discharge During Pregnancy – What’s Normal and What’s Not.

#7: Fatigue

When you first become pregnant, your metabolism speeds up in order to support your developing baby.

This creates a bigger workload, leading to fatigue. It’s one of the symptoms of pregnancy many women find hard to cope with.

The pregnancy hormone progesterone also has a sedating effect, and this, together with fatigue, can in some cases cause dizziness.

No wonder you feel so tired, especially in your first trimester. If you have to rest or sleep, don’t fight your body – it obviously needs it.

Read BellyBelly’s article about Pregnancy Fatigue for more information.

#8: Frequent urination

As early as 7 days after conception, an early sign of pregnancy might involve you dashing to the toilet more often, only to find you’re urinating in small amounts.

This happens because the embryo secretes the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which signals the body to increase blood supply to the pelvic area.

This causes the bladder to become irritable, resulting in the urge to pass urine. You may wake in the night to urinate more often than usual, but produce only small amounts.

Ironically, this pregnancy symptom appears again in the third trimester – because babies seem to thoroughly enjoy bouncing on their mother’s bladder.

#9: Cramping

For many women, some pregnancy symptoms may feel unnerving. This is especially the case with uterine cramps.

During pregnancy, the baby grows and pushes against the walls of the uterus, which causes it to contract; this is very normal.

Be sure to read Cramps During Pregnancy – What You Need To Know for more information about the different causes of cramping.

If the cramping is excessive or accompanied by bleeding, you should contact your doctor.

Women can have both cramping and bleeding during pregnancy and still continue with a healthy pregnancy.

#10: Implantation bleeding

Of all the early pregnancy symptoms, bleeding and spotting are the scariest to experience – especially if it’s taken you quite some time to get pregnant.

Thankfully, spotting is usually nothing to worry about. It’s likely to be implantation bleeding.

Around 8-10 days after ovulation (during your 3rd-4th week of pregnancy, just before you would normally get your period) you might notice light bleeding.

This can happen when the fertilized egg attaches to the lining of your womb, which has increased blood flow.

Implantation bleeding is usually pinkish or possibly brown in color, and not red like a normal menstrual period.

#11: Constipation and wind

These pregnancy symptoms just keep getting better, don’t they?

Increased levels of pregnancy hormones have an effect on your digestive system. Everything is more relaxed, which helps to make more space for the baby as your uterus expands.

As a result, you might become constipated. And yes, you might also notice an increase in gas.

Luckily there are plenty of things you can do about it.

Check out our articles on constipation and gas for ways to get some relief.

Start with safe, natural remedies first; some of them are very effective.

There are some remedies available from your pharmacist that are also safe during pregnancy, but always check with your doctor or pharmacist before purchasing.

#12: Sense of smell

If certain food smells are making you feel nauseous, it could be another ‘fun’ early sign of pregnancy.

Don’t worry, your whole house doesn’t really smell like the kitchen compost bin.

Pregnancy has just heightened your sense of smell.

Smells that never bothered you before might suddenly become intolerable, and even cause nausea.

Certain foods or cooking smells are usually the culprits. Every woman is different, though, and you might dislike all sorts of smells.

#13: Pimples and acne

Even if you don’t usually get pimples or acne, you might get them in early pregnancy.

Acne during pregnancy will most likely settle after your hormones stabilize. If it carries on after the first trimester of pregnancy, your doctor or midwife can offer you a blood test.

For more information see our article Pregnancy Acne – Tips For Acne During Pregnancy.

#14: Cravings and changes in taste

There are a few different reasons why women have pregnancy cravings.

The rising hormone levels in your blood can affect your saliva. You might notice a metallic taste in your mouth, which alters the taste of foods you usually enjoy.

Some women have weird pregnancy cravings and also crave things that aren’t foods.

For example, they could be drawn to eat dirt, clay, or chalk. This condition is called pica and it’s believed to be due to mineral deficiencies.

Ask your naturopath or doctor to check your ferritin levels (iron stores) and zinc, as you could be deficient in these minerals.

#15: Change in color of your vagina

This is unlikely to be the first of your early pregnancy symptoms.

Imagine: “Honey, come quick, my vagina has changed color!”

In fact, unless you spend a lot of time admiring yourself in a mirror, you’re unlikely to notice this one at all.

But if you take a look, you might find your vagina appears more purplish than normal. This is due to the increased blood supply to the pelvic region.

#16: Emotional swings

Of all the pregnancy symptoms, mood swings, moodiness, and being overly emotional can be the most embarrassing (afterwards, at least).

During your pregnancy, it’s generally accepted you’ll cry in front of your boss, swear at your partner daily, and donate all of your life savings to charity because the kitten on the advert looks so sad.

It’s definitely one of those tell-tale early signs of pregnancy. Early on, most women come face to face with mood swings, emotional outbursts and have a meltdown or two.

#17: Heartburn

Heartburn might be a little unexpected, as it’s more commonly associated with the third trimester. But digestive changes are a feature of early pregnancy.

Once again, it all thanks to the pregnancy hormones progesterone and relaxin.

Is Heartburn An Early Sign Of Pregnancy? has tips to help you get some relief.

Very Early Signs of Pregnancy

What are the very early signs of pregnancy before missed period?

Many women find those ‘surprise pregnancy’ stories hard to even believe, as usually the changes to our bodies are very noticeable! It’s always good to know what the early signs of pregnancy are, but what are the early and first symptoms to look out for? How does our body tell us that this miraculous change is underway? To help you we’ve listed below the early signs of pregnancy before a missed period, to help you identify any changes to your body or how you’re feeling.

From the earliest pregnancy symptoms before a missed period, which are less noticable to the really obvious signs, here is a full list…

How early do pregnancy symptoms start?

It’s important to note that every woman is different. While many women know their bodies so well they can tell within days they are pregnant, there are others whose first hint of pregnancy is when they go into labour.

While some of the following early pregnancy symptoms may not necessarily mean pregnancy, these are the most commonly reported early clues. Some women will experience very little symptoms and others will experience them all during the first month of pregnancy.

11 very early pregnancy signs and symptoms…

1. Missed period 

For a woman who has always been regular, a missed menstrual period is often the first sign of pregnancy. However, women also miss periods for other reasons such as emotional upset, illness, severe weight loss, over-exercising, anxiety about getting pregnant, onset of menopause and sometimes coming off the pill.

