Month three of pregnancy – what to expect
The end of the 3rd month of pregnancy means (drum roll please…) that you did it! You’re at the end of your first trimester and are a third of the way there! By now, you’ll have discussed your pregnancy with friends and relatives who will be sharing in your anticipation (if not in your suffering) as those pregnancy ‘symptoms’ continue. Below, we look at some of the expected occurrences in month three…
- Most mums-to-be will start to ‘show’ during this stage of pregnancy, making you look like you’ve eaten too much at lunch! At least you can finally tell people why you’re looking a bit wider around the waist.
- You can start suffering from headaches, dizziness, tiredness, breast tenderness and nausea. Always discuss individual symptoms with your doctor or midwife to ensure they are normal.
- Constipation – it’s definitely not table-talk, but you’ll get over your inhibitions during pregnancy, that’s for sure! Hormones, iron supplements and reduced tummy room can all contribute to difficulty in the toilet department. To reduce the effects, be sure to eat plenty of fibre and to drink enough water, as well as enjoying light exercise such as walking. If it’s really getting you down, talk to your doctor who may be able to suggest baby-safe options.
- Speaking of toilets, many find that they have bladder trouble as pregnancy progresses. Frequent urination is normal, but if it’s getting out of hand, make sure you discuss it.
- Trouble sleeping – many think that difficulty sleeping only becomes a problem further into pregnancy and when your bundle of joy is born, but this is not always so. Many find that heartburn can give you sleepless nights at this stage. For remedies, talk to your midwife.
- It is natural to feel anxious during pregnancy, but important to discuss any worries with your health care team. Take time to relax and enjoy yourself. A bit of pampering never went amiss, so why not have a relaxing spa day or just spend an afternoon with your feet up watching your favourite films? Don’t over indulge on the choccy though; even towards the later stages of pregnancy, you will usually only need 300 more calories than usual per day!
Have you got any tips that you found particularly helpful during this stage in your pregnancy? As always, you can comment below – we’re sure other readers would love some tips!