Getting pregnant is certainly the most beautiful dream of every woman. In earlier times, pregnant women were guided about the signs and stages of pregnancy through word of mouth. They relied on their mother, mother-in-law, friends, or even a woman next door. But now, machines have taken the place of humans.

Women now prefer to use the Internet to know more about pregnancy and its stages. They are more curious to gather information on the day-to-day development of the fetus. Tracking the growth of their baby becomes the most important task.

Signs of pregnancy

Before moving ahead, let’s first find out what are the signs of pregnancy. Generally, a missed period is considered a green signal for pregnancy but that’s not always true. There might be other reasons for a missed period. As soon as you conceive, your body experiences many changes that you can look for before taking a pregnancy test. Find out more common signs of pregnancy like sore breasts, nausea, vomiting, frequent urination, lethargy, craving for some foods, and change in the size of breasts.

Stages of pregnancy

Once the pregnancy is confirmed, the desire to know more about pregnancy and its stages is obvious. The stages of pregnancy are divided into three trimesters and each trimester represents unique emotional and physical changes in a pregnant woman.

* First Trimester: The first 12 weeks or around three months falls under the first trimester. This trimester demands intensive care of your fetus. Most women experience morning sickness. This is the stage when doctors recommend vitamins, minerals and especially iron. At the end of this trimester, a cluster of cells transforms into a baby.

** Second Trimester: The baby looks more human now. Sometimes, the baby may smile or frown as the facial part is developing. But, the most important part of the baby’s development is that now he/she has his/her own fingerprints! For women, the second trimester is considered safer and the easiest one. The risk of miscarriage disappears all of a sudden. Energy levels boost and the breasts start producing colostrum. The belly grows big and at the end of the second trimester, it becomes difficult to sleep.

*** Third Trimester: The baby grows fully in the last trimester. You may experience cramps in legs, swelling in hands or feet. In the eighth month, many women feel heartburn and indigestion. Anxiety and fear surround you. An increase in the baby’s weight and size may also cause back pain. Some women fall short of breath during this trimester. In the last month, the baby’s head comes down, which increases your urge to urinate more.

Maya is 22; a newly wed girl. She may have attained the age to be a mother according to the Indian law, but she does not know the basics of pregnancy and its phases. She is excited about the new life developing inside her and wonders how she can be pregnant without getting an abdominal bump. Oh it’s just too early. The baby must be 2 inches now. She does not know what to eat, how to care for the unborn, and not to forget, how to take care of herself. All she needs is definitive guidance through her stages of pregnancy. Mom’s advice, granny’s diet, and friends’ suggestions are just too much to digest. It’s time to act and get smart, and celebrate motherhood. It’s your right!

Check up

Take all the possible tests suggested by your doctor: blood count, urine, blood sugar, hepatitis, HIV, blood group, and VDRL. If there is any issue, get it sorted out as quickly as possible. This is the earliest phase of your motherhood, known as the latent phase.

Weight Talk

Don’t even think of losing weight during pregnancy. Weight gain determines the growth of your child inside you. The normal weight gain during pregnancy ranges from 8 kg to 14 kg. It might be less if you are short. If you are over or underweight, you must speak to the doctor as this might affect the unborn. Weight management has to be done before pregnancy. Check your weight every 8-10 days as the phases pass by. You enter the active phase of pregnancy when you start gaining weight.

Exercise, Keep Fit

Don’t be surprised to see pregnant mothers working out in the gym. It’s healthy for you and your baby. It improves blood circulation and helps keep the baby healthy. Don’t do weights. Do moderate exercises. Stick to aerobics, yoga, or just walking. Continue this throughout your pregnancy. Keep drinking water during the workout. Don’t do squats, it’s dangerous, and exercise slowly and enjoy it.

Diet

You are eating for two. Eat 8-9 meals a day. Include lots of carbohydrate in the form of bread or rice, proteins, and minerals, for example, milk, curd, paneer, cheese, eggs, meat, fish, pulses, green leafy vegetables, and fruits. If you are a vegetarian, include a good amount of flax seeds and soya nuggets in your diet.

Things to be Avoided

Please refrain from smoking and alcohol, and the X-ray machine. X-rays can harm the baby. An ultrasound machine is safe though.

Red Alert

Visit the doctor immediately if you experience severe pain or vaginal bleeding. This can happen during any phase. At times it’s quite normal if the pain is bearable. This is the transit phase or the third phase of pregnancy in which the baby will be born. Keep the doctor’s number handy and also of your relatives or neighbors.

Stick to the guidelines, and just relax and have a good time. Pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks. This is the best time of your life to show how caring you are, and how much you love yourself and your baby. Happy motherhood! You are blessed.