So a missed period alone is by no means an answer to the question:  Am I pregnant?

2. Vaginal discharge in early pregnancy

An increase in white or clear vaginal discharge is normal in early pregnancy. But if the discharge becomes coloured, smelly, or causes itching, soreness or becomes bloody, you should tell your midwife or GP.

3. Breast tenderness

Your breasts may feel different immediately if you are pregnant – or in some instances not until the second trimester. Some women notice that their nipples are more sensitive or that the breasts feel heavier, fuller and ache a little or tingle. There is usually also an increase in superficial veins over the breasts and tiny nodules may appear in the areola.

4. Frequent Urination

It is very common to wee more often during the first three months of pregnancy. Many women find they have to get up during the night – sometimes more than once.

This frequent need to pass water is due to pressure from the enlarging uterus on the bladder. It usually wears off slightly in the middle months and returns again when the baby is bigger and starts pressing on your bladder – especially when her head has engaged in the pelvis.

5. Feeling tired / Fatigue

This can be very noticeable during the first three months and a clear early symptom of pregnancy. Women who usually have boundless energy can find themselves simply having to catnap during the day.

Tiredness in the early months of pregnancy can be caused by your body having to adapt to rapidly changing hormone levels, many women find that fatigue eases off in the middle months and then returns in the last trimester.

Feelings of exhaustion are caused by the strain your increased weight puts on your body, frequent trips to the toilet during the night also mean that your sleep is disturbed so you are not getting as much rest as you need.

6. Constipation in early pregnancy 

The action of the hormone progesterone relaxes the muscle of the intestine reducing its movement and causing varying degrees of constipation. This can last throughout the whole pregnancy. Although constipation by itself is not a sign of pregnancy, for women who are usually very regular it can be an addition clue.

7. Morning sickness / Nausea

Sickness or nausea is a common early pregnancy signs for some women and it can occur any time of the day not just the morning. Some very unlucky women feel sick all through their pregnancy and this can vary from being sick to just a feeling of nausea.

In addition to sickness and nausea, food aversion is also common during this time.

The exact cause is not known but is thought to be associated with the high levels of the hormone progesterone.

8. Headaches

Some women suffer from occasional headaches. These are quite normal early and first pregnancy symptoms and are thought to be caused by fluctuating hormones. After the first trimester, they can be treated with the recommended dose of paracetamol.

9. A change in tastes and cravings

Alterations in tastes may be among the earliest pregnancy signs for many women. Some have a strange taste in their mouth even before the first period is missed. It varies from woman to woman but is most commonly described as metallic.

Shortly after missing the first period many women also start to go off certain foods and develop a strong aversion to the smell of cigarette smoke and the smell or taste of alcohol which can trigger the question: Am I pregnant?

Many women also report an intense dislike of the smell of cooking fat or are repulsed by a food they previously enjoyed. Conversely some women may develop a strong craving for a certain food very early on and this too can be a clue to pregnancy.

10. Bloating, cramps and backache

Many women mistake these common early signs of pregnancy for PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome) but they can be caused by hormonal changes and the growth of the uterus.

11. Skin changes

Changes in the skin is common early sign of pregnancy. Skin can become drier, but also can be prone to an outbreak of spots. These sometimes persist for several months. Happily many women report that their skin has never been so good as when they are pregnant, and that hair and nails are stronger too. See our feature on the perks of pregnancy.

12. Mood swings in early pregnancy 

Mood swings in early pregnancy are very common and more often this is down to your changing hormones. Emotional changes in your mood is one of the very first signs that you are pregnant and especially common for the first few weeks. 
Read more about your pregnancy hormones and how they affect your body in our wellbeing section.

So, do you think you are pregnant? Don’t forget to join the Emma’s Diary Parenting Club and access your FREE Emma’s Diary gift packs, full of free pregnancy and baby products! Simply register with us here…

90,000 First signs of pregnancy before delay, early symptoms

Significant hormonal changes occur during pregnancy. This causes a number of symptoms. Some women experience signs of pregnancy at once, while others may have only a few. About the first signs of early pregnancy and when exactly initial signs of pregnancy appear in the article.

At what time do the first signs of pregnancy appear

The answer to the question when the first signs of pregnancy appear is rather ambiguous, because some women do not feel any signs at all during the first few weeks. In what week do the first signs of pregnancy appear in others? When do the first signs of pregnancy appear after conception? Symptoms of very early pregnancy (such as breast tenderness) may appear before menstruation is delayed, as early as six to seven days after conception, while other early pregnancy signs (such as spotting) may appear about a week after ovulation.We will tell you more about the first signs of pregnancy before menstruation and when the signs of pregnancy appear.

What are the first signs of pregnancy

According to the results of a survey conducted by the American Association, the most characteristic early signs of pregnancy are:

• delayed menstruation – 29%;

90,026 nausea – 25%;

90,026 mood swings – from 14 to 23%;

90,026 breast changes – 17%;

90,026 pains in the lower abdomen – 15%;

• depression – 15%;
• fatigue, drowsiness – 13%
• decreased immunity – 6%;

90,026 the first signs of pregnancy – discharge or implantation bleeding – only 3%.

Physiological primary signs of pregnancy

What are the very first symptoms of pregnancy?

The most common primary signs of pregnancy of a physiological nature include:

• Sensitive and enlarged breasts. Signs of pregnancy in the first days after conception include breast changes (1-2 weeks after conception). The area around the nipples, called the areola, can also darken.

• Drowsiness and fatigue. Fatigue is also a sign of pregnancy in the first days after conception. During early pregnancy, progesterone hormone levels rise sharply, which can cause drowsiness.

• Nausea with vomiting. When do these signs of pregnancy appear? Morning sickness, which can appear at any time of the day or night, often occurs between the second and the eighth week after conception.

• Dizziness and fainting .It may be due to dilated blood vessels, lower blood pressure and lower blood sugar levels.

• Spasms. Some women experience signs of pregnancy in the early days, such as mild cramps in the uterus.

• Headaches and back pain. Many pregnant women complain of frequent headaches, while others experience back pain.

• Insomnia – Another first sign of pregnancy before the test.The causes can be stress, physical discomfort, and hormonal changes.

• Change in taste preferences. Like most other pregnancy symptoms, these eating habits can be attributed to hormonal changes.

