A healthy pregnancy comes with a promise of purity.

Safety Measures for a Healthy First Trimester

For most women, learning that they are pregnant is a beautiful and overwhelming experience! For the next few months, unseen to her eyes, a brand-new life is beginning to take shape and form inside her. While the process is intricate and beautiful, it does result in a lot of changes in the woman’s body and many are not aware just how much their bodies are going to transform during this time – apart from the ever-growing belly.

Here is a list of what you could expect in your first three months:

1. Your breasts may feel tender

Your hormones have already gone to work to prepare you to produce milk and breastfeed later. Because of this, your breasts may feel a little sore or tender, or they may feel heavier than usual. You could wear a support bra, or use a bigger size.

2. ‘Morning sickness’ may become a reality

Morning sickness refers to nausea (feeling sick in the stomach with a desire to vomit) that a woman may experience, often in the morning, but it could be at any time in the day. The hormones produced by the body during pregnancy slow down digestion and cause the nausea. Nausea may start during the first month of pregnancy.

Because of a stronger sense of smell during this time, certain smells, in addition to certain foods, could also trigger the nausea.

3. You feel constipated or experience heartburn

Because of your pregnancy, your doctor has probably recommended iron supplements. Then there’s the fact that your pregnancy hormone (progesterone) is slowing down the contraction of your intestine muscles. This may make you feel constipated or bloated or a little ‘gassy’. You may also experience acid reflux or ‘heartburn’ in the first trimester.

The same hormone also relaxes the muscle which helps keep your food and digestive juices inside your stomach. Because of the muscle relaxation, pregnant women often experience heartburn or ‘acid reflux’.

4. You’re always tired and your mood changes all the time

It’s common to feel tired and sleepy during the first trimester of your pregnancy. And this may also result in mood swings – from feeling happy to cranky to scared to excited. Just remember, this is completely normal.

5. You find yourself running to the toilet often!

As your uterus expands because of your growing body, it puts pressure on your bladder. This may cause you to urinate more frequently and you may even leak urine when you sneeze or cough. Don’t cut down on your water intake because of this. Instead, just visit the bathroom whenever you feel you need to.

Tips during your first trimester:

• Wear a bigger size bra or opt for a support/sports bra
• Eat smaller-sized meals, several times a day
• Ginger drinks or ginger ales may help relieve nausea
• Raise your pillow when you sleep to reduce heartburn
• Avoid spicy, oily and acidic foods
• Stay physically active*
• Include fibre in your diet
• Drink plenty of fluids but avoid caffeine.
  A good alternative would be pure water procured through a purification system with advanced water filters, like Pureit.
• Wear a liner if you are experiencing leakage

Common experiences during the first trimester

• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Mood swings
• Constipation
• Heartburn
• Increased urination
• Tender, sore breasts

*It is important to consult your physician before initiating any exercise program or intense physical activity.