11 Important precautions during 1st Trimester of Pregnancy

 

Important Precautions During the

1^st Trimester of Pregnancy

Now you're pregnant, you may be feeling overwhelmed with the big changes that pregnancy and having a baby will bring. From eating a balanced diet to taking regular exercise, our tips for the first trimester will help you cope with the physical and mental demands at the start of your pregnancy. Our handy checklist will guide you through your first trimester and pave the way for a happy, healthy pregnancy.

When is the first trimester?

The first trimester starts from the very beginning of your pregnancy and lasts until you’re 13 weeks plus six days pregnant.

A woman’s body goes through many changes during the first 12 weeks of a pregnancy. Women often start to have concerns over:

• what to eat
• which types of prenatal tests they should consider
• how much weight they might gain
• how they can make sure their baby stays healthy

Understanding a pregnancy week by week can help you make informed decisions and prepare for the big changes that lie ahead.

What happens to a woman’s body during the first trimester?

In the first trimester, a woman’s body goes through many changes. The body releases hormones that affect almost every single organ in the body. The first sign you may be pregnant is missing a period. As the first few weeks pass, some women experience the following:

• tiredness
• upset stomach
• throwing up
• mood swings
• tender breasts
• heartburn
• weight gain
• headaches
• cravings for certain foods
• revulsion to certain foods
• constipation

You may need to rest more or eat smaller meals during this time. Some women, however, don’t feel any of these symptoms at all.

1.What to do:

Here are good personal health measures to take during the first trimester:

• Take prenatal vitamins.
• Exercise regularly.
• Work out your pelvic floor by doing Kegel exercises.
• Eat a diet high in fruits, vegetables, low-fat forms of protein, and fiber.
• Drink lots of water.
• Eat enough calories (about 300 calories more than normal).

2.What to avoid:

These things should be avoided during the first trimester:

• strenuous exercise or strength training that could cause an injury to your stomach
• alcohol
• caffeine (no more than one cup of coffee or tea per day)
• smoking
• illegal drugs
• raw fish or smoked seafood (no sushi)
• shark, swordfish, mackerel, or white snapper fish (they have high levels of mercury)
• raw sprouts
• cat litter, which can carry a parasitic disease called toxoplasmosis
• unpasteurized milk or other dairy products
• deli meats or hot dogs

 

 Foods that are more likely to be contaminated with bacteria or heavy metals are ones to try to avoid or limit your exposure to. Those you should steer clear of during pregnancy include:

• soft, unpasteurized cheeses (often advertised as "fresh") such as feta, goat, Brie, Camembert, blue-veined cheeses, and Mexican queso fresco
• unpasteurized milk, juices, and apple cider
• raw eggs or foods containing raw eggs, including mousse, tiramisu, raw cookie dough, eggnog, homemade ice cream, and Caesar dressing
• raw or undercooked fish (sushi), shellfish, or meats
• paté and meat spreads
• processed meats like hot dogs and deli meats (these should be very well cooked before eating)

Also, although fish and shellfish can be an extremely healthy part of your pregnancy diet (they contain beneficial omega-3 fatty acids and are high in protein and low in saturated fat), you should avoid eating certain kinds due to high levels of mercury, which can damage the brain of a developing fetus.

Fish to avoid:

• shark
• swordfish
• king mackerel
• tilefish
• tuna steak (limited amounts of canned, preferably light, tuna is OK)

 

3.Avoid Processed and Junk Food.

To have a healthy pregnancy, stop eating processed and junk food in your first trimester of pregnancy. Processed foods contain sodium nitrate traces and other substances that may cause cancer and affect the fetus's development. Furthermore, there will be the addition of some pesticides to the food. That is why it is recommended to eat fresh and organic food. 

4.Say No to Papaya

It is recommended not to eat raw papaya during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester. The early stages of pregnancy are crucial, and you need to take extra care of your baby as there is a high chance of having a miscarriage, and eating raw papaya can be one of the reasons. 

5. Eat Healthy Diet

The first trimester of your pregnancy is very important considering the baby's development. As they start growing these days, so they need more nutrients to stay healthy inside the belly. For better fetal development, include foods with rich nutritional content like vitamins, minerals, calcium, protein, green leafy vegetables, fruits, etc. 

 

6. What else should be considered during the first trimester?

Body changes provide plenty to think about during the first trimester, but having a baby will affect other parts of your life too. There are many things to start to think about during the first few months of your pregnancy so you can prepare for the future.

7. When to tell your friends, family, and employer

The first trimester is the most common time for a loss of pregnancy (miscarriage), so you may want to wait for the pregnancy to settle into the second trimester.

You may also want to consider whether or not you will keep working or quit your job as your pregnancy progresses, and if your employer provides unpaid maternity leave for the birth and care of your newborn.

8. If you have a high-risk pregnancy

High-risk pregnancy means that there is a greater chance of complications. Factors that may make your pregnancy high-risk include:

• being young
• being over 35 years old
• being overweight
• being underweight
• having high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV, cancer or other autoimmune disorders
• being pregnant with twins or multiples

Women with a high-risk pregnancy may need to visit the doctor more often and sometimes may need a specially trained doctor. Having a high-risk pregnancy doesn’t necessarily mean you will have any problems.

9. Daily Exercise

From the early stages of pregnancy, it's safe to do some exercises. To have a healthy pregnancy, make it a part of your daily routine to do light exercises and specific yoga asanas for pregnancy. Exercising daily recommended by your doctor will add a layer of protection for fetus development and keep you fresh and energetic during pregnancy. 

10. Meditation

Meditation is also a very important and most performed practice during pregnancy to have a healthy baby and overall development of the baby. Meditating daily for at least 30 minutes will reduce your stress, morning sickness, anxiety, depression, and other discomforts that will affect your baby. It is very important to meditate during the first trimester of your pregnancy to stay healthy.

11. Stay Connected with your Doctor.

Stay connected with your doctor and have regular checkups to make sure everything is fine during the first trimester of pregnancy and keep track of the baby's development. Sometimes, woman are diagnosed with high blood pressure, diabetes, anxiety, and depression during pregnancy. Keep your environment healthy and stay away from diseases.

These are some important precautions you need to take during the first trimester or early stage of your pregnancy to increase the chance of having a healthy and brilliant baby.