What to know about pregnancy

The first trimester begins on the first day of your last period and lasts until the end of week 12. This means that by the time you know for sure you're pregnant, you might already be five or six weeks pregnant!

A lot happens during these first three months. The fertilised egg rapidly divides into layers of cells and implants in the wall of your womb where it carries on growing. These layers of cells become an embryo, which is what the baby is called at this stage.

During this trimester, your baby grows faster than at any other time. By six weeks, a heartbeat can usually be heard and by the end of week 12, your baby's bones, muscles and all the organs of the body have formed. At this point, your baby looks like a tiny human being and is now called a fetus. He or she will even be practising swallowing!

When am I due?

Find out your due date using our due date calculator!

When will I see a midwife?

Your first midwife appointment (also known as antenatal appointment) is the 'booking' appointment. This usually happens between week 8 and 10 of your pregnancy. Find out how to register with a midwife and when your appointments will be here.

Keeping your baby safe

There are some things that you can do during pregnancy that have an effect on your baby. Find out about them by clicking the link below.

Find the complete list of pregnancy dos and don'ts (and reasons why) here

Not sure whether you are pregnant?

Find out about the symptoms that mean you may be pregnant here.

Your physical and mental health in pregnancy

We also have lots of useful tips for coping with everyday pregnancy niggles. It’s common for women to experience symptoms such as morning sickness, cramp and indigestion during the first trimester.

Don't forget that your mental health is just as important as your physical health. It's normal to feel some anxiety and stress but it shouldn't be ongoing. If what you’re feeling isn’t normal for you, talk to your GP or midwife about it. They are there to help.

Exercise, such as yoga, has been shown to reduce anxiety and is a great way to stay active during your pregnancy, too.

Read more about mental wellbeing in pregnancy

Track your baby's development

Sign up to a free pregnancy email from our midwives to track your baby's development and give you reminders of all you need to know through the 9 months of pregnancy. Click here to sign up.

Whether you're expecting your first child or welcoming another new member to your existing family, you may have questions when it comes to what you can expect during and after your pregnancy. As your delivery date draws closer, you need to know as much as you can to prepare for “The Big Day.”

Common Signs of Pregnancy

When you first become pregnant, your body experiences extensive hormonal changes as it prepares for your baby's growth and development. While these hormonal changes help make your body an optimal environment for your little one, they also may cause many physical and emotional changes.

Missed Period or Spotting

The most common symptom that leads women to take a pregnancy test is a delayed period or light bleeding between periods. Even though most women don't have a period during pregnancy, experiencing light bleeding at the beginning of pregnancy is common. According to the American Pregnancy Association, this is caused by implantation, which is when the embryo implants into the uterus.

Mood Swings

With your body going through so many physical and hormonal changes, this can trigger an array of emotional changes as well. Increased levels of the hormones progesterone and estrogen can affect the neurotransmitters in your brain, which are responsible for mood regulation.

Fatigue

Many women report feeling tired during pregnancy, even as early as the first week. The American Pregnancy Association states that this is due to the increased levels of the hormone progesterone.

Changes in Vaginal Discharge

Most pregnant women will experience changes in their vaginal discharge during the early stages of pregnancy. During the first trimester, you may experience this discharge, called leukorrhea.

The Three Trimesters

First Trimester

Your first trimester is marked from week one through week 12 of your pregnancy. During this time period, your body goes through the most hormonal changes as it prepares for your baby's development. During this trimester, almost every system in the body is affected by your hormonal changes.

Second Trimester

The second trimester takes place from weeks 13 to 28. During this timeframe, you will start to notice more physical changes to your body, and your belly will begin to expand to make room for your growing baby.

Third Trimester

Your final trimester takes place from weeks 29 to 40. During the third trimester, your baby is growing rapidly and applying additional pressure to your internal organs. Your baby also turns upside down, preparing for delivery during this period.

Pregnancy Precautions

End Unhealthy Habits

The way you treat your body directly affects your baby's development, making it essential that you look after your health during pregnancy. It is recommended that you stop the following lifestyle habits as soon as you suspect that you may be pregnant:

Using tobacco products
Getting less than the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep each night
Leading a sedentary lifestyle
Eating an unhealthy diet
Taking on a lot of stress

Foods to Avoid While Pregnant

It is recommended the pregnant woman should avoid the following foods, as they have the potential to cause complications that can negatively affect you and your baby:

Raw eggs
Deli meats
Fish with high mercury levels
Raw shellfish
Smoked meats
Soft cheeses
Unpasteurized milk
Alcohol
High amounts of caffeine

Because everyone’s body is different, you should discuss dietary precautions with your physician as there may be additional precautions you need to take while pregnant.

