Your body goes through a whole series of changes when you’re pregnant, some more obvious than others. Here’s a brief outline of what to expect in the first trimester (the first 12 or 13 weeks of your pregnancy).
In the first few weeks, you may experience some of the early signs of pregnancy, such as a missed period, or feeling tired, sick, or more emotional than usual, due to the changes in hormone levels taking place.
During this time, your uterus (the medical term for your womb) grows larger. The growing uterus pressing on your bladder is one of the reasons why you might find yourself needing to go to the loo more often.
At the same time, your breasts may grow larger, and you may feel some tenderness or tingling. By the end of the second month, your nipples and the area around them will deepen in colour.
You may also be constipated while you are pregnant. You can help prevent this by drinking plenty of fluids and eating fibre-rich food like fresh or dried fruit, raw vegetables, and whole-grain cereals. Cutting down on your caffeine intake (reducing coffee, tea, colas, etc.) and regular exercise can also help avoid constipation.
You may get cramps in your legs or feet in the first trimester, and sometimes later in your pregnancy. This is due to changes in the way your body processes calcium.
By the end of the first trimester, your uterus rises up into your abdomen (taking some of the pressure off your bladder).
