
Coping with early pregnancy
Finding
out you're pregnant is an incredibly exciting time. You may have been
attempting to conceive for a while and suddenly your wish for a baby has come
true. Alternately, your pregnancy might have come as a surprise to you, in
which case it might take a while for the news to sink in.
Whatever
your situation – whether your pregnancy was planned or not – you’ll likely be
experiencing a range of emotions. Initially, you may feel elated – but
don't be surprised if you find yourself also feeling anxious, weepy or even confused. It’ll take you a while to
adjust to your pregnancy, both emotionally and physically, so it's best to be
prepared for the fact that your mood may fluctuate on a daily basis.
One
of the first classic symptoms of early pregnancy is one you will almost
certainly have heard of – morning sickness. Although this usually starts
at around week five, some women may start suffering from nausea just two weeks
after conceiving their baby. Some women will just feel vaguely queasy, while
others may vomit. The term ‘morning sickness’ is also deceptive, as some women
feel sick all day! Don't panic, though – there are several steps you can take
to make yourself feel better. Tips include eating smaller, more frequent meals
made up of bland food, sucking on hard candy and munching ginger cookies. It's
important that you eat regularly, as 'pregnancy affects your glucose metabolism
and blood sugar levels can drop quickly in some women, which will make you
nauseated. See our feature morning sickness: how to beat it for more help.
Another
common side effect of early pregnancy is extreme tiredness. This is due to pregnancy
hormones flooding your system to support your baby’s rapid development in the
first three months. Take comfort from the fact that, as you enter your second
trimester (weeks 13-28) you’re likely to feel more energetic. Although it's not
realistic for most women to have a daytime nap, relax as much as you can during
the evenings and get as many early nights as you can. Share your
responsibilities with your partner, friends and family. Eating a healthy diet and doing gentle exercise will also make you feel more
energized – but keep in mind that pregnancy hormones relax your ligaments, and
that you’ll need to be careful not to overstretch them. Walking, swimming and
yoga are ideal.
Other
symptoms associated with the first trimester may surprise you. Some women
report excessive saliva. This is linked to morning
sickness and you can alleviate the symptoms by eating fruit or chewing gum. You
may also feel quite bloated and windy during the first few months, but keep
eating high-fiber foods as these will help combat another common pregnancy
symptom: constipation.
In
the first few weeks of pregnancy, you’ll experience many changes to your breasts. They may feel very tender and swollen – this is because the milk
ducts are swelling and getting ready to feed your baby. Make sure you're
wearing a well-fitting bra, as you don't want to put any additional pressure on
your breasts. Avoid wearing under-wired bras during pregnancy in case they
interfere with the forming of delicate milk ducts.
Around
this time, you may also have an overwhelming urge to pee frequently. This is
because your uterus is expanding to accommodate your growing baby, and pushing
against your bladder – which makes you need to urinate more often. Although the
need to pee constantly is completely normal in early pregnancy, if your urine
starts to sting at all, visit your GP as you might have a urinary tract
infection.
Some
women suffer from headaches in the first trimester – this
is due to a combination of tension and constipation. To avoid headaches, get as
much rest as possible, keep up your fluid intake and try an icepack. You might
also have bleeding gums – if you do, schedule a checkup with your dentist.
As
well as all the physical aspects associated with early pregnancy, it's
important that you're also aware of the emotional side of expecting a baby.
You’ll likely have moments when you pause to take stock of just how your baby
will change your life, and worry that you might have made a mistake. You’ll also
likely worry about whether your baby is OK.
Although
you have every right to be overjoyed, it's fundamental that you take time
to consider the changes you will have to make to your life. Be
prepared to make sacrifices. Aside from giving up smoking, you’ll also
need to cut alcohol and coffee consumption down to a minimum (or give them
up altogether). There are also quite a few types of food you will have to avoid
now that you're pregnant (see foods to avoid during pregnancy for more information). Rather
than dwelling on the things you have to give up, focus on the reason you're
making these changes to your lifestyle – you want to ensure that your pregnancy
runs smoothly and that your baby is healthy.
Some
women suffer spotting and bleeding in early pregnancy. Although this is often nothing
to worry about, if you experience any cramps or are at all concerned, contact
your OB-GYN or nurse-midwife straightaway. If it's your first pregnancy or if
you've experienced a miscarriage in the past, it's likely that
you’re going to feel somewhat nervous about what's safe and what isn't during
pregnancy.
To give yourself the best possible chance of having a safe and healthy
pregnancy, read our feature on avoiding miscarriage. If you haven't yet, start
taking folic acid supplements, which can help
protect your baby from neural tube defects such as spina bifida.
If
you're still in the early stages of pregnancy, you may well have decided to
keep it a secret for a while. If this is
the case, then be prepared to make a range of excuses to friends. If you're
meeting friends for drinks, you could tell them you're on a detox diet! You
probably won't want to go out much in the early days, anyway, as you're likely
to be very tired. If a friend has invited you for dinner and you want to
make sure there's nothing too spicy or rich on the menu, you could say you’re
getting over the stomach flu and would prefer something fairly simple.
When
you do decide to announce your special news (most women wait until
their miscarriage risk drops, after 12 weeks) you may be somewhat nervous about
people's reactions, especially if you have friends who’ve been attempting to
conceive for a while. It's best to be open with everyone, however, rather than
playing down your news, as your friends are likely to be happy for you. ?You
may also be wondering about the impact a new baby will have on your
relationship with your partner. Perhaps you've been with him/her for
a while and are used to being a couple – in a few months you'll be making the
transition to a family. Talk through your emotions with your partner, including
your fears about how your life will change. Discuss how you're going to cope
both emotionally and financially – don't put off talking about these things
until just before you have your baby.
If
you're coping with pregnancy on your own, make sure you talk to your family and
friends about how you're feeling. Learn to lean on people – although you're
embarking on an incredible journey, it’s a complex time, full of change. See
our feature on emotional ups and downs during pregnancy for more help in early
pregnancy.
The information in this feature is intended for
educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the
health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a
doctor or other healthcare professional.