• Temperature. Early signs of pregnancy include fever (37-37.5).

• Delayed menstruation. How long does it take for the first signs of pregnancy to appear? If you are of childbearing age and a week or more has passed without your expected menstrual period starting, you may be pregnant.However, this symptom can be misleading if you have an irregular menstrual cycle.

• Bloody discharge – the first signs of pregnancy . This bleeding, known as implantation bleeding, occurs when a fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus, about 10-14 days after conception.

• Bloating, heartburn. Hormonal changes can cause stomach and esophageal problems, which are common signs of pregnancy at 2 weeks.

• Constipation . Hormonal changes cause the digestive system to slow down, which can lead to constipation (signs of pregnancy after a delay).

• Increased urination. You may urinate more often than usual, this is a common sign of pregnancy at 5 weeks. During pregnancy, the amount of blood in the body increases, as a result of which the kidneys process excess fluid that passes into the bladder.

• Runny nose. The appearance of this symptom is associated with an excessive production of the hormone estrogen.

• Exacerbation of chronic diseases. This is a sign of pregnancy after ovulation.

• Increased salivation. It is also associated with hormonal changes.

• Smell enhancement . The signs of pregnancy in the first two weeks may cause sensitivity to certain odors and your sense of taste may change.

Emotional early signs of pregnancy

The first signs of pregnancy before delay (the earliest signs of pregnancy) include psychoemotional symptoms.

1. Mood swings.
2. Irritability.
3. Vulnerability, tearfulness.
4. Capriciousness.
5. Depression.

These are all emotional signs of early pregnancy that many women report. They describe feelings of heightened emotion or even bouts of crying, which are associated with rapid changes in hormone levels in the body.Also, signs of pregnancy at 4 weeks can make you PMS-style cranky. In addition, about 15% of women suffer from depression or anxiety during pregnancy. And after giving birth, he suffers from these conditions even more. In this case, it is best to seek medical help.

Do whatever you can to improve your mood: get plenty of rest, eat well, get enough sleep, do your favorite things, and pamper yourself.

Be careful, however, as mood swings can be caused by a number of conditions other than pregnancy.

Influence of early pregnancy on daily regimen

Early signs of pregnancy, mainly those that bring discomfort, can be the reason for the change in the daily routine. Here are some tips on what you can do for some of them:

1. In case of toxicosis, avoid food that is too hot or too cold – this provokes an attack of vomiting. Eat often – at least 5-6 times a day, but in small portions.
2. For nausea or vomiting, try ginger, chamomile, or vitamin B6.
3. Drink plenty of water, in small sips, between meals to replenish lost fluids. Also teas, juices, fruit drinks are suitable.
4. For back pain, wear maternity shoes or insoles and avoid high heels. Sleep on a firm mattress.
5. For chest discomfort, wear a special bra to support your enlarged breasts.
6. For constipation, eat more fiber containing foods such as wheat bran and fresh vegetables and fruits.
7. If you suffer from headaches and mood swings, try stress-reducing methods such as yoga or meditation.
8. Be outdoors more often, at least half an hour a day. This helps to reduce the symptoms of toxicosis, to calm the nervous system.
9. Maintain daily physical activity for as long as it is comfortable for you to perform certain activities.
10. Eat a balanced diet with adequate amounts of protein, fat and carbohydrates.

Important! All of these tips are advisory in nature, be sure to consult your doctor if you experience any discomfort.

What to do if early signs of pregnancy are detected

In order to make sure that the signs of pregnancy are accurate, you can use the following methods for diagnosing early pregnancy:

1. Donate blood for hCG. This method can be used a few days after conception.This type of pregnancy test is done using a small blood sample that is analyzed in a hospital. It determines whether and how much pregnancy hormone is in your body. Its accuracy is 99%.
2. Use a test strip. It can be used at home from the first days of the delay. To determine if you are pregnant, dip the reagent area of ​​the test strip into your urine. Accuracy: 99%. You can buy Evitest or HomeTest test strips at our pharmacy.
3. Use inkjet or electronic test. They can be used at home a few days before the expected start date of your period. You need to remove its protective cap, place the test under a stream of urine for 10 seconds, and get the result in 3-5 minutes. Accuracy: 97%. In our pharmacy you can buy Evitest or Alpe inkjet tests.
4. Get the first ultrasound. This method can be used 3-4 weeks after the start of the missed period.At this time, ultrasound will show the very fact of uterine pregnancy, and the place of attachment of the ovum is also determined. Accuracy: 100%.

90,000 signs, sensations, size and development of the fetus

If you suspect you are pregnant but have not tested it yet, do so now. At the 6th week, the baby can already be measured. Standard ultrasound practice is to measure the size from the crown to the coccyx and is now approximately 5–6 mm.

The baby’s head is still very large in relation to the body, but small folds are already visible in those places where the face and jaw will later appear. There are small outgrowths on both sides of the body, which will eventually become the arms and legs of the baby, and cavities appear on the sides of the head, from which the auditory canals are formed. The child begins to develop eyes and nose, therefore, facial features are already forming. Everything happens very quickly, but so far your pregnancy is not obvious to anyone but you.

Physical changes this week

• You are most likely feeling the same symptoms as last week, only they are getting worse. More nausea, more sensitivity to odors, more fatigue, and less energy. Be patient and don’t try to fight nature. Oddly enough, there are good reasons why you feel the way you do, and they’re not all that bad.

• You may feel sick or hungry most of the time.Some women have a dramatic increase in appetite, and they want foods that they usually did not even think about. Meat, fish and seafood, fruit and even ice are some of the more common taste preferences.

• Your breasts and nipples may become even more sensitive. The breasts can become bluish because the veins are full of blood, their size can increase, and the nipples can darken.

• You may have vaginal discharge.If they are too profuse, itchy, or have a strange odor, consult your doctor. The increased activity of hormones during pregnancy leads to changes in the vaginal flora and normal acid-base balance. This can lead to fungal infections.

• You may feel yourself swallowing more often. Some pregnant women have an increased production of saliva, and they have to constantly swallow to cope with it.This is normal and will go away with time.

• Some women complain of headaches during this period. Try not to take medications and choose natural ways to deal with the problem, such as going to bed, eating something healthy, drinking water, or taking a warm shower. A head massage can help, too.

