Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Seeing a Doctor
• Method 2 of 3: Habits Good for Pregnancy
• Method 3 of 3: Managing First Trimester Symptoms
• Tips
• Warnings

Pregnancy usually lasts about 40 weeks, during which three trimesters are allocated. The first trimester is the first 13 weeks of pregnancy. At this time, the body adapts to the emergence of new life in it, therefore it is important to take all necessary measures for the successful development of the embryo and the protection of the mother's health.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Seeing a Doctor

1. 1 Find a good doctor. If you don't already have a gynecologist with whom you would be comfortable, look for a doctor on the Internet or ask friends and family for advice. The supervision of an experienced doctor plays an important role in the pregnancy process. Plus, you should be comfortable with this doctor.
2. 2 Make an appointment. It is important to do this as soon as you know you are pregnant. Research results indicate that women who are not seen by a doctor have a higher risk of having a baby that is underweight, as well as the risk of developing health problems in a child, compared with women who are regularly seen during pregnancy.
3. 3 Know what to expect from your gynecologist appointment. During the first appointment, the doctor will not only confirm the pregnancy, but also prescribe a series of tests and examinations to assess your health, as well as the health of the unborn child. This will allow you to establish contact with your doctor. Most often, the first reception includes the following procedures:
   • The doctor asks questions about your current health situation and past health problems, including questions about the drugs you are taking, smoking, current and past medical conditions, surgery, pregnancies, and family conditions, including genetic ones.
   • The doctor records the date of the last menstrual period in order to determine the due date.
   • The doctor conducts a gynecological examination and takes a cytological smear.
   • Your doctor will order or perform tests for sexually transmitted infections.
   • The doctor fixes the weight and measures the circumference of the waist.
   • The doctor measures the pressure.
   • The doctor will order a urine test for protein and sugar.
   • The doctor does an ultrasound scan to listen to the baby's heartbeat, but usually it can be heard no earlier than 6-7 weeks of pregnancy.
4. 4 Schedule follow-up visits to your doctor. Even if at the first visit the doctor did not find any problems, you will need to go to the gynecologist several more times during pregnancy. It is usually recommended to see a doctor once a month for the first six months, twice a month at 7 and 8 months, and every week for 9 months until delivery.
5. 5 Talk to your doctor about advanced tests. Towards the end of the first trimester, your doctor may suggest that you undergo tests that will give you more information about the condition of the fetus. These tests can detect genetic diseases, congenital malformations and predict possible health problems in a developing child, but you can decide for yourself which of the tests you want to undergo. Doctors strongly recommend taking these examinations, as they allow you to make important decisions about health before and after childbirth.

Method 2 of 3: Habits Good for Pregnancy

1. 1 Give up habits that are harmful to the fetus. The most important thing you can do in the first trimester and during pregnancy in general is to give up habits that can be harmful and dangerous for the unborn baby. Although doctors recommend avoiding a number of foods and habits during pregnancy, the most important thing is to stop doing the following as soon as possible:
   • Alcohol consumption - can cause congenital malformations, miscarriages, stillbirth, underweight at birth.
   • Tobacco smoking - can cause miscarriages, stillbirth and underweight at birth.
   • Use of even small amounts of street drugs, including cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine. Drugs can cause serious health problems for a child or even lead to death. The effects of marijuana on the fetus have not yet been sufficiently studied, however, it is also recommended to abstain from this drug.
   • Excessive caffeine intake. Limit yourself to one cup of coffee a day.
2. 2 Drink plenty of water daily. It is important to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day to keep your body hydrated. In pregnant women, blood volume increases as the body prepares to support both the mother and the baby and therefore needs to drink more. In addition, a sufficient amount of water in the diet can fight fatigue, constipation and prevent premature birth.
3. 3 Start or keep eating healthy. Throughout pregnancy, it is important to eat well and get enough calories from healthy foods. This is essential for your health and the health of your baby. To get all the nutrients you need from food in the first trimester:
   • Eat nutritious meals in smaller meals more often rather than large meals three times a day to keep your blood sugar level and fatigue less.
   • Limit or eliminate foods that are high in sugar or fat.
   • Eat more whole grains and fortified cereals. This will increase the amount of fiber, folate, and iron in the body.
   • Eat foods that contain lean protein (such as poultry and fish).
   • Eat foods high in calcium and iron (green leafy vegetables).
   • Eat fresh foods high in vitamin A, vitamin C and potassium (citrus fruits, bananas).
4. 4 Know how much weight you can gain. In the first trimester, you may have a strong craving for certain foods, but pregnancy is not a reason to eat everything you want, and at any time. It is important to keep an eye on the amount of calories in the diet, as recent studies have shown that an overweight mother can negatively affect the health of a child throughout her life. Although this is individual, the general guidelines are as follows:
   • You should eat no more than 300 additional calories per day, and it is important to get these calories from healthy foods.
   • A healthy woman can gain 11-15 kilograms during pregnancy without harm to her health.
   • Overweight women should gain no more than 4-9 kilograms.
   • Women with a lack of weight, as well as women who are carrying several children, should gain no more than 11-15 kilograms.
5. 5 Take nutritional supplements. Even if you are eating right and getting enough nutrients, it is important to ensure that your body does not need the nutrients it needs most during pregnancy. A multivitamin for pregnant women with a folate content of 0.4 to 0.8 milligrams helps prevent developmental defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly.
6. 6 Exercise regularly. It is important to discuss your exercise regimen with your doctor, but usually pregnant women are advised to do what they did before pregnancy, or start doing moderate exercise. Regular low-intensity exercise (walking, swimming) will be beneficial. It is also important to follow these guidelines:
   • Avoid exercising in hot weather and avoid overheating in general.
   • Drink water before, during, and after your workout.
   • Do stretching exercises and warm-ups to increase your breathing and heart rate gradually. Finish your workout the same way.
   • Do moderate intensity exercises (you should be able to speak calmly during exercise) and stop if you feel tired.

