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.

First trimester pregnancy is a period of mixed emotions. When your body gives you all positive hints that you are pregnant, consult a general physician for a confirmation. A woman has to prepare herself physically and mentally to deliver a healthy child. Hence, it is important to know what are the various physiological changes happening within you and how to create a healthy environment for your baby inside.

First trimester pregnancy is your initial stage in pregnancy and it lasts for about 12 weeks. As you miss your regular menstrual cycle, other key indications are nausea pregnancy, vomiting sensations and fatigue. Your breasts will become tender and also enlarge as the hormones prepare you for breast feeding. You can also feel dizzy at times which can be attributed to low blood sugar levels or dehydration. Apart from physical changes, women also succumb to mood swings very often. In order to escape the dullness and irritability, divert your mind in a healthy and a productive pastime of your choice.

Avoid toxic substances like alcohol, cigarettes and other drugs. Better to prefer tea over coffee as Caffeine is also a toxic substance. It is natural to have various doubts about pregnancy. Regular consultations with your doctor will help you get more comfortable and confident towards approaching pregnancy. Along with a balanced pregnancy diet, a moderate exercise will do you good. Walking and swimming is ideal at this stage. Even if you develop a dislike for some items with high nutritive value, replace it with any other item that you desire to eat. Small meals at regular intervals will help you from throwing up. You can as well munch some protein-rich snacks in your teatime.

During First trimester pregnancy doctors prescribe medication mainly to increase the folic acid content in your body. Salads with leafy vegetables will also improve your folic acid levels. Some women may experience leg cramps owing to excessive weight or calcium deficiency. It is necessary to take some calcium supplements if you don’t get enough in your regular meal. Digestive problems and constipation trouble you throughout pregnancy. You may also have heart burns. Frequent urination becomes unavoidable as the uterus puts pressure on your bladder.

If you are new to pregnancy, First trimester pregnancy can get you anxious and worried. The best thing is to acquire more knowledge on the subject matter through journals and also share your queries in online forums. It shall help you gain a positive outlook towards motherhood.