• If you are pregnant for the second time (or more), you may notice that your clothes are slightly tighter around the waist and bust.But this is not because the baby has grown a lot – it is still in your pelvic area.

Emotional changes this week

• This period can be emotionally interesting. Your pregnancy becomes more than real, which means that it is time to give up the usual pleasures. Smoking, using alcohol or drugs are all risky things, especially now. It’s time to stop, because your child is at a critical juncture in her development.

• You can still freak out every time you go to the toilet. Although your period hasn’t come for a couple of weeks and your pregnancy has been confirmed, you may be afraid of a miscarriage. This is a common fear, especially in the first trimester.

• You may be anxious to share the news, but due to the possibility of a miscarriage, you haven’t told anyone yet. Discuss with the dad-to-be when you share your joy with the world.

What happens to the baby this week

• Your child looks like a tadpole with a huge head, small body and small outgrowths in those places where legs and arms will appear later.However, its appearance changes rapidly at 6 weeks. Even when you are sleeping.

• With a transvaginal ultrasound, you can see how the baby’s tiny heart beats. If you count it, it turns out that it gives out about 80 beats per minute.

• Important internal organs such as liver, kidneys and lungs are laid down. No wonder you are so tired: your energy is spent on the development of the child.

• Your baby’s jaw, chin, and cheeks begin to form this week.While they are tiny, they will grow every day.

Tips of the Week

• Carry small snacks in your bag at all times. Salty crackers, sweet biscuits, and water can all be helpful in fighting nausea during pregnancy.

• Place a container with a lid in the machine in case of nausea. Make sure the cover can be removed quickly. Do not be ashamed if a bout of nausea catches you in front of other people.This has happened to many women.

• Avoid all toxins, chemicals, drugs, alcohol, x-rays and generally risky behavior. The sixth week is an important time for the development of the embryo.

• Don’t worry if you lost some weight in week 6. Nausea and vomiting can lead to weight loss, but you will have plenty of time to recover and surpass your pre-pregnant weight.

Let’s see what’s in there in week 7.

90,000 4th week of pregnancy: signs, sensations, size and development of the fetus

This week the placenta has already begun to form. She will play an important role in the production of specific hormones and nutrition of the child. At this stage, the embryo is smaller than a grain of rice, but each of its cells is programmed to perform a specific function.

Time for implantation! This week, a tiny blastocyst has found its way to the uterus and is eyeing a suitable place to settle for the next 36 weeks or so.

Implantation usually occurs around the dates when the woman expects the beginning of the next period. Therefore, many women are not surprised if they have a little bleeding in the 4th week. But if the discharge is modest, it may not be menstruation, but implantation bleeding.

The wall of the uterus at this stage is so saturated with blood that any damage to it can lead to easy bleeding. Some women claim to have felt the moment of implantation. Who knows, maybe this is really possible.

Am I already happy?

If your period does not come on time, you most likely suspect what may be the cause. You may be experiencing early pregnancy symptoms and your body feels a little different than usual. But don’t worry if your feelings haven’t changed in any way. Even if you are in the 4th week, your body may not have time to reorganize yet.

Pregnancy can now be confirmed by blood or urine tests. Both methods are very sensitive to an increase in the concentration of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).You can do a pregnancy test at home, and the best time to do this is in the morning, when the concentration of hCG in urine reaches its peak.

Physical changes this week

• You may feel cramps in the lower abdomen. You may have a heaviness in your stomach and increased gas production.

• You may feel nauseous, especially if you haven’t eaten for a while. The smell or even the thought of certain foods can be disgusting to you, although you usually enjoy them.Coffee, fish, red meat, and even pet food can cause nausea.

• Your breasts become softer and your nipples are especially sensitive. It may grow larger and more rounded, especially if you are small.

• You may be going to the toilet more often to pee. This is due to an increase in blood volume and pressure from the uterus on the bladder.

• You may have a slight discharge from implantation bleeding.

Emotional changes this week

• You may be experiencing a mixture of anxiety and excitement right now. And you often run to the toilet to check if your period has started.

• You may feel the same as before your period. Many women this week are a little more emotional, easily annoyed and not in the mood at all.

• You may be upset if you want to get pregnant, but the test is negative.Don’t keep it to yourself – discuss your emotions with your partner or best friend.

• The opposite case can also turn into stress – if you did not plan to get pregnant, but the test showed two stripes.

What happens to the baby this week

• Your baby is about the size of a poppy seed this week. This is just the beginning!

• At the 4th week of pregnancy, a lot of organizational work takes place inside the embryo.Three separate layers of cells begin to form.

• The ectoderm (outer layer) will eventually become the baby’s skin, eyes, hair, nervous system, brain and teeth.

• The middle layer (mesoderm) will become the baby’s skeleton, muscles, kidneys, soft tissues and the circulatory system.

• The inner layer (endoderm) will eventually become your baby’s internal organs.

• Once a cell acquires a certain function, it can no longer turn into a cell of another type. Each of them is preprogrammed and knows what to do.

Tips of the Week

• Buy a pregnancy test (or two). A false positive result during the test is impossible, but a false negative at the earliest stage is quite normal. If the test is positive, keep it as a keepsake.

• Make an appointment with your doctor – the first of many.

Now let’s move on to week 5, where your baby finds a comfortable place to grow and develop.

90,000 Psychological characteristics of a woman during pregnancy and childbirth

Tell me, what are you afraid of … Anxieties and fears of expectant mothers

In our complex and far from unambiguous world, everyone knows the feeling of anxiety, and any object or phenomenon can become the object of fear.It can hardly be considered accidental that from 30 to 40% of people at least once in their lives have experienced severe anxiety, and some even panic. Let’s try to figure out why this is happening.

Why are we afraid?

The feeling of anxiety is a signal of unexpected changes occurring in the surrounding world or in one’s own body and helps to react to danger in time. However, if anxiety is expressed excessively, then, on the contrary, it interferes with normal life.

During pregnancy, the entire body of a woman undergoes significant changes, which in itself contributes to the development of anxiety.Physiological changes in the central nervous system lead to the fact that overwork, a weakened physical condition may well lead to anxiety. That is, the expectant mother is initially, physiologically, predisposed to anxiety.

In addition, during the period of expectation of a child, the woman’s interests are dominated by the birth and health of the unborn child, everything else fades into the background. However, the woman may not feel ready to take care of the baby.Responsibility for the child generates increased demands on myself – can I cope, can I succeed? Excessive demands on yourself, the desire to achieve the ideal and become an exemplary mom also lead to anxiety.