Method 3 of 3: Managing First Trimester Symptoms

1. 1 Fight fatigue. Most women feel very tired during the first trimester, and this is completely normal. This fatigue can appear even before the abdomen is enlarged and extra weight is added. There are many physical and hormonal changes going on in your body, and it takes a lot of energy. To cope with first trimester fatigue, try the tips below:
   • Get some sleep and stay on track. If your body tells you to go to bed early, listen to it. Skip unnecessary tasks and ask someone to help you with household chores.
   • Sleep 15 minutes whenever you can. If you are a full-time worker, close your office door and rest your head on the table for a moment. If you are a housewife, have someone babysit for an hour a couple of times a week.
   • Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Drink less just a couple of hours before bed to avoid getting up unnecessarily at night.
   • Avoid eating heavy or spicy foods at night to prevent heartburn and indigestion, which can start at night. Also, do not drink a lot of liquids at night to avoid having to go to the toilet.
2. 2 Learn to deal with morning sickness. Most often, nausea occurs in the morning, but it can persist throughout the day. In 75% of women, pregnancy-induced nausea of ​​varying severity occurs in the first trimester. Most often, nausea goes away by the end of the first trimester, but before that moment comes, try the following:
   • Eat small meals throughout the day with a preference for non-flavored foods and carbohydrate foods (dry toast, salty crackers). Try to avoid both hunger and excess satiety.
   • Avoid hearty, spicy, or greasy foods, or foods you don't like the smell.
   • Try acupressure bracelets for nausea.
   • Ask your doctor about vitamin B6 combined with half a doxylamine tablet at bedtime. Some studies indicate that it can help fight nausea.
   • Ginger can also help ease nausea. Drink ginger tea, eat ginger candy, or take ginger tablets.
3. 3 Deal with stress. It's no surprise that during pregnancy you worry about the food you eat, the health of your baby, the way your life is changing, and many other things. However, if you feel that stress and anxiety are consuming you and interfering with your normal life, you should start dealing with them. Excessive stress levels during pregnancy increase the risk of preterm birth and underweight at birth. Try to deal with stress at work and at home in the following ways:
   • Learn to slow down. Ask friends, family, and your partner to help you more often. Stop doing everything yourself and start giving up unnecessary things.
   • Try different relaxation techniques: deep breathing exercises, yoga, stretching exercises.
   • If you are especially worried about any aspect of pregnancy or childbirth, sign up for a pregnancy class or join a support group. Learning more about pregnancy and childbirth and hearing stories from other women can help you overcome your anxiety.
4. 4 Talk to your doctor about depression. Diagnosing emotional disturbances in pregnant women can be difficult because pregnancy causes many of the same symptoms, including fatigue, appetite changes, and sleep problems. However, scientists have found that about 33% of women experience clinical depression or anxiety disorder during depression, and only 20% seek help. If you ignore the symptoms and do not seek treatment, you will endanger both yourself and your baby. Talk to your doctor for treatment options. There are the following methods of dealing with mood disorders:
   • Psychotherapy, for example, cognitive-behavioral therapy. A therapist will teach you how to perceive your thoughts and emotions differently.
   • Increase in omega-3 fatty acids in the diet. These substances are found in foods such as oily fish and nuts and can help boost mood.
   • Light therapy. Patients are exposed to artificial sunlight at specific times of the day to relieve symptoms of depression.
   • Acupuncture. This ancient practice involves placing tiny needles in specific areas on the skin to influence mood.
   • Antidepressants.

Tips

• Don't forget to take care of your teeth. Schedule an examination or ultrasonic cleaning in the first trimester. The gums may bleed slightly due to hormonal changes. Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant.

Warnings

• If you are depressed or under such intense stress that you feel like you can no longer cope, see your doctor and ask for a referral to a therapist. A therapist will assess your symptoms and prescribe treatment to help you stay physically and mentally healthy throughout your pregnancy.
• See your doctor right away if you have bleeding, cramping, increased discharge, or odor, fever, chills, or painful urination.