Month one of pregnancy diary

How your body is changing

Amazing changes are already taking place as you embark upon the journey of pregnancy. Early on, soon after conception, a fertilised egg cell has travelled down a fallopian tube eventually to embed into the lining of your womb, or uterus. During the first month that cell has been dividing at a phenomenal pace and becomes known as an embryo. This is the very beginning of your baby, its placenta, and umbilical cord.

Do you already have tender or sore breasts?

Do common food smells suddenly make you feel nauseated?

Are you feeling overwhelmingly tired?

These may be the earliest symptoms you have of the tremendous changes going on.

As the fifth week dawns and you come to the end of your first month, your baby’s heart begins to function, major organs form, like the kidneys. Buds of the lower limbs are present; you may actually start to feel pregnant.

Why your body is changing

A pregnancy test taken days after your missed period could detect a special hormone called human chorionic gonadotrophin, or HCG, that has been released into your urine. The presence of HCG will give a positive test result.

Your body is growing and developing to accommodate your pregnancy, your baby is also growing at an incredible rate. The first few weeks are crucial to its development. Much of this is down to different hormones produced by both you and your baby.

For instance, did you know that the changes in the senses of smell and taste, and the increase in saliva you may experience are linked with HCG?

Another hormone, called progesterone is closely involved with both preparing you for pregnancy and keeping it going. From your first month of pregnancy, the volume of the total amount of blood your body makes increases by more than 50%; this is largely due to progesterone.

What you may be thinking about, and feeling

You may be beginning to suspect that you are pregnant; you may have taken the plunge, and had a pregnancy test that is positive. Don’t be surprised to find yourself having lots of seemingly conflicting feelings and thoughts:

joy and relief if this was planned, panic or fear if the pregnancy was unexpected.

For most women, a missed period is the first clue that they might be pregnant. It is a good idea to have this confirmed as soon as possible with a pregnancy test: you may be taking medication or other drugs that could be harmful to your baby, you may need to think about long term plans that you have already made. This is a time to think about diet and exercise, and giving up smoking.

On the other hand, for different reasons, you may find yourself in crisis and may have to explore all the issues with a trained counsellor or your GP.

Relational/social

Usually there are two people involved with having a baby, and for many reasons, pregnancy can pose challenges to your relationship with your partner. It may be that your partner goes through as much of an emotional upheaval as you do, as the idea of the weight of responsibility of fatherhood dawns on him. This may also be a significant time if you have had previous pregnancies with unhappy outcomes. Make special efforts to discuss your feelings and plans about the pregnancy to come.

Only you know the best time to tell your news to family and friends, work colleagues and employers.

Some women prefer to wait until they have reached the 2 nd trimester, 12- 13 weeks onwards, before they let others know, whilst others cannot contain themselves having had a positive test. It all depends on what is right for you. Now might be a time to start a diary of your pregnancy. This can be used to keep a track of your changing emotions and experiences, but also for practical reasons, so that it prompts you to ask relevant questions when consulting with health professionals and others.

Once you have established that you are pregnant, you will need to find out from you surgery or local maternity unit how you can get that first appointment to see either a midwife or GP to discuss all of your options and start your antenatal care.

HELP YOURSELF:

• Healthy eating is good for you and your baby. Try to eat a variety of foods, and have a balanced diet of fruit and vegetables, starchy foods, protein, and dairy products.
• Up to the first 12-13 weeks, folic acid helps to protect your baby from conditions such as spina bifida. You can get free folic acid supplements on prescription.
• Its naturally occurring form of folate is found in leafy green vegetables, baked beans and yeast extract.
• Your body’s demand for iron increases tremendously, so make sure you have good sources of iron rich foods. Remember your body absorbs iron better with vitamin c.
• Rest when you can. Try catching a nap in the day if possible, and get good amounts of fresh air and exercise.
• Using a travel sickness band may lessen the dreaded nausea and vomiting.
• Your midwife or GP will be able to let you know of extra benefits you are entitled to when you are pregnant.

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