Another important point: the development of anxiety is facilitated by the isolation of the expectant mother from active life – especially when she does not work and sits at home – the lack of new impressions and positive emotions, as well as negative someone else’s experience (suppose that a friend who has already given birth has painted you in detail the horrors childbirth and the very troublesome life of a young mother), the appearance of anxiety during this period is quite predictable (according to the observations of doctors, one third of all women experience something similar during pregnancy).If you have always strived to give your lifestyle some stability and balance, if you do not like surprises and surprises, it is likely that an event such as the birth of a child will make you think: “How will it be?” The inevitable changes that will occur in your family after your baby is born are also a source of anxiety.

Anxiety is an uncertain fear projected into the future. Everything seems to be fine, but the person is in constant expectation that something bad is about to happen to him or to his loved ones.This is a painful experience of impending disaster, when you do not know where and when the misfortune will happen, but you are sure that it will happen.

If anxiety becomes so strong and frequent that it deprives a person of the ability to normal life, then this is a sign of an anxiety disorder. It is characterized by tension reaching trembling, pronounced discomfort, when because of anxiety it is difficult to sit still, the heart is beating faster, “there is not enough air”, sweating intensifies, there may be weakness, lightheadedness, dizziness, a feeling of “a lump in the throat.”This condition needs treatment.

What are we afraid of?

It is extremely difficult to endure a state of anxiety, it seems that danger comes from everywhere. It is much easier to know exactly what to fear. Fortunately, life provides many situations for “objectifying” anxiety. As soon as a specific fear appears, it immediately becomes easier, calmer. We know how to deal with it, what to do to protect ourselves. Thus, finding a specific fear helps to alleviate the condition.

A subject for fear can be learned from early negative childhood experiences. It can be borrowed from its parents or from the huge cultural heritage of all mankind. Moreover, there are suggestions that a person is able to remember his intrauterine experiences and find frightening situations there.

Now let’s project these circumstances onto the psychological state that is typical for a woman during pregnancy and arrange in chronological order the factors that frighten expectant mothers.

• Unplanned spontaneous pregnancy: after seeing positive test results, a woman begins to frantically remember what alcohol she drank, how many cigarettes she smoked and what medications she took. If the counting results are disappointing, panic begins.
• Potential complications during pregnancy that may affect the health of the unborn child. The spectrum of excitement here is quite voluminous: from work at a computer that is considered unhealthy to work once not given vaccinations and fear of getting the flu or rubella.
• Fear of childbirth: anticipation of pain, feeling of helplessness, lack of control over one’s own body.
• Genetic fears: the birth of a defective child due to irreversible natural causes.
• Aesthetic fears: fear of those changes that occur with the face and figure – will the previous form return?
• One of the most common fears is the fear of the health of the unborn child.
• Fear of becoming a bad mother: doubting one’s own ability to properly care for a child.
• Fear of responsibility for the fate of a child: no one is as responsible for the life and health of another person as a mother is for a child.
• Fear of the future: various changes in the family associated with the birth of a child – from material and housing difficulties to changes in relations with her husband and the collapse of a professional career.

The fact that a specific fear has appeared is not bad. Psychological protection worked, the process of adaptation to new living conditions began.Having found what to fear in the situation of pregnancy and childbirth, the woman’s psyche took the first step towards coping with anxiety. The next step is to expand your understanding of the hazard and actions to eliminate or minimize it.

Worse when a pathological or obsessive fear, called a phobia, develops. With a phobia, a person understands the absurdity of his fears, but is unable to resist them. The only way out that the patient sees is to avoid the frightening situation. Failure to take timely action in such circumstances can lead to a feeling of hopelessness and subsequent depression.

How to defeat fear

If anxiety prevents you from enjoying life in anticipation of pleasant future changes, you need to take action. In no case should you panic: you just need not emotionally, but rationally approach this issue. You should start with a qualified medical examination.

With a pre-planned pregnancy, there will be much less worries. Spouses have the opportunity to undergo a complete examination to prevent possible problems.

Spontaneous pregnancy requires closer medical supervision. The first twelve weeks, especially from the 5th to the 10th, are indeed the most dangerous in all respects, whether it is smoking, an infectious disease or a stressful situation. According to experts, if the negative factors worked at the earliest possible date, then the pregnancy will not develop. If it goes well, don’t worry. It’s just that such a pregnant woman needs to be monitored more closely.

Fear of childbirth is easily overcome by attending childbirth preparation courses. Currently, there are various methods, the purpose of which is to form a woman’s readiness for childbirth. When choosing one or another course, keep in mind that classes with expectant mothers should include four main components:

1. Psychoprophylactic training – these can be individual conversations and lectures that are aimed at eliminating negative emotions associated with childbirth and fear of them.The main goal of the psychophysiological preparation of pregnant women for childbirth is as follows: to develop a conscious attitude towards pregnancy in a woman, to learn to perceive childbirth as a physiological process, and also to create a good emotional background and confidence in a favorable course of pregnancy and completion of childbirth.
2. The fear of pain during childbirth is overcome not only with the help of knowledge of the mechanism of childbirth, which is natural for a woman, but the presence of a loved one whom a woman trusts helps in many ways, it can be not only a husband, but also a doctor, midwife, with whom the woman in labor has developed trusting relationship.
3. Group sessions of special gymnastics are usually aimed at training breathing and muscle groups that have to work especially hard during childbirth: abdominal muscles, pelvic floor muscles.
4. Knowledge of the physiology of newborns also relieves the mother of numerous worries about his health, and classes teaching child care can really ease the troublesome future of a young mother.

Usually, such classes are held in groups of 6-8 people, this is important, again psychologically, – the opportunity to communicate with other women, exchange impressions and talk about problems that concern expectant mothers creates a feeling of being involved in an active life, helps to understand that your fears are shared by many women.

So trust in modern medicine, knowledge of physiological processes and psychological preparation will help to dispel many fears of expectant mothers. We are afraid of what we do not know. So let’s try to find out everything in time! Reliable information can radically change the situation – the only condition is your desire for this change.