Benefits of Breastfeeding

Although the decision of whether or not to breastfeed is up to you, breastfeeding is highly recommended. This is because breastfeeding, even for a very short period of time, can deliver health benefits for both mother and baby:

Benefits for Baby

Lowers risk of health conditions such as asthma and eczema
Supports the development of a healthy immune system
Provides all vital vitamins and nutrients

Benefits for Mother

Lowers risk for health issues such as type 2 diabetes and certain cancers
Speeds weight loss after giving birth
Helps uterus to contract and return to normal size

Baby Has Arrived: Looking After Your Newborn

Sleep Safety

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) is one of the leading causes of death for newborn babies. To minimize the risk of sleep-related infant death, use the following tips when putting your little one to bed:

Put your baby on his/her back to sleep
Provide baby with a firm, flat surface for sleeping
Keep your baby’s crib free of soft items
Keep your baby’s crib or bassinet in your room for the first six months
Avoid sleeping in the same bed with your baby

Car Seat Safety

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), car accidents are the leading cause of death for children from infancy to aged 19, in the U.S. Therefore, it is critically important to ensure your child’s safety when riding in a moving vehicle.

When choosing your child’s car seat, his/her age, height and weight can help you to determine the best fit:

Rear-facing car seats are appropriate for infants and small toddlers up to 40 pounds.
Forward-facing car seats are appropriate for children up to 65 pounds.
Booster seats are appropriate for children, aged eight to 12.
Car seat belts are appropriate for children once they’ve outgrown their booster seats.

Maternity Services in Northeast Ohio

At Southwest General Health Center, we are prepared to work closely with you to have the most optimal birthing experience possible. Helping patients welcome new members to their families is one of the most joyous services we provide, and our compassionate staff is honored to play a role in this tremendous journey.

To learn more about our services for expectant mothers or to schedule an appointment, visit our website.

Pregnancy info is everywhere. At your first prenatal visit, your doctor will likely give you armfuls of pamphlets that cover every test and trimester.

Despite all this information, here are 10 common surprises that pregnancy can bring.

Many pregnant women feel the nesting instinct, a powerful urge to prepare their home for the baby by cleaning and decorating.

As your due date draws closer, you may find yourself cleaning cupboards or washing walls — things you never would have imagined doing in your ninth month of pregnancy! This desire to prepare your home can be useful — you'll have fewer to-do items after the birth. But be careful not to overdo it.

2. Problems With Concentration

In the first trimester, tiredness and morning sickness can make many women feel worn out and mentally fuzzy. But even well-rested pregnant women may have trouble concentrating and periods of forgetfulness.

Thinking about the baby plays a role, as do hormonal changes. Everything — including work, bills, and doctor appointments — may seem less important than the baby and the coming birth. Making lists can help you remember dates and appointments.

3. Mood Swings

Premenstrual syndrome and pregnancy are alike in many ways. Your breasts swell and become tender, your hormones go up and down, and you may feel moody. If you have PMS, you're likely to have more severe mood swings during pregnancy. They can make you go from being happy one minute to feeling like crying the next.

Mood swings are very common during pregnancy. They tend to happen more in the first trimester and toward the end of the third trimester.

Many pregnant women have depression during pregnancy. If you have symptoms such as sleep problems, changes in eating habits, and mood swings for longer than 2 weeks, talk to your health care provider.

4. Bra Size

An increase in breast size is one of the first signs of pregnancy. Breast growth in the first trimester is due to higher levels of the hormones and . That growth in the first trimester might not be the end, either — your breasts can continue to grow throughout your pregnancy!

Your bra size also can be affected by your ribcage. When you're pregnant, your lung capacity increases so you can take in extra oxygen, which may lead to a bigger chest size. You may need to replace your bras several times during your pregnancy.

5. Skin Changes

Do your friends say you have that pregnancy glow? It's one of many effects that can come from hormonal changes and your skin stretching.

Pregnant women have increased blood volume to provide extra blood flow to the uterus and other organs, especially the kidneys. The greater volume brings more blood to the vessels and increases oil gland secretion.

Some women develop brownish or yellowish patches called chloasma, or the "mask of pregnancy," on their faces. And some will notice a dark line on the midline of the lower abdomen, known as the linea nigra (or linea negra). They can also have hyperpigmentation (darkening of the skin) of the nipples, external genitalia, and anal region. That's because pregnancy hormones cause the body to make more pigment.

