In the second trimester or by the fourth month of pregnancy, your body has begun to adjust to these dramatic changes, and you begin to become acclimatized to the early symptoms of pregnancy in first trimester.



What are these symptoms of pregnancy in first trimester?

Morning sickness is one. It is caused when pregnancy hormones that relax the stomach, stretch themselves. About 70% of women experience it in the form of nausea or fits of vomiting, and you may develop nausea when you come in contact with certain foods or odors. You can munch on crackers, eat small meals spread over the day, and drink sufficient amounts of fluids.

Constipation is two. Affecting at least half of all pregnant women, constipation is caused by the hormone progesterone, which slows the digestive process. Since the colon begins to absorb more water, stools become harder and bowel movements become more difficult. Drink lots of water, at least 8-10 glasses per day and switch to a high fiber diet.

Dizziness or fainting is another of the early symptoms of pregnancy in first trimester. As many as one in 20 women experiences some degree of lightheadedness during pregnancy. A dramatic dilation of the blood vessels of your body during pregnancy, and the inability of your blood volume to fill up all this space in the first part of your pregnancy, may cause this condition. Low blood sugar and a low blood count can also cause lightheadedness. Arise slowly, walk at a slower pace, avoid prolonged standing, drink plenty of fluids, and eat iron-rich food like beans, meats and green leafy vegetables to get rid of the effects of dizzy spells.

Fatigue is three. Every pregnant woman reports increased fatigue and need for sleep in the first trimester: it happens because your heart is working harder to carry nutrients and oxygen to your fetus; the circulatory system of which the heart is part, is putting up with enormous demands on it; and the hormone progesterone, which induces sleepiness is being produced at faster rates. Stay physically active but take regular naps during the day to stay clear of fatigue symptoms in the first trimester.

Heartburn is four. Over half of all pregnant women get an uncomfortable sensation caused by the backward flow of stomach acids into the esophagus, the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach. It is caused by sluggish digestion and by the expansion of the uterus, which can push your stomach out. Eat several small meals, avoid foods like fried foods, alcohol, garlic, chocolate and coffee, drink fluids.

Vaginal discharge and vaginal infections are five. An increase in vaginal discharge is universal in pregnancy as a result of marked increase in the turnover of vaginal lining cells. They are caused by the hormonally induced thickening of the vaginal wall and by bacterial or yeast infections, in which case you need to be medically examined.

Headaches, urinary tract infections which too need medical attention, and mood swings causing emotional fluctuations, too are other early symptoms of pregnancy in first trimester. Take heed of them and you can ease yourself into the second trimester more painlessly.