Psychotherapy will help you

If the fears related to your health and the health of the baby could not be dispelled by the general practitioners (convincing you that everything is in order), then psychotherapists and medical psychologists will come to the rescue.There have long been proven trainings and techniques that have proven themselves in practice.

Usually the hardest part is realizing that there is a problem. The upcoming changes are indeed very exciting. They cannot but worry, but the problem is inadequate perception of the situation, which leads to negative emotions, to the same anxiety and fear. And those, in turn, push to inappropriate actions leading to the emergence of various stressful situations (problems in the family, at work, significant losses, etc.).etc.). In this case, persistent foci of excitement arise in the central nervous system, which can lead to complications of pregnancy.

Cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy is considered the most effective method for overcoming anxiety. This method is based on the fact that it is a person’s thinking – his way of perceiving himself, the world and other people – that determines his behavior, his feelings and his problems. Having rebuilt his inadequate thinking and developing the ability to think more realistically and constructively, a person begins to look at the world and his place in it in a completely different way – he learns to live, adjusting to circumstances that he cannot change.

Nobody says that pregnancy and childbirth are easy, but you know well that a woman’s body is specially designed for this, and an adult woman can bear and give birth to a healthy child without harm to her health. It is important to take care of qualified medical care in advance, it is worthwhile to rationally solve material or housing problems – where and on what to live – it is quite possible, having previously discussed this with your husband and other relatives.

When you leave the walls of the hospital with your baby, you will have to adapt to the new routine of life.In the meantime, you cannot influence the situation in any way and do not have to control it – in your current situation, you can only wait and extract the maximum of positive emotions from what is happening at the moment.

Your lack of confidence in your abilities, lack of experience does not mean that you really will not be able to cope. You may think that you are not capable of gentleness, patience and understanding in relation to the unborn baby. Perhaps, in your previous life, such feelings were forbidden or did not meet with reciprocal tenderness and warmth.So now you don’t know if you are capable of them. Do not forget that in your pursuit of excellence, you can distract from the main thing – the realization of the happiness of motherhood. Remember that nature has already provided you with everything you need for a successful motherhood.

M.V. Golubev

The article was published in the Journal “9 months” No. 02, – 2005

Maternity school

In the antenatal clinic, classes are held with pregnant women in the “School of Motherhood”
We invite you, together with future fathers or close relatives, weekly on Wednesdays and Fridays from 13.00 to 14.00 cab. №4 Lisyanaya M.V.
Preparation of a pregnant woman and her family for the birth of a child is carried out in accordance with modern requirements, according to the approved program

Program

Lesson 1. Anatomical and physiological changes in the mother’s body during pregnancy.

1. Brief information about the structure and functioning of the reproductive system

2. Female and male reproductive cells

3. Development of the intrauterine fetus

3.1. Fertilization

3.2. The first signs of pregnancy

3.3. Fetal development by months of pregnancy, its reactions to external stimuli

3.4 The role of the placenta and amniotic fluid in the life support of the fetus

3.5. Physiological changes in a woman’s body, periods of pregnancy

4. Risk factors of pregnancy

4.1. What are risk factors?

4.2. Influence of parents’ health on the health of the unborn child

4.3. The role of heredity

4.4. Alcohol, smoking, taking drugs and toxic substances by parents as a harmful risk factor for fetal pathology

4.5. Influence of other unfavorable factors on the fetus (industrial, infectious, medicinal, radiation, etc.)

4.6. Complications of pregnancy

5. Medical supervision

5.1. The importance of early referral of a pregnant woman to an antenatal clinic

5.2. Frequency of visits to obstetrician-gynecologist, midwife

5.3. The need to fulfill the mandatory scope of medical examination during pregnancy

5.4. Acquaintance with modern instrumental methods of monitoring the health of the mother and fetus

5.5. Teaching pregnant women some tests to assess the development of pregnancy and the condition of the fetus

Lesson 2. Hygiene rules during pregnancy.

1. Lifestyle change

1.1. Recommendations for the work schedule, including homework.Legislative rights of a pregnant woman

1.2. Day regimen

1.3. Sex life

2. Power supply

2.1. The concept of food calories and a balanced diet of food

2.2. Liquid intake

2.3. The role of vitamins and minerals for maternal and fetal health

2.4. Nutritional features in pathological conditions (early toxicosis, constipation, hypertension, kidney disease, etc.)

3. Personal hygiene

3.1. The importance of keeping the body clean (caring for the skin, teeth, mammary glands, genitals, etc.)

3.2. Clothes, footwear, underwear

3.3. The role of breastfeeding up to 6 months of age

3.4. The use of natural factors for hardening and healing a woman’s body

4. The role of hygienic gymnastics during pregnancy

4.1. Teaching a complex of physical exercises depending on the gestational age

4.2. Teaching the ability to relax (“quick rest”)

5. Features of the psycho-emotional state of a pregnant woman

5.1. Psychological adaptation of a woman to pregnancy

5.2. The role of the family in psychological and physical support for women during pregnancy, childbirth and after childbirth.

Lesson 3. Preparing for “childbirth without fear”

1. Calendar dates of the onset of labor

2. Harbingers of childbirth

3.Preparation for admission to the maternity hospital

4. Periods of labor and their duration

5. Behavior during childbirth

5.1. The meaning of the correct and calm behavior of a woman in childbirth

5.2. Role of a partner in childbirth

5.3. Trust in medical personnel and the need to follow all of its recommendations

5.4. Training in different breathing methods for a safe course of labor

5.5. Labor pain relief training

5.6. Self-training and precise self-massage to strengthen the psycho-emotional state in childbirth

6. The first hours after childbirth. Importance of early breastfeeding in the delivery room

7. Remedial gymnastics in the postpartum period

8. Contraception after childbirth

9. Legislative rights of motherhood.

90,000 Pigmentation during pregnancy

With the onset of pregnancy, many changes await a woman: reorganization of the work of all internal organs, hormonal disruption.This affects the physiological and emotional state of the pregnant woman. It is often possible to notice that in some areas the skin changes color.

Pigmentation: what is it?

Pigmentation appears due to the excessive production of melanin, which is responsible for skin color. Pigmentation appears in the lightening or darkening of skin areas, it all depends on the skin color of the future mother. More often, owners of dark skin have light spots, and vice versa for fair-skinned ones.

Spots appear on the cheeks, on the chin, on the forehead, on the halos of the mammary glands, on the inner side of the thighs, on the abdomen.Most often, pigmentation is noticeable in the third trimester.

