I’m pregnant – what do I do now? A guide to your first trimester

Couple enjoying breakfast together at home with coffee and fruit.
  If you’ve just found out you’re pregnant, you’re filled with hope and a desire to do everything you can to protect and nurture your baby. You might have started noticing some of the physical first signs of pregnancy, and if you are a first-time mom, you could be spending all your spare time researching books and websites, and having chats with friends and family, trying to prepare yourself for the journey ahead.   If this is your first pregnancy, you probably feel like jumping into this new world and learning all the buzzwords and jargon. But it’s better to take your time. Remember, you've got nine months to learn all of this!.  To steer you through each phase of your pregnancy, we’ve prepared this three-piece guide on the most important things to focus on in each trimester. Are you ready? Let’s go! 
  1. Learn how to count in weeks: It might seem very confusing at first, but counting in weeks makes a lot of sense when you’re pregnant, as each week represents a stage in the baby’s development. Knowing the exact number of weeks you’ve been pregnant will help you assess how long you’ll have to wait to see your baby’s face for the first time, understand how your body feels as your baby develops, when to book your scans and how to calculate your due date — which leads us to the next topic...
  2. Calculate your due date: As soon as you find out you’re pregnant, you should consult a reliable due date calculator. To be as precise as possible, most due date calculators use the date of your last menstrual period and count 40 weeks from that point. This is based on the fact that women typically ovulate about two weeks after their period starts, and that pregnancy usually lasts about 38 weeks. Our due date calculator uses this method — you can check it here.
  3. Talk to your midwife and GP as soon as you can and take your flu vaccine: your GP and midwife will be able to assess your health condition and recommend the best approach to your pregnancy. They can also administer the two essential vaccines you’ll need during your pregnancy: the whooping cough (pertussis) and the flu vaccine. These vaccines not only give you immunity, but also protect your child while they’re in your womb, and for the first few months of their life.
  4. Be the healthiest you can be: During the 12 first weeks of your pregnancy, the vital tissues and organs of your baby are developing, so you'll need to give both of you a significant boost through lots of healthy foods and nutrients. You must also make sure you’re taking all your essential vitamins and folic acid , a vital supplement that supports your baby’s spine and brain development. Exercising during pregnancy is also highly recommended and it’s highly recommended that you start to exercise frequently during the first trimester of pregnancy. Walking in the neighbourhood or with your dog, getting off the bus a stop before your destination and morning stretches are some activities you can include in your daily routine to stay active.
  5. No smoke, no booze, no stress: If you are a smoker, this is the time to stop, and taking a break from alcohol is also vital — the chemicals in cigarettes and alcohol can harm your baby development. You should also try to avoid stressful situations. If it’s possible, book some time off work during your first trimester pregnant and focus on you.
  6. Be ready for the strongest changes that come with pregnancy: Even though your bump won’t necessarily start showing in the first trimester, during this time you’ll face a variety of symptoms, including nausea, fatigue, breast tenderness and frequent urination. These are all common pregnancy symptoms, but every woman has a different experience. You may also experience an increase in your energy levels, a more sentimental feeling around everyday life events and pain in your legs and back. This is all related to the most crucial part of your baby’s development, a period in which your baby’s body structure and organ systems start to develop.
  7. Book your first scan: This is the happiest part of all — taking a close look at your child in their first days of development. In this first trimester of your pregnancy, you’ll be able to book an Early Pregnancy Scan and check your baby’s heartbeat, establish your gestational age and get some measures and reassurance from our professional sonographers. 
We hope we’ve given you enough information to help you through this early stage of your pregnancy. Feel free to contact our team to schedule an ultrasound or ask any questions about our services. See you for the second part of the series!

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