Symptoms in the First Three Months of Pregnancy

“Weird cravings!,” “Oh! Suddenly I’m craving ice cream,” or “I feel nauseous! My stomach is very upset!” – we’ve heard or experienced various desires and symptoms during the first three months of pregnancy. However, every woman responds differently to the hormonal changes during pregnancy. Here, we will try to explain what to expect in the first three months of pregnancy.

The first three-month period starts from the first day of your last menstrual period and ends at the 12th week of pregnancy. You usually become aware of your pregnancy around the 5th or 6th week. So, it covers a period of 6-7 weeks for you. The most common symptom is morning sickness. Nausea is more common in the mornings, but it can occur throughout the day, and even at night. It begins around the 5th week and is observed in 85% of pregnancies. Although the exact reason is not known, it is argued that the rapid increase in estrogen and progesterone hormones slows down stomach emptying, leading to nausea and vomiting. Pregnant women are highly sensitive to smells such as food, perfume, or cigarette smoke. These smells can trigger waves of nausea. According to one theory, the sensitivity to smell is the body’s defense mechanism developed to avoid excessive bacterial load or natural toxins that could harm fetal development.

There are some methods that can be successful in reducing nausea. Eating small and frequent meals can shorten the emptying time of the stomach. Easily digestible and low-fat foods should be preferred. Foods like cheese sandwiches, chickpeas, and grissini can be consumed. Ginger teas or fruit juices may help reduce your nausea. Additionally, taking a B6 vitamin supplement, with your doctor’s advice, can provide relief. If the nausea is very severe, your urine output is very low and dark, especially if you experience dizziness when standing, and there is blood during vomiting, you should definitely consult your doctor or a healthcare facility.

During pregnancy, there are strong cravings for some foods and aversions to others. Morning sickness often accompanies this finding. While 80% of pregnant women have cravings for certain foods, 85% avoid certain foods. You can consume the foods you crave in moderate amounts. If you don’t like milk, you can consume low-fat cheese, strained yogurt, fruit yogurt, soup, oatmeal, or pancakes. If you don’t want to eat vegetables, you can consume foods like carrots and melons. If you don’t want to eat meat, you can flavor it with various sauces.

Another symptom in the first three months is excessively sensitive and swollen breasts. Hormonal changes immediately after fertilization cause sensitive and painful breasts. Wearing sports and supportive bras instead of tight bras can help reduce the pain.

Feeling tired throughout the day is another common finding in pregnancy. The excessive production of progesterone hormone during pregnancy creates a relaxing and sleep-inducing tendency. This increases blood flow to the fetus by 50%. Your body encourages the baby’s growth. Excessive fatigue may be a sign of iron deficiency anemia. Anemia can be detected in the initial tests of pregnancy. If all you want is to lie on the couch, you can take a short walk and go to a well-lit place. Take a few minutes to get some fresh air every 20 minutes. If you’re working all day, you can take 15-minute power naps at your desk. Going to bed early and waking up a little later in the morning can be a solution to avoid feeling tired all day. If you can’t eat enough and your nausea is not excessive, you can take a vitamin supplement.

In early pregnancy, the growing and swelling uterus can press on the bladder, causing frequent urination, and even urine leakage when coughing or sneezing. This is important in preventing urinary tract infections. Urine does not stay in the bladder for a long time. Avoiding liquid intake in the evening and cutting down on caffeinated drinks at night can help reduce the frequency of your toilet trips overnight.

Increased oil production during pregnancy can cause excessive acne on your face. To prevent this, do not wash or scrub your face excessively. Use cleansers that prevent excessive drying. Use oil-free moisturizers. Check the content of the products. Products containing glycolic acid can be used comfortably during pregnancy, while products containing steroids, retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and salicylic acid should be avoided.

Headaches are common in the first three months. The reason for this is that increased hormones cause low blood sugar levels, reduced brain blood flow, and increased hormone levels. Outdoor walks and hot or cold applications can be made. If these do not work, pain relievers containing paracetamol can be safely used during pregnancy.

The same swelling that occurs throughout your body due to increased blood flow affects your eyes. Edema and changes in curvature in the cornea can cause vision problems. Scratches on the cornea can occur in contact lens wearers. Dry eyes may occur due to hormonal changes.

Sleep disturbances, hormonal changes, changes in your body, and realizing the pregnancy can cause sharp ups and downs in your mood. You can experience silence, introversion, happiness, and sadness all at once. Doing sports and things you love, being with your friends can reduce these ups and downs. If you feel excessive anxiety and worry, be sure to consult your doctor.

Remember, many of these symptoms are specific to the first three months. Most will decrease or completely disappear after 3 months. Remind yourself frequently that these are temporary. Don’t hesitate to ask for help from your partner and the people around you.

Dear prospective fathers, your wife’s body is giving a number of signals that she often does not understand the cause of. Be in good communication with your wife. Encourage her to share any doubts or concerns. If you do the same for yourself, you will help provide a good home environment for your baby.