First Trimester
The first trimester of pregnancy is a time of invisible change?and yet, some of the most marked development occurs during these first few months. The first trimester includes weeks 1 through 12 of pregnancy. While during this time pregnant women may not physically display the telltale bump, the symptoms of pregnancy will definitely be felt as the woman?s body changes and acclimates to supporting a developing fetus. Morning sickness, fatigue, mood swings, and more are physical indicators of the amazing changes occurring in a woman?s body during the first trimester.
Fetal growth during this time may seem minimal, but in reality the building blocks for life-long body functions like the heartbeat, digestive and neurological systems have begun to form in the four-inch long fetus at the end of the first trimester. Because the fetus develops so quickly during the first initial months of pregnancy, the risk of miscarriage is at its highest during this time. This is why it is so important to schedule routine exams with an OB/GYN and begin implementing lifestyle changes right away to support the incredible growth of the fetus within.
