Pregnancy symptoms in the first trimester

The period of the first thirteen weeks of pregnancy is called the first trimester. It may be that a woman has consciously been trying to become pregnant. Then the associated symptoms will be recognized earlier. It may also be that the pregnancy was not planned or that the woman does want to have children, but was not very consciously involved in it. Then some time may pass before the penny drops. What are the most common pregnancy symptoms experienced in the first trimester of pregnancy?

Pregnancy symptoms

A lot changes in the hormone balance, the pregnancy hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is produced by the body and in most cases menstruation will not occur. After about eleven weeks, most pregnant women will start to experience complaints, but this is of course not necessary. Every woman is different and every body reacts differently. However, there are a number of symptoms that are familiar to most women.

Fatigue and a heavy feeling body

You can already feel quite tired in the first weeks after conception. This is often one of the first symptoms experienced. The enormous increase in the hormone progesterone in the body makes you feel so tired. The body also has to work extremely hard to create the placenta and supply it with blood. The change in metabolism and lower blood pressure also play a role in this symptom.

Needing to urinate more often in the first trimester

After about six weeks you may notice that you have to urinate much more often than normal. This is often one of the points of recognition for a woman that she is pregnant. The cause is the pregnancy hormone hCG. This hormone provides extra blood flow to the kidneys. The uterus also takes up space from the bladder in the first trimester. This causes the feeling of needing to urinate even with a small amount of urine in the bladder.

Morning sickness

The name of this phenomenon can be misleading, because in most cases the nausea is not limited to the morning. This is often most severe in the second to eighth week of pregnancy. However, there are also women who experience no nausea at all during their pregnancy and women who are nauseous throughout their entire pregnancy. The reason for the nausea has not been scientifically proven, but there are indications that there is a connection between the amount of hCG in the body and the degree of nausea.

Enhanced odor perception

The phenomenon that odors seem to come in stronger or that normal food smells bad also occurs regularly. In fact, this is a warning system of the body. When food contains natural toxins or a high concentration of bacteria that can harm the baby, it will upset you.

Bladder infection during pregnancy

The ureters become wider during pregnancy and the urinary wall becomes weaker. This makes you more likely to get a bladder infection. If urination becomes sensitive or you suspect that you have a bladder infection, it is advisable to go to the doctor. The bladder infection can be harmful to the unborn child due to the bacteria.

Dry eyes

Due to increased blood circulation, you may suffer from dry, irritated eyes. This can’t hurt, but it is extremely annoying. Eye drops can often provide relief. If this does not help, it is best to contact an ophthalmologist.

Binge eating

During your pregnancy you don’t literally have to eat for two, but binge eating (also called cravings) is not an unknown phenomenon. The desire for a lot of food or for certain foods is common. An explanation for this could be that the baby needs all kinds of nutrients and in this way the body encourages you to eat different things or more. This theory is not supported by science.

Mood swings

The upheaval of your hormone balance is partly responsible for the fact that you can burst into tears from one moment to the next and feel sad. This is completely normal, even though you may feel like you should be on a pink cloud of happiness for 40 weeks. A lot changes in your life with the arrival of a little one. This can bring uncertainty and anxious feelings.

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