Overview
Pregnancy is not only about the birth of a child but also about the birth of a mother. It is the time when you undergo major bodily changes along with emotional variations.
It is vital for you to pay close attention to your body and mind and take steps to maintain your maternal care. Generally, pregnancy lasts for about 9 to 10 months. This entire period is divided into three trimesters.
In each trimester, your body will undergo various changes as the fetus inside your womb gets developed and matured. You need to be aware of certain things like what food you should eat, what will be the possible discomforts that you may face, and so on.
First trimester
The first trimester forms a period between the day your egg gets fertilized and until the last day of week 12. It is the time you experience initial changes as a pregnant woman. If you are pregnant for the first time, you may feel prominent changes along the way.
What happens to your body?
It is essential for you to know the importance of maternal health care during the early weeks of your pregnancy. Some women may experience rapid changes in their bodies due to a surge of hormonal release, whereas in some women, these changes will be subtle.
When you become pregnant, one of the first bodily changes that you notice is the stopping of your periods. Some other body changes include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Tiredness
- Stomach upset
- Tenderness in breasts
- Mood swings
- Heartburn
- Excessive craving for certain foods and revulsion for some other foods
- Constipation
You do not need to panic if you feel any of these discomforts or changes. Breaking your meals into smaller portions and taking rest will help you feel better.
What are the do's and don'ts during the first trimester?
The type of maternal care that you need to do varies in each trimester. Here is the list of things that you should consider:
- Consuming extra calories of about 300 calories more than your normal intake
- Doing a regular workout and yoga
- Perform Kegel exercises to work out your pelvic area
- Hydrating yourself regularly by drinking water and fruit juices
- Consume enough fibre and protein
- Take prenatal vitamins
You need to avoid the following things in your first trimester
- Avoid consuming excess caffeine (more than one cup is not advisable)
- Quit smoking and drinking at any cost
- Avoid arduous exercises
- Avoid smoked seafood
- Avoid foods that contain high mercury like shark, mackerel, etc.
- Limit unpasteurized milk and dairy products
Your first trimester is the time during which your body will start reacting to the development of the fetus inside you.
Second trimester
This trimester constitutes the time between week 13 and week 27 from the date of your conception. During this phase, your stomach will grow as the baby inside gets matured. For most women, this phase is comparatively manageable than the first trimester. However, a mother’s health during pregnancy should not be taken lightly .
What happens to your body?
In this time, your symptoms of the first trimester will start to fade such as reduced nausea and vomiting. You will develop a new set of symptoms during this phase:
- Reduced blood pressure, as a result, dizziness
- Weight gain
- Expansion of the uterus
- Expansion of your belly
- Increase in appetite
- Increase in body aches
- Stretchmarks on breasts, stomach, buttocks and thighs
- Swelling of arms and ankles
You can feel your child move inside your womb during this phase. If you feel any of the above symptoms continuously or severely, call your doctor immediately.
What are the do’s and don’ts during the second trimester?
Some of the maternal health care tips that you can follow are:
- Continue with your exercises and yoga
- Practice meditation to calm your mind
- Continuing with prenatal vitamins
- Make sure to hydrate your body often
- Consume more calories than in the previous phase
It is important to note that some cases of premature birth are linked to poor dental hygiene. So, make sure to keep your gums and teeth healthy.
You need to avoid the same foods and practices as that of your first trimester. In addition, if you happen to intake any medicine, you need to avoid the following drugs such as isotretinoin (for acne), acitretin (for psoriasis), etc.
Third trimester
It is the final phase of your pregnancy. It starts from the 28th week until the day of delivery. It is a period full of anticipation. You will most likely experience an emotional roller coaster during this phase.
The symptoms that you experience will be different from what you would experience in the first two trimesters. Even during all the excitement, the importance of maternal health should not be taken lightly. It is also the time you can learn about the breastfeeding benefits for mother’s health and first-aid practices.
Some of the common symptoms of this trimester are:
- Abdominal pain
Most women experience pain in their abdominal area due to a variety of reasons such as constipation, gas, false labour, etc.
Sometimes you experience abdominal pain due to health conditions such as urinary tract infection, pre-eclampsia (it’s a high blood pressure condition during pregnancy) and placental abruption (a condition in which your placenta separates from your uterus at an earlier stage).
- Lower back pain
During later stages of pregnancy, your body releases excessive hormones, due to which your connective tissues loosen. This is what creates an easy path in your pelvis for your baby to come out by loosening the tissues.
But this may lead to pain in your hip and lower back. Lower back pain also occurs due to a change in your posture because of the baby inside your womb.
This pain can be eased by
- Taking a warm bath
- Getting a prenatal massage
- Applying warm compress in areas except for your abdomen
Some other common discomforts and symptoms that you may develop are:
- Vaginal pain and bleeding
- Frequent Urination
- Pelvic Pain
- Sciatica (pain in the sciatic nerve that runs along your back to your feet)
- Insomnia
- Cramping in legs
To sum up
During pregnancy, along with the anticipation, you may also worry about many things. Even a slight change could be a cause for your concern.
You can learn about childcare and motherhood by watching videos and listening to the podcasts of experts. You can also download the importance of maternal and child health care ppt online. Or you can pick some books on maternal and child health topics.
In case of any severity in any of the symptoms, without delay approach your doctor.
