The First Trimester

The entire span of pregnancy is divided into three trimesters, each trimester comprising 3 months. The first trimester passes relatively quicker than the other two trimesters. It's not until the second month that we are aware of the pregnancy. So, before we actually realize that we are pregnant, the first trimester would have already come to an end. But this is the period in which you physically and emotionally prepare for the rest that is yet to come. Amenorrhea that you have been undergoing for the past 3 months might result in severe nausea and dislike for some types of food, and a craving for other types of food that you had never liked in your life time. For instance, I personally am not fond of the food that is prepared for srardham as it is mostly bland; ironically, I started loving the same food during pregnancy!! Morning sickness, irritability and drowsiness are other obvious symptoms in the first trimester. You also tend to lose some body weight at this time because of vomitings, and as your energy & nutrients are diverted to the developing foetus. A greater risk of miscarriage is said to prevail in this period; so, be positive and take very good care of yourself during this period. But do not restrict yourself from your daily activities. As for the sleeping position, you can lie down flat on your back or turn sideways in this trimester, as your bump would not have developed yet. Never sleep on your tummy. However, you can practice turning and sleeping on your left side as this is advised in the later months to come. Intercourse is also to be avoided.

Physical Changes Undergone by a Pregnant Woman

Pregnancy brings in a lot of changes in the woman's body. Hormonal changes and other internal changes are the first to happen. Physical changes also start to appear right from the second month of pregnancy.To list a few:

• Broadening of the pelvic region
• Darkening of the areola (the region around the nipples)
• Growth of vaginal and body hair more than usual
• Appearance of a black streak of hairline vertically from the umblical region to the pubic region
• Tiredness and paleness of the face
• Edema or swelling of the feet
• Protuberance of the belly button
• Absence of any kind of vaginal discharge
• Appearance of silver lines in the tummy and breasts
• Last but not least, your baby bump that keeps growing as your baby grows in your womb :)

Confirming Pregnancy

Pregnancy is considered to start right from the moment the sperm fertilises the egg inside the female's uterus. It is, however, diagnosed or realised much later. Amenorrhea or a missed period is the first and foremost symptom; for a girl with a 28-day menstrual cycle, if the cycles do not return even after 45 days, then tests can be done to confirm pregnancy. During amenorrhea, we tend to experience a wave of nausea quite frequently during the day, sometimes resulting in vomitings. I also experienced severe pain in the lower abdomen. In olden days, pregnancy was confirmed by checking the girl's pulse or naadi known as garbha naadi. These days, home pregnancy test kits are available. I used the Velocit Kit, a product of Dr. Reddy's lab. This is basically a urine test to detect the presence of the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone in the urine. This hCG is secreted in a pregnant woman's urine, whereas it is absent in a normal person's urine; so, if the urine test is positive for hCG, then chances are that the woman is pregnant. However, please note that this cannot be completely relied upon as certain hormonal disorders may also test positive for hCG in the urine. So, it is always best practice to consult a gynaecologist and confirm your pregnancy. This usually involves a blood test, urine gravindex test and, of course, an ultrasound scan to check the heart rate of the foetus. Now, you are ready to announce your pregnancy to your near and dear!!!






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Pregnancy test using Velocit home pregnancy kit

Introduction

Motherhood is a boon to every woman and, the child is an asset to the entire family. Going through pregnancy, child-bearing and the earlier stages of bringing-up the baby is a common yet challenging thing for every woman, be it a house-wife or a professional. Most importantly, the first pregnancy is something special to everyone, because they are in for a new experience of the most precious thing in the world - motherhood.

India is known for its large families, with older people at home to guide the young girl during her pregnancy and help her in rearing the child. However, these days, Indian families have shrunk and most of the young couples stay abroad with no elders to guide them. Although many websites are available to guide them, I am here to share my little experience as an Indian mother. This blog, I believe, might help millions of such first time Indian mothers as the posts will be from the point of view of one such contemporary, Gen Y Indian mother like me.

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