Pregnancy guide - first trimester

Congratulations, you’re going to have a baby! Whether this is your first pregnancy or you have children already, you’re probably feeling excited and a bit nervous about what to expect in the coming months. From this point on try to take extra special care of your body by eating healthily, sleeping lots and taking some gentle exercise.

"I am more aware of what I'm eating now that I am pregnant: I'm older, and so while carrying a baby I really want to do this right." Mums' Choice member Mariangela Balsama, 42

Month 1: the first signs of pregnancy

You: Pregnancy is usually dated by doctors from the first day of your last period – often before your baby has even been conceived! Most women conceive around two weeks after this, but you may know the exact date of conception. You will be asked for this date if you know it, or for the first day of your last period at your first midwife’s appointment, so they can calculate your baby’s due date.

At this early stage, there’s the possibility you will feel no different at all, and until a missed period you could remain completely unaware of your pregnancy. However, even before that missed period, many women start to “feel” pregnant. You might notice that your boobs feel heavy and your nipples are a bit sore, you could be experiencing extreme tiredness and find yourself nipping to the toilet every 20 minutes!

Some women also feel quite emotional at this stage; so if you find yourself welling up at television adverts, don’t panic! It’s simply hormones buzzing around your body.

Your baby: Inside your tummy all sorts of changes are taking place: your new baby is the size of a grain of rice. However, although it’s tiny, your embryo has multiplied to more than 150 cells, and over the coming weeks, layers of cells will form various components. For example, the outer layer will become your baby’s nervous system, skin and hair, while the inner layer will become breathing and digestive organs. The middle layer will become the skeleton, cartilage, muscles, circulatory system, kidneys and sex organs.

This period of rapid change is when the baby is most susceptible to damage from alcohol, drugs or illness so reducing your intake of alcohol and caffeine is recommended. Full government guidelines on pregnancy and alcohol can be found here.

Month 2: managing morning sickness

You: By now a missed period will have probably let you know for sure that you’re pregnant and you may have started to get morning sickness, which, as you may be finding out, doesn’t necessarily happen in the morning! Try eating small, regular snacks as an empty tummy usually triggers that queasy feeling. Ginger is also said to help, so try nibbling on a ginger biscuit or having a cup of ginger tea.

You should also avoid eating spicy foods, as strong smells and flavours can often trigger feelings of nausea. Tiredness plays a big part in triggering morning sickness so again, rest well, take naps and ensure you get at least 8 hours sleep at night. Don’t skip meals! Extra nutrients are vital for both you and your baby.

Some women are fortunate enough to avoid morning sickness completely, but if you’re not one of the lucky ones, don’t worry – it will pass. By the second trimester of your pregnancy, if not before, it should have got significantly better or stopped completely. In the meantime, if you are finding it very difficult to keep food down, talk to your GP or midwife for advice. Alternatively, ask other mothers for their personal tips, after all, they have had first hand experience and this is a perfect time to share worries and experiences.

This is a time of major development for your foetus, so a healthy diet and lifestyle become all-important. If you haven’t already been taking folic acid, you should start as soon as possible, as this can help to reduce neural deficiencies, such as spinal bifida, in your baby. Did you know, that your body is more efficient at absorbing nutrients when you are pregnant? So now is a perfect time to top up on those you may be lacking in your diet.

Your baby: Your little one is less than one inch long. His face is forming, his arms and legs are moving and his brain is developing further. By the end of week six, your baby is about the size of a small bean, but if you could look inside at what’s happening you’d see a large head and dark spots where the eyes and nostrils are beginning to form. Other features, like ears, are also beginning to emerge.

His hands and feet are shaped like little paddles at this stage, and even tiny fingers are beginning to form. Your baby’s heart has divided into two chambers and is beating around 150 times a minute – if you had an ultrasound now, the heartbeat would show up. The neural tube (brain, spinal cord and other neural tissue of the central nervous system) is also well formed. By the end of the second month, your little bean will be about one inch long.