A brown stripe appears on the abdomen in the area of ​​the Alba stripe, the nipples turn dark brown.

If the pigment spots are concentrated on the face, they are irregular and brown in color. Sometimes they appear as an arch from temple to temple across the forehead. Such a manifestation is called a “mask of a pregnant woman.” Pigmentation increases during pregnancy in those who are prone to freckles.

Reasons for the appearance of pigmentation

It is often said that if a woman has pigmentation during pregnancy, she is expecting a baby girl.In fact, this statement has no scientific explanation.

The main reason for the appearance of age spots is hormonal imbalance, which cannot be avoided.

Genetics can also influence the appearance of pigmentation on the abdomen, face and nipples. If your mom suffered from pigmentation during pregnancy, you are also at risk.

Stress can be the cause, it negatively affects the body of mom and baby, and can cause pigmentation.

Lack of folic acid is another cause of pigmentation. Therefore, doctors from the first day of pregnancy recommend the use of folic acid and foods that contain it. This does not mean that as soon as you notice age spots, you need to start drinking vitamins, you first need to consult a doctor.

How to get rid of age spots

Do not be upset about pigmentation, this is a temporary phenomenon. Over time after pregnancy, within 2-3 months, every woman returns to normal.This also applies to hormonal levels and prenatal weight. This means that the pigmentation will go away.

Pigment spots do not require any enhanced treatment. If a woman is very worried about spots, she is nervous about this, you can try to lighten the darkened areas a little. It will not be possible to get rid of stains completely during pregnancy.

Any cosmetic product used should be used only after consultation with a doctor. After all, any seemingly harmless remedy can harm the baby.If you want to do some kind of cosmetology procedures, you should not contact the first beauty salon you come across, it is better to contact a specialized cosmetology clinic, where you should immediately inform that you are pregnant. The cosmetologist will be able to decide whether you can do this or that procedure.

Folk remedies to combat pigmentation

Almost all folk remedies are safe to fight pigmentation:

1. Apply any fermented milk product to the pigmented areas for 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water.
2. Grated fresh cucumber mask will help lighten blemishes, nourish and refresh the skin.
3. Blended parsley as a compress will lighten stains.
4. Grapefruit juice, if you are not allergic to citrus fruits, can be applied to the skin for twenty minutes.

During pregnancy DO NOT use :

• Laser resurfacing.
• Chemical peeling.
• Products containing excess vitamin A.
• Tanning will only intensify age spots, they will become more noticeable and darker.
• It is necessary to replenish the body with vitamins before and during pregnancy, to be outdoors more often. Adequate rest, a healthy lifestyle, proper nutrition are the basic requirements for a pregnancy to proceed normally.
• A pregnant woman’s diet should include a sufficient amount of fruits, vegetables, herbs, cereals, fish and meat. All of these products must replenish the body with missing vitamins.
• Avoid direct sunlight. If you are often in the sun, use protective body creams.
• Do not use unknown cosmetics.
• Avoid black tea and coffee, but you should drink enough fluids.
• Avoid stressful situations.
• Visit an endocrinologist to monitor your thyroid function.

How to avoid the appearance of age spots?

• It is necessary to replenish the body with vitamins before and during pregnancy, to be outdoors more often.Adequate rest, a healthy lifestyle, proper nutrition are the basic requirements for a pregnancy to proceed normally.
• A pregnant woman’s diet should include a sufficient amount of fruits, vegetables, herbs, cereals, fish and meat. All of these products must replenish the body with missing vitamins.
• Avoid direct sunlight. If you are often in the sun, use protective body creams.
• Do not use unknown cosmetics.
• Avoid black tea and coffee, but you should drink enough fluids.
• Avoid stressful situations.
• Visit an endocrinologist to monitor your thyroid function.

90,044 90,000 First trimester of pregnancy: changes in the woman’s body and fetal development by week

What systems of the body begin to work in a new way?

After the conception of a child, global physiological changes occur in the woman’s body.Great changes are observed in the work of the endocrine system. The production of hormones of the anterior pituitary gland, which are responsible for the formation and development of the follicle in the ovary, is suppressed. The corpus luteum is forming, a hormone-producing gland that plays a key role in maintaining early pregnancy.

A temporary gland forms in the right or left ovary after ovulation and produces progesterone. Functions of progesterone:

• prevents the release of new eggs and the development of menstrual bleeding;
• stimulates the growth of the endometrium, prepares the lining of the uterus to secure the ovum,
• ensures the implantation of the embryo and its further normal development;
• promotes the formation of a mucous plug in the cervix, which is necessary to protect the embryo from infections;
• reduces the tone of the muscle layer of the uterus, preventing its contraction and miscarriage.

In non-pregnant women, the corpus luteum resolves two weeks before menstruation. During the period of gestation, it exists until 10-12 weeks of gestation, after which the temporary gland ceases to exist and the placenta performs its functions.

The functioning of the corpus luteum is provided by the hCG hormone, which begins to be produced by the chorionic tissue 6-8 days after the fusion of the male and female gametes. hCG enhances the synthesis of sex hormones and corticosteroids produced in the adrenal cortex.

An important hormone during the period of gestation is prolactin, which is produced by the pituitary gland. From the 8th week of pregnancy, prolactin production increases. This is necessary to prepare the mammary glands for breastfeeding, as well as for the normal formation of the lung tissue of the embryo.

In the early stages of pregnancy, the work of the thyroid gland changes. The organ grows in size and begins to synthesize more hormones, which are important for the development of the embryo.

Immune system

During the period of bearing a child, even in an absolutely healthy woman, the body’s defenses are reduced. This is due to changes in hormonal levels and adaptation of the body to new conditions.

The likelihood of acute inflammatory processes and exacerbation of chronic diseases increases. Pathologies of the respiratory, digestive, and genitourinary systems can be exacerbated. The situation is often complicated by the fact that many preventive and therapeutic medications are contraindicated during pregnancy.

What can a pregnant woman do to strengthen the immune system?

1. Create a useful menu. Fresh vegetables and fruits, dairy products, fish, nuts, green tea – all this strengthens the immune system.
2. Lead an active lifestyle and monitor body weight. Overweight and lack of activity reduce the body’s defenses.
3. Avoid stress. Emotional experiences depress the immune system.

