I may be Pregnant? What happens next? A woman ovulates at approximately three weeks after the first day of her last menstrual period. An egg is released from her ovaries and it moves down one of the fallopian tubes towards the uterus. If intercourse takes place during the period of ovulation there is a possibility of a pregnancy occurring. During ejaculation, millions of sperm from your partner are released but only one of them will succeed in the race towards the egg and will fertilize it while it is still in the fallopian tube. The baby is at this point a cluster of cells which will undergo rapid multiplication in the days to come. At this point most women have not felt any differently or have not noticed any changes in their body. Some women do report a change in taste. The fertilized egg has now reached the uterus and after floating around for app. 72 hours it finds a location and implants itself into the uterine lining. The blood vessels of the uterine lining nourish the egg and the placenta begins to form. Most moms will probably complete the first month without even realising they are pregnant. When they miss the first period they would do the pregnancy test and then schedule a visit with the doctor. Second time moms understand that small changes in the body can signal a pregnancy like the sensitive breasts, darkened and enlarged areola and the feeling of being slightly bloated.
When you visit the doctor there will be an early sonogram just to establish the pregnancy and to hear the baby’s heart tones. The doctor may also prescribe some routine tests like blood work, thyroid, sugar and urine tests to ensure that there are no health concerns. Mom may feel nauseatic and although this is generally in the morning it can actually happen all through the day. Most of the times this is related to hormonal changes and besides management there is little that you can do about it. If you are unable to hold anything down and are constantly throwing up then make a mention to your doctor and some medications may be prescribed. At times you may be able to identify a trigger which if you avoid can take care of the nausea feeling. For some women it is certain foods for others it may be smells. Natural remedies – flakes of ginger, eating a small piece of dry carb like a toast or a cracker every couple of hours, avoiding spicy foods, making sure you eat your high protein foods with enough fibre in the form of fresh fruits or vegetables.
Folic acid will continue in the first three months. Some doctors may even prefer to continue the same all through the pregnancy but the neural tube is well formed by week 12 and post which folic acid supplementation is not necessary. Additionally a multi vitamin suited to pregnancy is also started. It has supplements which help to support the pregnancy and moms should take these without fail. It maybe advisable to abstain from intercourse in this period. Moms will also feel a lot of vaginal dryness and this is again due to hormonal changes. Vaginal discharge also increases. There is the urge to urinate frequently and you may be surprised since the uterus is not yet large. But hormonal changes are making the bladder muscles also relax. Due to this the bladder is not able to empty completely and hence may cause the need to urinate frequently. Ensure that you drink plenty of fluids as this will help you keep free from urinary infections.
Its okay to continue your normal routine during this time. There is no need to rest extra or avoid activities that you are normally used to as long as they are safe for pregnancy. For eg: If you were going to work you can continue to do so. However if you were scuba diving or playing tennis then you should avoid these activities. In the first trimester you can also sleep in any position you find comfortable. Many moms can even sleep on their stomach. Do not start a new exercise routine but if there was a routine that you were following and it is safe for pregnancy then it is ok to continue the same. If you are not sure what to do then you can surely continue going for a walk. Moms will also feel very sleepy and tired in this phase. After all your body is doing the mammoth task of making a new baby. Try and find time to power nap during the day time if possible. Listen to your body. If you feel like resting then take some time off and rest. Many new mothers may encounter insomnia in the first few weeks of pregnancy and this is probably due to the excitement and nervousness of finding out and the realisation that soon life is going to change. Also till the first twelve weeks do not pass and the anamoly tests are completed moms may feel concerned and worry about the well being of the developing baby. Additionally it is also a good idea to register for an early pregnancy class to get all your doubts and queries answered.