Pregnancy: A Monthly Guide

Pregnancy is a wonderful and amazing time, with both good and bad sides. Pregnant women will undoubtedly a huge volume of questions about pregnancy stages.

Pregnant women may feel overwhelmed during their pregnancy and feel unsure what they should do, but remember that the body is equipped with maternal instincts that guide pregnant women to care for their baby in both the intrauterine and outside worlds. Plus, there is a huge amount of information available about pregnancy stages and the monthly changes pregnant women experience during pregnancy. In this monthly guide to pregnancy, we have gathered information about some of the more common symptoms and issues pregnant women experience during pregnancy stages and how to deal with them.

You are one month pregnant…

Many new mothers do not even realize they are pregnant during the first month, but if you experience pregnancy symptoms like nausea, increased urination or a missed period, it may be time to buy a home pregnancy kit. You may notice that your level of energy has fallen. You are tired and find it difficult to stay up in the evenings. The fatigue occurs because your body uses huge amounts of energy to manage the development of your baby, and it needs energy to transform into the ideal environment for your baby’s growth.

You are two months pregnant….

The second month of pregnancy marks the beginning of acute changes in your body. Because the size of your uterus is increasing, you will feel the need to urinate frequently and as a consequence, you will feel thirstier than before becoming pregnant. The best way you can handle this situation is to listen to your body’s needs and go to the toilet as nature calls. It may also be difficult for you to deal with morning sickness this month. Not every woman has to fight against it, but if you are among the sensitive ones, try to stay away from everything causing you aversions and add some lemon to your pregnancy diet to diminish the nausea.

You are three months pregnant…

The third month of pregnancy brings with it the old symptoms plus some new ones: constipation, bloating and headaches.  There may be a feeling of being overwhelmed and not quite ready to deal with so many changes in such a short time, but there are coping methods. A pregnancy diet rich in fibers, vegetables, fruits and proteins has an essential role in your digestion and nutrition. The headaches can be dealt by consuming a large quantity of liquids and by getting as much rest as possible. This month is the last one before the calmer ones about to come, so try to think positively.

You are four months pregnant…

By the fourth month of pregnancy, your belly’s size has increased enough to show you are carrying a baby. Many pregnant women will receive their first ultrasound pictures during this month (at 18 weeks). Also, the dangers of miscarriage decrease from this point forward. You will regain your appetite during this month and the only inconvenience that might occur is a vaginal secretion called leucorrhea. Its appearance is completely normal and it comes as an effect of intense modifications your body goes through to be able to give birth.  Maintaining a sound pregnancy diet and rigorous personal hygiene is really important and in addition, it will help you cope better with this new vaginal secretion.

You are five months pregnant…

The fifth month of pregnancy is considered the border between the first and the second half of the pregnancy stages. Many pregnant women receive their second ultrasound pictures during this month (at 22 weeks). It brings less physical and emotional problems than the previous months but it is still not eventless. Your baby is growing bigger and bigger, so this extra weight can affect your back, generating back pain. You can overcome this problem by reducing the time you stand and by sleeping on your sides. The most recommended side to sleep on is your left side, because in this way your baby is more comfortable, the organs function better and the blood flow is correct. Also, your body might start to retain water which will manifest through swollen feet and ankles. This is the type of bad aspect that has to be defeated with its own weapons. Therefore, by drinking more liquids as part of your pregnancy diet you will also force their elimination. You can include vegetables and fruits juices in your pregnancy diet along plain water.

You are six months pregnant…

The most significant event during this pregnancy stage is the existence of the Braxton-Hicks contractions. You will notice that from time to time your uterus’s muscles are hardening for a few seconds and then they get back to their initial relaxed state. These are harmless contractions very similar to the ones present during labor. There is nothing you must do to stop the Braxton-Hicks contractions as they are normal and beneficial for your uterus. The Kegel exercises are most welcomed starting with this month because they can prevent urine loss and after childbirth they will contribute to your vagina’s restoration in terms of elasticity. If your vagina muscles are not strong enough when you laugh or cough, small quantities of urine might leak as a result of uterus pressure on your bladder.

You are seven months pregnant…

What can be troublesome at the seventh month of pregnancy, except the usual symptoms like swollen feet, constipation and bloating, are the secretions. Breast and vaginal secretions will increase their volume around this time. The breast secretion is called colostrum and the vaginal one, leucorrhea. The fact that they increase is nothing unusual but you will have to take some cautions such as wearing bras with absorbents as well as on your underwear. Try not to feel embarrassed about this situation and create a distance between you and your partner because of it. Remember that communication is the key in circumstances like this one. Also, try to avoid tiring activities, lifting weights and standing too much. It is beneficial for you to sleep a few hours during the day and up to ten hours during the night.

You are eight months pregnant…

Being eight months pregnant means feeling swollen and heavier than ever. Physical activities might be difficult for you and because of gaining weight, especially this month when your baby accumulates fat deposits, your joints will be overburdened. Also due to your baby’s growth, the need for frequent urination will reappear. Dealing with it should not be a problem anymore, as many pregnant women have been through this situation before. Overall, through this month the bed and the toilet will be your best friends and allies. The best you can do is feed and rest. Your nutritional needs are higher this month, so make sure your pregnancy diet includes foods rich in iron, magnesium and calcium.

You are nine months pregnant…

This is the last month of the pregnancy and the mother needs to get ready for giving birth, which will happen any day now. Now is the time for the final preparations of giving birth. It is only a matter of days before the much-anticipated day comes. All the struggles that you have experienced during your pregnancy stages will not matter anymore because you know that something miraculous is about to happen. The last 8 months are now long forgotten and do not matter anymore.

Soon you will receive the greatest gift that any mother can receive!

These are the most common symptoms that challenge every pregnant woman. As the summary shows, the body of a pregnant woman goes through multiple changes in order to create the proper environment for a baby’s development. Despite all the hormonal changes pregnant women experience, by continuing to default to thinking positively, and maintaining a healthy pregnancy diet pregnancy months can be enjoyable. And remember: no matter how much information on pregnancy you gather, you can not know it all, so be prepared for the unexpected at every stage! In the end pregnant women transition into a mommy — and any challenges you faced during pregnancy stages on your way there will become a distant memory and you will have your ultrasound pictures to look back on your journey with your child and family.