What You Need To Know About The Three Trimesters
40 weeks of pregnancy. They call it 9 months, but let’s call a spade a spade, it’s closer to 10 months.
These 40 weeks are broken down into three trimesters. Each one comes with its own benefits and buzz-kills.
In its entirety, there are a few caveats on what you are allowed to do, which include:
– No alcohol (I know, no boooooze or illicit drugs)
– No deli meat
– No sushi
– Limited caffeine
– No strenuous exercise
The list isn’t lengthy, but depending on your lifestyle it could be quite an adjustment. Pregnancy is kind of like probation but with the best payoff for behaving yourself.
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Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. The information in this post is for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice in any way. I am not liable for any damages resulting from using the information in this article. Please consult a doctor for your medical advice.
Making It Through The First Three Months
The Symptoms
Every pregnancy is different, even for each mother who has gone through it multiple times. The symptoms change, along with them varying in severity.
The first trimester is known for typically having the most morning sickness symptoms, which can include:
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Vomiting
- Heightened sense of smell
- Mood swings
- Breast changes/tenderness
- Food cravings/aversions
- Frequent urination
Just to name a few.
Again, you may experience some or all of these on varying levels.
I was very fortunate to have a fairly easy first trimester when it came to morning sickness. I would get a little nausea here and there, but the fatigue was full on.
Most days I was dragging hard. I am not a napper, but I would be so tired that sometimes I found myself starting to doze off sitting up.
I was so pumped to be baking this bun and couldn’t wait to start preparing, but was too exhausted to do anything. My energy level had plummeted.
I had kicked the caffeine prior to getting pregnant just to make it easier on myself, so no chance of a pick-me-up there.
I got decaf coffee in hopes that it would provide some placebo effect, but all it did was provide me with acid reflux.
Do yourself a favor. Grant yourself some grace during this trimester and rest when you need to.
I know that sometimes you may feel like you are not doing enough on the work or home front, but your body is working hard to grow a human being. Remember that.
Take that nap, step away from work for a quick break if you need it, ask for help or maybe just a little understanding. It’s not weak to share what you’re going through (if you’re sharing at this point) or asking for what you need.
That’s you being strong, setting boundaries, and sticking to them.
The Risk
The first trimester is typically the more difficult one to get through physically and emotionally, especially with the added risk of a potential miscarriage. This decreases with each week and if there are no contributing risk factors, you are typically considered in the safe zone once you hit 12 weeks.
This trimester is a very exciting and sometimes scary time. You are growing a very quickly developing little babe in your belly that you are falling more and more in love with each day.
It can feel like the time is passing so slowly during those first three months and at the same time your baby goes from size of a poppy seed to lime in the blink of an eye. It’s a roller coaster, enjoy the ride.
The Second Trimester
The Relief
The relief is typically two fold here. Your first trimester symptoms typically dissipate once you hit the second trimester, as well as the stress of making it to the safe zone.
My energy levels slowly started to return a couple weeks into my second trimester and was ready to go full force into prep mode.
This is the time when you want to start getting things ready for baby or at least get things organized for what you need to do. You’ll have more energy, take advantage of it.
Besides, you don’t want to procrastinate here for too long, get overwhelmed, and feel like you have to tackle it all at once.
Check out my post To-Do List: How To Prepare For Baby’s Arrival and if you haven’t started your baby registry or are looking for ideas of what you should include, check out my post The Realistic Baby Registry: What You’ll Need (And Actually Use).
Your Body
This trimester is the fun one. You are feeling better, your energy has returned, and so many new and exciting things happen.
You start to feel baby move inside your body, which is such a crazy feeling. It can sometimes be hard to tell at first. It’s kind of like bubbles at first and then strange little flutters.
As the second trimester progresses and baby grows bigger and stronger you’ll start to feel their movements on the outside of your belly. It’s the coolest feeling.
My hand was constantly on my belly pretty much from day 1 of my pregnancy, like I was already comforting my little one and establishing that connection that I’m mom and am here to keep you safe.
I think he could sense that because as soon as I could feel his movements on the outside, pretty much every time I would touch my belly, he would kick my hand.
Almost like we had already started our own form of communication and he was connecting with my touch. That or he was wanting some space. Either way, it was some form of communication.
The Doctor Visits & Tests
Important doctor’s visits happen during this trimester like the Full Anatomy Scan. You learn more about how baby is developing, and if you didn’t already find out, you can have the sex announced and view those sex organs on the big screen.
You’ll also be offered testing to see how baby is developing genetically. Making those decisions can be a lot to process, but your doctor should counsel you on your options.
There are some tests that are more invasive than others and come with a plethora of information. Tests will be offered to detect all sorts of different potential conditions.
Most of the information can be derived from the less invasive testing, but in varying degrees. You’ll be provided with all the information on the testing, what you can learn from the results, and make your choices based on your personal preferences.
If you’d like to learn more about the testing offered during this trimester you can check out this article from Nemours KidsHealth.
