Pregnancy Week by Week

First Trimester Pregnancy

First trimester (conception to 12 weeks) will mean an intense period of transformation for your body as it adapts to the state of motherhood. It is important to understand that these changes are normal and almost all the things that create discomfort now will disappear as the pregnancy progresses. In fact, they might even increase. If you are lucky, you are among those women who pass through the first quarter without having a lot of specific symptoms. But, whatever it is, it is best read in the following to see what to expect. Changes in the breasts in the first trimester of pregnancy

Mammary glands will cause swelling of the breasts but also an increased sensitivity. These changes are due to the increased levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones, but everything is normal and is related to the months that you will need to breastfeed your baby.

To alleviate your discomfort but also to move more easily over this period, it would not hurt to wear a bra, which provides support to your breasts.

But, not only your breasts will go through major changes. The areolas on both breasts will be higher, darker, and little bumps called Montgomery's tubercles (enlarged sweat glands) may appear.

In some women, due to increased volume of blood delivered to the breasts, the veins will become visible as blue light in color. As a curiosity: after birth, if you breastfeed, your breasts may still grow at least one bra size bigger.

Tiredness

As neither you nor your body is familiar with pregnancy; it is no wonder that you feel more tired than usual. And this is not just physical fatigue but also the emotional needs that come with pregnancy, as you will find that the nine months of pregnancy will be filled with thoughts, worries and plans about you, but especially about your family and your child. So you should not be surprised if you feel tired even after the most restful night's sleep.

On the other hand, do not expect to feel tired during the entire pregnancy. After the first quarter, you will rediscover yourself, with a high level of energy and a feeling of well- being and relaxation.

As a practical advice, when you're tired: rest. Try to sleep enough both during the day and during the night. Also, if you feel stressed, try to find an activity, which relaxes you. It might also be a good idea to start sleeping on your left side; this will usually relieve pressure on major blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to the fetus. Also, you can use a pillow to further increase comfort.

Here are some tips to fight fatigue:

Sleep at least eight hours per night
Make sure you follow a proper diet. Fatigue can be exacerbated by a deficiency of iron, proteins or calories.
Treat yourself and let others do so. Allow your partner to take over most of the housework and care for you and your child.
Fatigue is often worsened by the living environment. Make sure you have proper lighting of the rooms, proper air circulation and avoid noisy areas.
Exercise. Often a light walk or jog can banish fatigue. Yet, you must take care to fall from one extreme to another: too much rest can also contribute more to fatigue.