So, you’ve just found out that you’re having a baby. Congratulations! Discovering you are pregnant and a new life is forming within you brings a flood of emotions from excitement, nervousness, curiosity, and beyond. Along with this, you will experience a variety of symptoms and changes within your body over the nine months.
To help you make sense of these pregnancy symptoms, we’ve put together a little guide on what to expect during each trimester.
Remember, every woman’s body is different and every pregnancy is different, so if you do not experience some of the symptoms, as another woman, don’t be alarmed.
Pregnancy symptoms to expect during each trimester
First trimester (weeks 4-12)
Most women often ask – when do pregnancy signs start? To answer this question – pregnancy begins on the first day of your last menstrual cycle. Although at this point, you will not look pregnant, your body will go through many changes. In the first few weeks of conception, your hormone levels change, affecting almost every organ in your body. Therefore, you’ll start to experience symptoms such as:
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Morning sickness
- Headaches
- Constipation
- Cravings or food aversions
- Tender breasts
- Mood swings
- Bloating
However, the above are not sure signs of pregnancy, as you can also experience these when expecting your period. The first definitive sign of pregnancy is a missed period and an at-home pregnancy test. You then confirm this at a doctor’s appointment by taking a urine or a blood test.
Second trimester (weeks 13-28)
During the second trimester, you’ll notice that most early pregnancy symptoms disappear. While a lot of the early pregnancy symptoms disappear, you can expect to experience the following:
- Body aches such as back pain.
- Darkening of the areola (skin around the nipples).
- Leg cramps.
- Swelling of ankles/fingers and the face.
- Stretch marks on your abdomen, breasts, and thighs.
As your baby begins to grow, you will notice your abdomen expand, and by the end of the trimester, you will feel your baby move. Now will be a good time to invest in some maternity wear!
Third trimester (weeks 29 – 40)
During the third trimester, you will continue to have some symptoms from the second trimester. But you will also experience new discomforts as the baby gets bigger. For instance, due to the baby putting pressure on the cervix, you will need to go to the bathroom more often. Along with this, you may begin to experience the following:
- Shortness of breath.
- Heartburn
- Haemorrhoids
- Your belly button may pop out.
- Braxton Hicks contractions can be signs of early or false labour.
- Your breasts may begin to leak a watery pre-milk called colostrum.
As the final countdown begins and you fast approach your due date, your cervix becomes thinner and softer to help the birth canal open during the birthing. Your doctor will carry out A=a vaginal exam by your doctor to check on your progress as you prepare for the birth of your baby.
Prenatal care and regular check-ups.
Prenatal care and regular check-ups
Having proper prenatal care and knowledge during your pregnancy is essential. Hence why, here at Wollongong Obstetrics and Gynaecology, we recommend regular visits with Dr Kothari. This will allow us to monitor your and your baby’s health. During these visits, Dr Kothari will check your baby’s heart rate and perform an ultrasound to examine the baby’s development. He will also check your blood pressure, urine, and weight gain to help keep your health on track.
Dr Kothari and his team also provide care for high-risk pregnancies. Including women with
- pre-existing medical conditions,
- multiple births and
- abnormal pregnancies – that may carry an increased risk of complications.
Book your appointment.
If you have just found out that you are embarking on the journey of motherhood, call our team on 02 4225 1999 to book an appointment with Dr Kothari.
Dr Kothari is dedicated to developing a trusting and supportive relationship with all his patients to ensure a safe and successful pregnancy and delivery. Our experienced team is here to support and help you every step of the way on this incredible journey.