The second trimester is the sweet spot. The symptoms of the first trimester hopefully have subsided and baby is growing fast, but you’re not yet to the point of being super uncomfortable.
That brings us to…the third trimester.
The Home Stretch – The Third Trimester
I feel like the third trimester is the one that goes by the quickest. That may be because it’s coming down to the wire and you are under more pressure to make sure everything is done to prepare for baby’s arrival and maternity leave.
Gestational Diabetes
My third trimester came with a twist. There is a test that you undergo between 24 – 28 weeks called the Prenatal Glucose Screening.
This tests how your pregnant body is processing glucose. You can learn more about this screening and Gestational Diabetes in this article by Babylist.
Essentially, you are required to come to your doctor’s office for the test. You are instructed to have a light breakfast low in carbs and sugars. They have you come in and test your blood sugar, then they have you drink a sugary beverage they provide, and then check your blood glucose levels after one and two hours.
If you fail, you have to go back for a second test that where they have you fast before the initial testing. They have you got through the same process as before. Test your blood sugar, drink that same beverage, and then check your glucose levels every hour for three consecutive hours.
If you fail this round of testing you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes. This happened to me.
This condition has nothing to do with anything you were doing during your pregnancy or prior to, it’s all about how your body responds to being pregnant and how it processes glucose while pregnant.
You could be a very fit person who continues to be fit and eat healthy all throughout your pregnancy or be downing donuts on the reg, and still get gestational diabetes.
It’s not a common diagnosis. According to the CDC, 2% – 10% of women are diagnosed with gestational diabetes annually. I guess I was just one of those lucky women.
Due to this diagnosis, among changing my diet and having to prick my finger multiple times a day, I also had to go in for weekly ultrasounds to keep a close eye on how my baby was developing.
They also had me come for another separate weekly visit where they monitored my babies heart rate and movements. Thankfully I was able to keep my glucose levels under control with diet, night insulin, and that it didn’t end up having any effect on my baby.
The one nice part about the whole experience of that diagnosis was that I got to see my baby every week and make sure he was safe and healthy and giant.
This was not a surprise or having anything to do with the gestational diabetes. I’m 5’10” and my donor was 6’6”, so I knew he was going to be a big boy.
Your Developing Baby & Body
Throughout this trimester your baby will continue to grow and take up pretty much all of the available real estate in your womb and then some. They will also start to shift around, especially towards the end.
It was a fun surprise when I hit 36 weeks and my son would rest his giant head on top of my pelvic bone causing pain in my pelvis and hips. At least he didn’t kick me in my ribs.
You’re going to become increasingly uncomfortable, but every additional week and day that baby stays baking in your belly, the better.
You technically are full term at 39 weeks, but if things are progressing how they should, your doctor will let you go to 40 weeks and a few days unless they feel like you need to be induced.
My son’s measurements continued to be off the charts for most of my pregnancy. After he was estimated to be measuring over 9lbs by 35 weeks and on track to potentially be over 10lbs, I went ahead and had them schedule the c-section for 39 weeks.
The nice part is that you are able to have an elective c-section if you choose. That was my first intention, since I’m such a wuss with pain and a vaginal birth terrified me.
As my pregnancy progressed I decided to not make any definitive decisions on the delivery and just see how it developed naturally. That was until it turned out that he was going to be a 10-pounder with a head that was over the 99th percentile.
At that weight, my doctor told me they typically will advise a c-section for the safety of mom and baby, so when I asked her if we could go ahead and schedule the c-section at 35 weeks, she was definitely on board with that decision.
The Rush To The Finish Line – Slow Down and Savor
The last month can be stressful. Your body is working hard to accommodate both you and baby.
You’re also trying to wrap up all the loose ends and make sure everything is perfect for when you finally evict your body tenant.
Not to mention, waddling all over the place and elevating your kankles is getting old. You really just can’t wait to not be pregnant anymore.
You’re ready to meet the little one who’s been crushing your bladder causing you to pee every hour on the hour.
Try to make things a little less stressful by asking for help when you need it, doing what you can to stay as comfortable as possible, and try and savor these last days of being pregnant.
Take videos of your belly moving, get maternity pictures done, soak up the glory of this miraculous thing your body is doing. Revel in the fact that you did this on your own.
The Final Countdown
When it gets down to it, get your last few ducks in a row early just in case and be prepared for go-time.
At least a couple weeks prior to your due date you’ll want to have your hospital bag prepped (Are You Ready for the Hospital? What You’ll Need) and ready to go, the car seat installed, and put whoever is going to be bringing you to the hospital on alert (ringer-on mode).
If you’re reading this and towards the end of your pregnancy, you’re almost there! Celebrate and get high on the fact that you’ll soon be holding that beautiful baby in your arms.
Cheers, Warriors!
I hope you enjoyed reading this post and found it entertaining, educational, inspiring—hopefully, all three. Please be sure to leave any comments or questions you have in the Comments section below.
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