Your Body This Month
You probably never thought you'd be pleased by a potbellied profile, but this significant, visible sign of your pregnancy is a landmark moment for many women. Wear it proudly. You've taken your child through the first three critical months of growth, and your belly is a badge of honor that tells the world about this important accomplishment.
Your Body Changes
Your uterus is about the size of a softball and stretches to just about your pubic bone. Four to six pounds of total weight gain is about average for the first trimester; if you've been down and out with nausea and vomiting, you may be below the curve. Weight gain will pick up in the second trimester and peak in the third as your baby starts to fill out your womb.
You and your fetus at the end of the first trimester.
Don't take the eating for two cliché literally — 300 to 350 extra calories per day is about all you'll require to meet your baby's nutritional needs. Gaining too much can exacerbate the aches and pains of pregnancy, place an extra strain on your back, increase the risk of having a large baby, and put you at risk for hypertension (high blood pressure) and gestational diabetes. On the other hand, if you find the aversions and nausea of pregnancy have you only keeping down a certain type of not-so-nutritious food (pepperoni pizza, for example), don't feel bad about it. The most important thing right now is keeping some food down and your energy up. Try experimenting with some healthier variations if your stomach will take it (skip the pepperoni in exchange for extra cheese or veggies), and hang in there. By the end of the first trimester most women report that their morning sickness gets better or (fingers crossed) completely disappears.
The FDA advises pregnant women to eat no more than 12 ounces of cooked fish each week, and to steer clear of shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish. Although packed with protein and nutrients, fish, especially larger fish like these four species, may contain high levels of mercury, which can hamper development of your baby's central nervous system. (For more on eating well in pregnancy, see Chapter 7.)
What You Feel Like
Although nausea and vomiting may finally be waning thanks to a decline in hCG levels, constipation, gas, and occasional heartburn may take over as the gastrointestinal pests of the next trimester. Constipation is caused by an increase in progesterone, which can act to slow down the digestive system. Later in the pregnancy, pressure on the intestine caused by your growing uterus adds to the problem.
Iron supplements or prenatal vitamins with added iron can also cause constipation, so talking to your provider about the possibility of a dosage adjustment or an extended release formula may be in order. An increase in dietary fiber, plenty of water intake, and exercise as approved by your health care provider may also help to get your system going again. Be sure to consult your doctor before taking any stool softeners or laxatives.
Gas may become a source of discomfort and occasional embarrassment as well. Consider cutting back on foods that worsen the problem (for example, onions, beans, broccoli, cabbage, carbonated drinks). Fiber you take to eliminate constipation can also aggravate gas problems. To keep the burps at bay, try small, frequent snacks instead of large meals.
Other pregnancy symptoms that may continue or begin this month include:
Fatigue
Frequent urination
Tender breasts
Occasional dizziness or faintness
Headaches
