Pregnancy Symptoms- The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Pregnancy does leave a woman with a "glowing beauty" as the life inside her begins to grow and become it's own tiny entity. Unfortunately, the initial "glow of motherhood" often replace by the green pallor of a woman who is vomiting non-stop all day. Exhaustion becomes so overwhelming that she can hardly get herself out of bed in the morning and when she finally does find the strength to move, it is usually to run to the bathroom to throw-up. Thus begins a brand new day, at least for the first trimester.

The First Trimester is filled with Excitement and Weight Gain

Each trimester has it's own pregnancy symptoms that are specific to the progressive age of the fetus/embryo and to the mother's body adapting to the baby she carries. The first trimester is one that is usually filled with nausea, exhaustion, backaches, and frequent urination. Morning sickness generally begins between the second and sixth week of pregnancy and can last a varied amount of time; some end at the three-month mark and others suffer during their entire pregnancy.

During the Second Trimester, Pregnancy Symptoms Improve

The second trimester is the beginning of baby's growth outward and the expansion of your baby belly. This is the time when you actually begin to look pregnant and feel good about it too. There are maternity clothes, baby shopping and planning for baby's arrival. You are not as tired as you were in the first trimester so you are able to enjoy the actual "being" of pregnancy. It is during this trimester that you will actually get to hear baby's heartbeat. These are the precious moments when your baby actually becomes real to you, rather than just discomfort and nausea. It is possible pregnancy symptoms such as backaches to increase as the baby begins to grow more outward and your center of balance becomes more awkward. Be cautious until you adjust to the physical changes of a baby belly. You will want to remain so as you continue to grow with your baby's development.

Size is a Pregnancy Symptom in Trimester #3

The third trimester is often referred to as the "nesting phase" of pregnancy, as this is when the reality of motherhood begins becomes real. Reaching this stage is often a relief as the end is drawing near but also frightening as the idea of childbirth becomes more real. At this point, your weight and shape have become a real discomfort, but it is not a time to cut down on fluids or nutrition, as baby needs both to continue growing to a healthy birth weight. Be aware of Toxemia, a pregnancy induced hypertension that could have serious side effects if ignored. Its signs are rapid weight gain, swelling of hands, face and feet and a rise in blood pressure. It is often accompanied by nausea, dizziness and severe headaches. Another pregnancy symptom you will want to watch out for is Gestational Diabetes. This is a temporary pregnancy symptom and not everyone suffers from it. However, as a preventative measure, doctors' offices now require a special Glucose Tolerance Test to check the blood for an increased blood sugar level.