This increased pigment might not be even, so the darkened skin may appear as splotches of color. Chloasma can't be prevented, but wearing sunscreen and avoiding UV light can minimize its effects.

Acne is common during pregnancy because the skin's sebaceous glands make more oil. And moles or freckles that you had before pregnancy may get bigger and darker. Most of these skin changes should go away after you give birth.

Many pregnant women also get heat rash, caused by dampness and sweating. In general, pregnancy can be an itchy time for a woman. Skin stretching over the abdomen may cause itchiness and flaking. Your doctor can recommend creams to soothe dry or itchy skin.

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6. Hair and Nails

Many women have changes in hair texture and growth during pregnancy. Hormones can make your hair grow faster and fall out less. But these hair changes usually aren't permanent. Many women lose some hair in the postpartum period or after they stop breastfeeding.

Some women find that they grow hair in unwanted places, such as on the face or belly or around the nipples. Changes in hair texture can make hair drier or oilier. Some women even find their hair changing color.

Nails, like hair, can change during pregnancy. Extra hormones can make them grow faster and become stronger. Some women, though, find that their nails split and break more easily during pregnancy. Like the changes in hair, nail changes aren't permanent. If your nails split and tear more easily when you're pregnant, keep them trimmed and avoid the chemicals in nail polish and nail polish remover.

7. Shoe Size

Even though you can't fit into any of your pre-pregnancy clothes, you still have your shoes, right? Maybe — but maybe not. Extra fluid in their pregnant bodies mean that many women have swollen feet and need to wear a larger shoe size. Wearing slip-on shoes in a larger size can be more comfortable, especially in the summer months.

8. Joint Mobility

During pregnancy, your body makes the hormone relaxin, which is believed to help prepare the pubic area and the cervix for the birth. Relaxin loosens the ligaments in your body, making you less stable and more at risk for injury. It's easy to overstretch or strain yourself, especially the joints in your pelvis, lower back, and knees. When exercising or lifting objects, go slowly and avoid sudden, jerking movements.

9. Varicose Veins, Hemorrhoids, and Constipation

Varicose veins, usually found in the legs and genital area, happen when blood pools in veins enlarged by pregnancy hormones. Varicose veins often go away after pregnancy. To help prevent them:

avoid standing or sitting for long periods
wear loose-fitting clothing
wear support hose
raise your feet when you sit

Hemorrhoids — varicose veins in the rectum — are common during pregnancy as well. Your blood volume has increased and your uterus puts pressure on your pelvis. So the veins in your rectum may enlarge into grape-like clusters. Hemorrhoids can be very painful, and can bleed, itch, or sting, especially during or after a bowel movement (BM).

Constipation is another common pregnancy woe. It happens because pregnancy hormones slow the passing of food through the gastrointestinal tract. During the later stages of pregnancy, your uterus may push against your large intestine, making it hard for you to have a BM. And constipation can contribute to hemorrhoids because straining to go may enlarge the veins of the rectum.

The best way to deal with constipation and hemorrhoids is to prevent them. Eating a fiber-rich diet, drinking plenty of liquids daily, and exercising regularly can help keep BMs regular. Stool softeners (not laxatives) may also help. If you do have hemorrhoids, talk to your health care provider about a cream or ointment that can shrink them.

10. Things That Come Out of Your Body During Labor

So you've survived the mood swings and the hemorrhoids, and you think your surprises are over. But the day you give birth will probably hold the biggest surprises of all.

During pregnancy, fluid surrounds your baby in the amniotic sac. This sac breaks (or "ruptures") at the start of or during labor — a moment usually referred to as your water breaking. For most women in labor, contractions start before their water breaks. Sometimes the doctor has to rupture the amniotic sac (if the cervix is already dilated).

How much water can you expect? For a full-term baby, there are about 2 to 3 cups of amniotic fluid. Some women may feel an intense urge to pee that leads to a gush of fluid when their water breaks. Others may only feel a trickling down their leg because the baby's head acts like a stopper to prevent most of the fluid from leaking out.

Amniotic fluid is generally sweet-smelling and pale or colorless. It's replaced by your body every 3 hours, so don't be surprised if you continue to leak fluid, about a cup an hour, until delivery.

Other, unexpected things may come out of your body during labor. Some women have nausea and vomiting. Others have diarrhea before or during labor, and passing gas is also common. During the pushing phase of labor, you may lose control of your bladder or bowels.

A birth plan can help communicate your wishes to your health care providers about how to handle these and other aspects of labor and delivery.

Lots of surprises are in store for you when you're pregnant — but none sweeter than the way you'll feel once your newborn is in your arms!