First Trimester Of Pregnancy

Alternate Names
early prenatal period
pregnancy, first trimester



Definition of First Trimester Of Pregnancy

Pregnancy is the process of childbearing. Measured from the start of a woman's last normal menstrual period, or LMP, it usually lasts about 40 weeks, or roughly 9 calendar months. The first trimester of pregnancy lies between weeks 0 to 13, the second between 13 and 26 weeks, and the third trimester after the 26th week. Although women experience many of the same physical changes during this time, no two pregnancies are alike.

What is the information for this topic?

A woman can learn if she is pregnant within a few weeks after an egg is fertilized during conception. Pregnancy tests check for rising levels of a specific hormone. Home pregnancy tests may be done on urine. Tests done at a lab may use urine or blood.

The fertilized egg is called an embryo for the first 8 weeks. After that it is called a fetus or an unborn child. Its links to the mother appear quite early.

• The placenta, also known as the afterbirth, begins to form the moment the embryo attaches to the lining of the uterus. It grows inside the uterus, or womb, between the uterine wall and the developing child. The placenta is the channel through which oxygen, nutrients, drugs, hormones, and other substances pass from mother to her unborn child. Waste products from the fetus cross back through the placenta to the mother and are disposed of by the mother's kidneys.
• The umbilical cord links the unborn child to the placenta. The spot at which the umbilical cord connects to the unborn child will become its navel, or belly button

During the first trimester, growth and development of the unborn child inside the mother causes many changes to occur. A woman may notice:

• no period or a light period
• blue lines under the skin over her breasts and abdomen
• waistline expansion
• breasts that grow larger
• protruding nipples

Other common signs of early pregnancy in women include:

• nausea sometimes coupled with vomiting known as morning sickness
• food aversions and cravings
• heartburn and indigestion
• fatigue
• tender breasts
• complexion problems
• a need to urinate often
• constipation
• headaches, dizziness, or faintness

In the unborn child:

• the heart begins to beat
• bones appear and the head, arms, fingers, legs, and toes form
• major organs and the nervous system form
• the placenta forms
• hair starts to grow
• 20 buds for future teeth appear

By the end of the first trimester, the unborn child is about 4 inches long and weighs just a bit more than 1 ounce. While many pregnancies run into no trouble during this time, problems can occur:

• 10 in 1,000 pregnancies occur outside the womb. Usually the embryo finds a home in one of the fallopian tubes on its way to the uterus. This is known as an ectopic pregnancy.
• 1 in 3 pregnancies ends in miscarriage, often in the early weeks

During the first trimester of pregnancy, monitoring may include:

• First month: full physical examination and testing. These tests include a Pap smear, blood tests, urinalysis, TB test, and others.
• Second month: weight and blood pressure and urine test for sugar and protein
• Third month: height, weight, the baby's heartbeat, size, shape and height of the uterus