The first trimester is a crucial period of pregnancy when your baby’s organs and systems begin to form. It’s an exciting and sometimes challenging time for new parents, filled with many changes and milestones. Knowing not just what occurs in terms of your baby’s development during that first trimester, but what to do during those periods, is crucial.
Here is a short guide detailing what to expect during the first few months of your pregnancy.
Weeks 1-4
The first week of your pregnancy is determined by the date of your last menstrual period, even though conception hasn’t occurred yet. During weeks 2-4, your baby’s neural tube will form, and their heart will begin to beat. At this stage, you may experience symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, and breast tenderness. Try to catch your pregnancy as early as you can during this stage, so that you can then start taking an active approach towards your health. Changes you’ll want to make as soon as possible include boosting your diet, and cutting out toxins such as alcohol, smoking, harmful medication, drugs, and even caffeine – all of which can affect your baby’s development.
Weeks 5-8
During weeks 5-8, your baby’s major organs begin to develop. Their eyes, ears, and nose start to form, and their limbs begin to grow. At this stage, your baby is considered an embryo. You may also experience increased fatigue, morning sickness, and mood swings. To support this stage, you’ll need to start overhauling your diet. The goal should be to ingest the nutrients and vitamins you need, and use supplements to prop up the gaps from there. Keep these habits up throughout your pregnancy as much as possible.
Weeks 9-12
During weeks 9-12, your baby is now considered a fetus. Their organs are more developed, and they are growing rapidly. Your baby’s sex organs will also begin to form, but it may be too early to determine their gender. During this time, you may experience a decrease in symptoms, or they may continue to persist. It is here when you’ll start seeing your doctor. This can be your local gynaecologist, or it can be a private option. At this top pregnancy clinic London option, for example, you can scan for several genetic conditions from as early as 10 weeks. They even offer a six-scan package to help you monitor your baby’s development, far outpacing the standard set of scans you’d normally expect.
Week 13
At the end of your first trimester, your baby is approximately the size of a lemon. They have now grown to be about three inches long and weigh approximately 0.81 ounces. Your baby’s fingers and toes are fully formed, and their teeth are starting to develop. You may also start to feel more energized and experience less morning sickness. It’s also a great idea to sign up to antenatal classes now, since they book up early. You’ll also want to start financial planning. You can start to buy baby items if you find them (particularly if they’re at a great price). At the end of the first trimester, although it can still happen, miscarriage is also far less likely – so women are often more comfortable with letting their extended circles know about their pregnancy.