First Trimester Pregnancy Symptoms: How to Deal with the Discomforts

When your pregnancy symptoms start will depend on your body. Some women start to experience symptoms within a week or two of conception. Some symptoms may take longer to appear as your body continues to change.

Fight Fatigue
Overwhelming fatigue is a completely normal response to the tremendous changes your body is undergoing to nurture your baby. Try to find even 15 to 20 minutes in the afternoon for a quick cat nap. Go to bed early — no later than 10 p.m., suggests physician Aviva Jill Romm, author of the book, The Natural Pregnancy Book. Getting the rest you need should relieve other common symptoms of early pregnancy. Your digestion will improve, you’ll feel more emotionally balanced and you may even feel less nauseous.

Easing that Queasy Feeling
Hormonal changes can cause nausea, which can be set off by strong smells, an empty stomach, oily foods, or stress. It will help to eat small frequent snacks with high-quality carbohydrates and protein. Whole-grain crackers with cheese, hummus or peanut butter will do. Eat frequent small meals and carry a snack with you. Sip ginger ale or ginger, chamomile or peppermint tea. Talk with your doctor if the nausea is so severe that you can’t keep food down.

Curing constipation
Constipation will be a problem throughout the pregnancy. Pregnancy hormones slow bowel activity and tone, and the growing baby puts pressure on the rectum and intestines. Iron deficiency can cause constipation, as well as some commercial iron supplements. Eat a diet heavy on whole-grains, fruits and vegetables, particularly leafy vegetables. Replace red meat and fatty cheeses with poultry and low-fat yogurt or cheese, and drink eight cups of water a day. Exercise can also help relieve constipation, so aim to take a moderate walk every day.

Pregnancy symptoms don’t come over you with a warm bath of joy. Sure, you may be happy that you’re pregnant but your body is changing rapidly and that involves a lot of discomfort.

A soft approach to heartburn
Progesterone, the hormone that softens the smooth muscles around your uterus, also slows digestion. It’s just one factor that can leave some expectant mothers with heartburn. Eat small, frequent meals and just say no to spicy foods at meal time. At night, place a few pillows under your head so your upper body is slightly elevated while you sleep. If you need to snack, eat a handful of raw almonds before meals. They contain cyanogenic glycoside, which improves digestion.

Rosemary, lavender and you
You may notice your breasts are sore or tingly, or feel heavy in response to hormonal changes. You’ll need to wear a supportive bra when you’re up and about, and go without one when you’re resting. When you bathe, get warm water to rise above your breasts. Try combining a few drops of lavender or rosemary essential oils in almond oil and massaging that over the breasts. Lavender and rosemary are both known to have a relaxing effect.

Anticipate light bleeding or spotting
While it may be concerning at first, know that light bleeding and spotting is normal in the early weeks of pregnancy. When light, it doesn’t signify a problem such as a miscarriage. An increase in hormone levels can make the cervix prone to bleeding with a light touch. This bleeding won’t come with the normal period symptoms so all you really need to do is wear a pad and keep track of the spotting. However, any bleeding requires a call to your doctor, especially if bleeding soaks the pad or is accompanied by cramps.

Some symptoms can be dealt with by using home remedies. There are other symptoms that just occur and you have to bide your time with them. Most are minor inconveniences such as increased urination and mood swings. Be kind to yourself and you’ll get through it all.

Increased toilet time
While having to urinate more is often seen later in pregnancy when the baby is bigger and putting pressure on your bladder, it is possible that you have the need to frequently urinate in the early weeks of pregnancy. To keep you sleeping well, refrain from drinking anything late in the evening, so you don’t have the urge to get up and head to the toilet.

The ups and downs of mood swings
Your hormones will be playing a number on you in the early weeks of pregnancy. You might find yourself crying at nothing or getting angry at the smallest things. Then you might swing into complete elation over the pregnancy. Mood swings are part of the first trimester and are to be expected.

“Throughout the pregnancy, I’d cry and cry and cry and cry. I’d go out and live life and smile in between, but I remember the constant emotional undercurrent of guilt and shame concerning my pregnancy,” mom Jill Simonian wrote for Mom.com.

If your mood swings are severe and long lasting and your feelings of anxiety are overwhelming, don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor about a mental health evaluation.

Food cravings
It happens and doesn’t make much sense. Food items that you would normally not want might be something that you crave as your body seeks out certain vitamins and minerals through diet. “Before I was pregnant, I hated anything with mayonnaise in it. Suddenly, when pregnant, all I wanted to eat for weeks were tuna fish sandwiches with extra mayonnaise,” explained mom Linda Maldanado.

When to see a doctor

Most common symptoms will subside on their own as your pregnancy continues. If your symptoms are excessive and affecting your daily activites — such as bleeding, overwhelming fatigue, excessive mood swings or extreme and unrelenting nausea — talk to your doctor. She may have other methods that can help alleviate the discomfort or refer you to a specialist.