Feb 20, 20174 min read

The First Trimester - What's Happening?

The beginning of pregnancy can be an exciting, scary, overwhelming, emotional time – especially for first time mothers. So…. What’s happening?

The First Trimester: Weeks 1-13

Mama’s Symptoms

Baby’s Development

Week 2-3 – Ovulation and Fertilization
Week 3 – Blastocyst implantation – Cells are rapidly dividing, and are being nourished by a yolk sac (the cavity that provides nutrients before development of the placenta). Cells that will soon be forming the placenta are beginning to produce hCG, the hormone that will give you a positive pregnancy test.
Week 4 – Size of a poppyseed. Cells are dividing to become the embryo and placenta. Neural tube, brain, and backbone have already formed. Amniotic sac and fluid are forming to create a protective cushion for your little one.

Mama’s Symptoms

You have probably just found out that you are pregnant – a missed period, swollen/sore breasts, bloating, and nausea are common symptoms of early pregnancy.
hCG levels are now detectable by a home pregnancy test.
You are having a MAJOR decrease in energy – feeling exhausted all the time is normal, due to major hormonal changes.
These hormonal changes will also cause a heightened sense of smell!
Feeling gassy is unfortunately common throughout pregnancy – farting, burping, and hiccuping are part of the fun of pregnancy.
Soon your hormones will also trigger sudden mood swings – don’t be surprised if you find yourself suddenly bursting into tears during movies, or becoming angry at your partner over something trivial.
During the first trimester, you may be surprised to already have to pee constantly! This is not due to pressure on the bladder, but is because your blood volume is rapidly increasing; there is now a lot of extra fluid that ends up in your bladder.

Baby’s Development

Week 5 – Size of an apple seed. Baby is now an embryo. Major organs are starting to form (heart, liver, kidneys, stomach)
Week 6 – Size of a pea. (1/4”) Circulatory system, nose, eyes, & ears are developing! Baby has tiny paddle-like hands with webbed fingers. Baby’s heart rate is about twice as fast as yours, and the chambers are beginning to divide.
Week 7 – Size of a blueberry (1/2”) Brain cells are rapidly developing, as the arm and leg joints are forming. Baby now has eyelid folds. The embryo has a tail (which is actually part of the tailbone) which will disappear within the next few weeks.
Week 8 – Size of a raspberry (2/3”) – Baby is moving their arms and legs. The fingers and toes are still webbed, but tail is almost gone. Most of the major organs have now formed, and taste buds are beginning to form. Nerve cells in the brain are beginning to connect with one another.
Week 9 – Size of a grape – (7/8”) – No longer an embryo, your baby is now a fetus!! Facial features beginning to develop, and baby now has earlobes. Baby’s eyelids are now fused shut, and won’t open until about the third trimester. The heart beat is growing stronger!

To-Do

Select a care provider (family doctor/OB/midwife), know what questions to ask!!
Start visualizing what type of birth you would like. I recommend attending a Birth Art Circle!
Choose a prenatal vitamin. (Food-based tend to be easier to digest, and less likely to cause nausea.) Research the differences between folate and synthetic folic acid. (Broccoli, spinach, brussels sprouts, eggs, strawberries, lentils, beans, and asparagus are also great sources of folate!)
Ensure that you are getting proper nutrition. Keeping a diet log is a great way to ensure that you are getting plenty of food from each food group!
Start thinking about when you want to announce your pregnancy to friends, family, and your employer.
Many parents start taking weekly baby bump photos. You may not notice much difference at first, but it can be fun to look back at the end of your pregnancy and see how much your belly has grown!!

Mama’s Symptoms

Some moms are lucky and rarely/never have morning sickness!! Although if you do – it is probably in full force by now. Try to identify the triggers (certain smells or food aversions) so that you can avoid them if at all possible. That heightened sense of smell will make you especially sensitive! Increasing your protein and water intake can also help to curb nausea.
Feeling exhausted? Be sure to take plenty of naps whenever you can!
Swollen gums – your gums might bleed while bruising your teeth. You may also have a heightened gag reflex, which for some women causes them to vomit when brushing their teeth. Be sure to stock up on mouthwash!!
Nosebleeds due to increased blood volume are common during pregnancy – unless they are heavy are frequent, it should not be cause for concern.
Now you are probably having to pee ALL THE TIME.
Feeling some lower abdominal cramping? This is probably the round ligament pains caused by your stretching uterus. By now your uterus has already doubled in size!! Try drinking some extra water, take a warm bath, or get a massage.
The top of the uterus is starting to rise above the pelvic bone – you may be able to feel it soon!!

Baby’s Development

Week 10 – Size of a prune (1 1/4”) Baby’s forehead bulges with the developing brain. Cartilage and bones are forming, and vital organs are starting to function. Baby is growing fingernails and hair. They are finally starting to kick!! (Although you won’t be able to feel movement for several more weeks.)
Week 11 – Size of a lime (1 1/2”) Fingers and toes are no longer webbed. Baby’s skin is still see-through. Tooth buds are beginning to form under the gums.
Week 12 – Size of a plum (2”) Baby is about to have a big growth spurt!! Their reflexes are developing. The eyes are moving closer together.
Week 13 – Size of a peach (3”) Baby already has its own unique set of fingerprints!!! The intestines are moving from the umbilical cord into their tummy. Vocal cords developing!! Baby’s head is now more proportional to the size of their body. By end of the first trimester, your chance of miscarriage drops significantly. Breathe in a sigh of relief!!

To-Do

Be sure that you are improving your nutrition and adopting a new exercise routine!! Prenatal yoga is a great way to relax and to prepare your body for labor and birth.
Start thinking about taking a childbirth class. Education is your most important tool in pregnancy, labor, childbirth, and postpartum!
It’s a good idea to begin reading books and watching DVDs to prepare yourself for birth, postpartum, and infant care. Educate yourself on your options so that you can make good, informed decisions!!