In addition, during pregnancy, it is important to treat any inflammatory processes on time.All body systems are interconnected. For example, a common cold can cause acute pyelonephritis or other serious illness.

Psycho-emotional changes

Almost all women during pregnancy are subject to sharp emotional changes, because changes in hormonal levels affect the functioning of the central nervous system. The psycho-emotional state of a pregnant woman often worsens during toxicosis. In this regard, a pregnant woman may experience:

• tearfulness;

90,026 irritability;

• dizziness;
• drowsiness.

As a rule, such manifestations are typical only for early pregnancy. Emotional stress in the first trimester will help to cope with adequate sleep, moderate physical activity, pleasant activities and hobbies.

Online consultation of a gynecologist

Online consultation

As part of the consultation, you will be able to voice your problem, the doctor will clarify the situation, decipher the analyzes, answer your questions and give the necessary recommendations.

Fetal development by week in the first trimester

The conception of a child occurs during ovulation, after the fertilization of an egg with a sperm. As a rule, ovulation coincides with 10-16 days of the menstrual cycle.

Intrauterine human development is divided into two stages: embryonic and fetal. The first stage is the period from the moment of fertilization of the egg to the tenth week of pregnancy.

During the embryonic stage, important processes take place: cleavage and implantation of the embryo into the uterine cavity, the formation of a neural plate (the rudiment of the central nervous system) and its closure into the neural tube, the formation of organs and the placenta.

It is worth distinguishing between embryonic and obstetric pregnancy. The first is counted from the moment of conception, the second – from the beginning of the last menstruation. As a rule, the difference between these periods is two weeks.

It turns out that the formation and ontogenesis of the embryo begins only in the third week of pregnancy of the obstetric period. Let’s take a closer look at how the fetus develops by week during the first trimester.

3 weeks gestation

After the penetration of the sperm into the egg, a zygote is formed – a diploid cell that has a set of chromosomes that are equivalently derived from the female and male gametes.The duration of the formation of a diploid cell is 25-30 hours.

The division of the zygote and its movement towards the uterus begins. At the beginning of division, the zygote splits into 2-4 blastomeres (round cells that form the embryo). The number of blastomeres increases every day.

On the fourth day after conception, the zygote consists of 12-14 blastomeres. The density of embryonic cells grows, and they are closely associated with each other. The embryo enters the uterine cavity.

A blastocyst is formed (early stage of embryonic development), which is implanted into the endometrium of the uterus. During implantation, a pregnant woman may experience uterine contractions and bloody discharge, which is often mistaken for menstruation. However, unlike menstruation, bleeding during implantation is mild and short-lived.

4 week

Implantation accelerates the development of the embryoblast (internal cells of the embryo), resulting in the formation of extraembryonic organs:

• Chorion is a membrane that performs excretory, respiratory and protective functions. After implantation of the embryo, the first chorionic villi begin to appear on its surface. Subsequently, part of the chorionic cells destroys the wall of the uterus and participates in the formation of the placenta;
• amnion is a water membrane that provides the fetus with optimal development conditions and protects it from mechanical stress. Amnion fluid consists of proteins, sugars, mineral salts and other substances;
• yolk sac, which performs a hematopoietic function. At first, its size exceeds the size of the embryo. After 12 weeks of gestation, this temporary organ decreases in size and completely disappears.

The formation of the primary gut takes place. The organs of the digestive system will develop from its departments in the future. In the fourth week of gestation, the liver and pancreas are laid.

After the embryo is implanted into the uterine cavity, placenta rudiments are formed at the embryo attachment site. The process of its formation will be completed by 16 weeks of gestation. The placenta provides the fetus with the necessary oxygen, nutrients, protects against infections, and removes metabolic products.

By the end of the fourth week of gestation, the woman notices that the expected period is not coming. During this period, mood swings, fatigue, and increased sensitivity of the mammary glands may occur.

5 week

By the fifth week, the neural tube appears – the basis of the spinal cord and brain.The heart is formed from the bulge in the central part of the fetus. In the same period, hemoglobin begins to form, therefore, the rate of iron consumption by the embryo increases.

The umbilical cord begins to form, which will become the link between the embryo and the placenta. As the fetus grows, the umbilical cord also increases in size.

During this period, a woman may experience the first signs of toxicosis: nausea, vomiting, intolerance to certain foods and odors.

6 week

In the embryo, the heart begins to beat, the thymus gland is laid, which is responsible for immunity. Formed:

• rudiments of hands and feet;
• cerebral hemispheres;

90,026 eye sockets and auditory canals;

• organs of the excretory system.

Vessels are actively growing, blood circulation is established.

7 week

Nerve fibers, esophagus, stomach, pharynx develop.The embryo has the likeness of the hands, the primary germ cells. The pancreas starts producing insulin. The respiratory system is so far represented only by the trachea.

In a woman, signs of toxicosis may intensify, so it is important to observe an abundant drinking regime.

8 week

This period is characterized by the formation of facial features in the embryo, as well as the development of the lower and upper limbs. The retina forms in the eyes, the upper limbs are able to bend at the elbows, and the lower ones at the knees.

The genitals acquire a characteristic appearance, but this is still not enough to determine the sex of the unborn child.

9 week

The left and right atria and ventricles appear in the heart. Large blood vessels and endocrine glands develop. The placenta starts producing hormones. The toes on the lower and upper limbs are fully formed.

10 week

If there is a gene in the genotype of the embryo that initiates the development of the male body, then in the tenth week of gestation, the testicles develop actively, and they begin to produce the hormone testosterone.

At the same time, the fetus develops the optic nerve, and urine begins to form in the kidneys. The strength of the bone tissue is increased. A diaphragm is formed between the abdominal and chest cavities.

11 week

From week 11, the fetal period of intrauterine development begins. The state of health of the majority of pregnant women stabilizes: symptoms of toxicosis, irritability, and rapid fatigue disappear.

The fetus has formed the most important organs, face, cerebral hemispheres.Muscle tissue develops. The fetus begins to make movements, but the woman does not yet feel them.

12 week

Taste receptors of the tongue are formed. The cerebellum is actively developing – the part of the brain that is responsible for the implementation of purposeful movements, their speed and the maintenance of muscle tone. The rudiments of nails and teeth appear.

The thymus gland is a full-fledged organ in which differentiation of T-lymphocytes occurs.